Figuring Out Zydeco / Tex-Mex Accordion Music

[@ravenbuscus4416]

"It will be a catastrophe with a few nuggets of knowledge" 😆 I definitely got the nuggets of knowledge, this was great! Thank you so much!!

[@eddievilla1584]

The Accordion was introduced to Mexican music by the early German immigrants that settled in Texas. That is why Tex-Mex polkas have that "oom paa paa" feel to them. I have always loved Zydeco it like folk music meets the blues. Great video.

[@moshezuchter]

Ooooh there is a similarity there!

[@aarondanielsalinas]

Zydeco and “Tex-Mex” are two completely separate genres. Both are really forms of music from a hybrid of cultures. Zydeco has Louisiana creole and blues roots and “Tex-Mex” has European polka and Mexican influence. Instrumentation of Zydeco is typically accordion (usually 1 row diatonic), guitar, bass, drums, and washboard. Songs are usually sang in English, sometimes in french. Instrumentation of “Tex-Mex” is typically the Accordion (usually 2 or 3 row diatonic), bajo sexto or bajo quinto, bass, and drums. Songs are typically sang in Spanish. I’ve been using “Tex-mex” as quoted because texmex really is a blanket term that covers further subgenres with the most popular being Conjunto and Norteño. These two genres are comprised of the same “Tex-Mex” instrumentation listed above. Some people may say “tejano” as a genre, but usually they are referring to a more modern genre of Texas music starting in the 1960s that has roots in both conjunto and norteño music (1900s+) along with stylistic influences from rock, big band, country, cumbia, and even 70-80s electro-synth pop. I’m a “Tex-Mex” player so I have limited knowledge on zydeco music in depth, but hopefully this helps bring some clarity into these two genres of accordion folk music.

[@joaquinflores3547]

the only thing is that Norteño was never really considered to be part of the Tex-Mex genre its usually categorized under regional Mexican even do its closely related to Conjunto and Tejano

[@AnnN1124]

I couldn't believe the timing of this video! I am currently working on a Zydeco piece; a very simple piece my instructor wrote for me. It's slow going, but I'm enjoying it. We're also working on ear training which is something I never used in all my years of playing classical music (mostly oboe & english horn and some cello). This falls in line perfectly with my accordion studies.

[@moshezuchter]

Wonderful!

[@jmqz1911]

Check out Los Canelos’s de Durango!

[@moshezuchter]

Thanks! Will have a listen

[@evanmichael3387]

Two giants of diatonic accordion in their genres, Flaco Jimenez and Boozoo Chavis. Fantastic video and playing.

[@moshezuchter]

Woo! I'd like to play more Zydeco!

[@FirinnOnair]

I've been curious about playing Tex-Mex on the piano accordion. Thanks for the video. Hope to see more.

[@moshezuchter]

Thanks Dave. Will definitely try playing some songs.

[@paulr6127]

Always been a bit intimidated by this type of music but the way you broke it down helped ease that for me! Thank you so much!

[@moshezuchter]

Wonderful to hear! Will be tackling some songs soon.

[@johnapicella3547]

Brilliant lesson. Thanks.

[@willnichols6470]

Ahh yes, the moment I've been waiting for, glorious zydeco and Forro.

[@moshezuchter]

This was just a teaser. Would love to go a bit deeper into the genres. Thanks!

[@juancastillo8664]

Interesting point of view on the music... this is a milestone or iconic song in Latin or Mexican culture. In Texas every single dance club plays this songs as they close for the night. Cool.video

[@conradtepetongo]

Minute 6:58 it's a polka called La nopalera. by Santiago Jimenez sr. here played by his son Flaco Jimenez is done on 2 parts starts on G major then goes to C mayor and back to G,,a very easy one on diatonic accordion,, i guess on piano accordion requires more speed as you have to go up and down over a large keyboard, saludos keep on squeezing !!!!😁😁

[@moshezuchter]

What are you favourite Zydeco / Tex-Mex tunes? Would love to learn some pieces that don't require any other instruments. Also, let me know if you enjoy these types of uncut videos.

[@pippetdog]

Anything by Clifton Chenier

[@moshezuchter]

Will check him out. Thanks!

[@adrianmendoza6123]

Check out CHALINO SANCHEZ

[@flamenco1961]

Would like to see you play "Ma Jolie Louise" by Daniel Lanois.

[@gilbertotoledo1421]

@@adrianmendoza6123 nah Ramón Ayala

[@bencraven3000]

Hey, Love you and your content! Keep it up! I can't wait for your next video

[@moshezuchter]

👍🙏 thanks Ben!

[@IPv6people]

Nice video. Why do you hide the view on your hands on the piano keys? Would be nice to see what you are doing.

[@guidomoll3752]

Never saw a better tube here. for sure

[@Ese1Pac]

Crazy how quickly he catches on

[@johnathanriojas2530]

The song he started with is called Tragos Amargos and yes the song is in C(DO) Maj. The original artist is named Ramon Ayala. Well, he's the one that made it famous. The diatonic accordion the artists play it in FBbEb(FA) accordion. The guy in the video plays it in GCF(SOL). The second video is Tim and Flaco that teach the accordion in that video! These guys are still around. Polkas, Redovas, Huapangos, Rancheras, and Boleros are pretty popular. The guitar used is called a Bajo Sexto('bass sixth') which is used to play the rythem and bass. This is the original music we used to listen to back in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

[@moshezuchter]

Super useful. Thank you!!

[@johnathanriojas2530]

@@moshezuchter You're welcome. Now a days the music is more modern. Just like when Rock and Roll came out in the 40s and 50s same thing happened with Tejano music(Tex-Mex). It wasn't just American Rock music but across the spectrum of music.

[@elprieto3183]

Good video sir 👍 We are a new band from New Braunfels TX Darren prieto y sus amigos Keep up the great videos

[@moshezuchter]

Thanks!

[@victortorres8194]

This song is for the end of the party when you're too drunk to stand and yall all singalong

[@GBSaldana]

This is awesome.

[@gregkline2379]

can you post links to the videos you working with? thanks

[@lshuman6057]

I think this is what he had on his screen: Felix Sanchez, Tragos amargo FSIII accordion cover kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3S1amNmpcqegJI Flaco Jimenez and Tim Alexander, Tex-Mex Accordion Pt.1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6W5eYlood2WfM0 "Zydeco a Pas Sale", Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJKbp6yKm9qamas

[@moshezuchter]

Ooh, completely forgot. Thanks! See links below. Will add these to the video description.

[@gregkline2379]

@@lshuman6057 thanks

[@alvaroreyes1653]

Great video! How much does affect the fact that almost all Tex-Mex music is played in a diatonic button accordion? As a piano accordion player, I've always thought that is a hard-to-learn instrument

[@musicmoves2432]

👏👏👏🎼

[@moshezuchter]

It's interesting. I don't know enough about the music to have a good sense of the difference an instrument makes, but I assume certain riffs on the diatonic are easier to do than on the piano accordion, and so are used more often. Still, it seems like it's doable. I played piano accordion on the forro band without much trouble.

[@johnathanriojas2530]

We do use diatonic accordion. But we do have piano accordion musicians.

[@gilbertotoledo1421]

Look for a song called "El Circo". It's a polka, a staple of Northern Mexico /Texas. It's awesome.

[@moshezuchter]

Will have a listen, Gilberto. Thanks!

[@realtalkbrayan]

Can I ask how you just get the rhythm quick ???

[@joaquinflores3547]

also Norteño which is similar to conjunto is also really popular In Mexico and some countries from latin America, and the accordion is one of the main instruments

[@moshezuchter]

Oooh, I've heard of this type of music before but have never heard it live. Thanks Joaquin

[@bsamexican]

Check out El Cholo - Gerardo Ortiz, the accordion in that song is insane.

[@adrianpolley9419]

Great video Ronen, far too advanced for me but who knows, 5 years from now !!! lol

[@moshezuchter]

Thanks Adrian. Happy if it gives you a bit of inspiration for now. I'll add some lessons to the site which will break things down a bit more.

[@ronday4210]

Informative-🤙🏽

[@moshezuchter]

Thank you 🙏

[@Mark-qj4qv]

Them Boudreaux Brothers can jam!!!!

[@musicmoves2432]

Hello Hello Excellent, I wish success👍🤓👍🤓🎼🎼🎼🎼🚀

[@moshezuchter]

Thanks!

[@budmike81]

If you’re ever in south Louisiana, give me a shout. I’ll take you to see some bad ass zydeco bands and accordion players. 🪗

[@moshezuchter]

Awesome! Would love to

[@AyyashMusic]

Indeed it is quite easy to play mexican music on 3 row diatonic accordions.

[@budmike81]

And check out Chubby Carrier. One of the best Zydeco accordion players.

[@artigane51]

was it not better an accordeon zydeco partto use then an diatonic buttun aaccordeon , mostly one row? look at renier

[@tamarlehman7433]

תודה!!

[@moshezuchter]

בבקשה

[@FUBAR956]

What you’re calling Tex-Mex is called Musica Norteña

[@Lee-qo8pq]

Nah, more of Tejano or Conjunto🤘

[@2ndamendmipistolatejanopri2]

Musica nortena is not tex mex nortena music is ramon ayala flaco jimenez us tex mex texas tornados is tex mex los garcia bros is tex mex

[@Alexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx87]

Do it without the companionship you do with the left hand..

[@charitylouisa]

I wish this guy would do less talking