Irish Button Accordion Lesson 1 - [The Basics] Start Here

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Everyone :) Thanks for all the comments and likes - Please feel free to ask any questions about this button accordion lesson or about Irish music in general and we'll get back to you straight away. Remember to subscribe to our channel and click the bell to get notified of our new video releases.

[@c_farther5208]

Wonderful teacher. I love the fact you care enough to repeat and get that information into the brain. Where I live, it costs 60-80 dollars an hour for a lesson and that is 45 minutes with lots of interruptions. I am sure many people appreciate your kindness to post.

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

+C_ Farther There are more lessons from Derek on the oaim.ie website. A full subscription costs just €19 p.m. and grants access to 500+ Irish music lessons just like this one :)

[@oliverlonergan3061]

C_ Farther n

[@chriscole5405]

I started playing the D/G system 40 years ago-I'm from Manchester which has a large Irish population. After starting playing basic English tunes, I felt slightly bored and resolved to learn Irish tunes-I knew nothing whatsoever abot tunings/keys, etc. It wasn't easy at first, but I persevered and finally got there ! I've been thinking of having a go on a B/C but am I wasting my time as I've been playing the "English" for such a long time ?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Chris, I'm not sure .. Why not rent a B/C or buy a cheap one that you'll be able to sell back if you don't use it.

[@chriscole5405]

+IrishMusicAcademy Thanks for replying.I have a friend who has an old Hohner double ray which he's prepared to sell for seventy five quid.I think I'll give it a go. Cheers.

[@MikeyJMJ]

Thanks for the lesson. I still have the B/C Martini accordion that my dad bought 60 odd years ago and I'm hoping to at least learn a few tunes, sadly he's no longer here to teach me. Do you have any video on pushing and pulling the bellows for beginners? Also my dad's accordion doesn't have a shoulder strap, is this a must have for beginners and do you know the best place to get one? Many thanks.

[@Cyborgon]

Hi Does he go through how to know when to pull and push it? because i didn't pick it up here and this is lesson 1 lol

[@johndavies5023]

Great lesson. How would an AD button accordion fare in comparison to the BC (other than the obvious key differences)? Not many lessons I can find out there in AD.

[@samsadventure]

could you do a short video on how to add bass to this tune. I am using a Salterelle Irish Bouebe with the "modern" eight-button bass/chord pattern, thanks, Sam

[@Geistmeister6]

You guys are too awesome

[@blether12]

Not a different key but Derek's just has a couple of extra buttons to get a bit lower. His is an expensive box. But check your tuning. Are you B/C?

[@warrior8170]

I'm thinking of getting a B/C diatonic button accordion so I can eventually join a celtic fiddle club. But could you also play other genres such as steampunk or songs with some darker tunes on it? as in songs played in a minor key? I hope I'm making sense here. thx :)

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Yes you can play in any key and all genres of music :)

[@briandavies4051]

Most of my wife's fiddle music is in the key of G or D and I believe that it is mostly Irish music. What is the reason for Irish music being played with a Button Accordion tuned in B/C instead of G/D? Would a G/D tuned instrument just not work well for Irish music? Many Thanks for the excellent instructional video. All the Best!

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

+Brian Davies Hi Brian, it's not quite as simple as that. A, G D accordion doesn't offer the versatility demanded in Irish music, we uses notes like G sharp and E flat and F natural and B flat that a G D accordion doesn't have. B C accordions are chromatic, which means they have every note in the western scale, and also the notes on a B C are much closer together in terms of semitone distance when it comes to crossing rows than a G D accordion. Hope this helps.

[@briandavies4051]

+irishmusicacademy Oh thanks so much - this puts everything into perspective as I begin the search for an instrument.

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Ken, let us know how you get along with it.. We're happy to answer any questions from you or anyone on here, just ask..

[@jodorset648]

Hi There are three paddles (on the opposite side of my accordion from the buttons)and two wooden stops. What role do they play please?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Jo, I'm not 100% sure without seeing the box. Could you send a photo via email to our team and we'll have a look? admin at oaim.ie

[@Spasterix]

afaik the Irish all play B/C boxes, mostly Italian brands. Didn´t know that when I bought my Hohner Club 2B. Wanted to play those crazy Irish Jig and Reel tunes, but doesn´t work on my box. I can do some nice tunes on my box, but not the Irish stuff. I think I am gonna sell it and start over. One thing I want to mention: the Button Box is an amazing tool. The basics are somewhat difficult to grasp, but once you get the hang of it, she will be wax in your hands. Playing it is like sleepwalking, and it is a very powerful instrument. I love it. Attempting once again: Panama Freighter by Ian Anderson

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi, That's unlucky. Please let me know if you need some info on a good box to buy.

[@patricesaccone3058]

My dad played the squeezebox, and I believe it might have been his father squeeze box. , But it's not easy. So hopefully when I get through some of these lessons maybe I can play like my dad did. He Never took lessons.

[@yefaircity]

Please forgive my ignorance , this is a bit too advanced for me. an absolute beginner . Does one get the same sound from a button pushing in or pulling out the bellows , I can't tell. . It is hard to see which buttons your fingers are pressing , My accordion has no key description on it , like keys etc .,like a tin whistle .Must you have a D accordion to play in D ? You say the key of D ....... I know nothing of keys which most tutorials seem to take for granted . II picked up a few tunes from my dad as a child (badly) playing on one row of buttons and cannot play bass buttons at all .

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi, The button accordion makes two different notes on the pull and push. You need a B/C accordion to follow these tutorials. Do you know what type your instrument is?

[@swordsoffire2212]

In the lessons do they give the specific fingerings for tunes? Just wondering

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

From watching the video, you can see Derek's hands close up.. He sometimes talks about the fingering.

[@mstwain77]

Just wondering what you said the name of the tune is, its lovely!

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

The name of the tune is 'Báidín Fheidhlimí' - [BAH-jeen EH-lih-mee] Glad you like it :)

[@hardcorepaisahater]

Hi I have a honner gfc diatonic accordion ,can I play this kind of songs with it? Saludos desde Kansas city

[@Izakokomarixyz]

hardcorepaisahater Nope but you can play CUMBIAAAA!!!!

[@josephinestaunton9301]

Hi Derek. I have managed to play several tunes by Ear. Unfortunately I have get into very bad habits ie I play the inner row only on B/C box and have never read music EMMM. Am I beyond redemption??? I LOVE your approach and pace. I'm of the tender years. Help.

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

+Josephine Staunton I'd suggest following one of the beginner accordion courses @ oaim.ie and retraining those fingers :)

[@josephinestaunton9301]

+irishmusicacademy Thank you.

[@jerryhollands8444]

Hi Derek. Key of HC I play blues harp by ear and can’t read music. I found an old Hohner in the market that needed repairs and had it repaired. Its in the key of HC and I’m unable to find any information on it. Right hand 21 buttons in 2 rows, left hand 8 buttons in 2 rows. I know nothing about melodeons but was advised to learn to play one before trying again on my Anglo squeezebox, which I struggled with. Any advice would be very welcome. Oh, I’m left handed and adapted the air release button so I can reverse the melodeon.

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Jerry, That's a lot of questions. I manage this channel and also play an anglo. Unfortunately I'm not qualified to comment on your issue. If you asked this question on the OAIM forum you would get an answer from one of our tutors.

[@Ulujmf]

Hi, can I play a gc diato accordion like a DG meaning keeping the same fingering

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi, That sounds like one of the rows will be different, so you would have to change the fingering yes.

[@catherinemcloughlin6323]

When buying an accordion what key should I get?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Catherine, It's a B/C button accordion that you are looking for. Have you got a shop close by where you could try out a few?

[@YARNBARF]

@@onlineacademyofirishmusic I ordered a Hohner B/C accordion from the Button Box online. I already have a G/C Hohner in excellent condition. They sent me another G/C instead of the B/C I wanted! It was $732.00 plus change! And it didn't even have the thumb strap like mine has. I am so very disappointed, and looks like a trip to the post office will be on my agenda tomorrow.

[@YARNBARF]

@@deadmanswife3625 Yes, I returned it and they even reimbursed my shipping charges! So, I will have to make do with my G/C box. I figured out a few tunes on it by the third week of playing it.

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

If it sounds the same as the tune, then I guess it's just fine :)

[@aineliamfionanora4]

my accordion has 10 button row and 11 button row does it matter when following along

[@joakimleed4047]

my accordion has a 5x12 buttons on the left hand side and 4x15 on my right hand side. Does these accordions have a special name?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Check out all the different types of accordions here - squeezeboxstories.com/background/accordion-101-types-of-the-accordion/ Let us know which one you have :)

[@joakimleed4047]

Thanks for your help, it's a chromatic button accordion, my granddad gave it to me. Right now, I'm learning myself how to play it, it's really interesting. :)

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Great, good luck with it :)

[@roryfleming2320]

thank you

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

you're welcome :)

[@patriciamartin8576]

Hi, great video - what is name of first song you played at 3:10 - I can’t spell it thanks!!

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Patricia, that tune is spelt Báidín Fheidhlimí :) Have you been learning this tune?

[@malccomley2049]

Can you help me with which are the best melodeon B/C to start on as a total beginner .

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

I'd go for the $500 range Hohner on ebay..

[@sarahcardiff3]

hi just got a hand be down button accordion, I've to start on third button down for D as oppose to fourth in tutorial...is mine different key or something?

[@Tomac7905]

Can I download these videos?

[@germurphy1016]

I have a Paolo Soprani button accordeon - purchased in early 1960's - but I dunnowhat sort of tuning it has (B/C , C/D or what. All I know is that I find it v difficult / impossible to join in with music played on cds or in pubs etc. I know the tunes but they're all being played in different keys. HELP!

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Ger, Try to match up the buttons Derek plays in the video to the buttons on your box with the scale of D exercise above. And let me know if they match.

[@94ferraz]

hy i have a honner 2 roads C F tel-me how to do the diatonic sacale. thanks

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Roman, We only teach b/c accordion at the moment.

[@adrianoverkill]

do ye have a single row key G lesson series?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Ade, we have B/C tuition only at the moment.

[@other2535]

hi derek . what make is your accordion?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

It's a Paddy Clancy, check out his website here - www.paddyclancy.com/aboutus.html

[@STEFYRED]

how is the manufacturer of your accordion? Any price range that you can suggest for it

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

stefy red It's a Clancy. Check out the site here - www.paddyclancy.com/

[@catherinemcloughlin6323]

What dose b/c. Dc or whatever mean

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Catherine, That means one row of buttons is in the key of B and the other in C. Does that make sense? Any music sessions close to your home?

[@yvanwild]

What's the song at the begening please ?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

+yvan kereun appa that tune is called the Ashplant and is performed here by OAIM tutor Thomas Johnston. You can find a tutorial to learn it on the OAIM.ie website.

[@psxpro5]

what's the tree finger?

[@euanmacrory2233]

How do you spell the name of the tune you teach in this video?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Euan, Derek doesn't teach a tune in this vid, but teaches Báidín Fheidhlimí in the next tutorial. Is that the name you were looking for?

[@seanoregan998]

Wait a minute.... the one button he pressed two times in a row but got a different sound out of it. Can anyone explain it?

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

There are different notes on the same button for the push and pull, just like a harmonica.

[@seanoregan998]

@@onlineacademyofirishmusic thank you

[@The2Frank]

One Question please. What type of Akkordeon is this one ? Exactly name for buying it please.

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Frank, That's a Paddy Clancy. You would need a B/C model to take these lessons. Tell him you are looking for the same model Derek plays in our videos - here's his web address - www.paddyclancy.com/ Let me know if that works out for you. Is there a session close by to your home?

[@Tutoriale4KcuVitalieVataman]

Formidable ! 👍😘👏

[@mrkennethporter]

This is quite hard simply because its in D and I have to use the other row. I guess if it was easy, everyone would be at it. LOL. Im going to give this a bit of effort .

[@Louis-MichelFriloux]

I can now play a song on accordion, I will now cry

[@Louis-MichelFriloux]

it took so much work now I will learn his father's polka

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Well done !! :)

[@adrianoverkill]

great stuff mate but my single row is in key G ... dang it

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Hi Ade, Many people use G/C to play Irish music, you would just have to learn the different fingerings. You would still learn phrase by phrase and create your own finger patterns as you go. Get the abc's and give it a go ! oaim.ie/instrument/12/button_accordion

[@cathybourner349]

I believe my accordion is a Bb/Eb--is that even possible? It's a bugger to find instruction for!

[@onlineacademyofirishmusic]

Cathy Bourner Hi Cathy, that sure is possible!! Sorry to hear you're having trouble learning that. The vast majority of Irish musicians use B/C tuned boxes.

[@antozo8]

Why not use the fourth finger? not the scale fingering I would recommend, does not make sense not utilising the fourth finger to avoid jumping around!!!!!!!!!!

[@fiat38741]

I completely agree with you