Bartleby wrote:Now, does anyone have any recommendation for finding an A/D/G accordion? I'm looking at the Hohner Corona II, but it's way expensive.
I don't play squeeze box myself (not yet) but from what I've read, aren't the less expensive models a bit frustrating to play?
Noting the referrence to the use in Tex/Mex music and Québécois music, the A/D/G is very common in Cajun music as well. I think the best current example of this is Savoy Doucet Band (fiddle, accordion, and guitar).
Marc Savoy makes what he plays. His accordions are expensive but he sells other makes of accordions as well. The main reason I mention him is he repairs accordions. A visit to his shop might talk anyone into (or out of) the whole lifestyle (because we all know it is one).
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http://www.savoymusiccenter.com/>
The story I heard was the Germans brought that tuning of accordion to the USA and both the Mexicans and Cajuns took it up. They tell me that A/D/G tuning is part of the reason why the Cajuns "tune down" their fiddles to FCGD (I suspect the other part of the reason is because the lowered string tension means less of a chance the fiddle comes unglued in the bayou).
What I find really interesting, quite a few of the famous Cajun musicians over the years have had Irish last names. If their ancestors immigrated in the mid 1800's why didn't whistles and flutes make the voyage as well?
or have I just been not clever enough to recognize the Irish influences?