Irish Dancemaster accordions?

claudine · Post by **claudine** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:10 am

yes, there was one shoulder strap. should there be more?
I have never touched an accordion before, so I really can not say much about the quality of this instrument. So far I like it, have played it quite a bit already. I like the sound, the tuning, and the looks too. Also the price: I payed about 750 Euro (accordion + shipping + local taxes), and I think that is a good price.
Next week an accordion-playing friend will try my new box, maybe he will be able to say more. He usually plays a Saltarelle and a Castagnari, so he can certainly compare.
My problem now: I would like to learn a tune with basses. So far I play tunes and basses separately, and it's difficult for me to get them together. But I would really need a good and easy tune to learn how to combine them in a "perfect" (lol) way. Any ideas?

lixnaw · Post by **lixnaw** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:03 am

Yes, there should be two straps Claudine, some people prefere two anyway

And if you keep going on at that rate, like you barely started and already want to play basses, you'll end up playing better than your man above

claudine · Post by **claudine** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:01 am

lixnaw wrote:
And if you keep going on at that rate, like you barely started and already want to play basses, you'll end up playing better than your man above

Wish and reality are 2 different things, unfortunately.

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:49 am

lixnaw wrote:Yes, there should be two straps Claudine, some people prefere two anyway

It's down to personal preference, but I prefer two.

I recently tried playing with only one, and felt I was twisting my back to play - balancing the treble end on my left knee to stabilise it, and to give the bellows room to move past my left leg.

Most of my playing is done standing up, and for that two straps is a must.

StevieJ · Post by **StevieJ** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:37 am

Two straps might be easier than one when you are starting, and particularly with a fairly light box such as the one you have. OTOH ladies, being configured slightly differently, may find it easier to rest the accordion on the knee, in which case one strap is probably enough. (I say this not from personal experience but a friend of mine told me that certain aspects of her person restricted her choices regarding holding the box.)

As for basses - after playing for 2½ years I'm probably at the same point as you! But I've been making valiant efforts to master the things in recent months and I could send you a few pages from a book that might get you started - am sending you an e-mail. My advice would be to pick something dead simple in 2/4 or 3/4 time - not necessarily a trad tune, but something in which the melody falls on the main beats - and work on that alongside your efforts to master the right hand. Pick something in D to begin with - not G, since you'll find the absence of a C chord will restrict you in most G tunes.

Ro3b · Post by **Ro3b** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:49 am

Most people I know, self included, use just one strap. If I ever get good enough that I can consider playing box for gigs and dances and suchlike, I'm going to have to get used to using two straps because I hate sitting down when performing. (As a guitarist, I believe posing on stage is a VERY important consideration.

) But the box is much less stable that way, and it's not very nice to my hands either.

Re basses, one advantage of the C#/D is that the each pair of bass buttons play I and V chords in a particular key. If you're playing a melody in D (in simplest terms, staying on the inside row), you can produce a viable bass accompaniment just using the lower outer pair of buttons, which give you D and A chords. That's a start, anyway.

Anyway. Congratulations, and welcome to the dark side.

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:19 am

The new box blends in perfectly with
the new furniture, Luxidoc.
Looks like you'll be getting plenty of
help on this forum too..........

bohemian · Post by **bohemian** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:03 pm

I have been playing for a number of years..
1 row, 2 row, 2 1.2 row and 3 row

I use 1 strap

Which reeds did you specify for this accordion, I know that Michael has a few options.

claudine · Post by **claudine** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:51 am

I got the cheapest reeds, machine made.