While most folks worry about micing their instrument, I have the opposite problem, practicing the accordion without driving everyone crazy.

My wife said that if I practiced in the car with the window rolled up, in the neighbor’s driveway, the volume would be about right at home.

Banjos and fiddles can be muted but how do you mute down the accordion volume. I know you can pull stops and squeeze less but when learning new licks the idea of squeezing softly seems to get lost.

Anyway, I was wondering what those who live in apartments or do not have a neighbor’s driveway close by, do?

Tnx
RPr

i had to wait about 5 months till i bought a house.

When I was first learning I went through that same thing. I was living in a rented house with two roomates, and they would often ask "Isn't there somewhere else you could do that?". That was AFTER, I had closed all the reed banks except for one, and was trying to play somewhat quietly.

So, I did things like find a remote section of a public park, played in my car, played (quietly) in my office at work with the door closed.

Another thing I did, which I don't recommend, was to play in my car while driving home late at night from gigs (I was a bass player in Vermont's only zydeco band). For the first 6 to 12 months, that was where I got in my most solid practice time - and I lived to tell the tale.

I got a big chuckle when I heard Dirk Powell say that that was how he learned too!

-David

The neighbors got used to it and really don't hear much unless I play outside on the porch. (MY lot is 40 Feet wide so the houses are close.) They don't even mention the jams that take place here. And you may hear that you have improved in the last year.
Keep squeezin'.
Leslie

My neighbor told me the other day she could hear me practicing...and she called it "Music!" Sweet, huh?

When I first started playing I lived in a Condo with many people in the building. I was also living with a my girlfriend (of the time, we broke up, not because of the accordion though heheh).

My girlfriend made me play in the bathroom, which in reality amplified the hell out of my Acadian.

The neighbor upstairs would complain from time to time, but I kept on playing anyway.

As far as muting an accordion... just play quieter with the bellows. But this may stunt the learning process. This is a tough call.

What kind of weather do you have in your area? My suggestion is when it's good weather find a park to practice in. I did that. I even practiced in graveyards at night (sounds cryptic, but was a good place to practice!).

I'd say never play your accordion in weather below 70 degrees. It has put my reeds out of tune in the past and could potentially break them.

Anyway, good luck to you

Jim

You can play quite soft with an accordion. It is also good for your bellow's control.
Remember that the player hears less than the audience. Go and sit in front of the (closed) window, so you will get the sound back.

Be glad that you don't play bagpipes. Them cannot be played soft. I know, I play a French one and though they are much softer than the Schottish ones, my neighbour 500 meters away can hear it. (when played outside, of course)

Gus

Once I wrote this in an e-mail

I try to play the accordion every day and my wife and children don't like it every day.
But I'm still married and the children didn't leave there parents.
But the people next door love it.
Even in the beginning when I'm only playing simple scales and errors.
It's a problem every accordionplayer has to live with.
I'm also playing a little banjo, but that was allways allright.
And don't mute it!!!