I'm in my eighth month on the cajun accordion, and I beginning to develop a small repetoire, but I'm frustated with the sound. Like my East Texas speaking "twang," that sound seems to find its way into the music.

Having a little background on the blues harp, I'm not entirely new to diatonic music, but my riffs seems to have too much range and less repetition than those of the Cajun accordion masters. The principles of jazz don't seem to work here.

The really good Cajun players use about a half-dozen notes, yet they produce a soulful wail and flow that I can't seem to duplicate. Their low sounds have a "grunt" that mine don't have. Their high sounds have a piercing, but pleasing, dissonance (like a funky piano), more so than mine. (I've got a Tim Reed C box with Binci reeds that seems to be tuned like most others.)

I've watched videos of various "Cajun" bands around the country, and they don't have it either. It's like you have to be a 2nd or 3rd generation player to get it.

Alone in Texarkana, I may be the only cajun accordion enthuthiast in town, thus I can't interact directly with any other players. I know there are some tricks to the licks, but they're not documented. So, I WANT THOSE SECRET TECHNIQUES!

Am I just a white guy in a Harlem tapdance contest, or can the Cajun sound actually be assimilated by a white Anglo-Saxon East-Texas protestant?

Could Augusta reveal the answers?

-Frustrated in T-Town

the guys you're talkin about been playin 20+ years. They are, in fact, masters of their craft. Just think about the experience of just 20 years. I am 27, that puts me at about 25 years of experience walking. I can say with confidence that I am a pretty **** good walker. I can walk on one foot, backwards, slow, fast, sideways, etc. Keep playing, keep listening, and keep an eye on where you can improve and you'll get there. Eight months with any instrument is not really enough to show proficiency. At eight months you are still probably just getting to know the instrument, and have not yet developed the skill to control the dynamics of it, that would result in those piercing highs (ray abshire), and growling lows (marc savoy).

Being from Louisiana is irrelevant, of course one could argue that growing up listening to the sounds helps instill them in your brain, but skill comes from repetition. During Mardi Gras I met one of the best cajun accordionists I have ever heard, and that week was his first time in Louisiana. He was from France.

Having a peer give you outside opinion on your playing can be beneficial. Invest in a camcorder and find someone you can feel comfortable with to review your playing. Practice with goals.
good luck to you !! and keep on playing

Hello Nedro,

At the risk of sounding patronizing, would it be
possible for you to record a clip of what you're
playing and post it somewhere for reviewing?

There are some top-shelf players that visit this
forum on occasion. Perhaps they could offer some
constructive/prescriptive criticism that would help
you to achieve your goal

Best of luck in your studies!

--BN

hey nedro. Those secrets your talking about arent told as easy as just asking. I (15 years experience on cajun accordian aka "top shelf") can help you out. I have taught a couple of people to play in the past and its been great, I enjoy helping, teaching, and learning also. Just email me when your ready.

Nedro, Have you used any instructional DVDs. I know the frustration of being self taught without an instructor. I highly recommend Big Nick's DVDs. Start with vol 1 even though you have eight months playing. You may have missed some techniques. Big Nick is an excellent teacher. I've been playing for a while and started with Vol 1. I recently started on Vol 3. If he ever comes out with Vol 4 I'll buy it in a New York minute. If possible, try to go to a dance and talk to the accordionist. You may have to make an over night trip as I did once. It will be well worth the trip. Good luck and keep squeezin'.

Why on earth go to Augusta when you can go to Balfa Camp? It's coming up, and it's just 4 hours or so down the road from you!

See you there . . .

Thanks for the input, guys! I'm following Jamey's advice and heading for Balfa Camp.

ok nedro good luck with that