Can somebody SIMPLY explain to us newer guyswhat the flyin' crap those 1rst, 2nd, positions are? What do they mean with respect to the 10 buttons?
Thanks...I hope.
When trying to SIMPLY explain music, its not always easy or possible. Often times something does not become simple until after the concept is understood and upon reflection one wonders why it was ever so difficult to understand in the first place. But I'll try.
A "C" accordion is tuned to the key of C, a "D" accordion is tuned to the key of D, and so on...
Playing in the key that the accordion is tuned to is the primary key that accordion is designed to be played in. So for a C accordion the primary key that accordion is designed to be played in, is in the key of C. Each button is tuned to the C major scale, and every note of the C major scale is available. VOILA! the 1st position. The 1st position is simply playing in the key that the accordion is tuned to. 1st position is the most commonly used position. This primary key is the only key on the accordion which has a full tonal range. And the bass side matches perfectly! The rest will be lacking to some degree.
There is a secondary key that matches up well with the primary key. This secondary key is based on the 5th note of the primary scale that the accordion is tuned to. On an accordion tuned to C, that secondary key would be the 5th note of the C major scale. Take your accordion out, start on the C note, walk up the scale till you hit the 5th note. This 5th note of the C major scale is a "G". Playing in this secondary key is playing the... wait for it......BAM! 2nd position. And this position is the 2nd most used position after the 1st position. Bass side does not really match that well but its do-able.
After those two positions things get much harder. The 3rd position is based off of the 4th note of the primary scale that the accordion is tuned to. Less notes are available, its harder to play in and that's why not that many songs are recorded in 3rd position and the subsequent positions that follow.
If you are looking for more, Ann Savoy discusses these positions on page 1 and 2 of her book "Cajun Music A Reflection of a People".
The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week
