Re: Quick question - Did Amede Ardoin play all his recordings on a D accordion? N/T
One thing a lot of accordion players may not know. If you play on a "D" accordion, try playing the songs that are played in the key of "D" or "in the push". Because in the "pull" position, or key of "E" on a "D" accordion, singing aint easy nor does it sound all that special.
For instance, if you are able to learn chere tout tout played in "D" (in the push) on a "D" accordion, and you can sing it old old school with your stomach and throat at the same time, you'll get some of the best singin with feeling you've ever experienced. Remember those loud old Cajun masters? Well some of them anyway.
Not to brag, but when the occasion comes up that I play and sing it like that with chere tout tout or hackamoro.....people cry, lol including myself.
Learn the backwards side of your accordion, i think sometimes known as the "1st position". You know, it's the way alot of songs are played at the Savoy Music Center jams, and I'm sure it's been explained here on the bravenet before.
ie: "Knowing your accordion backwards and forwards" i think....Convert those songs you know well people, You'll find that you can increase your repetoir by 10-25%. Not to mention get to know what you are capable of or not.
Re: Quick question - Did Amede Ardoin play all his recordings on a D accordion? N/T
Well, the music was composed to be sung and tell a story.
In Cajun music, the voice is just another instrument.
It's a part of the band.
It takes a little work and a little time, but anyone can train themselves to sing, without straining or screaming, in any key and in the right octave.
I personally really like to sing in the key of A played on a D accordion.
A lot of it just has to do with being familiar and comfortable with the music.
Not wearing tight pants.
Re: Quick question - Did Amede Ardoin play all his recordings on a D accordion? N/T
Thats when another to do the singing comes in, its not always the accordionist who sings, but bar instrumentals a lot of cajun songs have words and would lack the full feeling and structure without them. Learning the accordion parts is the easy bit!
Just my opinion.