So I got a GCF accordion so I can learn to play Zydeco. Are there any particular scales Zydeco players use the most, and which should I be learning? As I take it Zydeco is usually played in D major, G major, and C major? So would I be good if I learn the blues scale in D,G, and C (on the pull) and some triads that go along with those(on the push and pull)? If someone can point me in the right direction of what keys to learn and preferred scales that would be great.

Hi DM,

Here are some links that will get you started. The text versions of the links below are repeated in "Website" buttons. You can click on those so it's more convenient.

http://www.delaguerre.com/delaguerre/pedagogy/3rowbacc/Musician_Guide_to_Acordeon_Conjunto_Norte%F1o.html

https://davetrial.tripod.com/

http://3rowzydecoaccordion.bravesites.com/

Good luck!

-David

Thanks a lot! That's a good start. I was wondering if you or someone else on the forum could help me figure out how to play this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W80jOPYwI2w&list=RDW80jOPYwI2w&start_radio=1

Not sure what song this is, but could anyone tell me what scales are being used or what key this is in. Not sure if he is playing on a F/Bb/Eb but if someone could help me figure it out and transpose it on the g/c/f(should be the same fingering) that would be amazing. Thanks!

He's playing in the key of C on a F-Bb-Eb accordion.

He's hitting a whole lot of bluesy notes!

You are correct that transposing the song to your G-C-F accordion would use the same fingering.

Do you play a single row diatonic? If so, one of the ways to get started on a triple row is to play it as though it was single row and then start adding notes from the other rows.

Since the song is in C, much of the song is played on the outer row, which is F. This means that when he is on the outer row, it is the same as the "pull" or 2nd position, on a single row. If you played the C scale on the outer row, it is actually the C mixolydian mode as the 7th degree of the scale is flat - a half step lower than C major.

(In your case, it would be D mixolydian on the outer G row)

I haven't tried this, but it is probably possible to play much of the song staying on the outer row. Switching parts to the middle row gives almost all the same notes, but the fingering is easier for certain runs. You do pick up one very useful note on the middle row, which the flat 3rd of C (or D for you). I cannot understate the importance of finding and using that note - it is worth the price of admission to the triple row.

I don't know how much more I can help. If you haven't played a triple row or even a single row at all before, you've got a lot of work ahead of you.

Thanks a lot! Great advice, I have played both single row and Irish two row but the technique on that is a bit different(but same note layout).