I write my own tunes on my Martin C and sometimes I have passages in which I "run out of bellows" after a long run of push or pull. Do you have any sources where I could learn about air control for those passages? I don't really want to change the notes of my songs.
Well, if you are running out of bellows on the pull, you need to start the song with the accordion almost closed. If you are running out of bellows on the push, Maybe you need to start the song with the accordion halfway open. What's the matter, do you have leaky Bellows or something?
Well, start those songs with the bellows pulled open about 10 inches and see how it goes. And check the ball of your thumb on the left hand and see how it interacts with the air release on the back of the base side buttons. Some accordion players are pushing that air release valve constantly, while others seldom use it....it's supposed to be subconscious, lol....don't go thinking about that air release valve too much. You have way too much other stuff going on while playing that accordion to have to think about that air release valve too. Unless you're like me....I think about all of it and none of it at the same time while playing.
The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week
