Thanks Mark. It is heartfelt to hear encouragement from someone who feels my pain. I will keep plugging with thumb on the side. Hopefully it will click someday.
Alexander, South Padre Island
I find it's helpful to tilt the top of the accordion outward so that the alignment of one's right arm from elbow all the way through the wrist is a straight line. Guitar players develop callouses on their fingertips - most accordion players I know have a big one on the left side of their right thumb.
I think developing a comfortable and proper technique when learning will really help one progress as a player.
if it helps, go to www.stupid.com (real website). They have band-aids that look like strips of bacon. Protect your thumb and start a conversation. Or end one. Not sure which.
I have always been surprised hearing people talk about thumb pain and getting callouses on the thumb. I have never experienced any of that, but I can't say why.
One thing that was an issue on my very first accordion, an HA-114B, was the plastic thumbstrap was uncomfortable. The problem was that the edge of the plastic was rather sharp, and cut into the skin a bit. But I soon replaced it with a softer leather strap, and that was the end of that problem.
Are people experiencing pain because the thumb strap is too tight? I hate an excessively loose strap, but I don't crank it down either. I find that I do like to use a rubber band, but again, it is adjusted to be comfortably snug but not overly tight.
Me too...don't ever have thumb pain or numbness...or
callouses. Not sure what I'm doing different. I play most
days for an hour or more and sometimes on the weekend for
a few hours at a time.
Alex,
The right position should help you (i.e. 45%, etc.).
By the way, you never have use the #1 top button. This is a redondant note that in the past would be used as a frame of reference to tune the accordion. #2 button is much easier to reach.