To restate the obvious, on a C accordion, many songs will be played in G. Most men cannot sing very well in G - it is too high. My solution was to get a Bb and an A accordion. Until I took voice lessons to improve my range, even the key of F was difficult, but I can do it reasonably well now.

It is quite astonishing how much improvement there is in dropping down even just a half step. I would not have expected it, but my voice teacher said this is a very well known fact.

Also, there are some singing techniques that can help you hit the higher notes without sounding strained. One of the most important things is avoiding tension in the throat, jaw and tongue. Then there is proper breath control. Also, on the high notes, you can change some of the vowels which makes it sound better and easier to hit. For example, a long A sound (as in "hay"), can be changed to the sound of E as in "get". Or, change a long I sound (as in "high") to an "uh".

-David

Have you tried a D accordion? On the bass, this would be in between the high and low if you were in key of C. You have to try different keys to find your comfort zone.
Maz

I feel your pain

While I agree that getting a lower pitched accordion will help, but if and only iof you can sing.


However, I disagree with the voice lessons for Cajun music.. why

when is the last time you heard a true Cajun singer that sounded as if he has had formal voice lessons,
it is simply not part of the tradition

Imagine Dylan with voice lessons ( actullay he did that and put out Nashville Skyline, though my favorite ,went over like a lead balloon)

I CANNOT sing.. period.
Up till the age of 11 I was in the Nevada State Boys Choir.. after 11 I could never sing again.. it's that simple

Some people were born to sing and some weren't
I no longer try, it's not in the cards and I am happy for it

And though we all have many skills including me

Voice and math aint it.

You don't have to scream to be a real cajun singer. Belton Richard comes to mind. Beautiful voice and the real deal for sure.

also dewey balfa he sounds like silk on moss

jt

hay johnny

There are some songs that are just too high in C. forget about D
That may be why B flat accordions were sent from heaven, but then the fiddle players tell you to go to H--!
really admire all the great cajun vocalists who can do all those high tunes- the great style of Jesse Legge for example soars way up there. Quelle Etoile, for examle is a B---- in C but almost attaiable in B flat.

Oh yeah,

I feel y'all's pain too. I can sing comfortably in G, but F is probably my ideal key (even though I never do any songs in that one).

I recently ordered a new A Savoy box, which will be ready in October. E (on the pull) is a great key for my voice -- I don't have to strain the highs, and the midrange notes are comfortable.

Mess around with a guitar to see which key is best for you. Then you can buy a box that has that key in the pull.

Nick B.

If dropping the bucks for a new box that drops the key is not possible, you might try this -- it's worked for me and produced some interesting "original" results:

If you can find the lower harmony to the melody, give that a shot. You'd be surprised at what a new twist it can give to an old standard.

You never can tell...

Rick

everything depends on the song

every song has a range -
a highest and a lowest note

so to just say, i can;t sing in key "x",
doesn;t really mean anything

it;s a combination of the key and the range of the
song

so there may be songs you can sing with your
current accordion, you just have to find them.

now if you can;t sing the songs you *want* to sing,
that is another matter..

wle.

Another thing you can try is to play the song in the other position on the accordion. Many, many songs will work perfectly fine especially if it is just to cover a request. Here is one that I have done several times: Ivy Dugas recorded "The Gravel Road" in Bb on a Bb. Even in Bb, it is a pretty high song. I don't have a Bb, so if someone requests it, I play it in A on a D accordion. There are a few subtle differences in the melody, but you can get your point across.

good idea

i;ve done that

wle.