I think so too misto plumtree but you learned before they had videeyoz. using videeyoz has helped more than anything for me. Also, if you get a good accordion player to make some audio tapes of the songs you like, and play them slowwww and smewwwth, that helps a lot. You are extremely lucky if you can swap a video back and forth with a good player. one who shall go unnamed helped me this way and it was a good idea: I'd send him an audio tape and when he got done laffen he'd send me a videeyo of what I was trying to do.

finally, learning by ear really burns it in the fingers but the problem is that there is sooo much trial and error. you need some help starting out by a videeyo or something like that.

how the peaches and plums this year bro?

jt

hay jude

Hey Bro, how's thangs?

Me, I'm good. I had a nice couple gigs over the weekend playin' bass behind Mark St. Mary. It was fun gettin' down on the bass (and less stressful than leading a band on accordion!)

The peaches and plums won't be in for a while. We're still on the tail end of the naval oranges.

See ya,
David

There are other things to consider;

1) How long you have been playing the accordion
2) do you play other instruments
3) do you play other music.

I think the learning techniques may vary. By that I mean I live in a place (SC) where there is absolutely no Cajun music. My learning Cajun tunes come from
the Larry Miller Book and CD, Dirk Powell DVD #1. Joe Rogers DVD, Big Nicks web page. Dirk Powell DvD #2 is a little advanced for me. I can pick a little up from Cajun CD's.

I have played music all my life but only the accordion for five months so the Cajun tunes are new to me.

The non Cajun tunes that came right out of the blue totally by ear are those that I have played on other instruments, tunes such:
Edileweiss
Kentucky waltz
Boneparte Crossing the Rhine
Old Folks at Home, (Thanks Wilson for the DVD on Horace T.)
Star of County Down

Only one tune I learned from the notes Bill Sullivan's Polka and is listed on this forum.

My apporach was to play what I can even if its not Cajun so I can learn where the notes(sound) is on the keys and then move into more Cajun music and by
ear if possible

To answer your question directly Bohemain, I use what ever technique I can to learn the tune.

Thanks ..... Ed

just listen to a cd and try to play along with the accordian and try it over and over until your fingers are bleeding like i did.

When the neighbors start banging on the walls...you're gettin' there.

Banging on the walls ain't bad. It's when they start throwing shoes at you when you walk outside to get a breath of fresh air that you got to worry about.