I was on a site that had music, lyrics, & tabs for the Cajun accordion.

Many songs were in G but the tabs were for a C box (being played in the key of G).

Is this common?

And if it is then when does one play a G box?

Lemme' know.

Thanks.

Ron W

When you play in G on a C box, you've got a flat 7th (in this case, F), a blue note that isn't there on a G box. I'm sure others can give tou much more detail, but that's pretty much it in a nutshell.
Steve

Hi Ron,

Yes, it is *very* common to play songs in the key of G on a C accordion. I never tallied them up, but it may well be that there are *more* in G than in C.

C accordions are perhaps the most commonly used, followed by D, Bb, and A. An accordion tuned to G is very, very rare (F is very rare too, as are other keys like Ab, B, etc.). Again, I don't have actual numbers, but I would guess that for every accordion in G, you probably would find a thousand in C, maybe even more.

But there isn't any right or wrong to it - it is about what you like and what works for you. I once saw Leroy Thomas pull out a G box for just one song, which was "Barres de la Prison" - it was perfect on a G accordion. (most of the night he was on a Bb single row and a piano accordion)

-David

Many, many songs can be played in both keys, but not all songs. Trying to play a C song in G, and vice versa, is a very good way to learn your keyboard, and often times, while trying, you will discover that you have learned another tune without realizing it. When you are familiar enough with your accordion to do that, it opens up the possibilities of fitting the key with your voice.

I have music that is in the key of "G" with chords being G-C-D. but the tabs are written to play the same notes with a "C" box. I know there is no C chord on a "G" box and there is no "D" cloard on a "C" box.

Is the "C" box used because it is more prevalent or because using the "C" box gives you a Blue note???

Lemme' know.

Thanks.

Ron W

> Is the "C" box used because it is more prevalent or
> because using the "C" box gives you a Blue note???


As I said before, there are WAY more C accordions in existence than G accordions. And, if you have a C accordion and you play in G, you get the flat 7th blue note.

-David

You can play a G-C-D song on a G accordion, but that isn't what is important. Anyone who is creating TAB, free or otherwise, would be reaching only 1-2% of the accordion players of the world if they were tabbing a G box. You can bet that if the tune is tabbed in G, it is a C accordion.

I use a G single-row accordion often in my zydeco band. It's lowwww, bro. Most of the zydeco tunes I play it on are in the key of D(cross-harp.) The single-row is not as limited to one key as many folks might think. I've seen Marc Savoy play one song in three different keys on a single-row. In his hands, it's an amazing and versatile instrument. Check out his video, "The Gospel Accordion To Marc." Of course after watching him play, it's going to be either inspirational or will cause you to drink heavily. Either way, you'll catch a good buzz! And the more you drink, the better you'll sound.

R!ck

I had a chance to play one of those low G accordions. Hardly any bellows movement and that thing growls. I have a very old Eagle in F that I picked up for next to nothing. Very high. Can't imagine a G box above that without driving all the neighborhood dogs crazy.
Steve

Speaking of going to the dogs, my dogs get up and leave the room every time I start playing my accordion. Should I take this as a bad sign?

Hal

Similar to what Steve just mentioned, I have a G box and the note are at least an octive above the G scale on my C box.

It is not a Cajun accordion and only has two reed banks. It is old and of Chech manufacture. I suspect it was use for traditiojnal Eastern Europian music or perhaps Irish jigs and hornpipes.

It was an "I will trade some of my junk for some of your junk" swap and should make an interesting restoration project someday.

RPr

My Hohner 114 is a low G and it can growl...

114 in G? Holy catfish! Was that stock or did you customize it? How cool!

Rick

Stock and old.