Welcome to old and new friends who are interested in discussing Cajun and other diatonic accordions, along with some occasional lagniappe....



CAJUN ACCORDION DISCUSSION GROUP

 

General Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Re: Re: Help with the Left Hand

I also ditto what Jude said. I also did songs that I had learned the treble side, and then played along with a recording using just the base side trying to do the bellows changes in the right places. I almost became violent a couple times trying to do that left hand, and one day I just noticed it was working, though not as smooth and consistent as a good player.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Help with the Left Hand

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement. I'm gonna work at it for a week, and report back. And Jude, thought you might like to know I'm waiting anxiously for a new box from your protege Ed. The heritage keeps getting passed along, it's a beautiful thing.

Chuck.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Help with the Left Hand

One other thing I found helpful: play a recording of a tune you really
like and which is in the same key of your accordion &
"play along" with only the left....

Re: Help with the Left Hand

There is a clip on you-tube that has a few seconds of Ray Abshire at a festival. It only shows his left side.

It looks to me like he is holding the bass note button down and pumping the bass cord. At one point he seems to bump the bass cords without the bass note.

Unfortunately, the clip only lasts a few seconds then cuts to other players so it is hard to study.

It lead me to wonder what methods others use. I would expect there is a lot of "feels right", in people's playing.

RPr

Re: Re: Help with the Left Hand

I took an accordion class at Augusta from John Vidrine. When he wasn't helping us newbies, he would play for us, and his left hand playing was remarkable, lots more variety and style then just alternating. OK, all his playing was remarkable, but we're talking left hand here. And thanks for the tip.



Jamey Hall's most excellent Cajun Accordion Music Theory

Brett's all new Cajun Accordion Music Theory for all keys!

LFR1.gif - 1092 Bytes The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week

augusta.gif - 6841 Bytes

Listen to Some GREAT Music While You Surf the Net!!
The BEST Radio Station on the Planet!