Hello again Braves,

I just have to ask!

For any of you that have attended Ray's
accordion lessons in Balfa Camp ..

Was there any more talk about the Chanky Chank button?

--Big

I asked Ray today about this elusive button/technique. His reply to me was:

"The elusive syncopation, or chank a chank, everyone is referring to is a lead in note made on the "7" button in the first and second positions. In the third possition it is done on the "8" button. It was a very common practice when I was growing up but has faded away over the years. Most accordionist of today play around it by using additional staccato."

There ya go, straight from the master himself...

R!CK

R!CK,

Thanks for the official word!

As much as anything, I was curious if Ray was
mentioning the technique at Balfa camp ..

I guess so, eh?

Merci,

--Big

Ok so now I'm curious is this Chank Chank method your talking about simply (but not a hard rule) the rocking of an octave note during the medley? When I play Home Sweet Home I usually rock the octaves as I play it. What ya'll are describing sounds like what I'm doing. I kinda got that idea from Dirk Powell's video, but instead of playing the notes in the octave at the same t ime, I rock them back and forth so it has a double note sound. Bruce

Nick...glad you're following up on this facet of Ray's technique...the best example I've heard of his use of 'the button' is on his CD 'For Old Times Sake' - French 2-Step...the 7/10 really stand out as rhythm devices on that tune...

Are ya'll referring to the 7/10 pull that I now realize is used often in Cajun music? It is a sound I couldnt figure out how the heck they were doing it until I had the pleasure of watching our very own Kirk Menier playing at my dad's house. It's a unique sound.

Alright, you've picked my curiosity. Can someone clip it and place it on YouTube so everyone can see it?

Please??

Ray isn't talking about grabbing an octave or "rocking" between a higher note and a lower note. Specifically he means a quick in-out on the 7 as a lead into a push note, and a quick out-in as a lead into a pull note. And then sometimes this action is done on the 8 button depending on where the tune is going.

Ray advocates a pretty steady stream of eighth notes with the melody being highlighted by emphasis and chords (this is my wording, not his). There were several comrades who took video in the class (not me), so there probably will be some available once these folks catch up on their sleep and day jobs!

Steve Blais

I've been playing with incorporating the "Chanky-Chank" button into songs and I'm wondering if the CC button is really viable in songs played in C?

My impression is that it works well into songs in G. But it doesn't seem very easy to work it into songs in C. And it doesn't seem to sound as appropriate.

Is this the impression the rest of you have? Or do I need to re-think how/when I "chank-up" those C songs?