I have. I would think most players who've been playing a while can id the notes on their basic accordion, especially if that's the one they learned on, at least the guys I've been around can. It seems easy on a C, but anything else seems not as easy to remember. I can remember the D just because I've tuned so many.
Knowing the notes of my accordions was pretty critical when I was learning songs in the 3rd position, it helped with the transposing since it seemed so unnatural to me to play in that position.
Bryan, you have no idea just how right you are. Time and understanding within this accordion discussion group will prove it. For those that are able to pay attention, seek, search, and decipher all of it, once it's all said and done.
Woops, this thread needs a correction for posterity's sake. My comments concerning the 2nd position have been proven wrong by my very own self. The positions have changed to a new system.
There used to be only 3 positions spoken of: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The only one that was correct was the 1st (being the primary key of any Cajun accordion). ie: most popular Cajun accordion is a "C" accordion whose primary key on the push is "C".
Positions or Keys (any Cajun accordion)
1st position = primary key on the push
2nd position = blues key pattern (rare)
3rd position = trinity pattern(rare)aka "The Holy Trinity" named for the 3 repeating push chords on any Cajun accordion. On a "C" accordion the trinity is the "E" chord
4th position = the backside pattern. Used to be the 3rd position
5th position = on the pull aka "In the 5th". Used to be the 2nd position
6th position = gypsy key pattern, the Mardi Gras song pattern (rare)
FYI...Jim Pettijohn aka BmoreBusker is attempting to show some of these chords and positions on youtube as of late. Could it be that he has read and understood my discoveries and declarations and is now using them to take a couple steps up the ladder of hierarchy? Why sure he is. Right Jum? Thas mah boy! LOL, I think he hates me.