How did you learn the bass keyboard

[JerryPH]

see thats the thing though i understand practice makes perect however im not sure in which way to practice ....

Ive been reading all your posts for a while now and I see the same pattern over and over and over again. While some people have the gift to be able to pick up an instrument and work their way to incredible levels of achievement, you are dont seem to be one of these people... You are like me in the sense that the best and fastest way to learn is from a teacher.

Now I am not saying that you cannot learn by yourself, because you can, BUT, if you dont get someone to sit in the same room with you 1-2 times a week and guide you on what direction to go to get your basics down perfectly, you are going to waste a LOT of time repeating the same questions, repeating the same mistakes and the learning process is going to be a long and very painful for one for you. You can possibly waste months or years of time learning something that a good teacher can give you in weeks.

This is my 2 cents worth.

 

[accordian]

just been playing song of storms again and found a better way to jumps

You realize that you dont need to jump at all here if you play the half-step up using 3-2-2 5-4-4 (counting the thumb as 1 even though it doesnt get used)? It fits at least my hand well enough that I can feel around with the pinky already while playing the lower pattern. I mean, improving your homing ability is certainly something youll also want to do independently, but this one rather calls for training fingering smartness in my book. At some point of time, youll need both anyway.

damn and I didnt think of this (using all fingers) the rule I learnt for things like oompa s alternating etc. is 4 for bass note , 3 for major chords 2 for minor and dim and sevenths. if you dont mind me asking could you please upload a quick vid of you demonstrating just how you do it. as even as im thinking about the way the hand would be positioned it doesnt seem right. thanks

 

[accordian]

see thats the thing though i understand practice makes perect however im not sure in which way to practice ....

Ive been reading all your posts for a while now and I see the same pattern over and over and over again. While some people have the gift to be able to pick up an instrument and work their way to incredible levels of achievement, you are definitely dont seem to be one of these people... You are like me in the sense that the best and fastest way to learn is from a teacher.

Now I am not saying that you cannot learn by yourself, because you can, BUT, if you dont get someone to sit in the same room with you 1-2 times a week and guide you on what direction to go to get your basics down perfectly, you are going to waste a LOT of time repeating the same questions, repeating the same mistakes and the learning process is going to be a long and very painful for one for you. You can possibly waste months or years of time learning something that a good teacher can give you in weeks.

This is my 2 cents worth.

I think you could be correct.

 

[Geronimo]

just been playing song of storms again and found a better way to jumps

You realize that you dont need to jump at all here if you play the half-step up using 3-2-2 5-4-4 (counting the thumb as 1 even though it doesnt get used)? It fits at least my hand well enough that I can feel around with the pinky already while playing the lower pattern. I mean, improving your homing ability is certainly something youll also want to do independently, but this one rather calls for training fingering smartness in my book. At some point of time, youll need both anyway.

damn and I didnt think of this (using all fingers) the rule I learnt for things like oompa s alternating etc. is 4 for bass note , 3 for major chords 2 for minor and dim and sevenths. if you dont mind me asking could you please upload a quick vid of you demonstrating just how you do it. as even as im thinking about the way the hand would be positioned it doesnt seem right. thanks

Rules apply to situations. Fixed fingering rules are for common playing situations where jumps arent really dominating the problem space. Using rules helps you to frequently encounter similar patterns with good solutions that you can practice with good payoff.

But not every situation is the one particular rules have been optimized for.
<YOUTUBE id=JIh3T9-VnfI url=>[media]</YOUTUBE>
By the way, I did not crank out light or mics or even a video editor here (or even make more than a single take or practise so this is full of gunk), so make of this what you will. Frankly, I find the description more useful than the video here since the video does not really show what is happening even though I tried getting a good perspective.

 

[accordian]

You realize that you dont need to jump at all here if you play the half-step up using 3-2-2 5-4-4 (counting the thumb as 1 even though it doesnt get used)? It fits at least my hand well enough that I can feel around with the pinky already while playing the lower pattern. I mean, improving your homing ability is certainly something youll also want to do independently, but this one rather calls for training fingering smartness in my book. At some point of time, youll need both anyway.

damn and I didnt think of this (using all fingers) the rule I learnt for things like oompa s alternating etc. is 4 for bass note , 3 for major chords 2 for minor and dim and sevenths. if you dont mind me asking could you please upload a quick vid of you demonstrating just how you do it. as even as im thinking about the way the hand would be positioned it doesnt seem right. thanks

Rules apply to situations. Fixed fingering rules are for common playing situations where jumps arent really dominating the problem space. Using rules helps you to frequently encounter similar patterns with good solutions that you can practice with good payoff.

But not every situation is the one particular rules have been optimized for.
<YOUTUBE id=JIh3T9-VnfI url=>[media]</YOUTUBE>
By the way, I did not crank out light or mics or even a video editor here (or even make more than a single take or practise so this is full of gunk), so make of this what you will. Frankly, I find the description more useful than the video here since the video does not really show what is happening even though I tried getting a good perspective.

thank you for that I now understand oh and nice sounding accordion by the way.

 

[Geronimo]

thank you for that I now understand oh and nice sounding accordion by the way.

Its not much of an accordion in this registration (which was just what I was working with currently on the Turks Fruit thing in the Slow Stradella thread). Single chord reed starting at F♯3, single bass reed at E1. The bass is actually so low that it doesnt register for such short keypresses (particularly not on laptop speakers), so its essentially a single (coupled) chord reed in second inversion: the prominent bass notes are the highest chord notes. Chords and bass supporting notes end up being consistent in their inversions, the actual bass with E1 D2 E1 F1 not so much. But since its basically just farting around anyway, one doesnt notice.

This works actually pretty well for Turks Fruit with its long bass notes (though so-so for runs) where there is an actual single-reed treble voice wanting to be heard above the left-hand din. But we got kids occupying the recording room from tomorrow noon till the weekend, so its unlikely Ill be able to create a demo till next week.

 

[accordian]

hello there's something iv'e just though of

is it possible i'm just using the wrong technique as i just thought right i need to get from here to here. iv'e not actually seen someone do this in front of me.

eg. when i was younger i was learning djing rom a friend and it took me a year to figure something that was really obvious.

 

[Happy girl]

Well accordion, would the solution to your dilemma be for you to invest in a few lessons via Skype?

 

[george garside]

for beginners its worth noting that the reason for all those buttons, be it 48, 72,96 or 120 is to enable you to play bass accompaniment in different musical keys. You do not use all the buttons for any given key, rather you start in a defferent place and do the same. So if for example you learn to play a simple bass accompanymnet in the key of C , and then want to play the same tune in the key of , say, A you would start on the A diagonal row instead of the C diagonal row ( see bass chart) and do exactly the same. Same goes for Eb or whatever!

The bass suggested on written music for different tunes will of course be different but will always involve positioning yourself initially on the diagonal row of the key you are going to play in and then using similar fingereing .

This is much easier to demonstrate that to describe but does outline the general principle which boils down to starting in the appropriate place for the key . This is best got the hang of by simply playing a tune you know well in different keys.

put another way the relativity of the bass notes used for any key is the same , its just the starting place that varies - hence the multitude of buttons!
george

 

[colinm]

Well accordion, would the solution to your dilemma be for you to invest in a few lessons via Skype?

Quite right,
Accordion, which tutor books are you using?
Why don,t you want to try Skype?
Why don,t you want to try a professional accordion tutor?
Help us to help you.
Cm


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[accordian]

Well accordion, would the solution to your dilemma be for you to invest in a few lessons via Skype?

Quite right,
Accordion, which tutor books are you using?
Why don,t you want to try Skype?
Why don,t you want to try a professional accordion tutor?
Help us to help you.
Cm


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

well ive been playing for 7 months now and can play a fair amount however that being said i cant quite understand bass jumps maybe its the way im practicing as im not trying to understand the rotation as im doing it but rather id look in a mirror aim or the buttons keep doing it then do it without looking. so i spose in that way im not learning the how much do i angle my hand for this button etc. im self taught

as for accordion tutors honestly i cant quite ind the one im looking for. ive seen macs accordions but from the description of what he says he only reads the book or teaches from the book which i have no problem learning other songs however that being said from my understanding most accordion books contain the accordion history , bass layout etc. but never how do i do this.

as for what books do i use for tutoring. none.

if you could suggest me any books then id appreciate it

 

[accordian]

think iv'e finally got it ( the jump ) now for the rest of the bass lol

 

[JerryPH]

It is difficult to ask someone to tell ypu what they do not know. They know that there is a lack of info, but you will be amazed at the hundreds of small things you don't know after a competant teacher TELLS you.

This is not conjecture or guessing, but proven fact... The fastest and best way to learn quickly and correctly is to have someone show you the basics. After a few years of you getting those down, then, you can take it where you want.

I personally know 2 people that self-learned 15+ years that were invited to sit with a teacher for 30 minutes and both came out with their jaw on their chest, amazed at what they learned. When I went back and spoke to the teacher what did he teach them that was so amazing? The basics.

7 months is nothing on a musical instrument, you are still in the learning to crawl stage. This is not an insult, it is a fact. Any instrument takes many years and NOW is the time to learn it properly... BEFORE all your bad habits get set in cement and are a lot harder to change.

This is going to be my last post here... and I am also no longer going to participate in any future thread where you ask a question where the answer involves taking lessons from a good teacher or simply practicing. Asking questions is good! Asking questions and not following the advice offered in some form is not wise.

 

[lightninboy]

Maybe it's like how did Myron Floren and Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles get so good? You just have to practice and repeat.

 

[StargazerTony]

well I have had a quick try of my 4 button radius and have tried playing a pattern which I can then number my hand positions and it works pretty well the only problem is as you said I only have my c bass marked which although might sound stupid I have just picked up / someone bought me a 120 bass vintage accordion for christmas which I dont really want to change too much as its in really good condition. however marking the buttons would definatley be a help. do any of you know if there are any stick on jewels or anything like that that wont leave behind any residue as said I know I can wipe it off but I really dont want to have to mess about with it too much.

Yes, jewels sometimes called gems, are great enhancements to your bass buttons. You can find them in hobby shops, or Walmart, in the hobby section. They are not expensive and you can buy a lifetime supply for a few dollars. Girls use them to stick on just about anything from cell phones to purses, wallets and who knows what else. They come in various sizes and colors so measure the diameter of your buttons first. Try the self stick ones first to see if you really like them, however, they will quickly move and come off. Super glueing them, Im afraid, is the way to fasten them to an accordion

 

[Geronimo]

Try the self stick ones first to see if you really like them, however, they will quickly move and come off. Super glueing them, Im afraid, is the way to fasten them to an accordion

Those are likely plastic and will, among other things, wear down. Also, gluing them on top is going to have them stick out more than desired. I think the correct way is heating them up (the right ones are crystals like genuine fake gems) and then pressing them into the plastic so that they sink in and stay. Probably worth experimenting with some other piece of plastic first rather than going right at an accordion button.

 

[JIM D.]

http://www.accordionrevival.com/ACCORDION_REPAIR_2.php#Replacing_bass_buttons

 

[accordian]

http://www.accordionrevival.com/ACCORDION_REPAIR_2.php#Replacing_bass_buttons

im not so sure about that one as said it might sound stupid but my accordion is a vintage in great shape i dont want o be messing with it too much

 

[accordian]

so far i can play song of storms with some good accuracy not 100% but still not bad i think i will keep to the one position my hand stays in as i can manage to reach almost all the natural basses and chords.i will keep practicing this song and others using these range of chords.

how often are the accidental basses , chords used?

 

[Geronimo]

i think i will keep to the one position my hand stays in as i can manage to reach almost all the natural basses and chords.i will keep practicing this song and others using these range of chords.

how often are the accidental basses , chords used?

Frequently enough. Typically B♭ downwards more often than F♯ upwards. After all, its closer to C and also the natural range for typical brass.

I think you are making up too many theories and rules that are too arbitrary to actually be helpful.