Late Beginning

[DeadGrandpa]

Howdy. I'm old, and just beginning to make time to learn how to play my Cajun Accordion. Bought it some decades ago, but took it to a local squeeze box repair shop last week and had it put back into playing condition. I'm know little about music and I'm not particularly coordinated, but I'd like to see if I can still learn something new in the few years I have left. I think I have a chance, due to the small number of buttons, and I really like the sound.

 

[Dingo40]

just beginning to make time to learn how to play my Cajun Accordion

Welcome DG!
There are some diatonic button accordion players here, but most of us are into piano accordion or chromatic button accordion (or both), so we'll only be of limited help.
You may find the melodeon website more appropriate
See here:

Melodeon.net Forums

Melodeon.net Forums

forum.melodeon.net

 

[DeadGrandpa]

Hi Dingo! Thanks for the information. I guess I haven't done my due diligence on the nomenclature.

 

[Dingo40]

There's a lot to know!
See here:

Types of Accordion and Their Distinctive Features

From diatonic to chromatic and everything in between, our guide covers all the types of accordions and their unique features.

accordionchords.com

 

[DeadGrandpa]

I chose the one row button accordion because of the sound, and because I thought ten buttons is about all that I can handle.

 

[dunlustin]

Welcome from a fellow DeadG..
Not many here are Cajun players but there's lots of support even if we don't know much.
Have you looked around on line? Cajun seems to still be very alive and authentic - almost always playing by ear and not hung up on theory.
If you haven't found them, maybe these can help:

Helpful Hints for Learning Songs | savoymusiccenter

www.savoymusiccenter.com

BoxLesson

https://lafolkroots.org/onlineclassesportal

Lots more out there.

 

[DeadGrandpa]

That's very helpful, for sure. I was leaning towards playing by ear, but I know I need to get a bunch of the fundamentals in there first. I've been a fan of Donna The Buffalo for a while and really enjoyed their "Why You Wanna Leave Me", especially because of the melodeon.

 

[Dingo40]

Amazing what you can do with them!

And:

AND, not all bandoneons are the same!