Playing ascending scale on stradella bass

[Alex S.]

The accordion piece i am trying to learn has an ascending scale on the bass side: C-D-E-F
Trouble is that on my instrument the interval E-F is where the sound drops down an octave. So instead of an ascending scale it comes out as a weird jump which does not sound right. Playing that scale on the treble side is not doable.
What's the way to get around that?
The sheet music i have is actually meant for accordion, so i am assuming there is some sort of trick i am missing....

Thanks for helping a newbie out!

 

[JerryPH]

There isn't.
If that was the way the accordion was designed, short of doing some serious modifications and retuning, this is the way it will stay.

 

[dunlustin]

Different accordions may have a different lowest note.
This means you must buy another accordion which we all agree is a good thing.
If this might cause an outbreak of hostilities one solution would be to play in a key that avoids the 'break.'
I hope I'm not stating the obvious.

 

[Zevy]

Try to use a bass register that has the "odd" configuration, where the octave begins and ends in a different scale. Including that set of reeds will "fool" the ears and you won't notice the drop.
Good luck!

 

[Glug]

As an example, my 1950s Orfeo has the following bass blocks:

Bass: C2-B2
Tenor: C3-B3

Contralto: F3-E4
Alto: F4-E5
Soprano: F5-E6

So in this case if you pick a bass register with at least 1 of bass/tenor and at least 1 of contralto/alto/soprano it's going to disguise the change.

 

[debra]

Most accordions with just "standard" bass (Stradella) have at least one voice with a different octave jump point. The point of that is to "hide" the octave jump when using the "tutti" register. It is a feeble attempt at achieving "Shepard tone", but in an accordion that can never be fully achieved as it requires a gradual shift in volume in the different notes to fully hide the jump. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard_tone for details.

 

[Sebastian Bravo]

Open the accordion, remove the big bass block, and put masking tape in the holes of the F-E bass reeds. Close the accordion and test the sound.

 

[saundersbp]

Or learn free bass, then you can play whatever notes you want rather than stradella presets!

 

[Dingo40]

AlexS,
"Trouble is that on my instrument the interval E-F is where the sound drops down an octave. So instead of an ascending scale it comes out as a weird jump which does not sound right. Playing that scale on the treble side is not doable."

I was surprised to read this as I couldn't remember ever experiencing it.?
I rechecked all my accordions and, to me, repeatedly playing a scale in the left hand, it just gives the illusion of continuing to ascend /descend indefinitely.?

 

[Eric Stern]

AlexS,
"Trouble is that on my instrument the interval E-F is where the sound drops down an octave. So instead of an ascending scale it comes out as a weird jump which does not sound right. Playing that scale on the treble side is not doable."

I was surprised to read this as I couldn't remember ever experiencing it.?
I rechecked all my accordions and, to me, repeatedly playing a scale in the left hand, it just gives the illusion of continuing to ascend /descend indefinitely.?

This is my experience as well. Perhaps my ear has gotten used to the sound, but the octave drop doesn't bother me if I even notice it.

 

[Dingo40]

Eric,
I live and learn, Eric, I live and learn!??

 

[Ventura]

short of bying a used FR7 (the low note position is programmable on the Bass)
you might also consider a used MIDI accordion, or adding MIDI Bass capability
to yours, as then you can use Software to control the pitch and postion of notes

for a short time there was a MIDI Accordion that allowed the octaves to follow
and shift automatically when one played an ascending OR decending bass pattern

the gentleman Jazz player you saw in the Charles Nunzio interview has one

 

[TomBR]

You haven't commented yet on the various suggestions made, Alex S, any thoughts?
If the octave jump is very obvious I wonder if you only have one set of bass reeds speaking?