The Chromatic Button Accordion Explained
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- Опубликовано: 20 июн 2013
- My detailed explanation of this instrument is designed for anyone who is thinking of starting to play it. Although I play a B system instrument, most of what I say in the video is applicable to a C system as well.
Treble and bass layout diagrams at www.daddylongles.com Go to "Chromatic Accordion"
More videos to follow, scales etc............. 
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I only wish this had been explained to me as a 10 year old 57 years ago. I was given one then but hadn't a clue how to use it and soon gave up ! Now at 67 I am learning the piano and piano accordion with help from guys like you. Many thanks.
Whats fascinating is that alot of jazz, country blues, and pop music even uses the circle of fifths (what the bass buttons rows are set up).
Great video! I cant wait to learn how to play accordion! I play piano, guitar, bass, some winds and brass. Teaching myself mandolin, and accordion is my next stop on this musical journey!!
Thank you very much for helping us learn about the accordian. You would make a good teacher at a high school.
Thanks Greg - I used to be one!
I agree with the other reviewers. This is a very clear explanation of the chromatic button accordion. Thanks very much for taking the time to create and post it.
Wow, looked up his accordian, it is 899 Pound sterling equals 1,167.02 US Dollars, nothing to sneeze out. Very well explained and great demo! I really enjoyed it.
The Stradella system blew me away, I would have never imagined. A fascinating instrument and a perfect explanation. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I inherited an accordion from my grandfather and have now started learning to play. Thank you so much for a great video! All the buttons makes more sense to me now 😂
What an amazing video! I'll collect my accordeon this evening. I used to play as a child and now I'm so pumped to get back into it again
You are so kind to make this video! Not only did it help me understand the chromatic system but clarified chords for me as well, and this is not on a guitar, which is cool!
I grew up playing classical piano and always wondered about the operation of accordions (from a player's point of view), and especially the chromatic button accordion (because it seemed so different). This is a phenomenal video that answered all my questions! Thank you for making this.
I used a lot of Brazilian resource videos to learn the piano accordion, but I had another interest in jazz/swing valse players like Eric Bouvelle, Marcel Azzola, Frédéric Langlais, Richard Galliano. All of those guys play the chromatic button accordion, so it was pretty nice to get this introduction to the instrument.
My mother inhereted an accordian from her late father and wants to keep the tradition alive. I've decided to help teach her and this video really helped!
Great video! Perfectly explained. Simple, yet thorough walkthrough of the button accordion. Just got my hands on a 120 bass button accordion. Never played before and just started learning some music theory. In my opinion, the accordion is a great instrument to learn the fundamentals on. Your video taught me what the other videos on RUclips failed to communicate. Hats off to you, sir!
This is far the best video/source of information i found about Button Accordion on the internet as far as i searched, thank you very much for this, perfect explanation, awesome video!
Many thanks for this video. You have an enviable, apparently natural, ability to put over information concisely and listenably. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much!
Thank you very much for your video. It is a very good, detailed one for beginners. Your explanation is comprehensive and coherent, and save beginners' time in sorting out the various bits and pieces on CBA since info about CBA are not as plentiful as Piano Accordion. I look forward to more of your videos on CBA. I started learning CBA a month ago after learning Piano Accordion about 6 months ago. Another teacher advised me that for me it is better to learn CBA since my small hand looks very stretched in playing the piano accordion.
Good man, Les - most informative and enjoyable.
Fascinating and enlightening! Thank you for taking the time to teach us!
It's my pleasure Scott!
Great explanation! Thank you!
Very useful and pedagogical video - thanks so much for spending the time to put this together.
Thanks for a great explanation of this instrument!!!
VERY EXPLANATION I LIKED ITS HELP-ME A LOT. YOU ARE MY TEACHER. THANKYOU
Nice, comprehensive discussion. I am considering cajun/zydeco music and I am going back and forth on the cajun type accordion versus a button accordion. I guess the 'type" of music one decides on will determine the accordion. Thanks, Cheers!!
This has been one of the most informative video I have ever seen. Thank you so much.
Thanks Felix. Glad you found it useful.
Thank you so much for this video. Really clear explanations! I play piano accordion, but I really wanted to know how the chromatic accordions were laid out! I couldn’t figure it out on my own.
What a great explanation. Thank you. : )
Thanks for the explanation I currently play the diatonic accordion but looking into start learning to play the chromatic accordion
Thanks a lot for making this video. It answers many questions. My parents bought me a piano accordion when I was about 10, and I worked away on that for a while. That is 50 years ago. I became interested in the 5-row chromatic accordion maybe 10 years ago, when I saw someone in a music shop playing one. I got as far as buying a tutor book on the instrument. I've never had my hands on one though. I've heard it said that once you have tried the button accordion, you will never go back to the piano accordion. What's your opinion on that ?. Thanks again for your effort in making a great video.
I would never play accordion, but I always wondered how one deals with all those buttons. You did an excellent job of explaining things. In the right hand, you showed how to get chords. In a way, this seems almost like guitar chord diagrams. I understand from another video that one need not learn a new pattern for every scale. Amazing. This is the only plus that you failed to mention.
You have satisfied my curiosity. If you have tutorials, I suspect those would also be quite good.
excellent thing to point out ,,this is why a want one , as I like Bb and don't want to relearn ( i am easily confused). yes he failed to mention this most important point.
Thanks! I play a small piano accordion (like 2 octaves of treble, 8 x 3 buttons of base), and was wondering how the chromatic button layout worked. Makes sense, though I wonder how fast I'd get used to it. All scales being the same, just move the starting position one way or the other, seems pretty useful honestly.
Very nice Explanation, thank you Sir.
Nice video, good job explaning informationand thanks for taking your time to help others
Very interesting. Thanks for making the video.
Thank you so much. Accordions completely baffled me, and scared to death of buying these expensive things.
Very helpful!
I wonder if there is a good tutor book for the button accordeon with B-griff. I haven’t been able to find one and want to learn to play it myself.
Anybody here an idea for books?
Thanks Holly, Rimmer out!
Very good! Help's a lot! Thanks
Superb video! Thankyou very much for making it. :-)
Fascinating! And I thought learning the notes on a guitar fretboard was difficult 🤓. Your explanation both makes sense and is completely mind blowing, at the same time. I’ve never seen anyone explain how this tupe of accordion is set up. Great stuff! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for your kind comment Bryan.
Thank you very much for this post. I play piano accordion and I have been wondering how one plays the chromatic. This has been very enlightening.
Piano accordions are also chromatic...
....WOW!!!!! THANKS VERY MUCH!!!! FOR THIS INTERESTING LESSON/TOUR OF THE INSTRUMENT! MY MOTHER, AND HER BROTHER GREW UP PLAYING THE INSTRUMENT (PLAYING FINNISH, AND SCANDINAVIAN POLKA MUSIC, IN N. MINNESOTA)!...SO, NATURALLY, I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE FUN LEARNING TO PLAY THE BUTTON ACCORDION, VS THE PIANO KEYED ACCORDION! VERY NICE SOUNDING INSTRUMENT!!! DO YOU SELL, OR CAN RECOMMEND, (OR NOT RECOMMEND) ANY PARTICULAR INSTRUMENTS, OR MAKERS/ & SELLERS?!...
I just ordered a CBA (Roland FR-1xb) but I can't find any resources for learning how to play it! Can you help?
Very details explain and very informative for new player like me,great great work!thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
@@daddylongles yes very helpful,i got none accordion shop player around me in my town,was so hard to find a clue with just internet
I'm wondering can a C system accordion play music written for the Piano accordion system
I've always wondered as to the layout and logic of the right hand buttons on an accordion. Your presentation has answered all my questions. Thank you for such a comprehensive and understandable tutorial!
Chromatic button accordions and piano accordions are not in any specific key as you can play in all keys on these instruments. As I said before - all of these squeezeboxes are unisonoric. Weltmeister are reasonable starter instruments but again, I must stress this is a unisonoric instrument. Only melodeons and some concertinas are bisonoric. The tune you mentioned is in the key of A. Hope this is of some help.
I want a video like this about the Saxophone. Does one exist?
Much more clever than piano
The traditional keyboard is perfect for an old concept of music (which really makes the most sense anyway), where the five additional semitones are for coloration, not for transposition. Also, the traditional keyboard offers the most amount of comfort and control when played in front of the performer, regardless of the key in which the music is written in. But the traditional keyboard is not perfect for transposing, because the human mind usually cannot master to change pitch on it without thinking about it (except for easy musical pieces). It would be good to have a "hardware transpose button/stop" on a fortepiano (as some old models have it and some church organs still have it today, and as digital instruments have it, of course). On a pedal harp playing different key signatures is most easy, since you simply set the pedals and then play just like you would be playing in a minor or c major, but it's getting problematic when there are modulations within the piece. In theory, the 6+6 two row symmetrical keyboard is the way to go, but it is much less ergonomic than the regular traditional keyboard. Whatever! I have to say that the best choice for the accordion is the three row system as shown here in this video (or, as I personally prefer, the b-griff system, but it doesn't really matter a lot if you use c-griff or b-griff). Why? Because unlike the instruments which are played in front of you, the accordion does not allow to play the same intervalls on the left side, so you cannot perform the melody lines of even simple classical music (with few exceptions) without altering it. On the chromatic button accordion you can reach two octaves and more with just one hand. This makes it possible, for example, to play most of classical guitar music (and there is a lot of it, beautiful pieces). So if you are into not too complex classical (/baroque/renaissance/...) music, you really should go with the chromatic buttons! If you want to go really deep into classical music, you have to switch to the melody bass or free bass system, but this is not really "accordion" playing anymore but rather a form of harmonium playing. And you should know that it is not always possible to perform complex classical music on the accordion as clean and fast as on the pianoforte or organ. To give you an example: Scarlatti, Sonata K. 141 on the freebass "accordion": ruclips.net/video/bQoqj5p9W4k/видео.html - and here on the pianoforte: ruclips.net/video/Gh9WX7TKfkI/видео.html (or on the harpsichord: ruclips.net/video/1yyBP3t7g90/видео.html). This is very typical, you will find it on other fast pieces such as Vivaldi, For Seasons/Winter.
Hi I just got a button accordion for my birthday. It's swiss made and is around 90-100 years old and is in perfect condition but I've looked every where on how to play it but everyone's accordion have less buttons than mine. Btw I've never picked up an accordion until yesterday.
Is this a bayan?
Hi! Apologies if this has been answered but I play a duet concertina - is the key layout fairly similar on this? I also need an instrument that is the same note on the push and pull - would like to get a Hohner Nova - do you think this will be suitable. I can't find out anywhere whether it plays different notes on push/pull!! Thanks so much
eppie Silverman Hi! No, the duet concertina is totally different. The Hohner Nova would be ideal as a CBA - it's same on the pull and push (unisonoric). Check out the Liberty Bellows video. ruclips.net/video/voUkWL_EH_8/видео.html
Can you recommend a "Method Book" or "Lesson Book" written specifically for the B-system chromatic button accordion?
I'm currently working on one. In the meantime, check out my tuition videos.
so, does this bass setup allow you to make more elaborate chords? For instance, more jazzy chords with inverted basses, 9ths, 11th, and so on?
Colorations are made on the treble side. If you have the extra row on the bass side you get diminished chord which also makes it easier for jazzy stuff. I would say you’ll need the sixth bass row for all jazz, latin and ”ethnic” genres.
i have button accordion of 3 rows with 6 buttons each of bass buttons and have no idea what type of accordion is it?
4 months later: you probably want to search for info on a “three row diatonic accordion” where each row plays one key with different sounds each way. Used a lot in norteño, Cumbia and some zydeco
Fantastic video! Do you suggest any trustworthy online shop to buy one of this? Where I live is really hard to find this instruments.
I suggest you buy one directly from Black Diamond here in the UK. They are really lovely people to deal with. www.blackdiamondaccordions.com/chromatic-button-accordions
Hi I have a C system accordion, if I buy a B system one will it be different? Will it be difficult to get used to it?
Not made the change myself but shouldn't be too hard I would think.
what is the difference between C-system and B-system, advantages ans disadvantages ? please give us personal opinions.
thank you.
Lie Seng-Thok acclab.com/accordionlab/EducationResearch/ChromaticAccordion.pdf
This might help! I tried both and found the B system better for the type of music I wanted to play.
Hello there liked your video on this box I was late starter on the 5 row, mines the C system I find them easier to play than the P.A. When I played P.A. at singer nights in folk clubs someone would always ask can you play that in key of what ever and I couldn,t always change key. I now find once I have learned tune on my 5 row its so easy to play in loads diff keys. unfortunately standard of play has gone backwards due to age and health I just play at home now. peterreece428
I guess that means we will have to come to ur house
Hi Les, I live in South Oxfordshire do you give lessons? If your near to oxford?
No, sorry.
thanks🙏
Similar, yes - but I think they tend to be three-row instruments.
Can you use your thumb to play the buttons or just your 4 other fingers
Yes, on this instrument you can use your thumb.
Actually, resting your thumb on the back of the key-/buttonboard is considered bad form (or at least that's what I've been told)
Hi, i have been really wanting to play the button accordion for a while but I can not afford any nice accordions on the market. I have seen quite a few older accordions in antique shops. Do you think it would be a good idea to buy one?
This is a tricky one. Most accordions in antique shops may look fine but almost without exception, need work doing to them which can run into at least £200+. You might get lucky, you might not. When we bought my wife's piano accordion from our local junk shop we thought we'd got a bargain until we got it home and discovered the horrible truth!!! Good luck - if possible take someone with you who can play.
greenplectrumfilms thanks for the reply! All of the accordions that I have seen in the antique shops have a sort of pearly look to them. Nobody that I know plays unfortunately. Also I was wondering if you know of any good chromatic button accordions under $300. Thanks!
I dont know whether i should go with the piano keyed accordion or the buttoned accordion. Any advice?
Piano accordion if you already play piano. It really doesn't matter though - the buttons will give you a fresh perspective!
What’s the range of this instrument? Is there a website I can buy from?
ruclips.net/video/6MwrKj2oftM/видео.html - this should help! Go to Black Diamond Accordions to buy one.
what is the arrengment in white and black buttons for? anyone know?
www.daddylongles.com/chromatic-buttonaccordion-resources
how much is an accordion like this one? a black diamond brand or model.
The Black Diamond CBA is currently £799.
greenplectrumfilms where could I buy one, I'm in Texas
Is that US dollars?
info@blackdiamondaccordions.com is the place to ask. They have a US distributor. I've just been in touch with them so they will know what it's about if you contact them.
Tomas Serrano ..I am from D & A Accordions. I am the US distributor of Black Diamond Accordions. Please go to my website for more info and please contact me with any questions.
d-aaccordions.com
sales@d-aaccordions.com
What price for a box like that one?
£899 from Black Diamond Accordions at the time of writing.
Can I share this video on my blog ?
Yes of course Dino!
What would you expect to pay for one like this? (New)
I think around £799
how heavy is this instrument?
About 11pounds if I remember correctly. Fairly light as CBAs go!
Unisonic or unisenoric?
Unisonoric
How in the bloody blazes do people remember the order of those notes on this??
I really enjoyed this video. I wanted to understand the arrangement of notes for the right hand. This was ideal. Thank you. 🙂👍
You're very welcome!
very nice video i liked #1o
That is a tiny Bajan. Most Bajan are big
*Bayan
I didn't watch the whole video...(rather boring to me cause my brain can't comprehend how you can play such a complicated instrument)...but what I was really wanting to know is if the individual notes change when the bellows pushed or pulled? Thanks..
No. The instrument is unisonoric. The notes are the same on the push and the pull.
hah.. a vibrato button.. now thats cool
We call it "Bayan" in Russia