Accordion Strap Adjustment - How to avoid neck, shoulder, and back pain when playing accordion
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- Watch as Martin from Tempo Trend Music (www.tempotrend.ca/) demonstrates how to property sit and size your accordion.
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What a fantastic video. I have been playing accordion for 52 years and I never knew this. Thank you so much. I will definitely be doing this in future. 👍
I'm glad this popped up in my recommended, always felt like something wasn't quite right
I have had an accordion for 2 weeks now. And it's so much fun (but also a bit addictive, i forget time etc). It was really a dream of mine. My first lessons start in 4 months, but I can't stop and am already learning a lot on RUclips. This is actually a wise lesson: how to sit and play because my wrist/hand tingles and hurts.
I' m tall (1.86 cm) and have a small accordion.
Thanks bro.. i will try this.... during my last gig, I had severe body aches after the gig
I am 79 years old and am in the process of learning to play accordion (a light-weight Roland
FR 1x).
I have recently experienced pain inside my left shoulder blade as I experimented with strap adjustments. That is how I located your video, which I found to be very enlightening.
I have been playing while standing before a mirror and dealing with the inability to otherwise view the keyboard. I am experienced with keyboards. As a result of your video, I will now adapt to a seated position and bear the weight on my leg as you recommend. I hope that it is not too late to have learned the potential cause and relief of my shoulder pain. Thank you!
Congrats on the new accordion! Keep being mindful or your playing technique - sitting down is a great idea. I hope pain becomes manageable. Nothing like a good hot water bottle in the lower back (for me) in the morning 😊
@@moshezuchter I set the accordion to play without the need to use the bellows and the pain has pretty well disappeared. When return to use the bellows it will be with less enthusiasm I don't want to re-injure my trap muscle.
Thank you for this, So much good advice, glad I watched it til the end as your suggestion regarding perching on a chair to avoid back pain makes a lot of sense.
Having read the comments it seems many people have held the accordion wrongly for decades....including myself.
Thank you for this excellent demonstration.
Including me as well 😃
Thank you guys. You are the best ! 👍🥰🙏 thank you for all of the kindness and hard work, giving such great videos !
Hands down the best explanation I've found on the internet
Very good advises! Greetings from Germany!
I have shoulder pain right now an will do this soon as i come home
As I got older, and my back started having problems (work related), my 120 bass accordions became heavier to play standing up and heavier to lug around to jams. I gave one to the high school music department and Martin sold the other one for me at Leavenworth (Accordion Festival.) I had bought a Hohner 72 bass in Arizona and another one with wet reeds from Martin. They are half the weight and therefore, easier to play. Also, adding to the lightness, less reed banks decrease the weight. So, it could be worth downsizing, along with your house, to a smaller accordion when you age. Martin is great to work with!
Also...unless you are a pro, most people never use all 120 buttons. The 72 bass accordion fills the bill for most music playing, as it is the smallest accordion that still has every key, or chord row.
Well said. I love the lighter accordions 👌
Great info and a few personal confirmations as well! Thank you!
I'm definitely going to check my position tomorrow. Thanks for the nicely presented video!
Thank you, so much for this info! I was having left shoulder pain after 15 minutes of playing. Now that I have adjusted the straps, my shoulder position is back, not forward...a much healthier position as any doctor or PT will tell you. I wish I learned this long ago.
So happy to hear, Mark! The tiniest adjustments wind up making a big difference!
Very helpful! Thank you!!
Thank you for this video, it is very helpful.
Thank you, superb video!!! Have started playing and have terrible neck pain. This has saved me. Most appreciated
It's really helped me, too. Glad it worked out 😊
This is so helpful thank you!
Wow! Sooo informative!!
great tip from real professional !
great video!
very informative, thank you!
Wow, great advice, thanks.
Thank you for your confirmation: The problem for smaller accordions is not the to large size of the players body! The problem are the straps that are to short. A problem is existing, as I‘m involved, since many, over 50 years! No one is aware of it, still today, in Germany, straps are sold according to the ammount of basses, not at all considering the body size.
Great..This is very useful information. Thanks very much. Murat Baslilar
Thank you -- very helpful!
Great video tutorial. Learnt so much. I can see the difference resting the weight of accordion on left lap. Easier to control the bellows. Thank you very much.
This video helpd my a lot. Thanke you🙏🏻
Great!! Happy to hear 😊
Very helpful.
Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching!
thanks so much!
Thank you for this very informative video. I have had my straps adjusted wrong on many accordions for a long time. I hope that with the straps adjusted properly it will help my playing. Andy
I have had so many different accordions in various brands, I was obsessed to have them instead of playing:( Finally I settled down with 3 accordions:) From my own experience, one size fits-all accordion size is 18".
This video is great, I wish I was taught this when I started. I am not pro by the way, I am learning great amount of information from Ronen and I encourage everybody to subscribe to his website for the amount of a coffee. (I have no affiliation or know him) I remember playing the treble side almost 45 degree when playing with 19" accordion. Great information. But keep in mind, you are not supposed to look at the keyboard when playing. Try not to look at the keyboard once your hand comfortable playing the notes. By the time, you start playing the keyboard in your mind, your hands just go there, like playing the bass section.
I’am 5’1” and struggle to play my 18” and I’am best with a keyboard 16” or shorter .
I haven't had too many problems with comfort, it used to hurt my shoulders because my straps we're very thin and deteriorating but then I bought a nice pair of thick leather straps. Also I saw one of your videos on how to hold/wear an accordion and you said to rest it on your left knee, it definitely helped me a lot. Good video.😁
Great vid!
👍👍
This video helps a lot, thank you. Now that I know to rest the bellows on my left leg and have the piano side against my inner right thigh, I can also adjust the straps accordingly.
Now if only I can stop my long beard from getting caught in the strap clips! 😫😂
Very good presentation. This is what I was trying to explain to the person who was having shoulder pain when he plays. I'm still one of those who can't play without a back strap. I found that the back strap will keep the straps from coming off my shoulders.
The straps fall off my shoulders all the time! A back-strap would help, but the extra step seems cumbersome sometimes.
I tell people if you play at a church or a school ,what you want is a tall accordion because if you get a person making a speech and they are long winded, you can rest your chin on it
Ah, the accordion chin rest. Classic move!
it's these little tips that make a big difference
This year I had sell a 80 bass because it was so uncomfortable to play it. Maybe with these tips I could have played with no problem.
But well, now I got a beautiful 48 Bass accordion and its amazing, no problem with playing standing :D
A light accordion makes a BIG difference. I miss my 48 😊
@@moshezuchter yes! I know you like The Legend of Zelda music! here y share you one cover made with my 48bass acordion of the Dark Wold theme with the esthetic of the folklore of Argentina, my country. Hope you like it!
ruclips.net/video/S6lyDXk6L9c/видео.html
Yeah before watching this I'd prefer to stand even if there was more strain because the positioning was uncomfortable. Now it's nice to sit and play all while being comfortable.
Best video on RUclips. So well explained.. I just bought second accordion and I think is a bit too big, but it has most beautiful sound. I’d appreciate your opinion about the size of it being too big, or not. I’m 164 cm tall, and accordion has 24 white keys, and is 53 cm in height. Is also very heavy. In considering buying a stand. Thank you very much much, Best wishes from Melbourne Australia
I didn’t want the hart, I was expecting the answer to my question. Thank you
Another great intro to accordion video !!! Thank you. Wish I would have found all these 6 years ago, when I first started playing. By chance, could you do a tutorial on how to avoid pain/muscle strain in the left hand?? I find if I haven't played for a few weeks, and I pick up my squeeze box, I can only play about 15 minutes and my left hand is completely stiff and sore, especially at the base of the thumb.
I would firstly suggest spending a few minutes properly stretching out and warming up your muscles. Don't jump into playing cold! Musicians are athletes of small muscle groups, remember that! 😉 Do some jumping jacks, (knee) push-ups, shadow box and throw punches, get a jump rope (or small chain or rope, or nunchuck, dog leash, whatever) and spin it around. Get the blood flowing and muscles warmed up 👍
@@adamcolbertmusic great advice!!!!
More information Martin on how to get a pad to rest the instrument on to prevent the accordion from biting into the left thigh. Tam.
Hi Tam, send Martin an email or give him a call. www.tempotrend.ca/
I advise to put a small pillow on the left leg
Luckly, I catched my accordion when the belt cracked :) Very good video.
Oooh, that happens at least once every ten years 😅
@@moshezuchter I was standing and playing Bregovic, last song at a wedding. That was great excuse not to play more;D
Thank you for this. Very helpful. It would be wonderful if I had some insight on how to keep my box lined up similarly while I play standing up. It creeps to the right and before I know it, my wrist is bent again. I’ve got the right arm strap as loose as can be, but it’s center of gravity between the straps pulls it out of position. Still tension.
So aside from configuration and adjustment of the straps, there are some things that help keep the accordion *in place*. A back-strap may help with this - a little piece of fabric that keeps your shoulder straps in-line with each other so that the accordion doesn't slip off your shoulders. I wonder if this is a solution?
@@moshezuchter Ah, thank you. Makes sense. I was trying to avoid the back strap for the sake of convenience, but I guess it would be more than worth the extra wiggling if it kept the hands in working order.
@@featherburn I use a black shoelace with a snap attached to it as a back strap - cheap and works great! Made a huge difference.
If you have a slightly smaller accordion for your torso height, should you shorten the straps and just let it hang or lengthen them so it can still rest on your lap?
Hmmm, interesting situation. Small accordions tend to hang, which I don't mind, but they also tend to have horrible thin straps which dig into my neck. Get thick straps if you can and let it hang, or extend the straps and yeah, let it rest on your lap. Whatever is comfortable and conducive to your playing
It would be nice to see a demonstration for small accordions as well. I’m a little confused about proper seating position and adjustment for my Weltmeister Juwel. Should I go really low to use my leg as support and lean forward? Or should I just carry the whole weight in my shoulders, using my neck as reference for how high it should go, and lean back? Thanks for your help!
That's a tough one... I find smaller accordions to be a bit more of a strain on my neck/shoulders as the weight doesn't rest on the thigh at all. The straps are smaller, too. Martin mentioned that as well.
Does the rule of the keyboard below the chin apply to small accordions as well? I noticed in some videos that many people with small accordions do not follow that rule... I just want to make sure I avoid some bad habits from the beginning :) thanks for your help!!
Hmm... Good question. Yes, I suppose so, having the keyboard below the chin is a good idea if you can manage it.
Small accordion player here! You don't want to slouch/lean forward as you will be putting your neck and back in a strained posture which will give you pain issues. As you'll be taking more weight on your shoulders then you want a maintain a good posture.
If you need to sit to help manage the weight then either raise your left leg up on something the right height or put a firm piece of foam/ small firm pillow between your left leg and the accordion. You will have to play around with what works for you :D
How far should the accordion be from your belly? Thank you! David
Hi David, that's a good question.... I think each body type is different, but my accordion rests right up against my torso and belly. Meaning, it's not leaning too far out. But again, I think different body types may force the accordion to rest differently. I think if you get the shoulders correctly, then it's a matter of your elbows being at about a 90 degree angle for playing, and the rest of the accordion rests on your body/belly.
I awlays make a half-turn in my straps so it follows my belly on the sides ;) pro tip
Hi sir.
I want bay accordion.
Which instrument is better?
Hohner bravo ii 48 ?
Or
Startone maja 48?
I like hohner bravo ii 48 voice.
Please answer me sir!
Thank you...
I've had a Bravo II 48 for 11 years now. Has never let me down! I can't speak to the other one, but the Hohner is definitely a solid instrument.
@@ryano.5149
Thank you very much dear 👍✌
OK. Now I know why my spine and neck is all messed up. Turns out after playing for 35 years, I was holding my accordion wrong.
My placement is so bad but I can't find any straps long enough that aren't incredibly expensive!
One thing to keep in mind (at least in my mind) is to get those keys close enough to under your chin. It doesn't have to be *directly* underneath. Keep in mind that eventually you'll be able to play without having to look down 😊
@@moshezuchter @B Strong, Maybe try the Neotech accordion harness? I don't know that I'd trust it with a big converter bass, but they've been working pretty well for me for the past 4 or 5 years. You can get them from musician's friend for 50 bucks. I had bought a nice pair of thick leather straps, but I never could quite get them adjusted well enough. I bought the Neotech in a pinch for my backup accordion, but they ended up fitting so well, I got a second pair for my main accordion, a big and heavy old Italian LMH/120.
I’m 5.1 I have a medium size accordion it has one strap on it and it slides off my lap how do I keep it on my lap?
Will adding a second strap help? Or is it a one strap accordion?
Anyone else have wicked left wrist pains
আমি সিরিয়াস কমেন্ট একটু পরে করব কারণ মপা অর্থাৎ মনোজকে ( পিতৃনাম পাল, ইংরেজি pal বা বন্ধু না কিন্তু ) পিয়ানো একর্ডিয়নটা বাজাতে দিয়ে সবচেয়ে গোলমালটা হয়েছিল ও আমাকে lesson দিতে শুরু করেছিল ।
Hi Moshe ? Martin ? I am rather confused about your looks - you are NOT the 'Moshe Zuchter' with that 'boyish' looks and smile , without any mole on his right cheek and whose videos I often go thru - are you ? There is a huge contrast between the two personalities ! ( incidentally - you have a different charm in this video - if you are the same ???). That said, your video is very very educative and informative - but is toooo laaaate for me - wish such videos were available during my times in 1950s ! So, I have all the problems now which you have tried to caution all accordion players. Like as one of your esteemed gentleman has remarked - I am also an obsessive player (?) , a hobby player and have acquired / 'collected' a large number of accordions - but playing one at at a time !!!!. Love to play larger/(though heavier accordion - (like a Hohner Imperator V), and that too despite medium height ! Too obsessive- trying to of course reduce the inventory slowly and slowly . ( it breaks my heart when one of them goes ). Beautiful video - wish had it earlier. Warm Regards.
Hi hi! So, the person in this video is MARTIN, not me 🙂 He has so many good tips like this one, which I wish I knew earlier as well.
I'm Ronen, known as "Moshe Zuchter" online. Thanks for the nice comment!
@@moshezuchter Ha ha - thanks for your kind 'clarification' - and I was just wondering how can a person change so much in just a couple of years ? Mr. Martin of course looks very impressive in his own way - but it will not be fair or proper on my part to compare the two of you. My warm regards to you two gentlemen - please keep up the good work and help revive this very very "prettyful'' instrument called 'accordion' ! Regards again.
It’s a one strap accordion.
Hmm ... I don't have experience with those. Sorry