How to Use the Hand Strap on Accordions

One of the features of the accordion is the features builders add to help musicians hold the instrument in place. The hand strap is one of these. Most accordion models have a leather, cloth or plastic strip across the side of the left hand's bass side that the accordion player can slip his hand through to help get a grip on the accordion. Here's how to use this feature in play.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Use the hand strap in conjunction with or instead of the chest straps. Other accordions, mainly larger models, also have two "chest straps" that an accordion player wears at each side of his/her torso for additional support. You can choose whether you want to use these: in many cases, the hand strap and a good hold with the left hand will be enough.

2. Slip your left hand through the hand strap and get access to the bass buttons with your fingers. Don't let the hand strap impede your play by pushing you away from the buttons. Get comfortable before starting to play.

3. Brace your hand against the strap while expanding the accordion. The instrument works on the basis of expanding and contracting. While it is contracting, you'll be pushing against the bass side of the instrument. When it's expanding, your left hand will be pushing against the strap, so make sure it can take the weight and is tightened correctly.

4. Manipulate the dial tightener on the side of the accordion to adjust the hand strap to the best length for you. Most models have some kind of adjuster for the hand strap. If not, you'll have to be creative, putting some kind of padding in place or finding a way to keep yourself strapped in.

5. Take advantage of the hand strap to support different styles of play. One way is to use the strap to jerk the accordion in small increments to produce sharp, quick staccato notes. Find inventive ways to use the accordion's features to wow the crowd.