How to Play in Triple Time on a Cajun Accordion

Cajun accordions have one row of buttons, and the note changes depending on the action of the bellows.

Learning to play in triple time is integral to the process of learning to play the accordion. The Cajun accordion, otherwise known as the one-row diatonic accordion, has ten melody buttons and two bass buttons, which can be used to play a triple-time song. Triple-time song beats have the "oom-pah-pah, oom-pah-pah," waltz feel, and the style of song is synonymous with the accordion. Learning to play a triple-time beat on your Cajun accordion can give you a valuable tool in your accordion arsenal.

Instructions

1. Sit down and hold the accordion correctly. Keep the melody side of the accordion resting on your knee, as it should remain still during play. Most users prefer to tilt the accordion forward at around a 30-degree angle. Put your left hand through the strap on the bass side, so your index and little fingers rest on the bass buttons. Put your right thumb through the thumb strap on the underside of the melody keys.

2. Press the "air button" with your left palm and pull the bellows out. This button is located on the underside of the protruding panel which houses the bass buttons. It is used to extend or contract the bellows without producing a note. The Cajun accordion produces different notes depending on whether you are pushing or pulling the bellows. Move the bellows with your left hand, keeping the melody side still.

3. Press the bass button underneath your little finger and push the bellows inwards. This produces a "root" note, which is different depending on the key of your Cajun accordion. On a C accordion, this note would be C. The bellows will only move when you are pressing the note.

4. Press the button underneath your index finger twice, still moving the bellows inwards. This produces a chord, based on the root note. On a C accordion, this chord is C. This is the basic bass button pattern used to produce the triple-time beat. Keep a steady rhythm and ensure the three notes are evenly spaced apart.

5. Extend the bellows and repeat the bass-button pattern. One press with the little finger, and then two with your index finger. When you pull the bellows outwards, the note of the root and chord changes to G (the fifth, for anyone familiar with music theory). This is the basic principle of playing triple time on the Cajun accordion. The bass hand holds the firm, waltz rhythm, alternating between C and G chords. You can play two bars before changing the direction of the bellows (and the note) if you choose.

6. Add in melody as desired. The melody notes change keys depending on the bellows' direction too, so even an improvised melody should be in the correct key. As long as the bellows are working in that "oom-pah-pah" pattern, you are playing in triple time.

References

• Big Nick: Big Nick's Learn to Play Cajun Accordion Volume 1 (pages 6 and 8-9)
• Accordions: Types of Accordions and How They Work - Diatonic Accordions