How to Wear an Accordion

Series Summary

Music is one of the primary forms of communication on Earth. Whether the use of tones and melodies developed before, after, or in conjunction with spoken language is unknown; yet music is unique in that it helps us to talk to each other in ways that language cannot achieve. It creates a connection between people that is not limited by time, distance, or relationship; a song can speak to anyone, anywhere. That’s why music continually changes an d grows, is still loved and still proliferates. Music is a living language.

The accordion might be considered one of the dialects of that language. An accordion is a bellows instrument, using a mixture of keys and stops to create a distinct timbre and resonance that lend themselves easily to Zydeco, Tejano, and Polka music. It is played by squeezing and expanding the bellows while depressing keys, buttons, or stops, depending upon the variety of accordion.

The sound an accordion makes is usually light and full of harmony, hence the types of music the instrument is typically associated with. Yet, it can also represent a wider range of human emotion; its tonal registers can express sadness, longing, and contemplation, as evidenced in traditional French music. Some players, including Judy Tenuda and “Weird Al” Yankovic, have found that the accordion is the perfect instrument for comedy.

In this free video series, learn the basics of playing the accordion. Our expert, Amanda Claire, shows you how to begin your accordion playing career. Learn how to put on an accordion. Also, learn how to sit or stand comfortably when playing the accordion. Learn how to air moves through the accordion, and how to play bass notes. So, if you have been thinking of picking up this interesting instrument, learn how to play the accordion today!

Video Transcript

"AMANDA CLAIRE: All right. So, the first thing I'm going to do is put the accordion on. Remember, it's got these shoulder straps that are--pretty much works like a reverse backpack. Usually, they're adjustable. Actually, they're--I've never seen some that aren't adjustable. It's just like a little belt here with different holes. I kinda have this on the longest setting 'cause I just kinda like it that way. It has adjustable buckles on the bottom too. If these either break or wear out, you can usually, you know, order replacements from an accordion parts dealer. They're not too expensive. You can maybe make your own. So I'm going to put this on here, I got my accordion here. I'm going to make sure that my closure, sort of straps, are open, right. So you see I still have this one attached, so, it's on the snap, so, I'm going to snap that open. So now, with my thumb on the, kind of, air release valve, I can open and close my bellows, okay. So let's just, kind of, talk about basic playing technique. You know, you can play standing up or sitting down. A lot of people will play sitting down, like they kinda rest the treble part of the accordion on the knee. If you stand up, it's more resting up against your chest and, kind of, your pelvis."