Learning woes.

[Songcrow]

Hello all-- A total newbie here with my newly acquired box (a Marotta 96 bass recently overhauled) .I am 85 years old and wanted to make use of my time during this lockdown to learn a skill i have always had a fancy for. I can read music ok but fitting the bass notes to the treble is giving me trouble, so any tips I can glean from others would be most welcome.
regards S. Campbell.

 

[Glug]

Hiya, that's a very common problem.

I'm a very basic player, but I think the usual theory is learn both hands seperately and then play them together ridiculously slowly, when it starts coming together play it a bit faster.

Palmer Hughes book 1 does a fairly good job of getting you past the hands together bit.

 

[pentaprism]

....I can read music ok but fitting the bass notes to the treble is giving me trouble, ....

Hello Songcrow,

I know there is only one Songcrow in the whole world. But don't think you are unique when it comes to "fitting the bass notes to the treble."

One of the learning books I have advises learning the left hand first, then the right hand, then both. Just be patient; everything will come together nicely.

Are you playing PA or CBA? I may have some learning materials you find useful.

 

[Songcrow]

Hello again--Glug and pentaprism thanks for the tips/advice,that seems to make sense and I will give it a try. I am using The Piano Accordion Absolute Beginners by Karen Tweed & Dave Mallinson, but i think my biggest problem is that I have large fingers when it comes to playing the bass buttons, but I will keep practising regardless. thanks again.
S. Campbell.

 

[Dingo40]

Hi SC?
I began by learning bass first, then treble, then the two together very slowly, but now I tend to go for both together very slowly!?
In the beginning, I found practising the bases while sitting before my wife's dressing table mirror helpful. ?

 

[Glug]

I used a shaving mirror - the small round tiltable ones.
Made it fairly easy to get it in the right position, given I don't have a dressing table

 

[jozz]

start with walzes

easy on the brain

 

[Cheshire Chris]

There's an excellent book called "Melodic Adventures in Bass-Land" (part of the Palmer-Hughes accordion course) specifically for learning to play the bass.

As already mentioned, Palmer-Hughes Book 1 gets you used to playing bass accompaniments with "Um-Pah" bass accompaniments to simple tunes on the treble. I'm a beginner too and am finding it a very good course to follow.

Cheers,

Chris