yaroslav9728
Active member
Hi everyone
Is the accordion suitable for rock or heavy metal kind of music?
Is the accordion suitable for rock or heavy metal kind of music?
Accordion in different kinds of music
- Thread starter yaroslav9728
- Start date
- Status
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Accordion is excellent for boogie: see here!
And here:
And here:
Last edited:
JeffJetton
Prolific poster
Depends on what you mean by "suitable". It is not an instrument that is typically associated with either of those genres, and it would be considered highly unusual for a rock (particularly harder rock) or heavy metal band to have an accordion player as one of their members.
That said, it's not unprecedented. The Who's "Squeezebox" famously features an accordion, but this is a deviation from their usual sound--there's also banjo on it, for example. Often when a rock band does feature accordion, it's on a song that's a stylistic departure (see also Styx's "Boat on a River")
Several songs by John Cougar Mellencamp have accordion in them ("Paper in Fire", "Cherry Bomb"), as his style during that period was intentionally a lighter, folk-influenced rock style sometimes called "heartland rock". The accordion works very well in that sort of thing.
As far as heavy metal goes, I can't think of any tunes with accordion in them. But AC/DC does have a song with bagpipes on it, so I don't see why accordion couldn't be done too!
Now if your question is "can existing rock and heavy metal tunes be played on accordion", as a solo piece for example, the answer is "probably", with varying degrees of success, depending on the song and one's arranging/adapting skills.
It can be done I think. Try this video and channel.
I don't read the script or language but this is a link to accordion (bayan) being used in a rock setting.
Tom
I don't read the script or language but this is a link to accordion (bayan) being used in a rock setting.
Tom
Any tune can be played on the accordion. Though some are better suited than others.
Iโve recently been arranging The Final Countdown by Europe for the accordion. I posted a thread about it here a while back. It includes a link to an audio recording of my progress so far.
Iโve recently been arranging The Final Countdown by Europe for the accordion. I posted a thread about it here a while back. It includes a link to an audio recording of my progress so far.
Check out Kongos--Come With Me Now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz2GVlQkn4Q,
Paul Simon's Graceland album, or more recently any Decemberists albums.
Ventura
Been here for ages!
for Rock and Roll music, i suggest getting your feet wet by picking up
a solid old LMH box like an Acmette or Accordiana or similar
tune the L set to perfection at A-440
then tune the M and H sets TO THE L SET but after you finish
then "stretch" the tuning slightly (like Piano tuners do)
lightly on the M and a bit more on the H
this gives a brighter, more brilliant kind of overall sound and is
very supportive of Power Chording and flitting lead riffs over top
of your strong chords
also, get ye a Mel Bay Bass instruction book or two and learn how
to NOT play Bass and Chords like an accordion player
you will eventually want to amplify your bass separately to really Rock,
and use some pedal FX like a good Bass Booster or at least a
Parametric EQ.
songs like Foxy Lady, Sunshine of your Love, Crazy on You and such are
good places to start
someone smirks when you walk out with an accordion ?
the object is to be able to Blow them off the stage
good luck, and take no prisoners !
a solid old LMH box like an Acmette or Accordiana or similar
tune the L set to perfection at A-440
then tune the M and H sets TO THE L SET but after you finish
then "stretch" the tuning slightly (like Piano tuners do)
lightly on the M and a bit more on the H
this gives a brighter, more brilliant kind of overall sound and is
very supportive of Power Chording and flitting lead riffs over top
of your strong chords
also, get ye a Mel Bay Bass instruction book or two and learn how
to NOT play Bass and Chords like an accordion player
you will eventually want to amplify your bass separately to really Rock,
and use some pedal FX like a good Bass Booster or at least a
Parametric EQ.
songs like Foxy Lady, Sunshine of your Love, Crazy on You and such are
good places to start
someone smirks when you walk out with an accordion ?
the object is to be able to Blow them off the stage
good luck, and take no prisoners !
petch
Well-known member
Does this count?
AccordionUprising
Well-known member
Almost all the Finnish metal bands with 
use Roland digital accordions. Playing acoustic in a loud band is hard. See the various long threads on micing accordions here. Compared to other instruments, accordions still have trouble with "How do I plug it in?"
Distorted accordion sounds really cool. But amplification is a significant barrier for acoustic accordions. (My theory is that's a big part of why they are seldom used in rock. Every time someone tries it, it's fun, but they quickly move to electronic synths because it's just easier.
use Roland digital accordions. Playing acoustic in a loud band is hard. See the various long threads on micing accordions here. Compared to other instruments, accordions still have trouble with "How do I plug it in?"Distorted accordion sounds really cool. But amplification is a significant barrier for acoustic accordions. (My theory is that's a big part of why they are seldom used in rock. Every time someone tries it, it's fun, but they quickly move to electronic synths because it's just easier.
stickista
Well-known member
Just returned from Vienna where we saw a band at an enormous Oktoberfest tent rocking the roof off (hundreds of 20ish types standing/stomping in the tables), to traditional drinking songs. The volume/power/energy of the band was overwhelming. Keyboads, accordion, drums, bass and guitar, at โ11โ.
Just blew the roof off.
So, yes.
Just blew the roof off.
So, yes.
stickista
Well-known member
This.
For rock or prog, 5ths โpower chordsโ, and triads NOT in root position.
And stick to the 1 and 2 row of LH. Stradella chords are always going to sound like โaccordionโ.
Of course if you go free bass, all bets are off.
Last edited:
This is a bit confusing to me. If you play accordion, why would you want to not sound like an accordion?This.
For rock or prog, 5ths โpower chordsโ, and triads NOT in root position.
And stick to the 1 and 2 row of LH. Stradella chords are always going to sound like โaccordionโ.
Of course if you go free bass, all bets are off.
Why not just get a keyboard and be done with it
Portability....half the reason I was attracted to the darn machine...This is a bit confusing to me. If you play accordion, why would you want to not sound like an accordion?
Why not just get a keyboard and be done with it
Ventura
Been here for ages!
because for Rock the bass and Drums form a rhythm sectionwhy would you want to not sound like an accordion?
this approaches the music differently.. you can incorporate timing
as punctuation more fully
also learning to play the left in a more rhythmic way will reveal
interesting things in the music and styles you already play IMHO
Yes But No But,
Sorry, I'm just a simple country bumpkin.
Stickista said ,at the Octoberfest they went down a storm playing traditional drinking songs. I'm not surprised as that's one thing accordions do well.
I play GHB and Scottish smallpipes because I like the sound of them.
I also play CBA because I like the sound of them.
I also have a Roland and electronic bagpipes which will sound like other instruments but I only use them with earphones to play late at night and only with the "proper" sounds.
I suppose I could make my Roland sound like an electric guitar but why would I want to when the Guitarists can do it so much better.
In the pipe band we have pies and drums, nothing else, because that's the sound we want.
If I turned up with an accordion or an electric guitar I can just imagine what the response would be.
Now I know that accordions and electric guitars have recorded with bagpipes and very good some of them are but only in the right circumstances.
I'm all for sticking to what you do best and leave it to the others to do what they do best.
Ventura
Been here for ages!
ahhhh.. you meant the sound itself..
i see what you mean
well for me, for instance the Holiday season is big on special
songs and sounds.. i DO like to play some of the
Nutcracker on gigs, and people seem to love hearing it,
and while a solo M is nice for the lead lines, it brings the
imagery of the tiny ballerina's into the imagination better when
i use the good Flute sound on the FR7, and play the notes
and emphasis like a Flute player does, as much as humanly possible
Route 66 is one of my signature songs.. for the solo riff i will
use the jazz Guitar if i am MIDIfied or Rolanded and no-one seems
to think it is strange sounding
How Sweet it is (Jr. Walker and the All Stars) is all about the SAX,
and you have to admit the Roland nails that sound, and when i use it
i nail the SONG
maybe again it is because i had the Cordovox from a young age, and so
electronic and alternate sounds were always in my head, but i also way
back in my Student days remember transcribing Walter Wanderly songs
(Ipanema and So Nice) and a flute song from the Dynatones (Fife Piper)
until i could play them note for note
(with a slight accomodation for when i reached the high A and needed a couple more keys)
the Hammond was an easy match as the Lowry circuits were pretty darn close,
but i didn't get to use a Fife sound with a touch keyboard and bellows sensing
until many decades later
THAT SONG... the Fife Piper... that specific song was why Roland hired me
to demo and promote the FR7 when they heard me play it
with the right sound
with the right touch
the song came to it's originally recorded life even though i am an accordion player
about a year later, Roland hired a new director for the accordion dept.
and i played White Bird during a practice session at Roxy's using the
Violin and string sound and it stopped him in his tracks..
so these are some of my reasons why..
one more you may relate to.. as a Piper i imagine you have heard Sardou's
Connemara
well think of how you would play the left hand accordion to accompany him..
there is zero room for Oom Pa Pa.. but an accordionist can easily adjust
to playing the Rhythm line and sound GOOD doing it
ciao
i see what you mean
well for me, for instance the Holiday season is big on special
songs and sounds.. i DO like to play some of the
Nutcracker on gigs, and people seem to love hearing it,
and while a solo M is nice for the lead lines, it brings the
imagery of the tiny ballerina's into the imagination better when
i use the good Flute sound on the FR7, and play the notes
and emphasis like a Flute player does, as much as humanly possible
Route 66 is one of my signature songs.. for the solo riff i will
use the jazz Guitar if i am MIDIfied or Rolanded and no-one seems
to think it is strange sounding
How Sweet it is (Jr. Walker and the All Stars) is all about the SAX,
and you have to admit the Roland nails that sound, and when i use it
i nail the SONG
maybe again it is because i had the Cordovox from a young age, and so
electronic and alternate sounds were always in my head, but i also way
back in my Student days remember transcribing Walter Wanderly songs
(Ipanema and So Nice) and a flute song from the Dynatones (Fife Piper)
until i could play them note for note
(with a slight accomodation for when i reached the high A and needed a couple more keys)
the Hammond was an easy match as the Lowry circuits were pretty darn close,
but i didn't get to use a Fife sound with a touch keyboard and bellows sensing
until many decades later
THAT SONG... the Fife Piper... that specific song was why Roland hired me
to demo and promote the FR7 when they heard me play it
with the right sound
with the right touch
the song came to it's originally recorded life even though i am an accordion player
about a year later, Roland hired a new director for the accordion dept.
and i played White Bird during a practice session at Roxy's using the
Violin and string sound and it stopped him in his tracks..
so these are some of my reasons why..
one more you may relate to.. as a Piper i imagine you have heard Sardou's
Connemara
well think of how you would play the left hand accordion to accompany him..
there is zero room for Oom Pa Pa.. but an accordionist can easily adjust
to playing the Rhythm line and sound GOOD doing it
ciao
Makes sense to me, especially for a modern instrument like the accordion which is establishing its own identity and place in the musical world.
I also appreciate synthesizers - but the clue is in the name as imitators (and often a pale imitation) - be they keyboard form, button form or any musical instrument interface.
By the way - 'Take on me' (A-ha) sounds great on an acoustic accordion and doesn't half give the fingers a work out in the left hand!
- Status
