Learning bellows control

[HoorayHenry]

Here's a newbie question for all you experienced guys:

If the instrument is balanced on the top of my left thigh, with the keyboard edge pressed into the side of my right thigh, I get some "grip" on the instrument, and this helps a lot with squeezing the bellows closed - you get more power and control. But that doesn't help at all when it comes to pulling the bellows open. Any ideas on how to get more grip when it comes to pulling the bellows out?


I'm using a Roland FR-1X which is a relatively small instrument weighing 6.5 kg.

Hooray Henry

 

[JIM D.]

Are you using the shoulder straps ???

 

[dunlustin]

1. Do you have access to a similar sized acoustic? If so, do you have the same difficulty?
If not:
2. Have you set the Bellows Curve (Page 49 "blc" ) ? Value 4 -extra light may be a good place to start.

 

[HoorayHenry]

Thanks for your responses, guys. Yes, I do use the straps, but until just now, I hadn't articulated to myself the rather obvious point that when you pull the bellows out, your anchor is the right shoulder strap. This has also clarified for me the probable reason why an experienced player I noticed recently was wearing his straps almost over his biceps. Provided you can keep your right arm strap securely at biceps position (with say a rolled-up shirt sleeve) without falling down your arm, it seems to me that you get better traction for the pull than if the strap rests on top of the shoulder.

I think this was an issue when I had my previous accordion, an accoustic. With the Roland, I have now switched on the Extra light function ins the bellows curve paraameter as suggesed, and it should make life easier.


Hooray Henry

 

[AccordionUprising]

Ive heard good things about back-straps for added control and ergonomics to prevent back-pain. They seem like theyd give even more bellows control.

They are simple to make (from a handkerchief in an emergency) and most dealers will have them, or look around online. For instance: http://www.accordionbackstrap.com (Thats niche-marketing for you.)

 

[HoorayHenry]

Thanks for that about the backstrap, which I do use.

With a very small instrument, like the Hohner Bravo or the Roland FRX, it seems to me that to stabilise the instrument, you have to choose one of 2 methods:

a) to use the backstrap to have the instrument tightly strapped high on the chest, or

b) having it more loosely strapped so that it can rest on the left thigh, with the keyboard edge giving you leverage against the right thigh for the squeeze, and the right shoulder strap for the pull.

Until recently I was going with the tight back strap with the instrument just under my chin, now I'm trying the other way. With a full size accordion, presumably you'd be able to use both methods of stabilising the instrument.

 

[ChrisH]

I've recently acquired a FR-1x, and my initial impression was that the bellows needed quite a hefty pull to get any volume. I found the following helped..
1) Set a light bellows curve (as you've discovered)
2) Turn the volume to maximum
3) Try the bellows calibration procedure (in the troubleshooting section of the manual). I found that this corrected a very assymetric bellows response.
4) Set the bellows valve to shut or almost shut. This reduces the required bellows movement and minimises the need to change direction. The leakage is only necessary if you want to look as though you're playing a real accordion. The V-accordions only respond to pressure... they don't need any air flow.

Chris