On what do you sit?

[Soulsaver]

I have a solid office chair; adjustable back rest for slope & height and a seat hydraulically adjustable for height and, importantly for me, it has wheels so I can roll it rather than carry it. I can put the accordion on there, too, and push it from room to room.

 

[Anyanka]

Piano stool or dining chair, and a piece of wood (or guitarists' foot rest) for the left foot so that I can rest the box on my left thigh. That's for the big box; I stand with the little one. I find that a back strap makes a huge difference: without it, I seem to tense up to keep the accordion from sliding about, and end up with an ache. I have a 'proper' back strap for the small box, but use an old scarf to keep the Pigini fastened.

 

[Dreamer]

I sit on an office chair that adjusts.
I have back issues too, and founf I need a back rest, that is straight and supportive.
this type of office chair hás not arm rests, which would be in the way. it can turn in any direction, whcih helps when looking to the other players, like guitarist, or turn to the music etc. so it is a bit on an angle.
I like it best.

 

[lasvegascolonel]

Right now, just getting back into the accordion after almost 50 years, I'm just using a wheeled garage chair with a pad, but several dealers online sell "music chairs". These are non-folding metal/vinyl or fabric chairs that look like dining chairs, but are angled at 97 degrees for what the manufacturer calls "optimal breathing". Unlike folding chairs, they won't get loose. I'm thinking of getting one...under $40 with a ten-year warranty. The other thing I'm shopping for is a good music stand.

 

[Happy girl]

The idea of a ‘music chair’ is fascinating, something I have never heard of so I looked it up & couldn’t help but be amused.
Especially with this wacky pair!

Don’t worry lasvegascolonel I know you are being serious & a music chair will no doubt have a lot going for it, it just sounds so funny to my ears that I had to be a bit silly on this one…Sorry.

 

[Glenn]

If I wasn't such an old fuddy-duddy, I'd snap one of these up.

 

[george garside]

the upholstered one is not intended for box players as it is best to sit upright, they are probably for blowers of blowy things who presumably must have a wedge shaped arse if it is to be plonked at the back of the seat!

T'other one just looks somewhere between impossible and extremely uncomfartable!

George :shock:

 

[smdc66]

online sell music chairs. These are non-folding metal/vinyl or fabric chairs that look like dining chairs, but are angled at 97 degrees for what the manufacturer calls optimal breathing. Unlike folding chairs, they wont get loose.

id like to see a picture of this if possible to see what is being referred to as have never heard of this ?

id also like to read the research into this if any that makes these superior ?!

 

[Soulsaver]

I have a solid office chair; adjustable back rest for slope & height and a seat hydraulically adjustable for height and, importantly for me, it has wheels so I can roll it rather than carry it. I can put the accordion on there, too, and push it from room to room.

Good point raised by Dreamer... importantly, no arms on mine either.

 

[Polopudding]

Being a new member and very late in joining this discussion, I have just returned to playing the Accordion after 40 years. I treated myself to a Roland FR1X which I am delighted with, it sounds awesome, however, positioning the accordion when playing is a bit of an issue.  I have found that playing whilst standing up is too tiring on my back after a while, so using a dining room chair works for me, not tried a drumming stool yet. My knees are positioned about a foot apart, treble sound box resting on my left knee.  Problem is that the treble box keeps moving across to my right leg.  I have tried strapping the treble box to my left thigh.  I imagine that this is a little unorthodox and if I need to stand up I must remember to un-attach first.
Has anyone else ever experienced this issue?  Any advice?  Perhaps I don't have the straps set correctly? :s

Thanks

 

[Eddy Yates]

Even after a year of really taking the accordion seriously, I am still adjusting the shoulder straps and the back strap from Elena. That may be your problem with a sliding accordion.
I’ve found that I need a higher chair for my full size accordion so my knees are lower.
As for a chair, my adjustable piano benches work great, but I also use this bar stool:

 

[JerryPH]

I was looking at thrones, and when I was in Florida visiting my friend Ed (a member here), I tried it out and it was very comfy to use.  I could see it being good for longer periods of time for people that sit for more than 1-2 hours at a time.  They are awesome, but not cheap... around $325US.



About  3 months ago, one of the higher managers where I work ordered a replacement chair for himself, one of those $3500 chairs that are simply way overpriced, and I asked him what he would do with his old chair, and he said that it would be tossed out.

I asked if I could have it, and he agreed.  Its one of those higher ones with a contoured based with 3 memory foam base, hydraulic height adjustment and a height adjustable chrome ring at the bottom for the feet... for the cost of bringing it home, it was mine.  I tested it out, then removed the back rest portion and blacked out the chrome base, and that is what I use now.  Its nothing special, but it is height adjustable, has a nice thick pad to sit on, and is a full width chair, perfect for my needs, and the cost was right.  The best part, its very comfy and perfect for use in my future videos as well.

 

[Polopudding]

I was looking at thrones, and when I was in Florida visiting my friend Ed (a member here), I tried it out and it was very comfy to use.  I could see it being good for longer periods of time for people that sit for more than 1-2 hours at a time.  They are awesome, but not cheap... around $325US.



About  3 months ago, one of the higher managers where I work ordered a replacement chair for himself, one of those $3500 chairs that are simply way overpriced, and I asked him what he would do with his old chair, and he said that it would be tossed out.

I asked if I could have it, and he agreed.  Its one of those higher ones with a contoured based with 3 memory foam base, hydraulic height adjustment and a height adjustable chrome ring at the bottom for the feet... for the cost of bringing it home, it was mine.  I tested it out, then removed the back rest portion and blacked out the chrome base, and that is what I use now.  Its nothing special, but it is height adjustable, has a nice  thick pad to sit on, and is a full width chair, perfect for my needs, and the cost was right.  The best part, its very comfy and perfect for use in my future videos as well.

---

I was looking at thrones, and when I was in Florida visiting my friend Ed (a member here), I tried it out and it was very comfy to use.  I could see it being good for longer periods of time for people that sit for more than 1-2 hours at a time.  They are awesome, but not cheap... around $325US.



About  3 months ago, one of the higher managers where I work ordered a replacement chair for himself, one of those $3500 chairs that are simply way overpriced, and I asked him what he would do with his old chair, and he said that it would be tossed out.

I asked if I could have it, and he agreed.  Its one of those higher ones with a contoured based with 3 memory foam base, hydraulic height adjustment and a height adjustable chrome ring at the bottom for the feet... for the cost of bringing it home, it was mine.  I tested it out, then removed the back rest portion and blacked out the chrome base, and that is what I use now.  Its nothing special, but it is height adjustable, has a nice  thick pad to sit on, and is a full width chair, perfect for my needs, and the cost was right.  The best part, its very comfy and perfect for use in my future videos as well.

Thanks Jerry, I think something like this would definitely do the trick.  As I am based in Europe I looked on the Thomann website and there are hundreds of them!!  Not sure if my budget would stretch to $325, but there are comparable ones with adjustable foot rest and back support from about €150.

 

[Dingo40]

Having back trouble with my new accordion.  What do you sit on to practice?  Chair or stool or do you stand?

The most comfortable thing I have used, and still use, is an antique circular  piano stool, which swivels about a thick (1.25 inch) threaded central column. Spinning the circular seat about this column causes the seat to be raised or lowered as required for comfort.
Being a stool, there is no back to get in the way. It stands on four very short legs, which make a very convenient foot rest for my left leg (on which I rest the bottom of the bellows).
All this works very well for me!

---

Being a new member and very late in joining this discussion, I have just returned to playing the Accordion after 40 years. I treated myself to a Roland FR1X which I am delighted with, it sounds awesome, however, positioning the accordion when playing is a bit of an issue.  I have found that playing whilst standing up is too tiring on my back after a while, so using a dining room chair works for me, not tried a drumming stool yet. My knees are positioned about a foot apart, treble sound box resting on my left knee.  Problem is that the treble box keeps moving across to my right leg.  I have tried strapping the treble box to my left thigh.  I imagine that this is a little unorthodox and if I need to stand up I must remember to un-attach first.
Has anyone else ever experienced this issue?  Any advice?  Perhaps I don't have the straps set correctly? :s

Thanks

If you adjust your shoulder straps, such that your right strap provides more reach than the left, the key board/grill angle should quite naturally sit under your chin (looking straight ahead). Then the join of bellows and bass box should naturally sit on your left thigh. For me, it helps to have something to give my left foot a lift of two or three inches . In my case, this is from the curved top of the leg of the piano stool I sit on.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Far too much bunting & frolics going on here. Remember, us old army veterans don't like rudeness. (well, perhaps a bit.)

I use a folding camping chair when I play outdoors (which I do a lot.) We always have a couple of camping chairs in the boot (trunk) of the car, together with some very thick foam cushions. The cushions are thick enough to clear the height of the chair arms, which enables me to play the accordion without snagging on the them.

I tend to play around three or four tunes, after which I put my accordion down for five minutes or so while I have a cigarette. Perhaps this regime would help others, though the cigarette part of it is optional.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Chrisrayner]

After years of slouching around on various items of furniture I resolved to try to mitigate my persistent and increasingly uncomfortable back pain while playing sundry musical instruments. After some research I came upon a couple of companies who design and make seats expressly for musicians. I went to the U.K. agents and tried out their products in person. Fortunately they had a chair which suited me perfec, and even better it was discounted. It is a Wenger Nota chair. https://www.blackcatmusic.co.uk/nota-standard-chair.html

It enables me to play/practice/fool around with accordions, guitars, mandolins etc. for much longer than its predecessor, a Bauhaus cane bottom chair ever did. It permits, even encourages a more forward upright posture. The legs are slightly longer than those of a dining chair, while the seat has a rounded front edge and slopes slightly down to the front. The back is narrow and supports the spine without interfering with arm movements. It has exceeded my expectations of improvement to my musical life.

 

[Corinto]

After years of slouching around on various items of furniture I resolved to try to mitigate my persistent and increasingly uncomfortable back pain while playing sundry musical instruments.  After some research I came upon a couple of companies who design and make seats expressly for musicians.  I went to the U.K. agents and tried out their products in person.  Fortunately they had a chair which suited me perfec, and even better it was discounted.  It is a Wenger Nota chair.  https://www.blackcatmusic.co.uk/nota-standard-chair.html

It enables me to play/practice/fool around with accordions, guitars, mandolins etc. for much longer than its predecessor, a Bauhaus cane bottom chair ever did.  It permits, even encourages a more forward upright posture.  The legs are slightly longer than those of a dining chair, while the seat has a rounded front edge and slopes slightly down to the front.  The back is narrow and supports the spine without interfering with arm movements.  It has exceeded my expectations of improvement to my musical life.

Very interesting, thanks for this link.

 

[Corsaire]

I play standing up and sometimes for a more complicated piece, I sit on a folding guitar stool which is a little higher than the average dining chair.  It's perfect as it's light to carry around, and is the right height for me to sit on.  It has a bar for resting leg/legs so easy to change position.  I naturally sit upright and don't need a back, and I never play for longer that 90 minutes. 

Like Happy Girl, I'm a Pilates fan, and don't seem to suffer from back or shoulder problems.

 

[hais1273]

At home I use a decent drum throne with a soft and airy "egg sitter support cushion" apparently you can sit on an egg without it breaking. Why would anybody do that? No idea, but it virtually stops bum ache. Or a decent solid kitchen chair with the aforesaid cushion My wife saw the cushion on afternoon TV, and bought it on line from JML.

A decent stance helps with stopping the neck ache as does good bellow control.

 

[jozz]

Standing most of the time, but I have a bar-stool on my rider.

Otherwise I'm also a fan of the rotating drum thrones.