One of those back strap questions?

[Mike t.]

So… I’m about as limber as a dried-out three month old bread stick. I’ve seen people wearing those extra straps that keep your shoulders straps from falling down. How in the world do they fasten them without help? I can barely tie a kitchen apron by myself (I mean like a manly lab smock) my accordion straps usually don’t give me much trouble, I would think most players don’t use them? Is there a secret for fastening them? I have noticed a couple of my shirts are of a slicker material and are a little more prone to slipping. The height of the chair is another factor, as the box rests on my left leg and that changes the slippage of straps. Just curious…

 

[Thomas N]

My Excelsior 960 is a 33lb accordion. I used the backstrap for years and never liked it. When I recently fixed the accordion and started seriously playing it again I put on the standard Neotech straps I had on my Roland FR-8X and never looked back. They are padded and stick to your shoulders and so much more comfortable for me.

 

[Tom]

So… I’m about as limber as a dried-out three month old bread stick. I’ve seen people wearing those extra straps that keep your shoulders straps from falling down. How in the world do they fasten them without help? I can barely tie a kitchen apron by myself (I mean like a manly lab smock) my accordion straps usually don’t give me much trouble, I would think most players don’t use them? Is there a secret for fastening them? I have noticed a couple of my shirts are of a slicker material and are a little more prone to slipping. The height of the chair is another factor, as the box rests on my left leg and that changes the slippage of straps. Just curious…

There seem to be three basic kinds, two that you can put on “from the front.” The purpose seems to be to offer support for the accordion from your hips area as opposed to your shoulders. At least that’s what I get from mine. I would not consider standing for an hour without one.

I got mine from accordion blackstrap . Com which I am not sure still functions as I get no response after buying a defective one. Just sayin’. Anyway, it goes on my accordion straps directly above where the two parts of the straps come together. At this location it is easy to reach behind yourself to attach it as the buckles position is variable and can be loosened for attaching, then tightened.

Another type I have seen but not tried attached at the top of one strap and the bottom of the other. This one can also easily be put on by the player.

The third type has one or two straps that attach higher on the straps and requires help in putting it on. (Although maybe some players have figured out how to attach it.)

Then there is the “Neotech” type that you kind of crawl into and attach on the bottom of one strap. And it appears that Thomas recommends this one, although I have found the original version not as good for a heavy accordion, at least for standing.

 

[RowanSumner]

So… I’m about as limber as a dried-out three month old bread stick. I’ve seen people wearing those extra straps that keep your shoulders straps from falling down. How in the world do they fasten them without help? I can barely tie a kitchen apron by myself (I mean like a manly lab smock) my accordion straps usually don’t give me much trouble, I would think most players don’t use them? Is there a secret for fastening them? I have noticed a couple of my shirts are of a slicker material and are a little more prone to slipping. The height of the chair is another factor, as the box rests on my left leg and that changes the slippage of straps. Just curious…

This guy made a cool workaround with a buckle attachment for the bottom of the strap, so the back strap can stay together (hard to explain sorry, the video should be clear)

The cheapest option would be to follow a stretching and mobility routine!

 

[debra]

[M...

This guy made a cool workaround with a buckle attachment for the bottom of the strap, so the back strap can stay together (hard to explain sorry, the video should be clear)

The cheapest option would be to follow a stretching and mobility routine!

Friends of mine have done more or less the same. But instead of the buckle for the bottom of the strap they did it with a buckle for the top of the (right) strap. They sort-of climb into the straps, then fasten the buckle at the top. They even installed two backstraps for extra support.

 

[Thomas N]

I'm all Neotech now on all three of my accordions. I have two of the "X-Large" and one of the standard I just picked up on Amazon for $40 US. My 960 had these 4" Elephant Straps made in Italy with the backstrap connector that had been on there from the Factory. They always bothered me but because I didn't play that accordion often I didn't mind. When I started to play for an hour at a time they bothered me.

I took the X-Large Neotech off the Roland FR-8X and put them on the 960. Perfection! No backstrap connector and they just work for me. I noticed that Neotech no longer sells the X-Large, or Premium, or whatever they were called years ago when I purchased them. They only have the standard straps which I ordered from Amazon. I put these on the FR-8X and they are perfect. It's a lighter accordion, relatively, and they work. I did notice they aren't as padded and aren't as wide as the X-Large and probably wouldn't work on my 960.

I only play seated and have no idea how they are when standing. And I don't even want to find out.

 

[Mike t.]

Friends of mine have done more or less the same. But instead of the buckle for the bottom of the strap they did it with a buckle for the top of the (right) strap. They sort-of climb into the straps, then fasten the buckle at the top. They even installed two backstraps for extra support.

This is just what I was hoping to find! Thanks!

 

[ColoRodney]

I have backstraps on most of my accordions (with some, they came with the straps). It really helps on long gigs, and on gigs where I'm standing--without it, the straps start working their way off my shoulders. But it does slow me down when switching between accordion and piano.

On a good day I can hook it myself--it helps to sit and lift the accordion with one hand to take the weight off the shoulder straps, while connecting the backstrap with the other hand. On bad days I'll ask a friend.

When I saw Buckwheat Zydeco play in Boulder long ago, he had an assistant who came out and helped him put his accordion on at the beginning of the concert.

 

[tcabot]

A bit of yoga in in the morning goes a long way.
After a month or two you'll be able to fasten them backstraps behind your back without any issues.
After 20 years of regular practice you'll be able to fasten them with your feet.

 

[Mike t.]

A bit of yoga in in the morning goes a long way.
After a month or two you'll be able to fasten them backstraps behind your back without any issues.
After 20 years of regular practice you'll be able to fasten them with your feet.

Started my training this morning… got one sock on so far, can’t wait till tomorrow… gonna try for the other!

 

[dak]

I can barely tie a kitchen apron by myself (I mean like a manly lab smock) my accordion straps usually don’t give me much trouble, I would think most players don’t use them? Is there a secret for fastening them?

Professional aprons have straps that are long enough to be crossed behind your back and tied in front.


Now what that implies for professional accordion back straps I have no idea. Maybe cooks are allowed to get unwieldier than accordionists.

 

[Mike t.]

An up date since I’ve put back straps on the accordion. I made my straps and placed them higher up up my back than some photos I’ve seen. By accident it gives me more room to stick my pumpkin head through and crawl into the shoulder straps while sitting down, pretty easy. I have a plastic quick release buckle but never use it. The best thing is it makes the accordion hug me more and my fingers seem to hit the big jumps better. The downside is it makes it hard to see my finger when sitting because I can barely see over the top of the keyboard. Bottom line is I like it!

 

[cestjeffici]

There seem to be three basic kinds, two that you can put on “from the front.” The purpose seems to be to offer support for the accordion from your hips area as opposed to your shoulders. At least that’s what I get from mine. I would not consider standing for an hour without one.

I got mine from accordion blackstrap . Com which I am not sure still functions as I get no response after buying a defective one. Just sayin’. Anyway, it goes on my accordion straps directly above where the two parts of the straps come together. At this location it is easy to reach behind yourself to attach it as the buckles position is variable and can be loosened for attaching, then tightened.

Another type I have seen but not tried attached at the top of one strap and the bottom of the other. This one can also easily be put on by the player.

The third type has one or two straps that attach higher on the straps and requires help in putting it on. (Although maybe some players have figured out how to attach it.)

Then there is the “Neotech” type that you kind of crawl into and attach on the bottom of one strap. And it appears that Thomas recommends this one, although I have found the original version not as good for a heavy accordion, at least for standing.

Them Neotech type works quite well if you detach both straps at the bottom before putting you accordion on. Keep the adjusters longish. The straps will easily go over your head, no crawling needed. Attach both straps at the bottom and pull them to the right length.

 

[Tom]

Them Neotech type works quite well if you detach both straps at the bottom before putting you accordion on. Keep the adjusters longish. The straps will easily go over your head, no crawling needed. Attach both straps at the bottom and pull them to the right length.

Thanks Jeff! I did try the Neotech. (Sold it with my Cruccianelli, sad to see that one go.) I found it really nice for small accordions but didn’t get enough support for bigger ones as I do with conventional ones with the backstrap. Your results will vary!

 

[JerryPH]

So… I’m about as limber as a dried-out three month old bread stick. I’ve seen people wearing those extra straps that keep your shoulders straps from falling down. How in the world do they fasten them without help? I can barely tie a kitchen apron by myself (I mean like a manly lab smock) my accordion straps usually don’t give me much trouble, I would think most players don’t use them? Is there a secret for fastening them?

Well, I will share a very personal and private secret with you that I know one of our more experienced uses... he speaks some magic words out loud that make the process super easy...

"HONEY CAN YOU CLIP UP MY BRA STRAP???"

This is usually followed up by his charming wife coming in and connecting his backstrap... lol

OK, so, I am going to skip over the other solutions that I am sure people are going to offer (different straps, lower backstrap, change the bottom of the shoulder straps from connectors to clip-ons, etc...) and offer some ideas about dealing with the current setup.

Playing the accordion takes a certain level of physical ability. For someone that has shoulder flexibility issues, you now want to add a new exercises to your daily regime that can be done anywhere and should be done as often as possible throughout the day.

The exercises are super simple:

1 - shoulder rotations, both front wards and backwards. 60-90 seconds is adequate,
2 - from standing or sitting position, raise your elbows and push them gently backwards. Do this from *3* different positions; hip height, shoulder height and ear height. 30 seconds at each height is adequate
3- place hands behind your back, claps your hands and move your elbows forward and backward as far as you can GENTLY go in each direction. 60 seconds is adequate
4 - after a while you may want to try something a little more advanced... place hands behind the back, interlock the fingers in a C-grip or gently grab the fingers of your left hand (if you are right handed), place hands as low on the back as possible and start moving the hands left to right as far as you can GENTLY go. After a while to increase the effectiveness of the exercise, move the hands higher up the back and pull them gently from side to side.

After 1 month of doing this for 10 minutes a day you will see improvements. After 6 months you will see more improvements.

And my final point... a little technique never hurts. I generally reach around with my left hand and grab the LEFT backstrap edge, then pass it to my right hand, pull a bit to get maximum extension, pass it back to the left hand, grab the right backstrap edge with the right hand and clip them together.

 

[Mike t.]

The way I mastered the strap issue is by sitting down and just slipping into the straps, like slipping into a sweater.
Hard to do when standing. My new Saltarelle accordion, being 9 lbs lighter is a breeze to “put on” I use a 1/8” dia. braided nylon cord for a back strap on it. Doing shoulder rolls and other stuff is definitely going on my to do list. I’ve been experiencing sore shoulders, mainly my right side. Thanks for the tips.