Puzzling notation

[Cheshire Chris]

I've just got the book "Methode d'Accordéon", by Médard Ferrero to help me with my C-system button accordion, and I'm somewhat baffled by the notation he uses. This is the first page of exercises for the right hand in the key of C:



I'm pretty sure that the numbers below the stave are finger numbers, with the black numbers using thumb=0 and the red numbers thumb=1. But I haven't a clue what the numbers above the stave indicate. They also look like finger numbers, but why have two different sets of finger numbers? Alternative fingerings?

As far as I can see the text of the book gives no help - it just jumps straight in.

It's a terribly formal book - in its only picture M. Ferrero is playing his accordion in his suit! I think I prefer the other book I have by Maugain which has lots of cartoons of cute animals and actually explains things, too ?. I can't imagine M. Ferrero approving of cute animals...

If anyone has this book and can shed any light on its notation I'd be very grateful.

As far as I've been able to ascertain there are no CBA tutorial books in English - they're all French.

Chris

 

[losthobos]

You've got it nailed Chris.... O = thumb / pouce
Above staff is just alternate fingerings for same thing
Medards book is great tutor furry animals or no furry animals
I used way back before goggletranslate but nowadays you can just open the googletranslate app on your phone, hold over the text in book and you see translation in english on your phone screen.... Ive not done this but my son showed me how
Good luck
Keep with his method and you'll advance without to many naughty habits...

 

[Cheshire Chris]

Thank you - that's a great help! I think I'd better decide whether I prefer Ferrero or Maugain because they do have different recommended fingerings.

Thanks so much for the tip about the Google Translate app! I've just installed it on my phone and it's brilliant! It's going to be a tremendous help in reading these French books.

Chris

 

[pentaprism]

As far as I've been able to ascertain there are no CBA tutorial books in English - they're all French.

Not this:

Lucien & Richard Galliano's Complete Accordion Method - English Edition

The paper quality is inferior to that of the French Edition. But the English Edition costs less.

Both are spiral-bound and include mp3 files, however.

 

[Cheshire Chris]

Not this:

Lucien & Richard Galliano's Complete Accordion Method - English Edition

The paper quality is inferior to that of the French Edition. But the English Edition costs less.

Both are spiral-bound and include mp3 files, however.

Thank you - now ordered. One can never have too many tutor books!

Chris

 

[pentaprism]

@ Chris,

Please check your PM (the envelop icon at the upper right corner, on the right of your login name).

 

[dunlustin]

I couldn't get on with Ferrero. I think he expects you to have a teacher.
The intro (Hohner) says they have added in red the modern fingering (thumb = 1)I'm guessing the bottom fingering is piano accordion. It uses 0 and 1 which means thumb and Ferrero banishes the thumb to the edge of the keyboard where it should stay right thro' the scale.
He also remains on the first 3 rows which is not common in modern practice.
I'd also question how progressive he is. The first piece has LH chords C,G D7 F + root third and 5th in the bass and a 4 note run: g f e d.
Meaty stuff after just 2 pages of drills - guess it's down to the teacher to 'prune.'

 

[JeffJetton]

Not this:

Lucien & Richard Galliano's Complete Accordion Method - English Edition

The paper quality is inferior to that of the French Edition. But the English Edition costs less.

Both are spiral-bound and include mp3 files, however.

I have both editions. In my particular case, at least, the French one is indeed wonderfully bound (double-loop wire binding, I believe) and came with a physical CD.

The English one uses an inferior binding that doesn't like to lay flat (technically called "perfect binding"--quite the misnomer!) and came with a code to download MP3 files from a webpage rather than a disc. Still, it was significantly cheaper and, given my one semester of French, a lot easier to read.

 

[losthobos]

Don't think I'm trying to bully you but please try not to dismiss Medard...
As mentioned perhaps he does expect you to have a teacher or at least some musical knowledge...but his sample tunes are calibrated very well to lead you down a good route... The bass can be simplified if you want to miss out the runs erc
I wish I'd been more strict when i was trying to decipher the method... A real important thing that he uses are what piano players may call 'grips' ie the hand stays in a certain place and the finger independance is developed to work within this frame.... Invaluable... I know its hard work and you can cheat but the easy route never turns out the most productive...
I'd still best describe myself as a beginner after many years of absorption so don't take my word as gospel.... Just sharing my experiences in the hope it will make your journey smoother
Good luck
Ps, my fingerings may change throughout a tunes as the melody progresses through the changes.... Medard does give you clues for this... Ok he works on a 3 row system but you'll soon see the overlaps to extend through to all 5 if suits the phrase better

 

[Cheshire Chris]

I'm still puzzled by this. This is Ferrero's first diagram in which he illustrates the fingering for the C major scale ("Do" in French):



I get that he's basically saying that we divide the scale into three parts, and move the hand between them, but should I be using the fingering above the notes (fingers 2, 3, 4 for C, D, E) or the fingering below the notes (thumb, 3, 4)?

Very confusing! It does seem like an extremely thorough book, but I'm starting to agree that it's intended to be "interpreted" through a teacher rather than being for self-study.

Chris

 

[dunlustin]

I see your edition uses the thumb - specifically excluded in my edition* - and is likely more modern.
These changes are from Hohner to bring finger numbers (1-5) in line with practice in 'the whole world.'
It looks as if your copy gives you the choice between thumb/no thumb - you choose.
To be clear: black= original; Hohner additions - red above = no thumb; red below = use thumb.

You may have worked out that the CBA offers lots of options. This is great in the long term but when starting out can be disheartening.
First conclusion: there is no single right approach. As an Anglo player this will come as no shock and maybe some relief!
Enjoy yourself!

* I went back to check. He says elsewhere that in case a teacher wants his pupil to use the thumb, fingering is included in scales and exercises where useful.
He also says the thumb should not move when playing a scale unless the hand is too small to manage otherwise.

 

[Cheshire Chris]

Thank you! I see it says "(something) with the thumb" under the stave. Google Translate doesn't know what the word "Doité" means, but I'm guessing it's something to do with "Do" (the key of C).

 

[dunlustin]

'Doité' is a misprint for 'doigté' and means 'fingering' ( le doigt = finger as in digit)
No connection with the key of C.

 

[Pipemajor]

Thank you! I see it says "(something) with the thumb" under the stave. Google Translate doesn't know what the word "Doité" means, but I'm guessing it's something to do with "Do" (the key of C).

I think if you use the bottom row of numbers in red, using the thumb as 1 it is quite logical

 

[losthobos]

Doite is finger or fingering
Doite avec le pouce means
Fingering with the thumb
My imagination is doing its best to remain contained.... ?

 

[Cheshire Chris]

'Doité' is a misprint for 'doigté' and means 'fingering' ( le doigt = finger as in digit)
No connection with the key of C.

Thank you - that makes sense now! So the numbers above the stave are his recommended fingering, and the numbers below the stave an alternative fingering for those who wish to use the thumb.