Squashed at computer with CBA accordion

[Ganza]

Hi all, it's been awhile since I posted I'll have to catch up on the lively discussions!

I was trying to learn an Irish reel tonight, listening to the midi and editing the (wrong) sheet music at the same time.

I had my accordion on to work out what the notes on the recording were. It was heavy and I was squashed against the computer.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Obviously a piano accordionist could just get one of those little piano things with a hose and play that when they quickly want to write down melody lines without holding a whole accordion!

But what can us on CBA do? Maybe put an app on a tablet and play on that? Or else buy one of those very expensive CBA harmonica thingies, there seem to be no cheap options unlike for piano!!

Thanks, I'm not sure if this has been discussed before....

 

[TomBR]

Its a good question.
I had a play with this while I was waiting for my first CBA to arrive. It worked ok.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.egert.buttonaccordion

 

[Seisiuneer]

Or, if you have an iPad:

http://www.tradlessons.com/HohnerChromaticSqueezeBox.html

 

[Bobo]

What are those harmonica thingies called?

 

[debra]

...
I was trying to learn an Irish reel tonight, listening to the midi and editing the (wrong) sheet music at the same time.

I had my accordion on to work out what the notes on the recording were. It was heavy and I was squashed against the computer.
...

When you use Musescore (free, open source) or any other score entry software with playback you dont need to have the accordion to play what you are writing down as you can just have the computer do it for you. Each note you enter is played immediately so you can hear whether it is the right one or not.
And when you have the midi you can import that directly, so much less work to do on the computer.

So I do not really understand what the problem is that forces you to wear and play the accordion while doing note entry.
Can you elaborate?

 

[StargazerTony]

I concur that Musescore is a wonderful program for writing music. Every tune that I begin to learn, I put into Musescore. Somehow, I am never satisfied with others arrangements and always tweak them myself (can't help it).

 

[Corsaire]

Is Musescore easy to use ? I downloaded Crescendo (free software) and it works well but can be a bit fiddly to use. It also has a playback facility and is easy to print out finished scores.
But if Musescore is better, Ill give it a go.

There is a free software called Tunebook into which you can copy any sheet music from the internet if it is in ABC format. You get the score and there is a playback facility. However, it isnt an arranger, i.e. you cant alter the scores, but it makes a useful library. The Session https://thesession.org/tunes gives tunes in ABC notation.

 

[StargazerTony]

"Better" is very subjective. Its better for me, but then I've used it for years. Its free so I suggest you install it then mess with it a bit. Read the on line help and do the tutorial. There is also a huge repository of music you can download into it already in Musescore format.

 

[Corsaire]

Thanks Tony. I found Crescendo by searching internet rather than by recommendation, so I'll give Musescore a go.

 

[Corsaire]

Just to say thank you, Paul and Tony, for pointing out Musescore. I'm getting the hang of it and it's heaps better than Crescendo - much easier to use. I've managed so far without the tutorials as it's fairly self-explanatory but I think it's time to look at them !

 

[Tom]

Good luck with the Crescendo! I enter tunes directly into ABC notation in a text editor. I find it faster and easier than a wysiwyg editor once you get the hang of it. (And sometimes can find one online to start with). Like Tony, I rarely find sheet music I like and end up making my own arrangements most of the time.

 

[Corsaire]

ABC looks complicated to adjust but perhaps that's just lack of knowledge. I download music that is in ABC to Tunebook and it comes up in score form with the abc bit below it.
Musescore is pretty quick to notate and its instant playback tells you if you'e put a wrong note or value.

 

[Tom]

Yes, ABC is confusing at first, there is a learning curve. Once you figure it out, though, it is super fast to just type CD e/2 [ACF].

I copy and paste formatting commands from one tune to another and adjust as necessary. You have quite a bit of control and I get a look that is professional and good enough for me.

I use the converter here:

http://www.mandolintab.net/abcconverter.php

I think any software that works for you is good!

 

[george garside]

forget the software , digital stuff or whatever and simply have a go at playing by ear/from memory. The essential ingredients to do this are.

Listen to a tune until you can hum or whistle it.


regular scale practice so that you don't have to think about where on the keyboard the next note is going to be


george

 

[jozz]

you guys need the Solton Ketron