Story of a Bay State Diatonic Player's Journey into Accordions

[Olmstead]

I'm new here. I've been into accordions for a lot longer than what my playing ability reflects, heh! I have a few minutes this morning, so I figured I'd type up my accordion life story for anyone who's interested in reading it.

Back in 2010 I got into free reed instruments through harmonica and melodica. I started tinkering with retuning and modifying them, and then in 2012 I bought my first accordion. It was a cheap, no-name, 32-bass; not so good (haha) but an accordion! A year later—through sheer luck—an antique dealer I know sold me a Ferrari 120 bass accordion with 6 registers (5 treble / 1 bass) in perfect tune…for a song, literally. The Italian reeds sounded so sweet! Getting a "real" accordion got me gassed about playing, but a year later, I met a guy who played diatonic. I knew I'd found the instrument I wanted to stick with. I shelved the Ferrari, bought a Hohner Panther (the old style), and thus began my journey into really learning how to play accordion.

Accordion is one of many instruments I play, but in recent years I find myself gravitating toward this awesome instrument. I love the challenge it brings, and of course…the sound. I've also always loved how an accordion is like a band all by itself; I can sit and play the bass, rhythm, and lead all by myself (when I've practiced). Surely many of you feel the same way.

Because there's very little info about diatonic accordions online—at least not in English—I came here hoping to learn more about the different diatonic accordions out there and share what little I know. Hopefully in doing so, I can learn some new things, make better decisions when buying new accordions, and above all, get more out of my playing.

Greetings to you all from Cape Cod, MA

 

[Tom]

Welcome Olmstead!

 

[David Colpitts]

Welcome, Olmstead. My journey has been of similar duration, but has gone the other way, sort of. Diatonics led me to variants of the piano keyboard (which I now modify to the isomorphic version known as the "Janko" keyboard.) I modify little MIDI keyboards for my iPad and PC, and keep the acoustic hand in with modified melodicas. But to your point.....you can find a ton of information in English by hopping on melodeon.net, where many specialists in diatonics are glad to help. Good luck!

 

[Pipemajor]

I've been into accordions for a lot longer than what my playing ability reflects

Welcome Olmstead. You're in good company here!

 

[dak]

I've been into accordions for a lot longer than what my playing ability reflects, heh!

Welcome Olmstead. You're in good company here!

How not so? You cannot practice and post at the same time.

 

[Xiane]

I'm new here. I've been into accordions for a lot longer than what my playing ability reflects, heh! I have a few minutes this morning, so I figured I'd type up my accordion life story for anyone who's interested in reading it.

Back in 2010 I got into free reed instruments through harmonica and melodica. I started tinkering with retuning and modifying them, and then in 2012 I bought my first accordion. It was a cheap, no-name, 32-bass; not so good (haha) but an accordion! A year later—through sheer luck—an antique dealer I know sold me a Ferrari 120 bass accordion with 6 registers (5 treble / 1 bass) in perfect tune…for a song, literally. The Italian reeds sounded so sweet! Getting a "real" accordion got me gassed about playing, but a year later, I met a guy who played diatonic. I knew I'd found the instrument I wanted to stick with. I shelved the Ferrari, bought a Hohner Panther (the old style), and thus began my journey into really learning how to play accordion.

Accordion is one of many instruments I play, but in recent years I find myself gravitating toward this awesome instrument. I love the challenge it brings, and of course…the sound. I've also always loved how an accordion is like a band all by itself; I can sit and play the bass, rhythm, and lead all by myself (when I've practiced). Surely many of you feel the same way.

Because there's very little info about diatonic accordions online—at least not in English—I came here hoping to learn more about the different diatonic accordions out there and share what little I know. Hopefully in doing so, I can learn some new things, make better decisions when buying new accordions, and above all, get more out of my playing.

Greetings to you all from Cape Cod, MA

Well, you've got the power of Bob going for you, and that has mystically lead me to reply with information that will definitely help you. I, too, am a diatonicist. Which I just made up, but it's true. I have faced a similar uphill climb to find information.

We as you most likely know, are in the parlance of the UK, melodeon players. They have a whole sub culture that's into that, and the site includes others in Europe as well.

So check out melodeon.net. Literally decades of experience and materials are gathered there for diatonic players. It doesn't look all that lively at times, but it's a trove of information. Tune collections, advice, history, and lots more.

Also if your accordion is a Panther in G/C/F, bon chance! The French and people of French extraction play a lot of accordion stuff in G/C/F, so you might be able to find material in French as well as Spanish for the Panther, but here's a site in English for old French music.

L'Accordeonaire

Music of Auvergne, Centre France, Brittany, and other places

accordeonaire.com

There are other sites that would help you immensely, if you played B/C or C#/D diatonic. One is a site that will take ABC musical notation tunes and spit out sheet music with tablature for B/C or C#/D accordions/melodeons. This is immensely helpful to me, fwiw.

The best part, and the worst part, is that now you're part of a genuine diatonic sub culture. It's real, and it's really niche.

 

[David Colpitts]

Well, you've got the power of Bob going for you, and that has mystically lead me to reply with information that will definitely help you. I, too, am a diatonicist. Which I just made up, but it's true. I have faced a similar uphill climb to find information.

We as you most likely know, are in the parlance of the UK, melodeon players. They have a whole sub culture that's into that, and the site includes others in Europe as well.

So check out melodeon.net. Literally decades of experience and materials are gathered there for diatonic players. It doesn't look all that lively at times, but it's a trove of information. Tune collections, advice, history, and lots more.

Also if your accordion is a Panther in G/C/F, bon chance! The French and people of French extraction play a lot of accordion stuff in G/C/F, so you might be able to find material in French as well as Spanish for the Panther, but here's a site in English for old French music.

L'Accordeonaire

Music of Auvergne, Centre France, Brittany, and other places

accordeonaire.com

There are other sites that would help you immensely, if you played B/C or C#/D diatonic. One is a site that will take ABC musical notation tunes and spit out sheet music with tablature for B/C or C#/D accordions/melodeons. This is immensely helpful to me, fwiw.

I'm new here. I've been into accordions for a lot longer than what my playing ability reflects, heh! I have a few minutes this morning, so I figured I'd type up my accordion life story for anyone who's interested in reading it.

Back in 2010 I got into free reed instruments through harmonica and melodica. I started tinkering with retuning and modifying them, and then in 2012 I bought my first accordion. It was a cheap, no-name, 32-bass; not so good (haha) but an accordion! A year later—through sheer luck—an antique dealer I know sold me a Ferrari 120 bass accordion with 6 registers (5 treble / 1 bass) in perfect tune…for a song, literally. The Italian reeds sounded so sweet! Getting a "real" accordion got me gassed about playing, but a year later, I met a guy who played diatonic. I knew I'd found the instrument I wanted to stick with. I shelved the Ferrari, bought a Hohner Panther (the old style), and thus began my journey into really learning how to play accordion.

Accordion is one of many instruments I play, but in recent years I find myself gravitating toward this awesome instrument. I love the challenge it brings, and of course…the sound. I've also always loved how an accordion is like a band all by itself; I can sit and play the bass, rhythm, and lead all by myself (when I've practiced). Surely many of you feel the same way.

Because there's very little info about diatonic accordions online—at least not in English—I came here hoping to learn more about the different diatonic accordions out there and share what little I know. Hopefully in doing so, I can learn some new things, make better decisions when buying new accordions, and above all, get more out of my playing.

Greetings to you all from Cape Cod, MA

 

[David Colpitts]

And while we're on the subject.....In my recent reply I forgot to tell you about the absolute treasure in your back yard (well, sort of) in the Northeast Squeeze-In (NESI) which happens every fall (October the past couple of years) in Litchfield, CT. It's a 2-night gathering of free-reed obsessives from all over. There are all genres, and all instrument types represented. And, of course, all levels of experience. If I were you, I'd look up the site (just point your browser at NESI Squeeze-In) and dig around the old files. It's a remarkably knowledgeable and generous community and can offer advice and encouragement. Sign up early for the best weekend of the year!