This is one of those "Am I crazy?" questions

[Dark Phoenix]

I was mucking about in my collection of accordion music, and I opened up Mel Bay's Easiest Accordion Book, by Neil Griffin. So, I played the first piece, "Going Home." Nothing surprising there. Then I went onto the second piece, "Barcarolle (Theme)." I check out the right-hand part, easy-peasy. Then I try to do the left-hand oomp-pah-pahs. However, usually, the oom-pah-pah is like, G-note, GM-chord, GM-chord, etc. But if you actually read the musical notation, the left-hand part seems to be: G-note, GM-chord, GM-chord | D-note, GM-chord, GM-chord | D-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | A-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | D-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | A-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | G-note, GM-chord, GM-chord | D-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | etc. That does not qualify as the "easiest" left-hand part I've every seen. Should one follow the typographical markings (e.g GM | | DM | | DM | | GM...) and ignore the notes on the staff, or is the musical notation legit? I've attached part of a page to show what I'm talking about.

 

[cestjeffici]

I think it's called alternating bass. Pretty common.

 

[Tom]

I was mucking about in my collection of accordion music, and I opened up Mel Bay's Easiest Accordion Book, by Neil Griffin. So, I played the first piece, "Going Home." Nothing surprising there. Then I went onto the second piece, "Barcarolle (Theme)." I check out the right-hand part, easy-peasy. Then I try to do the left-hand oomp-pah-pahs. However, usually, the oom-pah-pah is like, G-note, GM-chord, GM-chord, etc. But if you actually read the musical notation, the left-hand part seems to be: G-note, GM-chord, GM-chord | D-note, GM-chord, GM-chord | D-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | A-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | D-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | A-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | G-note, GM-chord, GM-chord | D-note, DM-chord, DM-chord | etc. That does not qualify as the "easiest" left-hand part I've every seen. Should one follow the typographical markings (e.g GM | | DM | | DM | | GM...) and ignore the notes on the staff, or is the musical notation legit? I've attached part of a page to show what I'm talking about.

Hi Dark,

Oh that brings back memories! One of the first books I had for learning accordion.

IMHO the notes are correct. They are introducing the concept of using “alternating basses.” (As Jeff noted while I was typing. ). That is, instead of using the “root” note of each chord (ie. D note followed by D chord) they use the fifth note of each chord (ie A note followed by D chord. A being the “fifth” of D - D, E, F, G, A.). This is pretty common, and can be used to imply some movement in the bass line. Conveniently the “fifth” is one button above the root. You can play the root with your fourth finger, and the alternating bass with your second. ( thumb being first here.). Using your third finger for the chord. It’s a little tricky to get used to, but you will find you use it a lot.

Good luck!!!!!!

 

[Dark Phoenix]

Hi Dark,

Oh that brings back memories! One of the first books I had for learning accordion.

IMHO the notes are correct. They are introducing the concept of using “alternating basses.” (As Jeff noted while I was typing. ). That is, instead of using the “root” note of each chord (ie. D note followed by D chord) they use the fifth note of each chord (ie A note followed by D chord. A being the “fifth” of D - D, E, F, G, A.). This is pretty common, and can be used to imply some movement in the bass line. Conveniently the “fifth” is one button above the root. You can play the root with your fourth finger, and the alternating bass with your second. ( thumb being first here.). Using your third finger for the chord. It’s a little tricky to get used to, but you will find you use it a lot.

Good luck!!!!!!

Thank you for the explanation. I guess I got too used to early Palmer and Hughes.

 

[JeffJetton]

Thank you for the explanation. I guess I got too used to early Palmer and Hughes.

Yeah, I'm not so sure that "Easiest Accordion Book" is an accurate title for that one.

FWIW, Palmer Hughes covers alternating basses very well, about three songs into Book 2. (It is a key skill to know, and you'll use it pretty much all the time.)

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Wait ‘til you have those minor waltzes and have to reach with your fifth finger for the alternate flatted third degree as in:

A Am Am C Am Am B E7 E7 E E7 E7 …

 

[John M]

Yeah, I'm not so sure that "Easiest Accordion Book" is an accurate title for that one.

FWIW, Palmer Hughes covers alternating basses very well, about three songs into Book 2. (It is a key skill to know, and you'll use it pretty much all the time.)

The Sedlon course of 8 Books also does a good job. If you are interested in the Sedlon course, send me a "Direct Message".

 

[JerryPH]

Wait ‘til you have those minor waltzes and have to reach with your fifth finger for the alternate flatted third degree as in:

A Am Am C Am Am B E7 E7 E E7 E7 …

I think that @cestjeffici is going to agree with me that if you want a left hand challenge, a little bit of Henry Doctorski's piece called "ROMANCE" will place your mind at ease about what "hard" for the left hand really is!

One has to give credit to Mel Bay's Easiest Accordion Book, and challenging it's users almost from the beginning!