accordion, General, irish music, traditonal music

Buying your first accordion

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It can be difficult to buy your first accordion. There are many brands, models, colors and sizes to choose from. If you don’t have the right advisor to help you make the right decisions, it’s easy for you to get overwhelmed by all the options. An accordion purchase should be considered both an investment and a commitment to learning the skill. An advisor will ask you questions about your level of skill, musical preference, and music reading abilities.

Do your research before you make a purchase. You don’t have to buy a cheap accordion online. To find the right accordion for you, I recommend visiting an accordion shop near you.

These are my top 10 tips before you buy your first accordion.

Type: There are many types. There are three types of piano: the Diatonic, Chromatic and Concertina (illustrated above). Each piano has its own sound and features. The piano is most popular for jazz, country, and other musical genres.

Tip: Concertina : Limitled but easy, Chromatic : Unique, but it all depends on the style , Type : Piano, or Button depending on your choice

Size: A lighter accordion is recommended for beginners. It should be easy to use and comfortable to practice. You’ll eventually be able to move up to a larger instrument, and the weight will no longer be an issue.

Tip: The 48 bass is the most popular and best for beginners. It has 6 rows of 8 and allows accompaniment in the key of Bb, C, F, G, D, &A. Although the treble keyboards on the 48, 32 and 12 bass models have 26 keys each, they are sufficient for most tunes but not enough for pianists.

Price: Keep your prices as low as you can, as you will eventually trade this accordion for one that you truly desire. You will be able to justify spending more money later if you make progress. Some people buy the perfect accordion the first time they see it. However, this happens when they are able to make an informed buying decision or rely heavily upon their trusted advisor.

Tip: A new entry-level accordion will cost you between $500 and $600. Prices can fluctuate depending on factors such as brand,buttons, & finishes.

Age of the accordion : This is extremely important! This is very important! If you don’t have any guidance, make sure you look for accordions that have a white keyboard. This will place the accordion in the 1960s or newer.

Tuning: This is vital for children. This is what I know from personal experience. If a child begins playing before age five, he or she will most likely develop perfect pitch 100% of their time. Many of my students have reached perfect pitch by the time they start playing at this age.

Choose your tuning

  • Dry tuning: This has a classical, flat tone. This sound is more common in older accordions.
  • Wet tuning: This is the preferred choice of modern accordionists because it has that wailing melody
  • Swing tuning: It is a combination of a wet and dry tone.

Appearance: Personal preference is what determines color, design, and other attributes.

Compression: Keep in mind that although there is always some air in the chamber, the accordion shouldn’t leak too much.

Reeds: There are four types of accordions: one, two, three, or four reeds. Remember that the number of reeds affects the weight and the increased value of an accordion.

Tip: It is a good idea to begin with a two-reed accordion for starters

Condition: You should think twice before buying an accordion that has a strong mildew odor. It can take years of loving care to remove the mildew odor from an instrument.

Performance: Finally, try the instrument out and get to know it. It will be used a lot, so make sure it is a good fit.

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