Button-Accordion Project
(Dual-row A-D, D-G, G-C or C-F, with Accidentals)
Based on tunes2play4fun.com & Facilitated by ZOOM
MINI-COURSE BA1
The Button Accordion, its Music & Notation
UNIT TEN (of TEN)
Introduction to Tunes with Four Beats per Bar
(Dual-row A-D, D-G, G-C or C-F, with Accidentals)
Based on tunes2play4fun.com & Facilitated by ZOOM
MINI-COURSE BA1
The Button Accordion, its Music & Notation
UNIT TEN (of TEN)
Introduction to Tunes with Four Beats per Bar
SLIDES & COMMENTS
Slide 1 (Tutorial Project BA1 - Main goal)
Slide 1 (Tutorial Project BA1 - Main goal)
Slide 2 (Units in BA1 mini-course)
Slide 3 (Topics for Unit 9)
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Here is a checklist for a quick glance at the tune.
You have to decide a) on where to initially position your fingers, b) how far to initially open the bellows, c) how to divide the tune into rhythmic patterns for initial practice, d) how to deal with pickup notes, if there are any. e) which beat pattern to use. |
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"Billy Boy" is a traditional American song, though perhaps adapted from an older English one. a) Fingers at buttons 3 to 6, with line 4 reach to 2*. b) No consistent pattern (except at beginning and end of first three lines) c) Two pickup notes at start. d) An individual choice, but BCBC beat pattern should be OK. |
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This is the layout of most of the tunes' pages on the tunes2play4fun.com site
There are two lines of notation above the lyrics, one (in red) for the higher octave, if available, and one (in black) for the lower octave, if available. This is a " simplified" version of this beautiful tune to make it easier for beginners to play as a "tune". |
Some song melodies are restricted to the higher octave or to the lower one, or are restricted to the inside row or to the outside, depending on the availability of the required notes (especially when there are accidentals). Other song melodies split the two octaves. This is normally indicated at the beginning of the melody's notation.
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This is illustrated by "Shenandoah" (above), where the required button notes range from 5 to 10*, but where most of the melody uses buttons 6 to 9. It is an individual choice, but I find that most times I place my fingers at buttons 6 to 9, and reach with first finger for button note 5, and reach with the little finger for button note 10*.
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Sometimes when a note is not available on the key row being played, it may be available on the other row.
This is illustrated by the song "Country Roads" (at left) when played low on the inside row. The melody needs a note not available low inside, but is found on button 3* of the outside row, as shown by the o3* label on each line. |
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The previous example "Adios Amigo" was played on the outside row (low).
However, if you wanted to play it on the inside row (low), the accidental you need is found on the outside row, button 6*. The notation at left includes both options in parentheses (o6/1) with the beat symbol to the left of the parentheses. |
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FRÈRE JACQUES appeared as a melody back in Unit 4. It is given at left with two beats per bar.
In lines 3 & 4 there are pairs of "half-beat" notes, with each pair taking one beat interval. So the challenge is to play two treble notes while only playing one bass (or chord) note. Once there is a comfort level with the bars & beats of Units 8, 9 and 10, then this is the next level of "tune" treatment. |
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BLUEBIRD appeared as a melody back in Unit 5. It is given at left with four beats per bar.
In line 3 there are two notes shown in red, the first ("5*) for half a beat interval, and the other (;4*) for one and a half beat intervals. Together they occupy two beat intervals with two regular beats. This also belongs in a future BA mini-course, if offered. |
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