Help needed with piano accordion

[aintgotnorhythm]

Recently I bought a piano accordion (thinking I might accompany some local musicians) but having done no research in advance I was surprised to discover the keyboard to be smaller than a piano keyboard - a one octave stretch on the piano will get you an extra unwanted tone when you do the same thing on the accordion.

Just wondered if anyone has worked out how to switch successfully between the two instruments? And if so how!

[richard black]

I've had very little experience with accordion but I've played plenty of antique keyboard instruments with narrower keys - it's amazing how quickly one gets accustomed, just practise a bit!

[thalbergmad]

Indeed an octave on my piano is at least a ninth on my accordian, but it does not take a great deal of time to adjust.

What does take time is learning to carry an instrument or having it sitting on your lap. I was surprised just how much these things can weigh. When i play my accordian, I do not bother to go to the gym on the same day.

Nothing like an accordian for a good old bawdy sing song.

Thal

[richard black]

By the way, when I joined a folk dance band in 1980 (the band had already been going for about 35 years) I was surprised to find that the band always tuned a good half-semitone sharp - easy enough as the lineup was violins, guitar and upright bass. When I asked why, I was told that this meant punters who asked if they could join in on accordion could in all honesty be told, 'Sorry, mate, your horn's out of tune with us'. I was in that band, on and off, for nearly 15 years and never saw a single accordion brought into a gig, but anyway maybe it was a problem in the 1950s.

[quantum]

Just use the black keys to feel your way around the keyboard.  It is much less of a burden than it appears to be.