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For Beginners
Accordion Course
For Beginners
eBook
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 1
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Enzo Giribaldis Accordion Course For Beginners.
What is an eBook?
With todays technology we are able to create talking books. This allows for an author to incorporate
sound and video in the book so as to allow the student to read, view and hear the exercise within the book
This eBook incorporates text - pictures - sound files and video files.
Try It Now!
When you see the Accordion Icon you can do the following..
Using the HAND POINTER place it over the icon and the
POINTER will change to an index finger hand pointer. Accordion
Click on the icon with your mouse button. Icon
Welcome
If the file is a Sound Clip - you will hear only sound/music.
Message
If the file is a Video Clip - you will see and hear the video clip.
In order for the video clips to function you must install...
The Adobe Reader 6 from http://www.adobe.com Free! Sample
Video Clip
This is the Video Player that will pop up when you click
on any of the Accordion Icon Video Clips. Try It Now!
It is strongly recommended that you print out this eBook preferably in Color!
Print the odd pages first then place them back into the printer tray upside down and print the even pages.
You can then bind the pages into a BOOK!!
Combine your printed copy with your Computer Screen to view and hear the exercises.
Apart from reading and acquainting yourself with your teacher (Enzo Giribaldi) you can also
hear Enzo play the Choo Choo Samba.
Beginning with the basics at first, the eBook gradually introduces new material throughout
the book such as:
Throughout the eBook, exercises include color coding, arrows and text notes so the student is
alerted to the new technique hand.
Before we begin to play the accordion we need to learn to read music notation.
Be patient and make sure you understand how to read the notes as explained below and locate them on your
accordion. Once you fully understand how to read music you will begin to play what you have learnt in the
next lesson.
In order to read this book or any other book you had to learn the alphabet (A,B,C, etc.)
In order to read music we use the first SEVEN letters of the alphabet to name the notes.
A B C D E F G
Thats it! - With only seven letters we can identify every key and bass notes on the accordion.
How we do this will be explained step by step as we progress through each lesson.
You may have seen before at some time or other some printed music and you may have noticed that music is
written using lines.
Below you can see some lines for music notes to be placed on them.
We call this a STAFF.
A staff consists of FIVE LINES.
The distance between a LINE and the next LINE is called a SPACE.
5th Line
4th Space
4th Line
3rd Space
3rd Line
2nd Line
1st Line ==== 2nd Space
1st Space
In the staff below notes have been placed on all the lines and spaces.
w w w w
w w w
ww
====
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 5
The Lines The Spaces
F
D E
C
=======
E
G
B
F
A
Learn the saying - Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit and that the spaces spell FACE.
This way you will always know the names of the lines and spaces.
SUMMARY
The notes on the lines are E G B D F The notes in the spaces are F A C E
Because the accordion has many more notes than the ones shown before, we place notes ABOVE and
BELOW the STAFF as well.
We can add a note above and below the staff. (Shown in RED)
We can add more notes above and below the staff and to do this we use.....
w
Leger LINES. (Shown in GREEN)
w w w w
LEGER LINE
----
w w
E w
F w
G A
=======
w
---- w w F G A B w
C D
C D E
LEGER LINE
The notes BELOW the lines (Below the staff) are C and D
The notes ABOVE the lines (Above the staff) are G and A
==== w w w w
w
----
C D E F G
==== w w w w
w
----
C D E F G
FINGERING
4 3 3
2 4
5 2 FIRST FINGER (Thumb)
is always indicated with the number 1
5 SECOND FINGER (Index)
1 1 is always indicated with the number 2
THIRD FINGER (Middle)
is always indicated with the number 3
FOURTH FINGER (Ring Finger)
is always indicated with the number 4
FIFTH FINGER (Little Finger)
is always indicated with the number 5
Q Q Q Q
--
q Q Q Q
& --q q q q
======== q
Below are the FIVE notes we are going to play soon.
& ----w w w
===== w w G
E F
C D
h h
Quarter Notes = 1 Beat
q q q q
Eighth Notes = Half Beat
eeeeeeee
On the next page you will learn how to COUNT TIME.
& 4
==== tells us that there are
FOUR BEATS per bar.
This is a BAR LINE - It is used to
separate one bar from another.
This is a BAR
4 This is a BAR
& 4
====l ===l What is a BEAT?
A beat is a REGULAR AND EVEN PULSE -
just like your heart beat or the ticking of a clock.
Listen to a clock. Consider each tick of a clock as being a beat.
In the example below you would press the C note and would play it
until you finished counting up to FOUR - (FOUR SECONDS/BEATS)
4 COUNT 1 2 3 4
4
& ----w
====l l
C
4
COUNT 1 2 3 4 COUNT 1 2 3 4
4
& ----w
====l =
w ==l
C D
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 10
Lets Play!
PLAYING WHOLE NOTES
To play the TWO WHOLE notes below do the following.
1 Start with the bellows closed.
2 Put your first finger (Thumb) on the C note.
3 Press the C note and pull the bellows out AND count 1234 nice and steady.
4 Press the next key (D) with the second finger AND count 1234 nice and steady.
4 COUNT 1 2 3 4 COUNT 1 2 3 4
4
& ----w
====l =
w ==l
C D
Open Bellows Close Bellows Open Bellows Close Bellows Open Bellows
COUNT 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234
4
& 4
===l =
w =l=
w =l= w =l=
w =l= w =l=
w =l=
w =l=
w
---- w =[
----
C D E F G F E D C
FINGERING 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1
Repeat the exercise many times making sure that you are counting evenly.
Remember to count evenly! (Like a clock!)
COUNT COUNT
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
4
& 4 ----w w =
====l w
w ==l
C D E F
FINGERING 1 2 3 4
Air
Button
Bass
Strap
Treble
Couplers
This is the
C BASS
The
Bass
Section
If you dont have a FULL SIZE accordion (120 Bass)
you can located the C BASS easily.
Accordion Sizes
q
==
8 Bass 60 Bass
12 Bass 72 Bass About half way
16 Bass 75 Bass down from the top
24 Bass 80 Bass there is a
32 Bass 96 Bass Bass button
40 Bass 111 Bass with a hole.
48 Bass 120 Bass This is the
50 Bass 140 Bass C BASS
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 13
The Bass Clef
When you see this sign at the beginning of a STAFF This sign is called the BASS Clef, also
- it means that all the notes written on that staff will known as the F Clef.
be played with the LEFT HAND and on the
BASS side of the accordion
BASS CHORDS
Q Q Q
-- Q
--
q Q Q Q Q
==============[
q q q q
--q --q --q
--
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D
Fingering 3 3 3 3
--Q --Q
CM CM
--Q --Q
CM CM
3q
4 q
====l===l C
Fingering 4 4
Diagram Of Layout
For Bass Buttons
--Q
Is written thus. Is written thus.
6th Row - Diminished Chords
2nd Row - Fundamental Bass
q
5th Row - Seventh
===== C CM
Fingering 4 3
The accordion and other instruments like the Piano - Organ - Keyboards and Guitar can be used to play a
MELODY and an ACCOMPANIMENT at the same time.
When you listen to a song, you often find yourself tapping your foot to the beat of the song. This beat you
are tapping is the STRONG BEAT.
In between the strong beat there are WEAK beats which normally you would not tap your foot.
If we take the WALTZ as an example, it consists of ONE STRONG BEAT followed by TWO WEAK
BEATS. As explained earlier the waltz is often referred to as the beat that goes UM-PAH-PAH UM-PAH-
PAH etc. In this case the UM is the STRONG BEAT and the PAH-PAH are the WEAK BEATS.
--Q --Q
CM CM
--Q --Q
CM CM
3q
4 q
====l===l C C
UM UM
The UM is the Bass and the PAH-PAH are the Chords
As can bee seen from the previous page the accordion BASS SECTION consists of rows of buttons that go
from top to bottom in straight lines and thus forming rows of buttons going across diagonally.
As can be seen from the diagram on the left - the Bass section of the Accor-
Diminished Chord - 6TH ROW
dion is made up of 6 rows of buttons going up and down forming many rows
Seventh Chord - 5TH ROW
going diagonally.
Fundamental Bass - 2ND ROW
1 The row nearest the bellows contains the Counter Bass - 1ST ROW
Counter Bass - 1ST ROW
To begin to play the Basses and Chords we are going to use the.....
Fundamental Bass - 2ND ROW and the Major Chord - 3RD ROW
BELLOWS SIDE
You would have noticed in the previous pages that the layout of the bass section consists of
rows of buttons from top to bottom and rows of buttons (At an angle) from left to right.
A full size accordion has 120 bass buttons and the smaller accordions have less. Some com-
mon ones are... 96 Bass - 48 Bass - 24 bass - 12 Bass and 8 bass for the toddlers.
If you have one of the smaller accordions the C Bass is always found about the middle of the
vertical rows
1. Locate the C BASS (The one with the hole). See previous page for help in locating it.
2. Place your left hand through the Bass strap and place your 4th finger on the C Bass.
3. Place the 3rd finger on the CM Chord (C Major Chord).
4. Press the C BASS - lift the finger and then press the CM CHORD - lift the finger.
Do this whilst opening or closing the bellows. REPEAT MANY TIMES!
5. Make sure you are only pressing ONE button at a time by having your left hand
well through the bass strap and with the fingers curved over the buttons.
The C (BASS)
(RED)
Is written thus. --Q The CM (MAJOR CHORD)
(GREEN)
Is written thus.
q
=====
C CM
Fingering 4 3
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
CM CM
4q
4 q
4 4
C bass C Bass
Now we are going to play the G BASS and the G MAJOR CHORD in the same manner as
you did for the exercise above.. They are marked in BLUE for the bass and in PURPLE for
the chord on the diagram. As you can see - you have to move UP one Row.
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 GM
GM GM G
4 Q Q Q Q Q Q 3 3
CM
4
=====l
== q =
q ===l
C
4 4
G bass G Bass
Now we are going to play the F BASS and the F MAJOR CHORD in the same manner as
you did for the exercises above.. They are marked in BLUE for the bass and in BLUE for the
chord on the diagram. As you can see - you have to move DOWN one Row Below C.
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 GM
FM FM G
4 Q Q Q Q Q Q 3 3
CM
4 q
=====l
== =
q ===l
C
F
FM
4 4
F bass F Bass
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 18
Bass Exercises Continued
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Play this line
CM CM
then go straight
--Q --Q --Q
3
--Q --Q --Q
3
into the next line.
4q
4 q
=====l====l
4 4
C bass C Bass Go UP one row
to play this next
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 line
GM GM
4 Q Q Q Q Q Q 3 3
4 q
=====l
== =
q ===l
4 4
G bass G Bass
Go DOWN one row
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 to play this next
CM CM line
--Q --Q --Q
3
--Q --Q --Q
3
4q
4 q
=====l====l
4 4
C bass C Bass
4
=====l
== q =
q ===l
4 4
F bass F Bass
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
CM CM Go UP one row to
4q
4 q
=====l====l
4 4
C bass C Bass
Open Bellows
44 C D E F
l=====================
& _w lw lw lw =l
l Count 1 2 3 4 l l l l
ll 4 CM _ _ _ l GM
l
l CM _
_
_
l FM l
l l l
?4
l=====================
l l l =l
C G C F
Close Bellows
G F E D C
l& w lw lw lw
======================
l _w =
l l l l l
l l GM l CM l GM l CM
l l l l l _w
CM
_
_
_
_
_
_
w
l? l
====================== l l l =
C G C G C Bass & Chord
Together
Hold for 4 Beats
C E
44
From here on the Bass note will not be shown
l&
========
_ l
with a letter. Only the CHORD name will be
displayed. The reason for this is because the l 1 3
l
ll 4 _CM _ _ ll
name of the Bass note and the Chord are both
the same.
l ? 4
======== l
Things to remember when playing the following exercise.
1 Count Evenly
2 Keep your right hand fingers curved and each one on the notes youre going to play.
3 4th finger of your left hand for the Bass note and the 3rd finger for the Chords.
4 Progress from one bar to the next evenly maintaining a steady count.
5 Practice slowly at first and repeat many times.
6 Try to play ONE line whilst opening the BELLOWS and one line whilst closing the bellows
Please note that the notes in the right hand (Treble) in the following tune are now mixed
Count 1 2 3 4 Etc.
C E G E F D E C
44
_
l ======================
& l
l l _ =l
l 1 3
l 5 3
l 4 2
l 3 1
l
ll 4 _CM _ _ ll _ _ _ ll GM l CM
_
_
l l _
l
?4
l====================== l
l l =l
C E G E F D C
l ======================
& _ l l l _w =
l 1 3
l 5 3
l 4 2
l 1
ll _ CM _ _ ll _ _ _ ll GM l CM Together
Bass & Chord
l _w
w
l======================
? l l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 21
PLAYING QUARTER NOTES WITH THE BASSES
Things to remember when playing the following exercise.
1 Count Evenly
2 Keep your right hand fingers curved and each one on the notes youre going to play.
3 4th finger of your left hand for the Bass note and the 3rd finger for the Chords.
4 Progress from one bar to the next evenly maintaining a steady count.
5 Practice slowly at first and repeat many times.
Count 1 2 3 4 Etc.
C D E F G F E D C
44
& _ l l _w
l====================== =
l 1 2 3 4 l 5 4 3 2 l 1 Bass & Chord
ll 4 _CM _ _ ll GM ll _CM
w Together
? 4
l======================
l l w =
Please note that the notes in the right hand (Treble) in the following tune are now mixed
Count 1 2 3 4
C E D F E G F D C
& _ l l _w
l====================== =
l 1 3 2 4 l 3 5 4 2 l 1 Bass & Chord
ll _ _ _
CM l
_CM _
l
_
l CM
_w
l w
Together
?
l====================== l l =
Please note that the notes in the right hand (Treble) in the following tune are now mixed
Count 1 2 3 4
C E G E D G F D C E G E G F E D
44
& _ l l _ l =l
l======================
l 1
l 3 5
l 3
l 2 5
l 4 2 1 3 5 3 5 4 3 2
_
_
_
_
_
_
44 l l l l
CM GM CM GM
l
? l
l====================== l l =l
C C D E F F F F G F E D C
& _ _ l
l====================== l l _w =
l 1
l
1 2 3
l 4
l CM
4 4
4 5 4 3 2 1
l
_
_
_
l
CM
FM GM _w
l l w BassTogether
& Chord
?
l
l======================
l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 22
All Together Now!
Things to remember when playing the following exercise.
1 Count Evenly
2 Keep your right hand fingers curved and each one on the notes youre going to play.
3 4th finger of your left hand for the Bass note and the 3rd finger for the Chords.
4 Progress from one bar to the next evenly maintaining a steady count.
5 Practice slowly at first and repeat many times.
6 Try to play ONE line whilst opening the BELLOWS and one line whilst closing the bellows
CM
Q Q Q CM_Q_
GM
Q
CM
_Q_ _Q_ _Q_
__ __ __
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
44
l======================
& l l _ l =l
l 5 3
l 3
l CM GM l
4 2 2 1
l 2 3 4 5 5 5
44 _ _ l l l _ l
l
CM _ GM _ _
CM _
l======================
? l l l =l
Careful Here!
&
l====================== l
l _ l w =l
l 5 1
l 1
l 4 2
l 2 1
l 3 5 5 3
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _ _ l
CM GM CM GM CM
?
l====================== l l l =l
Careful Here!
& l
l======================
l l =l
l 2 2
l 2 2
l2 3
l 4
l 3 3 3 3 3 4 5
_ _ _ _ _ _
l
l l l l
GM GM CM CM
l======================
? l l l =l
l======================
& l l _ l _w Bass & Chord
=
l 5 3
l 3
l4 2
l 2 Together 1 3 5 5 1
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _
CM GM CM GM CM CM
l======================
? l l
l
=
Careful Here!
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 23
THE DOTTED HALF NOTE
THE DOTTED HALF NOTE and the 3/4 TIME SIGNATURE
h. = 3 BEATS
A HALF note with a dot next to it equals 3 BEATS
h.
A HALF note is 2 beats therefore the dot adds HALF of what the note is. In this case 2+1=3
COUNT 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
3
4 h. =l=
& ===l==l=
l= h. =l=
h. =l= h. =l=
h. =l==l==[
h. h.
h.
__ __ h.
C D E F G F E D C
This is a 3/4 time signature. It means that there are THREE BEATS in each BAR
Things to remember when playing the following exercise.
1 Count Evenly
2 Keep your right hand fingers curved and each one on the notes youre going to play.
3 4th finger of your left hand for the Bass note and the 3rd finger for the Chords.
4 Progress from one bar to the next evenly maintaining a steady count.
5 Practice slowly at first and repeat many times.
Count 1 2 3 Etc.
C D E F G
43 .
l======================
& _ . l .
l . l . l =l
l 1
l l 2
l l 3
l 4 5
l _
_
_
_
_
34 l l l l l
CM GM CM GM CM
_
l======================
? l l l l =l
F E D C F
.
l======================
& l . l . l _ . l . =l
l 4
l l 3
l l 2
l 1 4
l l _ _ l l _ _ l l
FM CM GM CM FM
? l
l====================== l l l =l
E D C C
& . l .
l====================== l _ . l _ . =
l 3
l l l CM2
1 1
.
Bass & Chord
l _ _ l l _ _ l _
CM GM CM Together
l======================
? l l
l .
=
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 24
In the following Tune, please note the following.
1 In the BASS line the name of the bass is not shown. From now on ONLY new bass notes
and chords will be shown. (This is done so as to make sure that you have learnt to read the notes).
3 This tune uses the FIVE notes you have used so far (C D E F G). The name of each note is no longer
shown. (This is done so as to make sure that you have learnt to read the notes).
3
Count 1 2
.
3 etc...
& 4 . l
l====================== l . l _ . =l
l l l l l
_ _ l _ _ l _ _ l _ _
34
CM
l l
l======================
? l l l =l
. .
l & . l
======================
l l _ . =l
l l l l l
l l l _ _ l _ _ l
GM CM
l ? l
====================== l l =l
. .
l======================
& l l . l _ . =l
l l l l l
l _
CM _
l _
_
l _
_
l _
_
l
l======================
? l
l
l
=l
.
& . l
l====================== l _ . l _ . =
l l l l CM Chord
Bass &
l
FM
l
GM
l _ _
CM
l _
. Together
l ? l
====================== l l . =
F Major to G Major
HALF NOTES h
All Mixed Up!
QUARTER NOTES q
4 3
In the next exercises we will mix these notes using the 4 Time Signature and the 4 Time Signature
Count 1 2
JOIN THE FUN!
3 4 etc...
44
l======================
& l l _ l =l
l 5 3
l 3
l CM GM l
4 2 2 1
l 2 3 4 5 5 5
44 _ l l l _ l
l _
CM _ GM _ _
CM _
l======================
? l l l =l
Careful Here
&
l====================== l
l _ l w =l
l 5 1
l1
l 4 2
l 2 1
l 3 5 5 3
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _ _ l
CM GM CM GM CM
?
l====================== l l l =l
Careful Here
& l
l======================
l l =l
l 2 2
l 2
l 2 2
l
3 4
l3 3 3 3 3 4 5
l
GM
l
GM
l _ _ _ l _ _ _ l
CM CM
l======================
? l l l =l
&
l====================== l l _ l _w Bass &
=
l 5 3
l 3
l 4 2
l 2 Chord 1
3 5 5 1
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _
CM GM CM GM CM Together
l======================
? l l
l
=
Careful Here
l & l l l
====================== =l
l l l l l
_
_
_
l l l l
FM CM GM
l
? l
l====================== l l =l
l & l
====================== l _ l w =l
l l l l l
l
_
CM
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
l l l l
l? l
====================== l l =l
& l l
l====================== l _w =
l l l l CM Together
Bass & Chord
l
FM
l _
CM
_
_
l
GM
l _
_
l======================
? l
l l =
The fingering for the RIGHT HAND has been removed so remember to have your fingers curved over the
keys so as each finger is sitting on top of each note.
Count 1 2 3 etc...
3
4
l======================
& l l l _ . =l
l l l l l
l
_
CM
_
34 _
_
l
GM
l _
CM
l _
l
======================
l? l
l l =l
l======================
& l l l _ . =l
l l l l l
l
_
CM
_
_
l _
GM
l _
l
CM
_
l
l======================
? l
l l =l
.
& l .
l====================== l l =l
l l l l l
GM _
l
CM _
l _
_
l
l
l
l ?
======================
l l l =l
l======================
& l l l _ . =
l l l l CM. BassTogether
& Chord
_ _ _ _ _
CM GM
l l l
l .
?
l======================l
l l =
To do this we use THE REPEAT SIGN ]==} Any music between this sign ] and this sign } is Repeated.
REPEAT SIGNS
]===l===l===l===}
By using the REPEAT SIGNS we can save a lot of space. This is useful when we have a song
with parts that are the same. Instead of writing the parts again we use THE REPEAT SIGNS.
THE WALTZ
Play this line.
.
& l .
l======================
l l =l
l l l l l
l
GM
l _
l
CM _
_
l _
l
======================
l ? l l l =l
l======================
& l
l l _ . =
l l l l CM.
l
_
CM _
_
l _
GM
l _
l .
l======================
? l
l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 29
REST SIGNS
Just as a Note is a duration of sound a Rest is a duration of silence.
Every note Value has an equivalent REST Value
THE WALTZ
Here on the 2nd Beat - play the CHORD in the left
hand - NOTHING with the right hand.
Count 1 2 3 etc...
34
l======================
& { l
l l _ . ={
l l l l
_
CM
_
_
_
GM
_
CM
_
l 34 l l l
l======================
? { l l l ={
.
& l .
l======================
l l =l
l l l l l
l
GM
l _
l
CM _
_
l _
l
======================
l ? l l l =l
&
l
l======================
l l _ . =
l l l l CM.
l
_
CM _
_
l _
GM
l _
l .
======================
l? l l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 30
QUARTER RESTS EXERCISE
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
44
&
l ====================== l l l _ _ =
l 5 3 l 5 3 l 5 4 3 2 l3 1 1
ll 4 _ C _ _ ll _ _ _ ll G ll _C _C
? 4
l====================== l l l =
44
&
l====================== l l l _ _ =
l 5 3 l 5 3 l 5 4 3 2 l3 1 1
l l l l
l 4 _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
C G C C
?4
l====================== l l l =
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
44
&
l======================
_ l _ l l _ _ _ =
l 3 1 l 3 1 l 4 4 5 5 l1 1 1
l l l G l
l 4 _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
C F C C
?4
l====================== l l l =
Careful Here
Play F Bass Play G Bass
then F Major then G Major
Count 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 etc.
34
l & Fingering _ l
====================== l _ l l _=l
l 1 l 3 5 l3 1 l 3 5 l3 1 l
ll 3 . l M l l l l
Stretch
l l l l l
l? 4
====================== l l l l =l
This is a Dotted Half Rest
3 Beats Bass & Chord together
l &
l
======================
l l _ =l
l 3 4 l 5 4 3 l 2 3 l 4 1 l
ll l l M
_
l
_
l l l l
l
l ? l
====================== l l =l
l &
l
====================== _ l l =l
l 3 5 l 3 1 l 3 5 l 3 l
ll M l l l
l l l l
l
l ? l
====================== l l =l
l&
====================== l l l =
l 3 4 5 l 4 5 l 3 l 3
ll l M
_
l M
l
l l l
l ?
====================== l l l =
Introducing a NEW note (B)
w w w
& =====l
l= w
---- w w w
C D E F G A B
44 w
& l
=======================
l l w =l
Fingering 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1
l w l l _w
=======================
& =
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1
LIMBERING UP
Swap Swap
fingers fingers
44
& _ l l l l =l
=======================
1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4
Move finger Move finger
UP UP
& l l l _w
======================= =
5 4 3 2 5 4 3 2 5 4 3 2 1
Nearly all the instructions found in music are written using Italian terms.
D.C. al Fine ( Da Capo Al Fine) Means FROM THE BEGGINING TO THE END
D.C. (Da Capo) means FROM THE BEGGINING
FINE means THE END.
--Q
l=
? ====l
--q
D DM
Fingering 4 3
Practice this exercise many many times until you can play it fluently.
_ _ _ _
M M
34
l
=======================
? l l =l
New Bass & Chord - D Bass D Major Chord
M
_ _ _ _
M
? l
======================= l _ l _ =l
M
_
_
M
M
.
? l
======================= l l . =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 35
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
EXTENDED
HAND POSITION
Stretch
34
Count 1
2
3
1
2
3 etc.
l
l======================
& l
l =l
l l l l l
5 5 5 1 5 4
l
M
l l l _ M
_
l
3
? 4 l
l====================== l l _ =l
Stretch New Bass & Chord
D bass & D Major Chord
l======================
& l
l
l =l
l 4
l l 4
l 4
l 1 4 3
l
_
_
l
_
_
l
_
_
l
M
l
? _ l _
l====================== l _ l =l
Stretch
& l l
l====================== l =l
l l l l l
5 5 5 1 5 4
l
l
l
l _ M
_ l
? l l
l====================== l _ =l
Stretch
Finish Here
l======================
& l l l =
l 4
l 4
l l 4
Fine
1 4 3
l
_ _ l
_ _ l
_ _ l
? _ l _
l====================== l _ l =
& l
l====================== l l =l
l 1 1 l 2 l 1 3l 5 l 1 1 12 1 3 5
l l l l l
l
l======================
? l l =l
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 36
=l
& l
l======================
l l
l 5 4
l 5
l 4
l 5
l
3 3 2
l
_ _
l
_ _
l
_ _
l
M
l
? _ l _
l====================== l _ l =l
& l
l====================== l l =l
l 1 1 l 2 l1 3 l 5 1 l 1 2 1 3 5
l l l l l
l======================
? l l l =l
Go Back To Beggining
l======================
& l
l
l =
l l l l D.C. al Fine
5 4 5 4 3 3 3
l _ _
M
l _ _ l
M
l
? _ l _
l====================== l l =
A dot above or below a note means that the note has to be played very short.
This is called playing STACCATO NOTES.
w
& l
======================= l l =
.
& l l l =l
l======================
l 3
l l 5 l 1
l
l l l M l
l
l l _ l
M M M
_ l l
=l
l ?
======================
l l _
l
=
l &
====================== l l l l
l 3
Play D Bass Playl G Bass l 3 1
l PlaywithG 4th
Bass Play D Bass
with 3rd
l
l with 3rd
l
with 4th l l finger l
l
finger
fi nger
l l l l
finger
l?
======================
_ l l l _ _=l
4 4
3 3
.
& l
l ====================== l l =
l 3
l l 5 l
l l l M l
l
M M M M
_
l l _
l
? l l =
l======================
l _
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 38
THE TIE (Tied Notes)
A TIE JOINS NOTES TOGETHER
A Whole note tied to a Half note = 6 Beats (Hold the note for 6 Beats 1234+12)
Play this note and count... Play this note and count...
44 w
1
2
w
3
3
44 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2
& l l l
======================= =
When notes are BELOW the 3rd line the TIE is placed underneath.
When notes are on the 3rd line and above the TIE is placed ABOVE.
SAME HAND POSITION AS
NO PLACE LIKE HOME JESSE
JAMES
44
.
l======================
& l
l
l
l . =l
l 1 3
l5 l l 2
l 1 3
l
ll 4 l M l l M
_
_
_
l M
l l l l l
l
l? 4
l l l
====================== l = l
Tied Notes
w
=l
l======================
& l l l
l 5
l l l 1 3
l
l l l
l l l _ _ _ ll
_
l
M
l
?
l
l======================
l _
l _ =l
& l l l =l
l======================
l 5
l l 2
l 1 3
l
ll M ll ll _ M _ _ ll M ll
? l l
l====================== l =l
Tied Notes
& l
l ====================== l w l =
l 5
l l l
l l l M l M
l l _ _ _ l _ l
M M
l======================
?
l _
l
l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 39
Passing the THUMB UNDER and the SECOND FINGER OVER.....
The hand position can be changed by passing the thumb under the second finger,
OR the second finger over the thumb,
34
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 2 1
& _ l l
======================= l l _ . =
THE POET AND PEASANT WALTZ
34 . .
&
l======================
l
l
l =l
l 5
l l l l
l l l _ _ l _ _ l
M M
34
? l
l====================== l l =l
.
l======================
& l
l l . =l
l 4
l l l l
l
M
l l _
M
_
l _
_
l
l ? l
====================== l l =l
.
.
&
l======================
l
l
l =l
l 5
l l l l
l
M
l _
l
M
_
l _
_
l
l ? l
====================== l
l
=l
&
. l l _ .
l====================== l _ =
l 2
l l 2 1 2
l 1
Fine
l
M
l
l _ _
M
l _
? l
l====================== l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 40
l l _
l======================
& _ .
l =l
l 1
l M l M l M l 1 2 5 4 2 3
l _
M . l . l _. l . l
. .
l .
l======================
? l l . =l
l l _
l======================
& _ .
l =l
l 1
M.
l M l M l M l 1 2 5 4 2 3
l _
l . _
l .
l . l
? . l .
l====================== .
l l . =l
Thumb under
second finger
& _ _ _ l _ _ _ l _ l
l====================== =
l 1
l M l M l 1
2 1 2 3 4
l _
M
l l _
l .
D.C. al Fine
? l
l====================== l l =
FROM THE BEGGINING
TO THE END (Fine)
q q Q Q
& --
l= q q
=========l
qq C D E F G A B C
Thumb UNDER THIRD finger
THIRD finger THE C MAJOR SCALE OVER thumb
44
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1
l l _ =
& _ l
=======================
Practice this scale many times!
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 41
THE
CAN CAN
44
1 2
5
5
4
5 2 3
l&
======================
l l
l
=l
_w
l l l l l
4 _ _ l l _ l l
l
M _ M _M _ _ _
l? 4
====================== l l l =l
THIRD finger
Scale OVER thumb
1 2 2 4 3 2
1
2
51 43 32
l &
======================
l l _ l =l
l l l StretchM l l
l l l _ _ _ l
l
M M
l ? l
======================
l l =l
1
5
5 4 5 2 3
l & _w
======================
l l l =l
l l l l l
l _ _ _ l l _ _ l _ _ _ l
M M M
l ?
====================== l l l =l
1 2 2 4 3 2 1 5 2 3 1
&
l l _
l====================== l _
_ =
l l l l M
M
_
M M
_ _
l
l l l
l======================
? l l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 42
THE OCTAVE
THIS IS AN OCTAVE THIS IS AN OCTAVE
An OCTAVE is 8 Notes An OCTAVE is 8 Notes
D E F G A B C
q q Q Q
& --
l= q q
=========l
qq YOU CAN PLAY ALL
C D E F G A B C THE SONGS YOU HAVE
LEARNT AN OCTAVE
HIGHER BY STARTING ON
THE SECOND C NOTE!
Place 1st finger (thumb) on the NEW C NOTE. Play the song in the same way as before.
l&
======================
_w l l l =l
l l l l l
44 _ _ l l l l
l
M _ M _ M _ _ _ _
l?
====================== l l l =l
1 2 2 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1 3 2
&
l======================
l l _ l =l
l l l l l
l _
M _
_
l l l l
M M
? l l
l====================== l =l
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 43
SHORTNIN BREAD
4
1
5
3
4
======================
l & _
l _
l _ l _ =l
l M l M l M l M
l
_ _
_
_
_
44 l l l l
M M M M M
l
l======================
? l l l =l
1
3
5
l & _
====================== l _ l _ l _ =l l
l l l l M M M ll
l _
_
l l l l l
M M M M _
M M _
_
?
l====================== l l l =l l
5 3
l&
====================== l l l _ =l
l l l l M M M l
l _
M M
_
M
l l l l
M
_
M M
_
_
?
l====================== l l l =l
8va _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _
5 3
&
l====================== l l l _ =l
l l l l M M M l
l _
M
M
_
M M
l l l l _
M M
_
_
l======================
? l l l =l
Loco Loco - Means Back to NORMAL
1
5
3
l & _
====================== l _ l _ l _ =l
l l l l l
_ l _ l _ l _ _ l
M M M M M M M M M
l
l ?
====================== l l l =l
1 3
5 1 2
=
& _ l l
l====================== l l
l l l M l M l
l _
M
l l
M
_
M
M
_
l l
l======================
? l
l l =l
1
2
5
& _
l====================== l =
l l M
l _
M
M
l _
l======================
? l =
3
4
44
5
l======================
&
l l
l =l
l l l l l
_
_
_
M M M M M M
l 44 l l l l
?
l======================
l l
l
=l
4
1
3
l & l l l
======================
=l
l l l l l
_
_
_
_
_
_
l l l l
M M
l
l ?
====================== l l l =l
1
3
l======================
& l
l l =l
l l l l l
l
M
_
_
_
l l l
M
_
l
M
l======================
?
l l
l
=l
& l
l======================
l l =l
l l l l l
_
_
_
_
_
_
l l l l
M M
l
l======================
? l l l =l
l======================
& l l
l =
l l l l
l
M
l
M
_
l
l _
M
_
_
M
? l
l====================== l l =
& _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ l _j
===================
_j
_j
_j
_j
_j
=l
_j
_j
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 3 and 4 and
and
& _ l _j
j
j j
j
======================= j
j j
l _w =
l?
====================== l l l =l
l====================
& _ _ l
l l _ =l
l l l l l
44 _ _ _ l l l
l
M _ _ _ M _ _ _ l
l====================
? l l l =l
1 2 & 3 4 & 1 2 & 3 4 1 2 & 3 4 & 1 2 & 3 4
& _ _ l
l====================
l l _ _ _ _ =
l l l M l
l _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
M
?
l==================== l l l =
SAME EXERCISE - PLAYING DOTTED QUARTER NOTES
1 2 & 3
44
4 &
1
2 & 3 4 1 2 & 3 4
.
1 2 & 3 4
.
l====================
& _ . j
. j
l
l j
l j _ =l
l l l l l
44 _ _ _ l _ _ l l _
l
M _ M _ _ l
l====================
? l l l =l
1 2 & 3 4 &
. j
1 2 & 3 4 1 2 & 3 4 &
1 2 & 3 4
& _ . j l
l==================== l . j l _ _ _ _ =
l l l M l
l _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
M
?
l==================== l l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 47
PLAYING DOTTED
QUARTER NOTES
CLIMBING
1 2
44 .
l====================
& _ . j .
_j
l _ l . j l
j =l
l l l l l
l 44 _ _ l _ _ l l l
M M
l====================
? l l l =l
3
. j
.
1
.
& j
l==================== l l . j j
l =l
l l l l l
l _ _ l _ _ l l l
M M
l ?
==================== l l l = l
. j J .
2 3
.
& j
l==================== l l . j l =l
l l l l l
l
l l l l
M
l====================
? l l l =l
Move 3rd Finger UP
4 5 4 2 3 4 3 1
1 2 5
3 4 3 1 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 3 2 3 4 2
l====================
& l l l _ =
l M l M l M l M M M
_ _
M M M
l
l l l
l====================
? l l l =
Careful here!
====================
l? l l l =
EXERCISE 2 4 2 1 4
l====================
&
l _ _ l l _ =
l l l l M
l _ _ l _ _ l l _
M M
l====================
? l l l =
On the next page you will learn to play a tune which uses the Dotted Quarter Note and
Quarter Note Tied To An Eighth Note as explained above.
You will play the tune using notes from the NEXT OCTAVE!!
These are the notes you These are the same notes BUT are
have used so far. written as shown below
D E F G A B C
Q Q Q
-- Q
-- Q
--
--
q Q Q Q Q
& -- q q
l= qqq
=========l
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 49
On this page you will learn to play a tune which uses the Dotted Quarter Note and
Quarter Note Tied To An Eighth Note as explained in the previous page.
Introducing the notes in the In NEXT OCTAVE
Q Q Q Q
---- Q
--
q Q Q Q Q
& --
l= q q q
=========l
qq C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
In the following tune,
please check the note
you are playing with
the notes above and the
Keyboard. Make sure
you use the correct
Start Here
34 . _
J
fingering
Stretch
Stretch
=l
l======================
& l l l
lPlace
Fingering 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l
onll the 3G note _ M _ l l l l
4th finger
l _
_
l
M
l _
M
_
l
? 4
l====================== l
l l =l
_
l .
l ======================
& l l =
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 3
l l l l M.
l _
_
l _
_
l
M
l _
l======================
? l
l .
l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 50
The More We Are Together
34 . _
J
l======================
& l l
l =l
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l
ll 3 _M _ l
l _
_
l
l
M
l
l _
_
l
l
? 4
l====================== l
l l =l
. _J
l&
====================== l l l =l
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 2 2 l
l l l l M l
l _ _ l _ _ l
M
l _
l
======================
l? l l l =l
=l
l======================
& l l l
l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l
l l l l l
l
M
_
l
M
_
M
l _
l
M
_
l
?
l======================
l
l l =l
. _J
.
l======================
& l l l =
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l
ll _
_
l
_
l
M
_
l
l
M
l M.
_
l .
l======================
? l
l l =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 51
A NEW REST - EIGHTH REST
So far you have learnt... 1The Whole note and the Whole rest. 2 The Half note and the Half rest.
3 The Quarter note and the Quarter rest 4 The Eighth note.
w
Below you have a summary of these PLUS the new rest - the EIGHTH REST.
=======================
& =l
Q QUARTE NOTE QUARTE RESTS
&
=======================
=l
E EIGHTH NOTE EIGHTH RESTS
=======================
& =l
NEW TIME SINATURE 2
TWO FOUR TIME SIGNATURE 4 q q =
& ====l
l= h ===[
TWO BEATS PER BAR
l ? l l l =l
====================
Count 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
& _ _ _ _ l _j
l====================
_j
l
_
_ l
_ =
l l l l
l _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l _
l ? l l l
==================== =
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 52
2 Timing and Eighth Rests Exercise
4
Count 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
24 j j
===================
l& _j
j
l l
j j
l _ =l
l Fingering 1 3 l 5 3 l 4 2 l1 l
l 2 _M _ l _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l
ll ? 4 ll ll ll =
=================== l
l
Thumb Under
J
l===================
& l
_j l l =
l 1 2 3 l 1 2 3 4 l 5 5 2 l 5
l _ _ l _ _ l _ _
l _M
l l l
ll===================
? l l l
=
When an accidental is placed on a line or in a space, it affects all the notes on that line or in that space. It is
cancelled out by a bar line or another accidental.
A SHARP sign ( m ) in front of a note raises the note by a Semitone (Half a Tone)
A FLAT sign ( b ) in front of a note raises the note by a Semitone (Half a Tone)
=======================
& w #w D Sharp & E Flat w bw =l
From D to D Sharp is a Semitone From E to E Flat is a Semitone
w #w
=======================
& w
From F to F Sharp is a Semitone
bw
From G to G Flat is a Semitone
=l
F Sharp & G Flat
are the same note
& w #w
======================= w bw
From G to G Sharp is a Semitone
=l
From A to A Flat is a Semitone
w bw
From A to A Sharp is a Semitone From B to B Flat is a Semitone
& w #w
=======================
A Sharp & B Flat
=l
are the same note
=======================
& _ #_ #
#
#
#
=l
C C sharp D D sharp E F F sharp G G sharp A A sharp B C
2 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 1
b
&
b b b b =l
======================= _
C B B flat A A flat G G flat F E E flat D D flat C
l 4 l l l l
l===================
? l l l =l
.
.
l&
====================
l l l =l
l 5 4 3 l 4 1 2 l4 l l
l _ _ l _ _ l l l
M
l
l l
l l
l?
====================
l l l =l
A Sharp
.
#
l & .
l l l =l
====================
l 2 l 1 2 3 l4 l 3 4 l
l
l
l
l
l l l l
l
l
l ? l
==================== l l =l
A Sharp
#
. .
l&
====================
l
l l =l
l 5 4 3 l 4 1 4 l1 l l
l l l _ _ l _ _ l
M
l
l l l l
l ? l
==================== l l =l
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 56