Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
Dave Mallinson ("Mally") of publishing fame confesses that for years he played his Double Ray for the Morris in B major, to the despair of other musicians trying to join in (see his web site mally.com).
He moved on to G/D and has stayed there ever since.
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
i myself would say that Bmajor is easier to play and it also has a nicer effect on the box because you get a really rythmic "push/draw " kind of sound.
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
The flat keys are hard for several reasons. First, there doesn't seem to be an easy way to visualize where the notes are in relation to one another. It's not nearly as intuitive as playing on one row or using the EF#G and BC#D triangles. Second, there are no notes in the scale that are available on both the push and the pull, which means there's lots of bellows work.
Figuring out where the notes are in Bb and how to get to them would require a whole new approach to playing. Playing in B is only a relatively small adjustment if you've figured out C, which itself isn't hard (being exactly like D on the C#/D box).
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
The flat keys are a challenge but playing them is good practice to improve your control.
The Staten Island Hornpipe plays quite nicely in Eb and the Teetotaller reel is a pushover in F. I once learned to play Scotland the Brave in Bb so I could accompany a Scots piper.
E major is an easy key on B/C, and F# isn't bad either. Ab is about the worst.
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
Okay, I'm only a fiddler, but if you want to play up and down one row, either because you like the sound, or because it's "easier," shouldn't you be playing a G/D? Isn't the whole point of a B/C box for irish music the groups of notes in one direction without loads of bellows pumping?
Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
Hey this might be a stupid question but i was just wondering you guys thought. Thanks, Will
# Posted on November 3rd 2006 by tws
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
Definitely easier to play in B Major, playing straight up and down the outside row.
# Posted on November 4th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
wouldn't B sharp major be just as easy?
# Posted on November 4th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
He's taking the mick - he means C Major. That's up and down the inside row.
# Posted on November 4th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
B flat is dead right on a piano . . and its a key most people can sing to . . why I don't know . .
# Posted on November 4th 2006 by Justintime
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
singing galtee mountain boy, rare old times, streets of new york. and town i love so well are nice to sing in Bb
# Posted on November 4th 2006 by Ripthecalico
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
Dave Mallinson ("Mally") of publishing fame confesses that for years he played his Double Ray for the Morris in B major, to the despair of other musicians trying to join in (see his web site mally.com).
He moved on to G/D and has stayed there ever since.
# Posted on November 4th 2006 by millionyears_bc
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
i myself would say that Bmajor is easier to play and it also has a nicer effect on the box because you get a really rythmic "push/draw " kind of sound.
# Posted on November 4th 2006 by Shteve Luachra
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
The flat keys are hard for several reasons. First, there doesn't seem to be an easy way to visualize where the notes are in relation to one another. It's not nearly as intuitive as playing on one row or using the EF#G and BC#D triangles. Second, there are no notes in the scale that are available on both the push and the pull, which means there's lots of bellows work.
Figuring out where the notes are in Bb and how to get to them would require a whole new approach to playing. Playing in B is only a relatively small adjustment if you've figured out C, which itself isn't hard (being exactly like D on the C#/D box).
# Posted on November 5th 2006 by GaryAMartin
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
The flat keys are a challenge but playing them is good practice to improve your control.
The Staten Island Hornpipe plays quite nicely in Eb and the Teetotaller reel is a pushover in F. I once learned to play Scotland the Brave in Bb so I could accompany a Scots piper.
E major is an easy key on B/C, and F# isn't bad either. Ab is about the worst.
Give it a spin.
# Posted on November 5th 2006 by millionyears_bc
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
Okay, I'm only a fiddler, but if you want to play up and down one row, either because you like the sound, or because it's "easier," shouldn't you be playing a G/D? Isn't the whole point of a B/C box for irish music the groups of notes in one direction without loads of bellows pumping?
# Posted on November 6th 2006 by TomB-R
Re: Is it easier to play in B Major or Bb Major on a B/C accordion
the "point" of B/C can include the following:
rolls and similar ornaments work well in fiddle keys (this is also true of G/D)
you can play long runs of consecutive notes in parts D major in one bellows direction (longer runs in G and D similarly on G/D)
you can play fast whole scales in A major, C major and F major (not on G/D)
you can play in any key at a modest pace and so accompany singers (only in G or D on G/D)
# Posted on November 6th 2006 by millionyears_bc