Well, it would be great if you could do anything other than support the box, it's good for hitch-hiking, ... it has been said the thumb has advanced the human race, but as far as playing the button accordion, there is less need for playing fingers because of the diatonic buttons. There is less movement than a piano accordion, less to move around and a shorter distance between octaves..etc.
I think there should be a box that can switch from B/C to C#/D with the flip of a switch. There are Mexican boxes that can do that, they're just a bit big. I'm sure it could be done, it's only one more reed block than the usual. So a word to the makers: I think it would sell.
And off the subject even further, I think this polka sounds like gangsta rap.... The only "G minor" polka on the session.org!
I recall the Clare accordeonist Martin Connolly made a 2 row B/C that converted to a C#/D . I'm not a box player but I think that it simply involved pulling up one of the "stops"(I think that's what they're called).
I use my right thumb for sticking up my a**e while the fiddlers are playing yet another little-known-modern-Scots-cum-Lithuanian-cum-Cape-Breton-four-hour-high-speed-reel-medley
Are you sure that tune's in G minor? It resolves on D at the end of both sections and no phrases resolve on G. It should be a D something or other mode. Can't work out which though
I'm with bc on the fiddle players. The ones I've been around are either really old guys or cute young ladies-quite often blonde- with classical training who can play a line of music faster than you can blink.
I'll bet you can't guess which class of fiddlers gets all the atttention.
Oh forgot. Just because the thumb doesn't hit notes does not make it vestigial on the box. When you have to do a hard push when one of the young lady fiddlers is pushing on the bow, the stubby little digit does yoeman service keeping the box stable.
in answer to your original question McMandolin, and speaking for myself:
the thumb is mounted in the wrong place on your hand and articulates the wrong way to be effective at striking a button keyboard. That's why typists only use their thumbs to hit the space bar and why I don't use my thumb to play notes on the box
Its because the plane your tumb moves in is horizontal to the plane in which your fingers move. Put your hand out straight, parallel to the floor. bend your fingers and they move towards the floor. Bend your tumb and it moves parallel to the floor. For pressing buttons on the button box your tumb is not very practical. However, piano box players use ther tumb, but thats not really a real instrument now is it?
Harry, yes it's really in D minor but there are two flats, it's in the G minor section, and when you play the midi file, it sounds like crazy eyes killah!! Just take out the Eb and it's a lovely Breton tune of some kind. But anyway, I'm a little disappointed there are no G minor polkas. They must exist.
the thumb is mounted in the wrong place on your hand and articulates the wrong way to be effective at striking a button keyboard - millionyears bc.
The thumb is used with great effect on the button keyboard of a continental chromatic five row instrument. There are the odd continental button box player who only uses the four fingers of course, but the majority use all five digits. It's been said already, so just to reiterate, on a two and three row instrument the thumb acts as a prop to hold the keyboard steady. Some of the older boxes had a goove for the thumb on the edge of the keyboard. Maybe they are still made that way?
use of right thumb for box players
use of right thumb for box players
Is there any reason the right thumb is not used,other than in a supporting role,when playing the B/C box?
# Posted on May 28th 2009 by McMandolin
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Well, it would be great if you could do anything other than support the box, it's good for hitch-hiking, ... it has been said the thumb has advanced the human race, but as far as playing the button accordion, there is less need for playing fingers because of the diatonic buttons. There is less movement than a piano accordion, less to move around and a shorter distance between octaves..etc.
I think there should be a box that can switch from B/C to C#/D with the flip of a switch. There are Mexican boxes that can do that, they're just a bit big. I'm sure it could be done, it's only one more reed block than the usual. So a word to the makers: I think it would sell.
And off the subject even further, I think this polka sounds like gangsta rap.... The only "G minor" polka on the session.org!
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by fedorastain
Re: use of right thumb for box players
I recall the Clare accordeonist Martin Connolly made a 2 row B/C that converted to a C#/D . I'm not a box player but I think that it simply involved pulling up one of the "stops"(I think that's what they're called).
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Thanks, Tony. I was looking at his website and I didn't see that model but I will def ask him about it when I have the money.
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by fedorastain
Re: use of right thumb for box players
I use my right thumb for sticking up my a**e while the fiddlers are playing yet another little-known-modern-Scots-cum-Lithuanian-cum-Cape-Breton-four-hour-high-speed-reel-medley
Yes, you know who you are people!
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by bc_box_player
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Fedorastain, which polka were you thinking of? Where's the link?
I just gotta learn a tune in G min.
Eno
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by bc_box_player
Re: use of right thumb for box players
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7894/comments#comment450573
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by joesmith
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Thanks joe - you've really got this tunes section thing licked!
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by bc_box_player
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Are you sure that tune's in G minor? It resolves on D at the end of both sections and no phrases resolve on G. It should be a D something or other mode. Can't work out which though
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by greg n'sheils
Re: use of right thumb for box players
I'm with bc on the fiddle players. The ones I've been around are either really old guys or cute young ladies-quite often blonde- with classical training who can play a line of music faster than you can blink.
I'll bet you can't guess which class of fiddlers gets all the atttention.
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by zippydw
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Oh forgot. Just because the thumb doesn't hit notes does not make it vestigial on the box. When you have to do a hard push when one of the young lady fiddlers is pushing on the bow, the stubby little digit does yoeman service keeping the box stable.
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by zippydw
Re: use of right thumb for box players
in answer to your original question McMandolin, and speaking for myself:
the thumb is mounted in the wrong place on your hand and articulates the wrong way to be effective at striking a button keyboard. That's why typists only use their thumbs to hit the space bar and why I don't use my thumb to play notes on the box
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by millionyears_bc
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Its because the plane your tumb moves in is horizontal to the plane in which your fingers move. Put your hand out straight, parallel to the floor. bend your fingers and they move towards the floor. Bend your tumb and it moves parallel to the floor. For pressing buttons on the button box your tumb is not very practical. However, piano box players use ther tumb, but thats not really a real instrument now is it?
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by balledfan
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Thanks for the interesting chat
# Posted on May 29th 2009 by McMandolin
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Harry, yes it's really in D minor but there are two flats, it's in the G minor section, and when you play the midi file, it sounds like crazy eyes killah!! Just take out the Eb and it's a lovely Breton tune of some kind. But anyway, I'm a little disappointed there are no G minor polkas. They must exist.
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by fedorastain
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Why?
# Posted on May 31st 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: use of right thumb for box players
G minor is fun on a BC box
# Posted on June 1st 2009 by fedorastain
Re: use of right thumb for box players
Why not just transpose some Am polkas? Don't expect any one esle to join in with you.
# Posted on June 1st 2009 by Paul_draper
Re: use of right thumb for box players
the thumb is mounted in the wrong place on your hand and articulates the wrong way to be effective at striking a button keyboard - millionyears bc.
The thumb is used with great effect on the button keyboard of a continental chromatic five row instrument. There are the odd continental button box player who only uses the four fingers of course, but the majority use all five digits. It's been said already, so just to reiterate, on a two and three row instrument the thumb acts as a prop to hold the keyboard steady. Some of the older boxes had a goove for the thumb on the edge of the keyboard. Maybe they are still made that way?
# Posted on June 2nd 2009 by Free Reed