My wife wants to learn a melody instrument and has been making noises about a melodeon (better than making noises WITH... never mind). Since she already plays piano and doesn't have lots of practice time, I've suggested maybe she should try piano accordion. She says okay, maybe, but it has to be a small one. So can anybody recommend a decent small piano accordion? Do the small ones have standard-size keys? Does it matter? How small so they get? Enough questions?
I have heard to go from piano to any kind of accordion is not that hard. No P.As have standard size keys they are about 3/4 the size of regular piano keys and they stay the same no matter what the size of the accordion. Whistle is fun and easy to learn the basics the more advanced techniques get a lot harder. I would say if she wants to learn Melodeon that is what she should learn people don't have to settle.
The majority of reputable accordion manufacturers make small accordions. Italian makes are generally a surer bet than German ones, if you don't know much about accordions. There are some great old Hohners about, but also some awful ones - especially the newer ones . Stay away from other German makes, many of which are very poor and sometimes have fake Italian names. Chinese - don't go there!
The way of holding a piano accordion is different than holding a button box, in that with a button accordion you help steady the thing with your right thumb, but with a piano accordion your thumb needs to be free for playing. So you're best to steady it by putting the bottom right edge against the inside of your right thigh. This actually means that very small piano boxes can be awkward for adults, because to achieve this they have to hunch over (mind a lot of button players do this, anyway) or they find the accordion swinging about out of control.
A 34 key (that's piano keys) accordion, which usually has 72 bass buttons, has the same practical range as a fiddle - so is good for trad, music, and a smaller one will not be that great for an adult (IMO) anyway. Sadly it won't feel that small once it's in it's case and you have to carry it up the street - but Hohner make some great rucksack type bags now, which really help.
Oh, yes - you do occasionally come across accordions with narrower than normal piano keys - so more keys packed into a smaller space - they were once marketed as "ladies models" *wince* . Don't know if anybody makes them anymore. They were usually good quality Italian ones - but not that common.
I've played both piano and PA for years, and I think that the switch is an easy one. Button boxes are great but my neural wiring doesn't seem to be able to accomodate the technique.
My personal recommendation would be to go for a 48 bass accordion. There seem to be plenty around, and they are less expensive and lighter than the 72 bass. Weight does get to be a factor even if you're sitting down all evening. They are also small enough to go in the luggage rack of an airliner if you invest in a soft case.
Lastly, there are some older accordions with slightly wider keys, which are a help to folks like myself who have large hands. I play a "La Tosca" - Italian, 48 bass, about 80 years old with hand-made reeds and great sound. Picked it up for $75 at Elderly Instruments in Michigan. Moral: sometimes an old beat-up looking PA is worth checking out.
As a firm believer in small PA accordions, (ladies accordion with the smaller key widths usually are 120 bass & not at all necessary & still cumbersome) I recommend a 72 bass, 34 key for ultimate full range, and I also use 48 bass (or 40 bass) small Hohners - they usually have only two reeds (one is musette (2 together) & other single reed) - less weight - but you don't have the low G on treble key side & the "B" button row on left - this might be a problem for some amount of tunes. You might luck into these ones for a couple hundred bucks.
I forked out for a new one which is the same size as the small 40/48 bass Hohners but has the missing G on treble (ever so slightly smaller keys than Hohners on treble side and 60 bass which covers off all keys on left hand side. It's a Weltmeister German make - sounds like my Hohners, very happy with this accordion.
Dear Bob
Many people here suggest 72 bass accordions, and that is generally fine, I think. But notice that you (or your wife) will lack the B-minor chord, which can be a shame. I have always played a 96 bass accordion (37 keys, 10 kg), and found it perfect. It is not too heavy, but big enough. Hohner is good, but I now play the excellent Italian Beltrami.
Good luck
Karen
Karen, I'm sorry to correct you, but you will not lack a Bm chord, or any other chord, on a 72 bass accordion. However, you will with a 48 bass, as suebob has told us.
I have a piaon accordion in very good shape that I'd like to sell. It has recently been serviced and appraised. Contact me for more info if you're interested.
I bought a nearly new Weltmeister a couple of years ago. I think it cost me about £150/$285. It does lack the Bm basses at the top end but I soon adapted to play the counter bass to compensate for this.
It's not quite up to the standard of the Italian models in terms of build quality, tone and aesthetics, but I would have no hesitation in recommending this size as a "starter" instrument, particularly for someone who already has keyboard experience.
The availability of the Bm chord and the low G treble note probably depends more on the manufacturer rather than being a hard and fast rule. My 48 has both and indeed has F#m and C#m bass. The left hand is a 4 X 12 arrangement which gives you major and minor but nothing in the way of 7ths or beyond. I think that most modern 48 accordions may have a 6 X 8 button arrangement or something like. Anyone?
Also, do folks out there vigorously play left hand accompaniment? It helps me to keep in rhythm but if I leave off the bass, I seem to have more agility on the keyboard.
Hi all,
I have had a 72 bass piano accordion which I love. But alas it is just too heavy for me now. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get a 48 bass piano accordion or a recommendation. Boaz Acccordions has closed in the East Bay of San Francisco so I am adrift.
Any suggestions would be welcome. My email is claudiaw@berkeley.edu.
Thanks from Claudia
Small piano accordion
Small piano accordion
My wife wants to learn a melody instrument and has been making noises about a melodeon (better than making noises WITH... never mind). Since she already plays piano and doesn't have lots of practice time, I've suggested maybe she should try piano accordion. She says okay, maybe, but it has to be a small one. So can anybody recommend a decent small piano accordion? Do the small ones have standard-size keys? Does it matter? How small so they get? Enough questions?
Bob
# Posted on January 8th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Small piano accordion
button accordion!
really though, the tinwhistle's a good shot.
# Posted on January 8th 2005 by sifudave54
Re: Small piano accordion
I have heard to go from piano to any kind of accordion is not that hard. No P.As have standard size keys they are about 3/4 the size of regular piano keys and they stay the same no matter what the size of the accordion. Whistle is fun and easy to learn the basics the more advanced techniques get a lot harder. I would say if she wants to learn Melodeon that is what she should learn people don't have to settle.
# Posted on January 8th 2005 by Unseen122
Re: Small piano accordion
The majority of reputable accordion manufacturers make small accordions. Italian makes are generally a surer bet than German ones, if you don't know much about accordions. There are some great old Hohners about, but also some awful ones - especially the newer ones . Stay away from other German makes, many of which are very poor and sometimes have fake Italian names. Chinese - don't go there!
The way of holding a piano accordion is different than holding a button box, in that with a button accordion you help steady the thing with your right thumb, but with a piano accordion your thumb needs to be free for playing. So you're best to steady it by putting the bottom right edge against the inside of your right thigh. This actually means that very small piano boxes can be awkward for adults, because to achieve this they have to hunch over (mind a lot of button players do this, anyway) or they find the accordion swinging about out of control.
A 34 key (that's piano keys) accordion, which usually has 72 bass buttons, has the same practical range as a fiddle - so is good for trad, music, and a smaller one will not be that great for an adult (IMO) anyway. Sadly it won't feel that small once it's in it's case and you have to carry it up the street - but Hohner make some great rucksack type bags now, which really help.
Good luck!
# Posted on January 8th 2005 by kris
Re: Small piano accordion
Oh, yes - you do occasionally come across accordions with narrower than normal piano keys - so more keys packed into a smaller space - they were once marketed as "ladies models" *wince* . Don't know if anybody makes them anymore. They were usually good quality Italian ones - but not that common.
# Posted on January 8th 2005 by kris
Re: Small piano accordion
I've played both piano and PA for years, and I think that the switch is an easy one. Button boxes are great but my neural wiring doesn't seem to be able to accomodate the technique.
My personal recommendation would be to go for a 48 bass accordion. There seem to be plenty around, and they are less expensive and lighter than the 72 bass. Weight does get to be a factor even if you're sitting down all evening. They are also small enough to go in the luggage rack of an airliner if you invest in a soft case.
Lastly, there are some older accordions with slightly wider keys, which are a help to folks like myself who have large hands. I play a "La Tosca" - Italian, 48 bass, about 80 years old with hand-made reeds and great sound. Picked it up for $75 at Elderly Instruments in Michigan. Moral: sometimes an old beat-up looking PA is worth checking out.
# Posted on January 8th 2005 by chautauqua
Re: Small piano accordion
As a firm believer in small PA accordions, (ladies accordion with the smaller key widths usually are 120 bass & not at all necessary & still cumbersome) I recommend a 72 bass, 34 key for ultimate full range, and I also use 48 bass (or 40 bass) small Hohners - they usually have only two reeds (one is musette (2 together) & other single reed) - less weight - but you don't have the low G on treble key side & the "B" button row on left - this might be a problem for some amount of tunes. You might luck into these ones for a couple hundred bucks.
I forked out for a new one which is the same size as the small 40/48 bass Hohners but has the missing G on treble (ever so slightly smaller keys than Hohners on treble side and 60 bass which covers off all keys on left hand side. It's a Weltmeister German make - sounds like my Hohners, very happy with this accordion.
# Posted on January 9th 2005 by suebob
Re: Small piano accordion
Wow, buncha replies already! Thanks, folks. Good information.
Bob
# Posted on January 9th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Small piano accordion
Dear Bob
Many people here suggest 72 bass accordions, and that is generally fine, I think. But notice that you (or your wife) will lack the B-minor chord, which can be a shame. I have always played a 96 bass accordion (37 keys, 10 kg), and found it perfect. It is not too heavy, but big enough. Hohner is good, but I now play the excellent Italian Beltrami.
Good luck
Karen
# Posted on January 9th 2005 by Ainsha
Re: Small piano accordion
Karen, I'm sorry to correct you, but you will not lack a Bm chord, or any other chord, on a 72 bass accordion. However, you will with a 48 bass, as suebob has told us.
# Posted on January 10th 2005 by kris
Re: Small piano accordion
I have a piaon accordion in very good shape that I'd like to sell. It has recently been serviced and appraised. Contact me for more info if you're interested.
# Posted on January 10th 2005 by Herding Cats
Re: Small piano accordion
I bought a nearly new Weltmeister a couple of years ago. I think it cost me about £150/$285. It does lack the Bm basses at the top end but I soon adapted to play the counter bass to compensate for this.
It's not quite up to the standard of the Italian models in terms of build quality, tone and aesthetics, but I would have no hesitation in recommending this size as a "starter" instrument, particularly for someone who already has keyboard experience.
# Posted on January 10th 2005 by mikemcdaid
Re: Small piano accordion
The availability of the Bm chord and the low G treble note probably depends more on the manufacturer rather than being a hard and fast rule. My 48 has both and indeed has F#m and C#m bass. The left hand is a 4 X 12 arrangement which gives you major and minor but nothing in the way of 7ths or beyond. I think that most modern 48 accordions may have a 6 X 8 button arrangement or something like. Anyone?
Also, do folks out there vigorously play left hand accompaniment? It helps me to keep in rhythm but if I leave off the bass, I seem to have more agility on the keyboard.
# Posted on January 10th 2005 by chautauqua
Re: Small piano accordion
Hi all,
I have had a 72 bass piano accordion which I love. But alas it is just too heavy for me now. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get a 48 bass piano accordion or a recommendation. Boaz Acccordions has closed in the East Bay of San Francisco so I am adrift.
Any suggestions would be welcome. My email is claudiaw@berkeley.edu.
Thanks from Claudia
# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by claudiaw