Books for the Accordionist
by David DiGiuseppe
The Mighty Accordion Vol. 1
The Complete Guide to Mastering Left Hand Bass/Chord Patterns
The Mighty Accordion Volume One is a truly unique and much-needed guide to playing the bass side of the accordion. A comprehensive collection of progressive exercises guide the student in learning and mastering bass/chord patterns.
For the beginner, the first few chapters assume little or no knowledge of the instrument and teach how to play simple accompaniment patterns.
For the intermediate player, numerous exercises using the major, minor, seventh, and diminished chords are included to develop skill in executing various bass/chord accompaniment patterns.
For the advanced player, latter chapters present exercises on chord combinations needed to play sixth, minor seventh, major seventh, ninth, and other advanced chords.
Throughout the book, explanations are offered on the workings of the instrument and relevant music theory. The learner can play along with companion audio of the book’s exercises at either slow or moderate tempos.
Available in hard copy and eBook.
The Mighty Accordion Vol. 2
The Complete Guide to Mastering Left Hand Bass/Chord Patterns
The Mighty Accordion Volume Two is an essential and unique method book for improving the left-hand skills of the accordionist. The comprehensive series of graduated exercises are designed to improve finger strength and dexterity while teaching how to play melodies and walking bass lines. These skills are then used to explore ways to play contemporary chord progressions.
The book contains three sections. Section One offers a brief review of standard bass/chord patterns. Section Two focuses on playing left hand melodies starting with simple scale-based patterns and proceeding to more challenging pieces. Also included are a series of exercises specifically designed to strengthen the typically weaker fifth finger.
Section Three focuses on chord progressions commonly heard in popular music. Exercises explore the use of arpeggios and walking bass lines to connect chords and integrate a variety of rhythmic patterns. The final chapter presents numerous blues riffs played within the standard 12-bar blues format.
Fingering suggestions are provided for each exercise. The material in this book offers the accordionist valuable tools to markedly advance their mastery of left-hand techniques and to improve overall musicianship.
Includes access to online audio of all exercises.
Available in hard copy and eBook.
100 Irish Tunes for Accordion
This book features an extensive collection of Irish reels, jigs, hornpipes, and polkas arranged for the piano accordion. It contains many common session tunes, with over 20 transcribed from the recordings of master musicians who play the keyboard accordion, Irish button box, or the concertina, including Jimmy Keane, Phil Cunningham, Karen Tweed, and others.
Written with the beginner as well as the advanced player in mind, the arrangements are complete with ornamentation, fingering, left hand notation, and chord symbols.
Appropriate for any G clef instrument.
Includes access to online audio of all exercises.
Available in hard copy and eBook.
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100 Tunes for Piano Accordion
From French Canadian, Cape Breton, Scottish, Shetland, New England, and Southern Old Time Traditions
This book extensive collection of reels, jigs, hornpipes, and polkas from the French Canadian, Cape Breton, Scottish, Shetland, New England, and Southern old time traditions arranged for the piano accordion.
Written with the beginner as well as the advanced player in mind, the arrangements are complete with ornamentation, fingering, left hand notation, and chord symbols.
Appropriate for any G clef instrument.
Includes access to online audio of all exercises.
Available in hard copy and eBook
Learn Blues Accordion
A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering the Blues
Learn Blues Accordion is a unique method book which includes 34 blues compositions and numerous exercises which will help the learner master the blues. The material increases in difficulty as new concepts and techniques are introduced.
Explore blues scales, chord progressions and learn common blues techniques such as grace notes, slides, pedal points, double stops, and tremolos. Left hand accompanying rhythmic styles include boogie-woogie, the blues shuffle, New Orleans, and walking bass lines. The book also features exercises on comping chords in common blues keys using various rhythmic patterns.
Accompanying audio is recorded in stereo format, separating the left and right hands.
Available in hard copy and eBook.
Tangos for Accordion
A Collection of Traditional Argentine Tangos Arranged for Keyboard Accordion
Tangos for Accordion presents a collection of predominantly Argentinian tangos arranged for solo piano accordion…La Cumparsita, Caminito, El Choclo, El Marne, Catamarca, La Paloma and many more. The book includes a brief history of the tango and preparatory exercises exploring various tango rhythms (habanera, marcato, etc).
Intermediate to advanced.
Available in hard copy and eBook.
Favorite Hymns and Gospel Songs For Accordion
This book presents a collection of the most-loved, all-time favorite gospel songs and hymns for the keyboard accordion. The songs are presented in easy-to-read arrangements in popular keys, with accompanying fingering suggestions and chord symbols. These short and lyrical arrangements are perfect for use in a worship setting or just for fun.
Complete with fingering, left-hand notation, and chord symbols.
Available in hard copy and eBook.
Wedding Collection for Accordion
This book presents a collection of classic wedding standards for solo keyboard accordion. The songs are presented in easy-to-read arrangements in popular keys. Each piece includes fingering suggestions and a recommendation for placement within the wedding ceremony. Arrangements vary from easy to intermediate.
Available in hard copy and eBook.