THE

MIGHTY ACCORDION

DAVID DIGIUSEPPE

Accordion Book with 2 CDs

The Mighty Accordion 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. Uses of the major, minor and seventh chords are explained, with numerous exercises offered 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 and ninth chords, and other advance techniques. Throughout the book, explanations are offered on the workings of the instrument and relevant music theory. Play along with a 2-CD companion set featuring many of the book's exercises played at both a slow and moderate tempo.

* A much-needed and complete guide to playing the bass side of the accordion
* A comprehensive collection of progressive exercises for learning bass/chord patterns on the accordion
* Beginner students learn simple accompaniment patterns and use of the major, minor and seventh chords
* Advanced students learn how to play sixth, minor and major sevenths and ninth chords, and other advance techniques
* Companion CDs feature many of the book's exercises

Introduction
A Note From the Author
What This Book Offers
Who Should Use This Book
How To Use This Book
About the CD
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Prelude
Music Notation 101
Overview
Staves and Notes
The Treble and Bass Clefs
Time Values
Time Signature

Chapter 1

• The Keyboard
• Notes on the Keyboard
• The Bass System
• Stradella and Free Bass Systems
• Stradella Bass Layout
• 12 Bass Accordions
• The Accordion's Bass Notation
• Fingerings
• Fourth Finger on Root Method
• Third Finger on Root Method
• Left Hand Placement
• Basic Music Theory
• Sharps, Flats and Natural Signs
• Half Step and Whole Step Intervals
• Scales
• Key Signatures

Chapter 2

• Getting Started
• Introducing C
• Introducing G
• Playing C and G
• Introducing F
• Playing F and C
• Playing F, C and G
• Basic Music Theory
• Intervals
• Congruous Chords and Longer Leaps
• Introducing D 26
• Playing F, C, G and D
• Introducing A
• Playing F, C, G, D and
• Basic Music Theory
• Triads and Chords

Chapter 3

• Alternating Bass Patterns
• Introducing the Alternate Bass
• Introducing Bb
• Introducing Eb
• Introducing E
• More Fun with Alternating Basses
• Alternate Bass Exercises
• Basic Music Theory
• Ties
• Accidentals

Chapter 4

• Minor Chords
• Introducing the Minor Chord
• The Minor Chord with Alternating Bass
• More Fun with Minor Chords
• Minor Chord Challenges

Chapter 5

• Seventh Chords
• Introducing the Seventh Chord
• The Seventh Chord with Alternating Bass
• Basic Music Theory
• Seventh Chords

Chapter 6

• The Counter Bass
• Introducing the Counter Bass
• Linear Bass Lines
• Using the Fifth Finger
• Playing the Third with a Minor Chord
• An Alternative Fingering
• Linear Bass Lines with Minor Chords

Chapter 7

• Diminished Chords
• Introducing the Diminished Chord
• The Diminished Chord with Alternating Bass
• The Diminished Chord with Linear Bass Lines
• The Diminished Chord with the Sixth
• Basic Music Theory
• Diminished Chords
• The Half Diminished Chord
• Advanced Techniques – Chord Combinations

Chapter 8

• Dominant, Major and Minor Seven Chords
• Overview
• One Button—Three Notes
• Notating Chord Combinations
• The Full Dominant Seven Chord
• The Minor Seven Chord
• The Major Seven Chord
• Basic Music Theory
• Chord Nomenclature

Chapter 9

• The m7(b5) b7(b9) Progression
• The 7(b9) Chord
• The m7(b5) Chord
• Special Note The m7(b5) and m6 Chords

Chapter 10

• The Major and Minor Six Chords
• Introducing the Major Six Chord
• Introducing the Minor Six Chord

Chapter 11

• Major, Dominant and Minor Nine Chords
• Introducing the Major Nine Chord
• The Dominant Nine Chord
• The Minor Nine Chord

Chapter 12

• The Leftovers
• The Augmented Triad
• The Six/Nine Chord
• The Minor Major Seven Chord
• The Suspended Four Chord