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Mike Maddux

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Posts posted by Mike Maddux

  1. Re the bandoneons sold by Akkordeon-Werkstatt:

     

    They seem to offer a full-size bandoneon as well as the "mini", with a choice of traditional bisonoric or unisonoric. What they DON'T seem to show is the button layout on their chromatic bandos (regular or mini), and they don't seem to be very fast about answering email requests. Does anyone have a diagram of that layout?

     

    It's intriguing to me because the shape of the array (8 x 5) doesn't seem to fit a standard chromatic button accordion approach. Well actually it could be a five row C or B system with only two octaves - not too exciting compared to a standard bandoneon of more than three octaves in the right hand.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Mike

  2. Hello Mike,

    The Wicki (and by association, Hayden), Piguri, and Atzarin keyboard layout may appropriately be considered chromatic.

    I am not certain that they can be considered fully chromatic, and more importantly, none are isomorphic (meaning an identical structure or form) keyboard.

    Given your earlier observations, it may be important for your to seriously evaluate this so that you are not later frustrated or disappointed.

    If transposition is not a matter of concern for you, then these characteristics are not critical.

    But then you could simply play one of the more readily available keyboard layouts and transpose when needed.

    I suggest that you enlarge some keyboard layouts to "life" size and print them and then "play" the music that you desire on the models for a few weeks, paying particular attention to the chords and the transit/traveling/crossover/crossunder sequences that are required for melodies and how easy it is to transit among between the I, IV, and V chords in both major and minor keys.

    I've found it most effective if I punch holes in the button locations and affix the printed keyboard page to a rather stiff sponge or foam so I can feel an approximation of the "button".

    Our brains work differently and looking at a layout might not be sufficient to determine what is most usable or comfortable for you.

    Perhaps this will be useful, if not helpful, to you.

    Be Well,

    Dan

     

    Dan,

     

    Very helpful and thought-provoking comments, helpful and useful!

     

    Question: When you say that the Peguri or Atzarin might not be "fully chromatic" I'm not sure what you mean. Peguri has all of the notes contained in its range. Atzarin does miss one note near the bottom (I'm just talking right hand for simplicity) and one note near the top of the range, but within that it has everything.

     

    I agree that the Peguri is definitely not fully isomorphic, since it has two different coexisting arrangements, and I GUESS you could say the Atzarin isn't fully isomorphic in that you have to learn three, for example, major scales. But that's still a lot better than having to learn twelve major scales like I've already done on piano, and the Atzarin doesn't change its mind in middle of things. You play the same patterns in all octaves. Same as a three row CBA in that regard - requiring the learning of three patterns for each type of scale.

     

    As you suggested, I actually have printed out patterns in "life size", and tried them out, and I need to try that with Hayden/Wicki. It helps, but you're never sure what it will be like in real life. For instance, how hard will it be to reach a note given that your hand is restrained by a strap.

     

    I want to be able to play any piece in any key, and the easier to learn the better! Isomorphism would probably help - I did have a CBA for awhile and found it workable, especially because I could use my thumb. But what I don't like about accordion is that it strongly favors the right hand, allowing it free movement, while the left hand is given the task of keeping the air flowing. I like the more equal approach that concertinas and bandoneons follow.

     

    I have a borrowed bandoneon of the traditional Argentine persuasion and I'm working with it. It's crazy! However, the patterns, once learned with much effort, do seem to fall naturally under the fingers. Of course that probably just means I haven't yet tried the patterns that are difficult on it. I imagine every approach favors some patterns over others, but none that I've encountered are more loco than the traditional Argentine bandoneon.

     

    Anyway, I'm glad I joined this group. I'm an accordion player who wants to play bandoneon but I love all free reed instruments, especially the very portable ones! I have a close to complete collection of "Concertina and Squeezebox" magazine.

     

    Mike

  3. I have considered the Hybrid and many other keyboard layouts. I don't like the look of the Hybrid and the fact that you push and pull with your arms instead of wrist and/or hand. The Hayden model would allow you to have your thumb outside the strap which would presumably give you the type of bellows control that you need to play tango.

     

    I've never tried the Hayden....

     

    Concertina Connection's Elise Hayden Duet is a good way to become familiar with the Hayden system, in a starter instrument. (Not a bandoneon... but, that's the point of this tread. :) )

     

    I just had a look at the Elise Hayden concertina. It might be a good way for me to see if Hayden really works for me, but I'm concerned that a number of notes are missing from the layout. On the right hand it's missing G#1, D#2, and G#2. How would you play in the key of E for example? It's not like E is an especially exotic key.

     

    Mike

  4. I have considered the Hybrid and many other keyboard layouts. I don't like the look of the Hybrid and the fact that you push and pull with your arms instead of wrist and/or hand. The Hayden model would allow you to have your thumb outside the strap which would presumably give you the type of bellows control that you need to play tango.

     

    I've never tried the Hayden, but it looks like it would be physically easier than the CBA system which is used in the Hybrid and also the other popular chromatic keyboard - the Peguri. I could easily be wrong about that. I'm coming from piano accordion and the Hayden seems to offer some similarities in finger motion to the piano keyboard. No thumb in use, but it seems like the fingers don't get in each other's way when playing scales, whereas they kind of do on the CBA system.

     

    So the real answer is that I don't really know for sure! I'm also considering the Atzarin, but, like the Hayden, it doesn't exist yet...

     

    Right now I'm taking lessons on the traditional Argentine system, but I'm finding it to be a steep learning curve to say the least.

     

    Mike

     

     

     

    If one considers a Bandoneon -why only Hayden-Layout? I guess there are only few Hayden players for whom the Hayden-Bandoneon would be an easy task. As I play EC I´d learn from new the Hayden Layout as well the Geuns hybrid C-System. And the Chinese Hybrid is on the market for under 1000 Euro which is also refundable when upgrading??? <_<

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