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Depending on your interests, I'd fill out your harmonic vocabulary. I always strongly recommend The Mighty Accordion in general, but specifically to people with a piano background. While some may find it dry because it's essentially just exercises, they are very good and instantly practical exercises. I also suspect that someone with 10 years of piano and a left hand that's not nearly as deft as their right not only can respect the value of such pure exercises, but would probably like them to clean up the inevitable relative deficits and the disconnect between what you are mentally aware of to be possible musically... and what your technical facility limits you to.

Depending on the type of piano lessons you had, you might be sorely lacking in awareness of larger jazz chords, how they are spelled, and how to build them. These are useful on accordion and I'm especially reminded of this coming into the Christmas season as I polish up some tunes out of a Christmas fakebook and realize just how many songs really push at the very least for m7, Maj7 and dim7 chord. The leap from simple major, minor, and dom7 chords on accordion to these more complex chords that require significant distances, solid proprioception, and better dexterity is a large one, but it's extremely rewarding.

It's also worth brushing on theory concepts to help understand how to fill out (with the right hand) or substitute (with the left) chords that are physically impossible on a stradella bass system.

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Due to the lack of serious accordion specific music written in standard notation, particularly published by US publishers, learning to read from lead sheets is one of the most useful and valuable things you can do. If you stretch yourself to read a lot of them, you'll quickly start to run into the exact problems you need to fix as you find chords that you don't know how to play and can solve it by working in the relevant section of the aforementioned book. Find an ascending dim7 chord as a passing tone (super common), go work on the exercises in the dim7 section of The Mighty Accordion and you'll find that your technical limitation melts away.

You also might find yourself needing to adopt new comping patterns for your left hand. If you're good at comping on piano, then this might come intuitively and you'll be able to listen to a variety of instruments and create a comping pattern that's not just a standard oom-pah and instead something that's more stylistically appropriate. At the very least you could go steal some patterns from accordionists on Youtube. /u/JacksonParodi is prolific and definitely uses a good variety of left hand ideas. With a combination of technical facility and theory knowledge, you can easily reverse engineer anything you see people like him doing and add it to your tool kit. Find a lick or pattern you like... STEAL IT!


>What are some harder pieces/ composers I could be playing?

This worries me because it's a mentality I see a lot in the piano world. People often are looking for exact compositions to push them forward. They can learn all the Chopin and Bach in the world, but ultimately they are just learning to mash keys in sequence and tend to have very little functional ability. I always recommend learning skills, not songs. Those skills (sightreading, playing by ear, realizing lead sheets) tend to foster much more growth because they tend to require you to use your brain in a much more active way than just mastering a series of finger motions based on explicit instructions and given an infinite time limit.

If you want written compositions to push you forward, go easy, not hard. Learning a very hard piece over a very long time frame doesn't push your overall ability forward nearly as much as if you'd spent that same time working through a dozen simpler pieces and slowly working out tiny deficits in your ability. If you want to work on actual pieces, just start working through some of the Palmer-Huges books and even if they seem easy and childish, they are systematic and you will find things you suck at doing and need to improve on. Once again, this adds tools to your kit.

Like I said, you'll make much better progress working on several tunes simultaneously that may take you a week to get under your fingers collectively and then plowing on to devour more... than you would spending all of that time trying to master one absolute monster of a composition. If you invest up front in working through all of these childish songs, then the bigger, more complex pieces will eventually be in that same ballpark of something you can learn in a week or so rather than a month or so.

Been learning for less than a year now... As the other posts say - make sure these things fit your instrument (before learning it all wrong), but these things worked for me!

Print out a cheat sheet of your bass ( e.g. https://i.stack.imgur.com/QrD1P.png ). Some people I heard use a mirror at first, but I find having this handy is a must at first. There is also https://www.accordionhelper.com/ if you are near a computer/tablet, amazing website.

With regards to how to go about learning, there is a great website which has subscription based videos https://accordionlove.com/ which go through all the basics, and break down some songs. The dude who does these is absolutely top. I also recommend the Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course books (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0739012916), if you feel better following something in front of you. These books help you get through learning the instrument, as well as reading music.

Last piece of advice I have is find a song you like and go for it. There's a lot of resource out there for sheet music like musescore. Some songs I hit up early in learning accordion are: Fly me to the moon, Teach the world to sing, Love me tender. I'd be happy to share the sheet music if you'd like it! Just drop me a message.

Hope you enjoy it! Get some video of your first song up on the subreddit if you feel brave enough, it's good to see other beginners!

Piano versus button matters mostly for practical reasons. Piano accordion will be easier to learn if you already know piano or another keyboard instrument, and is easier to find in the US. And once you make a choice, if you switch you'll have to relearn a lot. (Also, make sure you know the difference between chromatic button and diatonic button accordions which are a lot different.)

Yes, you can teach yourself, particularly if you have previous experience playing music. Getting used to it physically (wearing it properly and playing with good technique) might be better with a teacher, though I just read everything I could find on the subject. Like with piano, part of the challenge is playing different things in each hand at the same time, which takes practice no matter how you learn.

For sheet music, it's pretty similar to piano, but the left hand is different and somewhat easier to read. Also consider learning from videos. I have learned songs both ways and it exercises different skills, relying more on memory if you're learning from video. There are lessons on YouTube and Liberty Bellows has a good selection.

The Palmer-Hughes series is the usual recommendation for learning from sheet music. It starts from the very beginning and the difficulty increases very gradually as you go through the books. It's from the 1950's and so as you'd expect it only has older music.

Another choice that I like is "Complete Accordion Method", which ramps up more quickly and I like the songs better since I'm more into French music. (It also has fingering for button accordion, though that doesn't matter for me.) I bought the French version, but it is apparently available in English again:

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Accordion-Method-Lucien-Galliano/dp/154003495X/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/140-8814933-8983643

For anyone that is interested in this accordion, and has somehow found their way to this post:

You might be like me. Interested in learning accordion, but not so interested that you're willing to throw down a thousand bucks on something you might lose interest in.
I'll type up a quick review of it here, because I know you're probably having a tough time finding more information about it (as I did).

I ended up getting it, the b-stock price of $300 was too good for me to pass up. There was the option of a refund if it was defective or terrible, so I didn't see much risk in it.

Anyway, it's solid enough. All the bass buttons and keys work as they're supposed to, the bellows breathe well and are easy to control.
The sound isn't the same beautiful heart stealing tones of its more expensive counterparts, but it still sounds like an accordion.

This is not your Excalibur.
This is not performance ready.
This is a physical manifestation of "okay".

This is the equivalent of that $100 electric guitar you bought in high school to jam along with your friends in his parent's basement. It's a good instrument to learn with and play for a few friends, but for the price, that's all you reasonably expect from it.

Here is a video of me playing it:
https://youtu.be/paXFGDCAHKw



By the way, it's a knock off of a Hohner product.


So, in case you want the real deal, here is the product gear4music is imitating:

Hohner 1305-RED Hohnica 72 Bass 34-Key Entry Level Piano Accordion Range G to E https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CG66KSC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8wtGDbYKZQ4XD

I picked up the accordion relatively easily having played classical piano as a kid/teen. I would definitely recommend trying it if you have an accordion available and you're interested, It's such a fun instrument! I bought this book after someone recommended it on here. It's great for pianists cause it focuses on the left hand and doesn't waste time going over beginner music theory.

That picture you linked is called a concertina. They are a little different than accordions in the way that they are played.

Now, depending on how portable you want, you have several options. If you want something you can fit in your pack, you can always get a toy accordion. However, your options musically with that one are pretty limited (only one scale and three basses). But it's definitely the smallest you are going to get. There's also an 8-bass model, though, again, it's pretty limited musically.

Concertinas are probably your next step up in terms of portability, and they are relatively inexpensive for low button models. A 20 button concertina is your cheapest version, and will give you some more options musically than the toy accordion. The next step up is 40 button, I believe, but it will cost more. A 40 button concertina is usually around the same price as a 48-bass accordion, if I remember correctly.

Finally, we have your "actual" accordions. They start out at 12-bass and go up from there. 12-bass will give you some good beginner options, 48 will give you more, the size difference isn't all that huge, and they cost around the same amount. Another option would be to try and find a lady's accordion for 120-bass, which is what I use (but, admittedly, it bigger than both the previous option. It is still quite a bit smaller than a men's 120-bass, though).

My accordion (lady's 120) isn't super cumbersome in the way of transportation. If you're used to carrying a guitar case around, it won't be much different in terms of size. It might be heavier than what you're used to, but logistically it doesn't take up that much space. Probably 2x2.5x1 feet on the case (I think. This is a rough guess on my case size).

Overall, if you want a wide range of notes, and if you are really concerned about portability, I guess I would have to recommend the 48-button. It seems like it would be the best size to travel with (though I never have done it). Perhaps someone who owns a 48-bass could extrapolate on this...

You're going to love it! When you get some experience under your belt, it's not an informational book, but this guy's books come with a CD, and I find it really helpful to hear a song when I'm learning it https://www.amazon.com/Klezmer-Sephardic-Tunes-Traditional-Performances/dp/1847612563/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543119702&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Klezmer+accordion

He has books for different types of music, you may or may not like it. Last up, it's super in depth, but if you want to master the left hand, this book is the gold standard as far as I'm concerned : https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786688394/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1543119891&sr=8-1

Right hand accordion notation is always written in reference to the keyboard, not the sounding pitch. The standard range is always the F below middle C up to the A three octaves above. It's always written in treble clef. The octave of sounding pitch is dictated by the switch indicated in the score. For an octave below written pitch, the bassoon switch would be indicated. Music played at written pitch would be indicated by a switch with reeds sounding at that pitch like clarinet or violin. Music played an octave above written pitch would be indicated by the piccolo switch.

In many cases the sounding pitch is of less of a concern than the particular timbre called for since accordions usually sound pitches in multiple octaves at the same time. If you want a good reference for how accordion scales are written out I recommend Gary Dahl's Master Accordion Scale Book published by Mel Bay. It gives a very good overview of various scales for accordion and their proper fingerings.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Accordion-Scale-Book-Studies/dp/0786667087

I recently got Hanon for Accordion, i agree that it is really good. I also have a really good one called Jazz Scales for Accordion.

When I practice I basically try to spend as much time as I can doing scales, exercises, arpeggios, etc. and then after that just try to have fun with it so I don't get burnt out.

You can actually just learn whatever song you want (as song as its not absolutely insane) just make sure you use a metronome and practice it very slowly(like learning any other instrument really). I think that the Mel Bay and Palmer-Hughes books have such uninspiring songs that it actually makes me not want to play.

The books I mentioned have fingering in the notation, and as far as very basic technique stuff I would just read websites, there are tons of good resources.

I also mainly play the piano and would highly recommend The Mighty Accordion. Someone recommended it on this sub and it's perfect for piano players; it focuses on the left hand and eases you into it.

This method did the trick for me!

Also, if you're going to really dive into learning, you might want to have an accordion fixer take a peak at it. From that Ode to Joy bit you posted, it looks like the bellows are moving quite a bit more freely than they should. (You should typically be able to play a couple measures without needing to switch direction.)

The Mighty Accordion. It's pretty awesome.

The Palmer-Hughes accordion course is the standard for beginner accordion instruction. They start at Book 1 and go up to 8 I believe. These are the books they used at the conservatory where I started at age 5 up til I was 12 and in grade 7 accordion. At the time, I was playing in a 40 piece accordion orchestra doing classical pieces such as Rossini's Overture to Barber of Seville. Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/Palmer-Hughes-Accordion-Course-Book-1/dp/0739012916

I purchased "The Mighty Accordion" from Amazon. It's a book just for learning the Stradella bass system. I'm still a beginner in general, but the book seem very helpful for positioning, and slowly learning the layout.

https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Accordion-David-DiGiuseppe/dp/0786688394

I've been recommended the Palmer Hughes beginner books quite a few times, and it's what my teacher uses.

Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, Bk 1: For Group or Individual Instruction https://www.amazon.com/dp/0739012916/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9X0GAb2ASPD9P

Depending on how much you know about music, going anywhere in this book series can help quite a lot.

You can get a stand; you can clamp the accordion at the right height and she can either sit and stand at it to play:

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/Konig-Meyer-17400-009-55-Accordion-Stand/dp/B003ES9EPM

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might be worth a try?