A verification of the ratings has taken place as follows: Only customers who are registered in our online store and have actually purchased the product from us can submit a rating for the item in the customer account.The varnish-friendly cover from Alpenklang protects your instrument from dust not only at home. The cover can also remain in the case over the accordion and thus protects against scratches during transportation. Complete with the original hard case, which can be upgraded to a new gigbag for an additional charge, padded shoulder straps and a one year component parts guarantee. A preowned Scandalli Compact 120 Bass Accordion. This ultra compact and lightweight accordion would be ideal for the smaller player who requires the full range of notes and buttons but doesn’t want to have the size and weight of a full size instrument. This Scandalli accordion features 41 reduced size treble keys and 120 reduced size bass buttons, making this classic accordion about the same size and weight as a 72 bass accordion. With a three voice tuning and a powerful bass, the Scandalli 120 bass compact accordion is ideal for all styles of music, and also boasts “polifonico” style grill mutes. Finished in an attractive gloss black casework, and presented for sale in good all round general condition for its age.
To request further information, or to purchase this accordion, please call us in our Sunningdale showroom on 01344 873717 or email us at [email protected]
A 0% interest free loan is available on this accordion subject to status via the Arts Council. Terms and conditions apply – please contact us for full details.Here at the Luthier Shop, we primarily focus on violins, violas and cellos, but we do have some double basses available. There are shops that specialize in double basses. When purchasing an instrument, these shops will have a much better selection of basses from which to choose.The standard size for adults is a ¾ double bass. A large double bass such as a ⅞ or 4/4 is very rare and not commonly used unless the person is very tall, 6.5’ + in height or they have unusually large hands.A general rule for children is to choose a bass one size smaller than usual violin size for age. A smaller bass will have a shorter string length. So if the child’s hand is small, a smaller size bass would be a better fit. A smaller instrument is MUCH easier to play because of the shorter string length. A shorter string length (the measurement of the strings from the bridge to the nut) means the fingers do not have to spread as far to place the fingers on the strings for each note when playing. Bass and cello players can develop physical problems in the hand and arm from playing instruments that that have string lengths too long for the player to play comfortably. So a smaller bass is probably better for most players.
Your right arm should now be able to bow comfortably with the bow at the appropriate position midway between the bridge and the fingerboard. If you are bowing above the fingerboard, try a bass one size down. If you feel more comfortable bowing very close to the bridge, try a bass one size up.
A pre-owned Galanti Super Dominator 140 Bass Accordion. This classic instrument was built by the highly respected Galanti factory in the Italian town of Mondaino, and dates from the 1960’s. This full size accordion features 41 treble keys and 140 bass buttons, which offers another twenty bass notes over the standard 120 bass system more commonly found these days. The 140 bass setup offers an extra row of buttons above the counter bass, which are tuned to a minor third above the root note. This particular example has just undergone a full restoration in our workshop, and and is tuned to a four voice double octave tuning, making it ideal for the classical and jazz styles of playing. The Galanti Super Dominator 140 Bass Accordion also boasts a single cassotto chamber meaning that the bassoon set of reeds are inside a separate chamber, which helps to create a very warm and mellow tone. Finished in a very attractive two tone casework with “domino” couplers on the treble side. Presented in good all round cosmetic condition for it’s age.
To request further information, or to purchase this excellent value for money Galanti Super Dominator 140 Bass Accordion please call us in our Sunningdale showroom on 01344 873717 or email us at [email protected]
A 0% interest free loan is available on this Galanti Super Dominator 140 Bass Accordion subject to status via the Arts Council. Terms and conditions apply – please contact us for full details. This Galanti Super Dominator 140 Bass Accordion comes complete with the original hard case, which can be upgraded to a new gigbag for an additional charge, padded shoulder straps and a 3 year component parts guarantee. The middle “C” usually has a bump or hole in it for you to feel, to make it easier to find your way around the left buttons without looking at them. The A flat and E will also have some sort of marking sometimes.Tip: Consider printing out this chart and referring to it as you continue with this guide. You might find it helpful to have a visual representation of the directions described.
Horizontal columns are arranged in a different order: every column goes up a fifth as you move up the bass board. So a “G” would be above middle “C”, and a “F” would be below the middle “C”, a “D” would be above the “G”, and so on.
If you have a large enough instrument, chances are there will be one or more switches next to the innermost row of buttons (near to the bellows). By pressing these, you can control which reeds in the left hand manual are sounding to create different timbres appropriate for the music you’re playing, similar to the switches on the right hand.
Is 48 bass accordion enough?
48 and 72 bass are the best options for most folk musicians, but you only get the full range of notes, and variety of sound from the registers on a full size 120 bass.
Most full-size accordion basses have either 120, or, less commonly, 96 buttons. All notes in an octave are covered by both systems, so you can play in any key.
In the next few pages, we’ll learn the basics of playing either a simple accompaniment or melody on the basses. Just use the navigation below to go backward or forward.
The Stradella bass system (also called the standard bass sometimes) is a type of button layout you find on the left (or bass) side of almost all accordions. It uses columns of buttons arranged in a circle of fifths.I got this as part of the Halloween bundle and don’t regret a thing.rnFor the price this thing will come in very handy.rnEven at full price it’s worth a go!
What is a 120 bass accordion?
The 120 bass layout has 2 columns of single bass notes (roots and counter basses) and 4 columns of chords (Major, minor, Dominant 7th, and diminished 7th) in all keys. Compared to the smaller model (the 96 bass layout), it has 4 extra rows, for a total of 20 rows.
I A/B’d this with another well-known accordion library and dropped it into a couple of old projects to test it out. Very pleasing results. The 5 voices allow you to put your accordion sound exactly when you want it in the mix.This is the older version of the 48 bass and you are more likely to find the other version following. This version would allow you to play, including all the required minor chords in seven different keys.
How much does a 120 accordion weigh?
Don’t forget, free delivery of this Scandalli 120 Bass Compact Accordion to most parts of mainland UK is included! Weight: 7.71 Kg. – 17.1 Lbs.
However please note that due to the wide variety of instruments presented, particularly in the smaller end you should look for yourself for exactly which keys will be available on the one you are investigating.Unless the cabinet has been built a little oversize or the keys smaller than standard it will have less than two octaves in the treble. IT is common for this to be done however.
Bellows will be limited for power and sustaining ability, but it is possible you may have control over the tone, with 3 registers giving two different sounds of either one or two reeds, usually tremolo or straight (organ like) sounding. My own lovely classic Italian made Victoria A420V accordion is shown below, as you can see 120 bass buttons (16 keys rows by 6 “types”), 41 treble piano style keys low F to high A, 15 treble registers, all different and distinctive sounding thanks to two voice lower and middle pitch being in casotto and the addition of some combinations without the standard in tune middle casotto sound, hence clearer and brighter. Also seven sonorous bass registers to complete and build up the sound magnificently. (You may gather I rather like this one). The 96 bass accordion is a slightly smaller version of the 120 bass, having 16 different named chord keys instead of 20, so usually has a matching treble range of 37 keys F to F or A to A, though this can vary and by making the keys smaller it can match the 41 treble keys of its big brother.
This seems to be the more common form of modern 48 bass accordion and has the benefit of containing all types of chords and bass notes. This has to be at the expense of fewer keys you can play in of course, I calculate four different keys possible to play if they are to able to contain all the minor chords for those keys. Six keys if you are content to be a three chorder. The same number of minor keys in those categories also fof course.
This is an instrument size which is almost on a par with the 120 bass accordion. Only lacking the (not totally essential) sixth bass row but with the same number of keys possible to be played in.With the larger instruments there is a possibility that they may include any of the following. The more expensive, the more there may be such options, but do not assume they are there unless you check!
What is a 140 bass accordion?
This full size accordion features 41 treble keys and 140 bass buttons, which offers another twenty bass notes over the standard 120 bass system more commonly found these days. The 140 bass setup offers an extra row of buttons above the counter bass, which are tuned to a minor third above the root note.
If you ever pick up a 12 bass instrument and have any knowledge of the piano keyboard it will instantly get you playing instantly, but is extremely musically limited, with only six different major chords you can play along with the bass note of the same name beside them.The same possibilites of tuning variation between octave tuned L M M+ H or musette tuned L M- M M+ are available and different tuning systems from dry to Scottish or French tuning is available.
Victoria are famous also for the all wood finish Poeta model as made famous by Frank Marooco and the cbromatic Richard Galliano version in a similar black finish to mine.
You will of course have to make sure you have smaller style keys or there will be very few notes to choose from. Not necessarily a bad thing to have smaller keys as long as you do not have hands like shovels, and if it is your only accordion to practice on, so you are not distracted by different gaps on different instruments.
An advantage of the 32 bass is the extra row of counterbass notes, which allow the bass line to be varied in the same way as on the largest instruments. It also allows for a much more complete learning process. Therefore it is better to learn on.
A full three octave treble keyboard and a bass range big enough to cover that awkward place where you run out of the main sharp keys at the top and have to go to the bottom of the bass buttons to the flat section to fill in!Until recently I ignorantly despised the 60 and 80 bass models but only recently discovered that their main limitations of not having a sixth row to give diminished chords are easily overcome.Piano style notes are likely to be made very much smaller than standard to fit onto this instrument becasue of its compact size and the requirement for a reasonable range of notes.As it contains two rows of bass notes it also allows you to learn properly as on the 32 note, and as on the biggest instruments. You cannot play sevenths chords and diminished however as the rows for these are missing.
Also, depending on the exact location of the C bass button in the layout, you may find yourself playing a C# chord (or possibly more likely a C# minor chord) and wanting a C# or C#minor chord to follow it, AND IT ISN’T THERE!
It is octave tuned not musette tuned and set at a modest 10 per cent detuning for a light vibrato. If I had specified a 5 voice treble I could have incorporated both octave and musette registers, but this would have made it a little heavier I think.By the time you get here you have so many possibilities, though rather a large instrument. Do you want one in an Octave tuning i.e. Lower octave-Middle Octave-Middle Octave detuned-Higher Octave LMMH format or in Musette form with one octave and three middle octave (two sets of reeds detuned above and below)
This is an innovative solution of how to combine lightness and compactness, marketed by The Squeezebox Shop Yarrow, Hughton, By Beauly, Inverness IV4 7JN
What is the difference between 80 bass and 120 bass?
A 120 bass with 41 treble keys is the full size model, and the bass end offers a chromatic scale, and all the chords, arranged in 6 rows of 20. An 80 bass has 5 rows of 16 (omitting the diminished row), and a 37 note keyboard.
Note the advice on bellows being limited refers to only a small amount of air, probably only sufficient for a couple of notes at a time, or a very short fast phrase.An accordion of the same specification but different tuning systems will sound totally different on most registers, though theoretically identical when using those without detuned reeds.Further downsides are that there is room for very few treble keys, probably only just a little more than once octave and that the bellows will also have little power or stamina to keep a tune going continuously.
You will like the 12 bass for its instant playability but will very quickly realise its limitations and your need to go bigger and better, I would say to at least 48 bass, possibly 72, or for additional reasons to the rather substantial 96 or 120 button accordions.
To find diminished chords from the fifth row when it is (as is probably mostly the case) 7th chords, play the key below. For C dim play F7, D dim play G7, F dim play Bb7 etc.
Some will have five tabs for three reed sets. Occasionally two bass registers from 3 tabs, usually giving you vibrato (two reeds playing) or non vibrato single reed sound. If there are three switches, the two outside ones will be the same, for the single reed sound.These are often incorporated in modern accordion straps or if not readily and inexpensively available to hook across between the right and left hand straps.
On the treble side 41 keys is standard, usually low F to high A. Exceptionally large instruments can have a treble range of 45 notes from low E to high C. This can be accomplished with smaller keys, a bigger cabinet, or by an extended keyboard section. (OR possibly a combination of the last two possibilities).They are not exactly the same chords but compatible with that harmony. As a matter of fact even a 120 bass accordion does not have true diminished chords, but chords that become diminished according to what treble notes you play with them.
The number of treble piano style notes was increased when the manufacturer mades them smaller. So they could fit more notes onto the instrument. This is unlikely to be a very good action to play on, though these might be suitable for very small children.
However the number of keys you can play in is still severely limited, five keys if satisfied with the most basic chords, or three being able to cope with
Only some have the reeds in casotto of course like mine, nor the 15 treble registers or 7 bass registers. Up to 12 treble is more common and also 3 or 5 bass registers. However some manufacterers, Victoria included, produce models with an extended treble range of E to high C, useful for extra free ranging arpeggios etc, though even on the finest reeds I think the sound gets a little thin from high F and upwards.
But it has no diminished chords right? Literally yes, but it is very practical to use the seventh row in their place, or if it is a model with diminished chords as the fifth row you can use those for major 7th chords.
So here is what you will need to know. With the very small instruments choices are very simple and get more complicated and exciting to decide as you get into the territory of larger more expensive instruments.
Please note the number and placing of the bass notes and the number of treble keys is not standard on these very small instruments, so check in individual instruments you are looking at.Chromatic accordions can fit in a much wider range on the treble side because the chromatic buttons are configured to take up less space than on a piano style keyboard. Chromatic keyboards can cover more notes than a five octave syunthesiser keyboard in fact at the higher end of accordion size.There are both your musical requirements and the accordion you find physically comfortable to use. And you need to take both factors into consideration.
You will have to go to the extreme bottom end of the bass keyboard to find the subsitute D flat chord. A long way, but at least easy to find since there is just a big gap below it.
With each size of accordion listed I have included the keys you should be able to play in on your choice of accordion. For the technically minded here is how I worked them out.
Please note the number and placing of the bass notes and the number of treble keys is not standard on these very small instruments, so check any individual instruments you are looking at. This affects for example the advice as to the exact keys you can play in.
At first glance this does not seem to be very different than the 96 bass diagram, but tot fit on the page the buttons have been made a little smaller and closer. At 20 keys by 6 rows it covers 4 extra playing keys to the 96 bass.
How many keys does a 120 bass accordion have?
Most full-size accordion basses have either 120, or, less commonly, 96 buttons. All notes in an octave are covered by both systems, so you can play in any key.
The number of treble piano style notes will be increased as the manufacturer makes them smaller to fit in more. This is unlikely to be a very good action to play on, though these might be suitable for very small children.
The range of playable keys you can play in is impressive with its 12 by 5 format. The same as a 72 bass in fact. It shares with the 72 bass the requirement to have smaller size keys, or you will be stuck with as few as two octaves to play on the right hand keyboard.
After that you can still change what it sounds like, according to your preferred repertoire, or personal sound choice, from dry tuning for jazz or classical, up to general tuning, or the extremely wide French or Scottish tuning.The warnings I put about the previous instruments still apply but this instrument would enable you to play in a remarkable seven different keys, using all the relevant minor chords for the keys you were playing in
Why are accordions so expensive?
Accordions made by reputable brands are meticulously hand-crafted with hundreds of moving parts. Quality parts, precision build, innovation, unique branding features, sound, finishing, and performance all determine the value and merit of “Top of the Line” classification.
NB The key you play in is important only if needing to follow specific written music, play with others who are already using that key, or accompany a singer or instrument to suit them.
On the Stradella bass system, you can play a minor 9th chord by combining a Root and its minor chord with the minor chord built on the 5th interval, for example, C + Cm + Gm = Cm9.On the accordion, you can play a Dominant 11th chord by combining a Root and its major chord with the major chord built on its minor 7th interval, for example, C + CMaj + BbMaj = C11. On the Stradella bass system, you can play a minor 7th chord by combining a Root with the Major chord built on its minor 3rd interval, for example, C + EbMaj = Cm7. Metronome: Groove Scribe is a free tool for drummers but it can be used as a metronome or virtual drum to make practicing the accordion more fun. You can set the metronome to automatically increase the speed, create custom rhythms, select preset grooves and much more. I’ve created a list of rhythms so you can play along with Groove Scribe.On the accordion, you can play a Major 7th/9th chord by combining a Root and its Major chord with the Major chord built on the 5th interval from the Root, for example, C + CMaj + GMaj = CMaj7/9.
What size bass should I get?
The standard size for adults is a ¾ double bass. A large double bass such as a ⅞ or 4/4 is very rare and not commonly used unless the person is very tall, 6.5′ + in height or they have unusually large hands. A general rule for children is to choose a bass one size smaller than usual violin size for age.
The 120 bass layout has 2 columns of single bass notes (roots and counter basses) and 4 columns of chords (Major, minor, Dominant 7th, and diminished 7th) in all keys. Compared to the smaller model (the 96 bass layout), it has 4 extra rows, for a total of 20 rows. Full size 120 bass accordions are the most flexible offering features not found on smaller instruments, this is why they are the most used accordions by professional accordionists. On the Stradella bass system, you can play a Dominant 9th chord by combining a Root and its major chord with the minor chord built on its 5th interval, for example, C + CMaj + Gm = C9. On the accordion, you can play a minor(Major 9th) chord by combining a Root and its minor chord with the Major chord built on its 5th interval, for example, C + Cmin + GMaj = Cm(Maj9)
Stradella bass system allows you to play 9sus4 chords on the accordion combining the root bass with the major chord of its minor 7th degree, for example, C + BbMaj = C9sus4
On the accordion, you can play a 7b9 chord by combining a Root and its major chord with the diminished chord built on its minor 7th interval, for example, C + CMaj + Bbdim = C7b9.
On the accordion, you can play a 7b5 chord by combining a Root with the Dominant 7th chord built on its flat 5th interval, for example, C + Gb7 = C7b5. C is the Root and Gb is the flat 5th of C.
On the accordion, you can play a Half-diminished chord by combining a Root with the minor chord built on its minor 3rd interval, for example, C + Ebm = Cm7b5.On the Stradella bass system, diminished 7th chords are also minor 6th chords because there’s no diminished 5th and a 6th interval is equal to a diminished 7th interval. Minor 6th chords and diminished 7th chords can be thought of as equivalent in the Stradella bass system. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Dominant seventh ninth suspended chords (9sus4) consist of a Root (R), no third, a perfect fourth (4th), no fifth, a minor seventh (m7th), and a ninth (9th) note of the major scale built on the root.Personalized advertising may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have a right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy.
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Why are accordions so heavy?
The size and weight of an accordion vary depending on the type of accordion and its features. Chromatic piano accordions are typically larger and heavier than other types of accordions because they have more keys and internal parts. On the other hand, concertinas are much lighter but offer a shorter musical range.
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Accordions are sized according to the number of bass buttons, 12 bass, 48 bass 72 bass and 120 bass being the most common sizes. Other sizes are available but they all still follow the same pattern of bass buttons. Each vertical row usually has 6 buttons laid out thus: (from top to bottom) Bass/tonic of chord, major, minor, seventh, diminished and a counter bass button which is a third above the tonic. This enables bass runs and tunes to be played without the chords. A 48 bass, for example, would have 8 rows each containing this pattern of chords and notes: Eb, Bb F, C, G, D, A and E. This is a perfect size to learn on, having 2 octaves on the keyboard side, and 8 rows in the bass, which gives you a decent range to begin with and is not too overfacing when starting out. A 72 bass provides all the sharp and flat keys in the bass and is fully chromatic with a slightly longer keyboard. This size is favoured by Chris Parkinson, Sam Pirt, Karen Tweed (and myself!), and has everything you would need for the majority of tunes and songs. Classical players will go to a 120 bass if they possibly can because of the longer 41 key keyboard, which particularly suits piano players, and repetition of some chords at the bass end which offers greater versatility, but this large instrument is often rejected by folky players, partly because of its lack of portability but also because there aren’t many folk tunes that require such an extensive range!
One problem that accordion players often have, particularly later in life, is that a 72 bass model or larger, which offers a good range, is very large and heavy, and many players find themselves moving to a 48 bass so that they can continue to play without sustaining injury, or perhaps worse, gradually falling over forwards mid-tune! There are some precautions players can take to increase comfort and reduce strain. It is important to sit correctly and have the straps adjusted to suit you, and it’s worth having a lesson or two to make sure you are getting this right. A backstrap, which pulls the shoulder straps together at the back, can take some of the strain off your neck and back.Delicia have come up with a nifty compromise for the weight and size problem, by creating a 72 bass accordion the same size as a 48 bass Accordion. The weight is just under halfway between a normal Delicia 48 bass and 72 bass. It has the 3 voices of a 72 bass accordion, and the main compromise is in the keyboard, which does not extend to the same low range as a full sized 72 bass.
Another Accordion which offers compromise is the Scarlatti 48 bass with a 34 key keyboard as opposed to the usual 26 keys of this size of accordion. The bass buttons are arranged in rows of 4 rather than 6, and it weighs a bit more than the Delicia mentioned above, but still less than a full sized 72 bass. This is more of a student model, and is much cheaper than the Delicia, which is a mid range instrument.
The piano accordion really can be used very simply or with all guns blazing! An entire background accompaniment can be created by pushing a couple of bass buttons. Sam Pirt uses this ‘power chording’ technique in the bass to great effect. If you ever get the chance to attend one of his workshops at a folk festival, you won’t regret it. He holds beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, and is an inspiration. However, using just the keyboard side to play a melody with guitar providing the rhythm can be extremely effective too, especially in a session, where the bass side of an accordion can be overpowering. I sometimes use my accordion for song accompaniment by playing bass notes as a drone and gradually incorporating more in the way of chords and melody to build up the sound gradually.There are different voices available on the keyboard side and sometimes on the bass side too. These allow different tones and sounds to be used to suit the mood of the piece – a bit like voices on a keyboard but more subtle and natural sounding. The Scottish style of playing favours a fuller sound with more voices, as a general rule, and Irish style, like Karen Tweed’s, a purer one voice sound. However there are no hard and fast rules on this, you can use your imagination!
What is the difference between 96 and 120 accordion?
The 96 bass accordion is a slightly smaller version of the 120 bass, having 16 different named chord keys instead of 20, so usually has a matching treble range of 37 keys F to F or A to A, though this can vary and by making the keys smaller it can match the 41 treble keys of its big brother.
A free reed instrument with a keyboard originating in Saxony and Bohemia, now common throughout the world in folk music. Various types include piano and button keyboards, and chromatic and diatonic tunings.
