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.

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. Play along with online audio 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
* Includes access to online audio featuring 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 Audio
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 A
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) – 7(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