The Mighty Accordion, Volume Two is an essential and unique method book for improving the left-hand skills of the accordionist. The comprehensive series of graduated exercises are designed to improve finger strength and dexterity while teaching how to play melodies and walking bass lines. These skills are then used to explore ways to play contemporary chord progressions.

The book contains three sections. Section One offers a brief review of standard bass/chord patterns. Section Two focuses on playing left hand melodies, starting with simple scale-based patterns, and proceeding to more challenging pieces. Also included are a series of exercises specifically designed to strengthen the typically weaker fifth finger.

Section Three focuses on chord progressions commonly heard in popular music. Exercises explore the use of arpeggios and walking bass lines to connect chords and integrate a variety of rhythmic patterns. The final chapter presents numerous blues riffs played within the standard 12-bar blues format.

Fingering suggestions are provided for each exercise. Includes access to online audio of all exercises.

The material in this book offers the accordionist valuable tools to markedly advance their mastery of left-hand techniques and to improve overall musicianship.

Bass Notation

Left-Hand Fingering

4thFingeronRootMethod

NotesandChordsona120BassAccordion

Left-Hand Fingering

3rdFingeronRootMethod.

Enharmonic Equivalent

Chord Numbering

Syncopated Eighth Notes

Section1-Bass/Chord Patterns

The Major Chord

The Minor Chord

The Counter Bass

The Seventh Chord

The Diminished Chords

Section2-BassMelodies

C and G Major Melodies

Ode to Joy

Down in the Valley

Wildwood Flower

Drink to Me with Only Thine Eyes

Spring

Auld Lang Syne

D and F Major Melodies

Amazing Grace

Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies

Simple Gifts

Jimmy Allen

The Star-Spangled Banner

Redwing

Fifth Finger Workout

Nonesuch

Greensleeves

Down by the Riverside

On the Hills of Manchuria

Für Elise

Section3-ChordProgressions

Single Chord Patterns

The V-I and ii-V- Chord Progression.

The ii-V-I Chord Progression.

Connecting Chords

TheIV-V7-IChordProgression

TheI-vi-IV-V7andI-vi-ii-V7 Chord Progressions

The I-V-vi-IV Progression and Variations

The Canon Progression I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V

The Andalusian Cadence i-≤VII-≤VI-V

The Minor ii-V-I Chord Progression

Theiim7(≤5) Chord

TheV7(≤9 )Chord

The I Chord

And a Few More

The I-IV-I-V Progression

The I-ii-IV-V Progression

The I-ii-iii-IV-V Progression

The i-iv-V Progression

The i-III-iv-VI Progression

12 Bar Blues