Re: CBA Tunning question??Please help, please...


"AccordionTom" <thmcg2003@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1179428482.994690.324650@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi, Gino,

You can probably get real close to what you want...if not exactly
right on...

On May 17, 11:06 am, GINO <hardcorechicano2...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello everyone an anyone, I am still a rookie an no expert, but I was
wondering if its possible to tune my accordion to how a certain song
sounds or genre of music?

The most important thing about tuning an accordion is knowing how many
reed sets you have on the treble side, and exactly what those reed
sets are. First of all, when you talk "tuning an accordion," it only
refers to the treble side. The bass side is always left dry-tuned and
on-pitch.

The treble side of your Hohner probably has 3 reed sets, (judging from
the video, which shows 5 switches on the treble side) which would then
be called a "3-reed accordion." You should get to know this detail
about your accordion.

That Gabbanelli sounds like it's "musette-tuned." Let's assume for
now that it is. Musette tuning requires at least 2 middle reeds
(called Clarinet reeds). If your accordion does not have at least 2
middle reeds, then you can't tune it to a Musette sound. For example,
there are a lot of 3-reed accordions out there that were made with LMH
(Low, Middle, and High) reeds. (I used to have one myself.) They can
never be tuned to make a Musette sound. They are strictly "dry-tuned"
accordions.

You need to find out what reed configuration your Hohner has.
Assuming it's a 3-reed, it's likely to be an LMM setup, but it could
also be an LMH setup. You should be able to learn these details by
asking the person who sold it to you, or by contacting Hohner
directly, or by figuring it out yourself. If you are at all
mechanically-minded, you can simply take the grille cover off, and
figure out the switches (registers).

Gino, in looking at your YouTube video, your Hohner is a 5-switch,
which usually means 3 reeds. It sounds to me like it's tuned to a
"mild" Musette, and I'm guessing that it's an LMM configuration. See
if you can verify all that.

Can a my CBA be tunned TEX-MEX?

Sure.

Ive seen Scottish, French, Italian,
German, American, Swing, but what about Tex-Mex?? any such thing?

Sure, although the specific tuning on any specific accordion might not
be called "Tex-Mex" tuning. There are no rules in the "accordion
tuning" business! If you search for the specifics of the various
tunings you mentioned above, you will be very hard pressed to find
them. And, if you do find any specifics, somebody else will come
along and have a different idea of what it should be. I'm sorry to
say that it is that way, but that's the way it is!

The very best way to describe the tuning you would like is just
exactly what you have already done. "I want my accordion to sound
like that one there!"

ok, ima be brave an post a video of myself playing with no bass an no
thumb, ok....i know you guys are ganna laugh at this one, but, hey..im
still learning..

You're doing just fine. However, you might want to have someone help
you to correct some of the notes. You are playing some of them flat.
I know it's not important to this discussion on tuning, but I thought
I'd give you that feedback so you can keep improving your
playing. :~)

i want this accordion, my
accordionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzItAcyEmVQ

i want this pitch, tunned like this accordion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NzzfRqTdYg

As you may already know, Gabbanelli is the biggest supplier to the Tex-
Mex accordion market. He specializes in that. I would recommend you
send him/them an email, just like you posted here, along with the
YouTube urls. Their website is
http://www.gabbanelliaccordions.com/ui/index.aspx?lang=EN&object=link&id=11
They can probably tell you exactly what the tuning is on that
particular Gabbanelli (unless it has been re-tuned by someone else
since they sold it).

Assuming that the Gabbanelli is an LMM 3-reed, and assuming your
Hohner is also, there wouldn't be much involved in re-tuning yours to
match the Gabbanelli. However, if the Gabbanelli were a MMM 3-reed,
and yours not, then you would not be able to match it.

Again, if you're talking about re-tuning your accordion, you really
need to know what you've got, not just the brand name.

Gino, here's a site that you may already be familiar with. If not,
with your interest in Tex-Mex style of playing, you really should
check them out. http://www.reyesaccordions.com/

And, finally, here's another consideration for you to think about: a
CBA accordion is tuned to Equal Temperament, just like a Piano
Accordion. A Diatonic Button Box, such as the Gabbanelli in the
video, may or may not be tuned to ET. Quite often they are tuned to a
"purer" temperament, called Just Intonation. It produces a "sweeter"
sound, however the accordion is then limited to the number of
different keys it can be played in. This may, or may not, be a big
deal if you talk about making your CBA sound "exactly" like that
Gabbanelli. Just something to keep in mind. You should have this
discussion with Gabbanelli, or perhaps the folks on the Reyes site.

Hope this helps. Keep enjoying your accordion. It will bring you
many, many years of happiness.

Tom.

i really hope you guys can help...i know someone is ganna send me a
dirty email, but.....hey....Jesus loves me too....hehehe! please
help...please..

if you know someone that can tune this way, please let me know....if
its possible..

I would caution about 2 things, unrelated

First, just anyone who says he can tune your accordion a certian way, might
not really be able to tune properly. Many people think they know how to
tune, but few can.

Second, I would strongly advise against tuning a CBA or PA to anything but
equal temperament or very closely related to ET. Just intonation is not one
of those things. But the just intonation or Equal Temperament does not refer
to the musette tuning which relates only to a particular note on the
keyboard, not the harmonics between the notes on the scale, which would
change if the scale relationship were changed..


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