Welcome to my TUNES site. It is dedicated to the memories of three great NL button-accordion players: Harry Hibbs, formerly of Wabana on beautiful Bell Island, Art Stoyles of historic down-town St. John's, and Minnie (Hoskins) White of St. Albans and the Codroy Valley. In addition to their roots in the traditional music of Newfoundland and Labrador, Harry & Minnie were strongly influenced by the music of Ireland and Scotland, and Art by the music of Portugal.
Why this site? Well, I am learning to play my diatonic button-accordion ("melodeon" in the UK), mostly aided by my accordion notation and youTube videos. This is a transposable instrument, which facilitates a simple music notation, based on button numbers, appropriate for a wide range of folk, gospel and popular music selections. My goal is to be able to play a large number of both new and familiar tunes by "ear," and this site, though initially a demo in web design, has been helpful. I'm happy to share it with folks who, like me, seek tunes 2 play 4 fun on their accordions.
Why this site? Well, I am learning to play my diatonic button-accordion ("melodeon" in the UK), mostly aided by my accordion notation and youTube videos. This is a transposable instrument, which facilitates a simple music notation, based on button numbers, appropriate for a wide range of folk, gospel and popular music selections. My goal is to be able to play a large number of both new and familiar tunes by "ear," and this site, though initially a demo in web design, has been helpful. I'm happy to share it with folks who, like me, seek tunes 2 play 4 fun on their accordions.
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My notation is written mainly for Hohner (Erica)-style accordions with two treble rows keyed a fourth apart (such as A-D, D-G, G-C or C-F), and with accidentals on each treble-row's top button.
This also corresponds to the middle and inside treble rows of triple-row (Corona-style) accordions, though requiring adjustments for playing on the outside row. These are commonly keyed E-A-D, A-D-G, G-C-F, and F-Bb-Eb. My notation has rather limited value for Irish-style accordions, with two rows keyed a semi-tone apart, such as B-C or Db-D. |
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To help you learn tunes, two types of web pages are available from the drop-down menus above:
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1. The Info (background) pages contain information at introductory, basic, intermediate and advanced levels. The pages that describe and support my accordion notation may be particularly useful.
2. Most of the tunes are grouped into five broad categories of pages (CANADA, USA, WORLD, GOSPEL, CHILDREN), where each page contains a tune in button-accordion notation, with some lyrics, and a number of embedded youTube videos, along with relevant tune information, such as musical key and time signature. |
Four of these five broad categories also includes a "BY EAR" group of tunes, with lyrics and youTube videos (with identified keys for a number of tunes). My long-term goal is to be able to quickly learn by ear every tune (new or old) that I want to play.
From time to time there will also be a "For Beginners" drop-down option that will support a Zoom-based tutorial course for a limited number of participants. Such courses will be advertised through a button on this home page.
From time to time there will also be a "For Beginners" drop-down option that will support a Zoom-based tutorial course for a limited number of participants. Such courses will be advertised through a button on this home page.