Button-Accordion Tunes 2 Play 4 Fun
  • Home
    • Heads-Up
    • Most Recent Tunes
    • Sources - Melody, Chords & Lyrics
  • Find
  • Info/BA-tut
    • Info >
      • Introduction to Site
      • Intro to youTube
      • Intro to Button Accordions
      • Intro to Accordion Music
      • Basic ACCORDION MUSIC
      • Basic BUTTON LAYOUT
      • Basic NOTATION
      • Basic PRACTICE ideas
      • Intermediate MUSIC
      • Intermediate LAYOUT
      • Intermediate NOTATION
      • Intermediate PRACTICE
      • Advanced MUSIC
      • Advanced LAYOUT
      • Advanced NOTATION
      • Advanced PRACTICE
      • Accordion Links
    • BA1-main
    • BA2-main
    • BA3-main
    • BA4-main
    • BA5-main
    • BA6-main
  • Canada
    • NL - newer >
      • Candlelight_and_Wine
      • Fishing_in_a_dory
      • Grey foggy day
      • Joe Batt's Arm longliners
      • Loss of the Marion
      • Music and friends
      • Northern Lights of Labrador
      • Outport people
      • Rose in her hair.
      • Rubber_boots
      • Saltwater joys
      • Song for Newfoundland
      • Sonny's dream
      • Surrounded_by_water
      • Take me to the country
      • The St. John's Waltz
      • This Is My Home
      • Towards_the_sunset
      • Woman of Labrador
    • NL - older >
      • Badger_drive
      • Cliffs of Baccalieu
      • Feller from Fortune
      • Great big sea hove in ...
      • Harbour Le Cou
      • I'se The B'y
      • Jack was every inch a sailor
      • Kelligrew's Soiree
      • Let me fish off Cape St Mary's
      • Lukey's boat
      • Now I'm 64
      • Ode to Newfoundland
      • Old Brown's daughter
      • Old Polina
      • Paddy and the whale
      • Ryans and Pittmans
      • Squid jiggin' ground
      • Star of Logy Bay
      • Sweet forget-me-not
      • Tiny Red Light
    • OTHER - newer >
      • Both_sides_now
      • Did_she_mention_my_name
      • (The) Farmer's Song
      • Four strong winds
      • I'm movin' on
      • Log_drivers_waltz
      • Make_n_Break_Harbour
      • Sea-People
      • Song-for-Mira
      • Working-man
    • OTHER - older >
      • Bluebird
      • Farewell_to_NS
      • Maggie
      • O Canada
      • Peggy Gordon
      • Red River Valley
    • Christmas Songs >
      • (A) Children's Winter
      • Christmas_fancy
      • Christmas in the harbour.
      • Mummers song
      • Old_Christmas_waltz
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Bluebirds_sing
      • Capelin time
      • From an island to an island
      • Land_of_fish_and_seals
      • Light and Power Boys
      • (The) Music takes me back
      • Mussels in the corner
      • Newfoundland_waltz
  • USA
    • USA - newer >
      • Adios_Amigo
      • Annie's song
      • Ballad of the Green Berets
      • Blowing in the wind
      • Blue eyes crying in the rain
      • Bridge over troubled water
      • Bye bye love
      • Country roads
      • Crystal Chandeliers
      • Far-Side Banks of Jordan
      • Four thousand years ago
      • Have I told you lately that I ...
      • I can't stop loving you
      • I overlooked an orchid
      • I recall a gypsy woman
      • I walk the line
      • Me and Bobby McGee
      • Missing in action
      • Moon River
      • Old flames
      • Rambling Rose
      • Ring_of_fire
      • Roses are red my love
      • Send me the pillow ...
      • Try _a_ little_kindness
      • Waltz across Texas
      • What a wonderful world
      • You're my best friend
    • USA - older >
      • America the beautiful
      • Billy_Boy
      • Careless_love
      • Down_in_the_valley
      • Hammer_song
      • Happy Birthday
      • Home_on_the_range
      • My grandfather's clock
      • Oh, what a beautiful morning
      • Old_lamplighter
      • Old_Smokey
      • Shenandoah
      • Star-Spangled Banner
      • Streets of Laredo
      • Tennessee_waltz
      • This land is your land
      • Wabash cannon ball
      • Wildwood flower
      • Worried man blues
      • Yellow_Rose_of_Texas
      • You are my sunshine
    • Christmas Songs >
      • An old Christmas card
      • Frosty the Snowman
      • Here comes Santa Claus
      • Jingle Bells
      • Jolly old St. Nicholas
      • Must be Santa
      • Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
      • Silver Bells
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Edelweiss
      • If I should fall behind
      • Mary Ann regrets
      • Oh so many years
      • You're the nearest thing to Heaven
  • World
    • Australia - older >
      • Waltzing_Matilda
    • (The) Bahamas >
      • Sloop_John_B
    • England - newer >
      • Bread_and_Fishes
      • Fiddler's Green
      • Let it be
      • Let me be there
      • Norwegian Wood
      • Streets_of_London
      • World_of_our_own
    • England - older >
      • Dirty_old_town
      • Drink to me only ...
      • Girl_I_left_behind
      • Heave_away
      • It's a long way to Tipperary
      • Long_long_ago
      • Navvy_boots
      • Scarborough Fair
    • Germany- newer >
      • A_little_peace
    • Germany- older >
      • Brahms_lullaby
    • Ireland - newer >
      • After all these years
      • (The) Ferryman
      • Fields of Athenry
      • Gypsy Rover
      • My lovely Rose of Clare
      • Nancy Spain
      • Roads of Kildare
      • Rose of Mooncoin
      • Town_of_Ballybay
    • Ireland - older >
      • Black velvet band
      • Come back Paddy Reillly
      • Connemara Cradle
      • Danny Boy
      • Galway Bay
      • Galway Shawl
      • Home by Bearna
      • Irish washerwoman
      • Maid in the Garrett
      • Molly Malone
      • My wild Irish Rose
      • Red_is_the_rose
      • Rocky Road to Dublin
      • Rose of Aranmore
      • Wild_Colonial_Boy
      • Wild Rover
    • Norway >
      • You_raise_me_up
    • Scotland - newer >
      • Come by the hills
      • It's a dream come true
      • Mull of Kintyre
      • We'll meet again my friends
    • Scotland -older >
      • Auld Lang Syne - New Year's
      • Comin' through the rye
      • Loch_Lomond
      • Miari's Wedding
      • My_Bonnie
      • Road to the isles
      • Wild mountain thyme
    • Wales-older >
      • The Ash Grove
      • Sweet_Jenny_Jones
    • Mixed origins >
      • Jolly good fellow
    • Christmas Songs >
      • Christmas in Killarney
      • Deck the hall
      • Good_King_Wenceslas
      • We wish you a Merry Christmas
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Among the Wicklow Hills
      • Hills of Glenshee
      • In an Irish country home
      • It's good to see you
      • Love me when I'm old ...
      • My homeland
      • The little shirt my Mother made for me
      • Going out the same way you came in
  • Dance Tunes
    • Jig family >
      • Auntie Mary (Cock of the North)
      • Father O'Flynn
      • Garryowen
      • Haste to the wedding
      • Hundred Pipers
      • Irish washerwoman
      • The Kesh
      • Larry O'Gaff
      • Pop Goes The Weasel
      • Up_the_pond
    • Reel family >
      • Aunt_Rubys_garden
      • Aunt_Rubys_garden (guitar)
      • I rowed up in a dory
      • Maple-sugar-reel
      • Maxwell's rant
      • Pretty_little_Mary
    • Marches >
      • Banks of Newfoundland (Up the Pond)
      • Cock of the North (Auntie Mary)
  • Gospel
    • Songs - newer >
      • Because He lives
      • God on the mountain
      • He touched me
      • I_know_who_holds_tomorrow
      • It is no secret
      • May_the_Good_Lord_bless
      • Millenium Prayer
      • One day at a time
      • 'Till the storm passes by
      • Unclouded Day
      • Will you walk with me
      • Wings of a dove
    • Songs - older >
      • Beautiful isle of somewhere
      • Church in the wildwood
      • Count your blessings
      • Do Lord
      • Give me oil for my lamp
      • Higher ground
      • How beautiful Heaven must be
      • I'll fly away
      • In the sweet by and by
      • Just a closer walk with Thee
      • Keep on the Sunny Side
      • Kum ba yah
      • Let_the_lower_lights
      • Life is like a mountain railroad
      • Mine eyes have seen the glory
      • Precious memories
      • Shall we gather at the river
      • Standing in the need of prayer
      • Stranger of Galilee
      • When the roll is called up yonder
      • When the Saints go marching in
      • Whispering hope
    • Hymns - newer >
      • Give_to_us_laughter
      • Here I am Lord
      • How great Thou art
      • Jesus you have come to the lakeshore
      • Morning has broken
      • Pass it on
      • Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
    • Hymns -older >
      • All people that on earth
      • Amazing Grace
      • Be Thou My Vision
      • Blessed_Assurance
      • Crown_Him_with_many_crowns
      • For_the_beauty
      • In the garden
      • I love to tell the story
      • Immortal_invisible
      • Jesus loves me
      • Joyful, joyful, We ...
      • Precious_Lord_take_my_hand
      • Softly and tenderly
      • Take time to be holy
      • Trust and Obey
      • We love the place O God
      • What a Friend we have in Jesus
      • Will your anchor hold
      • Wonderful_words_of_life
    • Christmas Carols >
      • Away in a manger (JRM)
      • Away in a manger (WJK)
      • The First Noel
      • The friendly beasts
      • Go, tell it on the mountain
      • Hark the herald angels sing
      • I heard the bells (Marks)
      • I saw three ships
      • Joy to the world
      • Mary's Little Boy Child
      • O come, all ye faithful
      • O little town of Bethlehem
      • Silent Night
      • When a child is born
    • BY "EAR" >
      • Lord, don't give up on me
  • Kids
    • Billy_Boy
    • BINGO
    • (My Darling) Clementine
    • Frere Jacques
    • If you're happy
    • London_Bridge
    • Mary had a little lamb
    • Pop Goes The Weasel
    • Twinkle little star
    • Where has my little dog gone
Button-Accordion Project

(Dual-row A-D, D-G, G-C or C-F, with Accidentals)
Based on  tunes2play4fun.com  &  Facilitated by ZOOM

MINI-COURSE BA1
The Button Accordion, its Music & Notation

UNIT NINE (of TEN)
​

​Introduction to Tunes with Three Beats per Bar



Return to BA1 - Unit 9
​                                                                                                     
                                                                                   SLIDES   &   COMMENTS
​Slide 1  (Tutorial Project BA1 - Main goal)
Picture

Welcome to Unit 9 of BA1​

​The primary goal of BA1 is to support your efforts in learning to play your button accordion,





​Slide 2   (Units in BA1 mini-course)
Picture
​All learning involves (supported) self-teaching, whether  in face-to-face or distance environments.

These are the "Units" that are included for your support in this BA1 mini-course.

This week we do an introduction to a popular category of tunes, those with three beats per bar.

​Slide 3  (Topics for Unit 9)
Picture
Topic 1 is background.

Topics 2 to 4 cover three featured tunes.

Topic 5 includes eleven practice tunes, six of which are new to this mini-course.  

​Topics 6 & 7 are the usual web support and a look ahead



​Slide 4 
Picture
Three examples of bars and beats, with three different time signatures (2 beats/bar, 3 beats/bar, and 4 beats/bar.

(c)  the first 4 bars of "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" 

(d) first note & three bars of "Annie's song"

(e) first two bars of "Joyful, joyful we adore Thee"




​Slide 5  
Picture
AN ASIDE:  I'll explain later how the "pickup bar" got its
                    name.  (It's not that kind of "pickup bar")
"Down in the Valley" begins with a complete bar of three notes & beats.

However, "On Top of Old Smokey" begins with a partial bar, sometimes called a pickup bar, with only a single-beat note, sometimes called a pickup note.

We can either first play the pickup note, and then start the bass beat in the first complete bar, or we can start with a chord beat at the same time as the pickup note.
​Slide 6 
Picture

The complete first verse of "Down in the Valley" with three beats per bar.

Before playing, we should examine the tune for rhythmic patterns and their repetition.



Slide 7 
Picture

​The rhythmic pattern in bars
1 to 3 are repeated in bars
7 to 9, in
13 to 15, and in 
19 to 21

Also, the rhythmic pattern in
4 to 6 are repeated in bars
10 to 12, in
16 to 18, and in bars
22 to 24  

​Slide 8 
Picture
I doubt that any of you need this level of detail (for playing the first three bars).  I actually prepared this slide before I had met any of you.

But, just in case anyone is having an "off" day . . .
B = The left-hand bass note
C = The left-hand chord

​etc.


Slide 9 
Picture

​See previous slide for my apologetic "disclaimer."

​Slides 10 
Picture
Take a few minutes (more or less) to practice the first half of the verse.  

We'll skip the second half for now;  it has the same notes (with different lyrics) as the first half.

​Slide 11
Picture
Featured Tune 2 
On Top of Old Smokey.

This version is slightly simpler than the regular one, to make it easier for beginners to keep the beat steady.

Again, first look for rhythmic patterns and repetition.

And you will have to decide whether or not to play a chord beat in the pickup bar.


​Slide 12 
Picture
Observations:

Rhythmically, 
Line 1 is same as line 3, and
Line 2 is same as line 4

Tune begins with a pickup note.

Verse ends with an incomplete bar of two beats,
after which the missing third beat is picked up at the start of the next verse.
AN ASIDE:  In cases of an incomplete bar at the end of the tune , many performers add
                    an extra beat to the end of the final verse (or chorus);  some even add an extra
                    complete bar.
​Slide 13 
Picture
Next, practice each line separately.

Then, using the notes given in previous slide, play the whole verse.


​Slide 14 
Picture
Featured tune 3 - Edelweiss.

Again, start with an examination of rhythmic patterns and repetitions.

​Slide 15 
Picture
​The rhythmic pattern in bars
1 to 4 is repeated in 
9 to 12, and in 
25 to 28

Also, the rhythmic pattern in
5 to 8 is repeated in bars
13 to 16, and in 
29 to 32  

​Bars 17 to 24 is a mix of parts of the other patterns.

​Makes for an interesting tune
AN ASIDE:   Interestingly, the pattern in bars 1 to 4 consists two repeated simpler patterns
​                     in bars 1 & 2 and in 3 & 4.  This is also the case for bars 9-12 and bars 25-28. 
Slide 16 
Picture

Next we practice one line at a time.
​

Slide 17 
Picture
Then we'll take a few minutes (more or less) to practice the first half of the verse.

Because of Zoom time constraints, we'll probably have to leave the second half for home practice.


​Slide 18 
Picture
Eleven practice tunes are included in the hope that at least two or three of these will appeal to you, and make the challenge of using the "beat" buttons (bass & chord) a little more fun.

​These include folk, country, popular, gospel and children's numbers.

​Slide 19 
Picture
The (by now) familiar "Down in the Valley".

​Slide 20 (Topic 5)
Picture
For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.
​

​Slide 21 (Topic 5)
Picture
This is the first verse of a popular NL folk song and dance tune, known to some as "The Ryans and Pittmans" and to others as "We'll rant and we'll roar like true Newfoundlanders."

The melody is based on the English sea shanty "Spanish Ladies" and some of the verses were adapted from the  American "Yankee Whalermen".  The NL verses were composed by Henry W. Lemessurier.

​Slide 22 (Topic 6)
Picture
The (by now) familiar "On Top of Old Smokey".

​Slide 23 (Topic 7)
Picture
Black Velvet Band

​Slide 24   (Topic 7.1)
Picture
These are the tunes that are new to our BA1 list.

Not everyone will seek to master this list as "tunes", but may prefer to focus on their "melodies".
Slide 25   (Topic 7.2)
Picture
The song-tune "Edelweiss" is an American tune (from "The Sound of Music"), with an Austrian connection.

The Edelweiss is Austria's national flower.  
It is a star-
shaped mountainous flower 

and belongs to the sunflower and daisy family. White in color, it has a wooly-like structure on its leaf, which is why it is sometimes called a "lion's paw". 

​Slide 26
Picture
The Rose of Aranmore:

​A lovely Irish tune


​Slide 27
Picture
Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes:

​A traditional English tune


​Slide 28
Picture
Each Unit of our mini-course will contain a popular gospel song or hymn. 

​This is the first verse of "Morning Has Broken".




​Slide 29
Picture
Each Unit of our mini-course will contain a popular children's melody or tune.

​This is the first verse of "Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone".

​

​Slide 30
Picture
This popular NL song was written by Arthur Scammel at age 15 as part of a school project.

The lively "waltz" tune (simple 3/4 time, played three beats per bar) is adapted from an Irish jig (compound 6/8 time, played two beats per bar).


​Slide 31
Picture

The route to the tunes2play4fun.com 
Unit 9 support materials
"for beginners".

​


​Slide 32
Picture
This is a look-ahead to
Unit 10, which has two parts:

First, an incomplete list of potential tunes with four beats per bar.

Then a very tentative look ahead to possible content in possible future mini-courses.

​Slide 33
Picture
Web site and email address:

tunes2play4fun.com

tunes2play4fun.2021@gmail.com

Return to Top of Page
Return to BA1 - Unit 9
​This gospel song - Copyright:
Lyrics:  John Wesley Oldham
Music:  Ron Klusmeier