Melodeon.net Forums
Discussions => Instrument Makes and Models => Topic started by: RusselS on July 05, 2018, 08:57:19 AM
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Hi I thought this would be a good place to see if anyone has a pdf of a G/G# keyboard layout in low pitch tuning as I'm getting an old box tuned up soon.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Hi RusselS,
Can you share photos of your accordion? GG# is a relatively uncommon tuning, although triskel has discussed them (particularly Paolo Sopranis in GG#). I've also heard of a Hohner (I think a precorso) in the UK tuned and stamped GG#. I myself have a couple of Serenellis in those keys, and I know that Martin Connolly (maker of Kincora accordions) has made GG# boxes (or at least, sets of GG# reedblocks as an option for his boxes).
I think the original idea was to play this system "from the outside row" in G and related keys, using the G# row as accidentals (like a transposed version of the old C/C# style). So on many of the older ones, most of the basses correspond with G and closely related keys. But you usually see at least one pair of bass buttons that go with the G# row so that inside row of melody keys could be played with accompaniment ("1 row style" in G#, or using the G row for accidentals).
More recently I've seen people play GG# accordions in Irish music using the fingering typical for B/C box, and that transposes the music down a major third (e.g. from the key of D to the key of Bb). You could also play a GG# box in "C#D fingering" and that would transpose the music down an augmented fourth (e.g. from the key of D to the key of G# or Ab). Those different approaches to the music would suggest different choices for the basses.
The exact layout for your melody side would depend on the number of buttons, and you might see a deviation on the button at the chin end, but here's one possibility. Notes for each button are shown as press / draw , with the chin end shown at left below for each melody row. The notes in parentheses might be present if there are 23 buttons; if your accordion has 21 buttons then omit those notes.
(G#/C#) C/F D#/G G#/A# C/C# D#/F G#/G C/A# D#/C# G#/F C/G
(G/C) B/E D/F# G/A B/C D/E G/F# B/A D/C G/E B/F# D/A
The bass-side layout is really up to you, depending on how many buttons you have there and your style/ repertoire. The original layout (especially for older Hohners) may not be ideal especially if you mostly play based around the key of G# or A# (Bb).
PG