Thank you for this video, which confirms many suspicions I've held for some time. You made me realize that I am not wrong in feeling that my right strap is too short, and that I really need a longer one. I discovered the MurlStrap too, and it is my favorite form of back strap. I also agree entirely with your observation about the size of the bellows and the amount of air that can be pushed. You're right that a smaller accordion can make you feel anxious about "running out of breath." I will add, though, that the smaller cabinet of a more compact accordion can also give a charming, more intimate "boxy" sound that works nicely with certain types of music. Regarding your Petosa feeling loose because it sits lower, something that has helped me is to use a small footstool under the left foot to raise that knee. (I am a classical guitarist, so I already had one of these.) Some people have also suggested putting a small pillow on the left knee, but I am not sure I'd like losing contact with the instrument. In any case, thanks again for sharing your well-earned experience! ~ Dan
Thanks for the suggestions to improve the fit of my smaller accordion. I also started out with classical guitar. That was the first instrument that I took lessons. I only did it for a couple of years though. As you said, smaller boxes are charming (especially the wet tuned ones). Just like you, I was dealing with a shorter right strap without knowing that I had to buy a longer one. You don't have to get a new strap altogether. You just need to get the longer bottom extension part. You can check with the dealer.
After watching this video, I loosened my right strap one notch, and tightened up my left strap one notch. It's an improved fit! My Tonaveri freebass is a beast when it comes to weight.@@BreezyBellows
Thank you for this excellent video. Easily understood and I have changed my right strap length. Thank you for your caring to put this instructional video out for use.
Completely right! One „issue“ is caused by the accordion manufacturer themselves; They normally fit smaller accordions with shorter straps, with the intension to sell them to the younger players.(or „catch“ the young players?) For an adult, the smaller accordion is never to small, but the straps are to short. Those would even have to be longer as on the full-size instrument!
I've faced issues with straps even for full size accordions. Even in the longest setting, the right strap wasn't long enough. So I had to request a longer replacement for the bottom half of the right strap
@@BreezyBellows Me too. On my current fullsize i had to lengthen the right strap. Just a month ago i bought a new set from an italian manufacturer. The length was sufficient. Imagine, i would have kept my midsize accordion ( 72 Basses, i had in the youth) i would have to replace the straps with minimum the length for a fullsize. The problem had not been the size of the accordion, as i then thought, but the far to short straps.
Great video thank you. I have both a 41/120 LMMM and a 25/12. I prefer playing seated so never thought much of the weight issue and straps position that much even though the 120 is almost 11kg (24lb). However now I’ve loosened the right strap on it a good bit more than I had and do find it more comfortable and less strain on the right hand.
Yay! I'm glad it worked out! I'd like to emphasize that it takes several adjustments to continuously improve the fit. So feel free to keep adjusting until you find your ideal position.
I love to play jazz, tango, and Brazilian music, which is normally uses “dry” tuned middle reeds. Though I noticed many smaller bass accordions online tended to have the “wet” tuning-not a big issue, since some businesses, or the factory can tune it as desired. I do agree it doesn’t save much weight than getting a smaller keyboard sized, 120-bass LMM or LMH accordion for a beginner.
That one weighs 17 lbs. Although it only has 31 keys, it has 4 sets of reeds on the right hand. A 3 reed instrument with 31/96 will be about a pound lighter.
@@BreezyBellows piano but I noticed on the one accordion I do have the keyboard under my chin , I play amazing. Do you mess with those small adjustment straps on the ends or only the shoulder straps . Im not really sure what the small ones even really do
@@joeysaccordion8555 sometimes I reach the extreme settings on the buckle Holes that connect the two parts of the straps. In that case I try to punch extra holes, but sometimes even that is not sufficient. In those cases I try to mess with the smaller buckles on the end. Sometimes I'll need a strap with a different length.
@@joeysaccordion8555 not necessarily. Because we didn't know how much the right strap extension is longer than the left. I didn't think there's a standard for that.
Thank you for this video, which confirms many suspicions I've held for some time. You made me realize that I am not wrong in feeling that my right strap is too short, and that I really need a longer one. I discovered the MurlStrap too, and it is my favorite form of back strap. I also agree entirely with your observation about the size of the bellows and the amount of air that can be pushed. You're right that a smaller accordion can make you feel anxious about "running out of breath."
I will add, though, that the smaller cabinet of a more compact accordion can also give a charming, more intimate "boxy" sound that works nicely with certain types of music.
Regarding your Petosa feeling loose because it sits lower, something that has helped me is to use a small footstool under the left foot to raise that knee. (I am a classical guitarist, so I already had one of these.) Some people have also suggested putting a small pillow on the left knee, but I am not sure I'd like losing contact with the instrument.
In any case, thanks again for sharing your well-earned experience! ~ Dan
Thanks for the suggestions to improve the fit of my smaller accordion. I also started out with classical guitar. That was the first instrument that I took lessons. I only did it for a couple of years though.
As you said, smaller boxes are charming (especially the wet tuned ones).
Just like you, I was dealing with a shorter right strap without knowing that I had to buy a longer one. You don't have to get a new strap altogether. You just need to get the longer bottom extension part. You can check with the dealer.
Very educational, well articulated, and informative! Thank you for making this video!
It's still a work in progress.
After watching this video, I loosened my right strap one notch, and tightened up my left strap one notch. It's an improved fit! My Tonaveri freebass is a beast when it comes to weight.@@BreezyBellows
Just saw this message. My new hohner has an optional right strap mount behind the keyboard. It gives me a very comfortable fit.
Thank you for this excellent video. Easily understood and I have changed my right strap length. Thank you for your caring to put this instructional video out for use.
Hello Benny, I'm glad you found this useful. Do you also use a back strap?
@@BreezyBellows I do not, but perhaps I should.
@@dirtybenny1 I've found it too be very useful to keep the accordion close to my body.
@@BreezyBellows Appreciate your advice.
Completely right! One „issue“ is caused by the accordion manufacturer themselves; They normally fit smaller accordions with shorter straps, with the intension to sell them to the younger players.(or „catch“ the young players?) For an adult, the smaller accordion is never to small, but the straps are to short. Those would even have to be longer as on the full-size instrument!
I've faced issues with straps even for full size accordions. Even in the longest setting, the right strap wasn't long enough. So I had to request a longer replacement for the bottom half of the right strap
@@BreezyBellows Me too. On my current fullsize i had to lengthen the right strap. Just a month ago i bought a new set from an italian manufacturer. The length was sufficient. Imagine, i would have kept my midsize accordion ( 72 Basses, i had in the youth) i would have to replace the straps with minimum the length for a fullsize. The problem had not been the size of the accordion, as i then thought, but the far to short straps.
Great video thank you. I have both a 41/120 LMMM and a 25/12. I prefer playing seated so never thought much of the weight issue and straps position that much even though the 120 is almost 11kg (24lb). However now I’ve loosened the right strap on it a good bit more than I had and do find it more comfortable and less strain on the right hand.
Yay! I'm glad it worked out! I'd like to emphasize that it takes several adjustments to continuously improve the fit. So feel free to keep adjusting until you find your ideal position.
I love to play jazz, tango, and Brazilian music, which is normally uses “dry” tuned middle reeds. Though I noticed many smaller bass accordions online tended to have the “wet” tuning-not a big issue, since some businesses, or the factory can tune it as desired. I do agree it doesn’t save much weight than getting a smaller keyboard sized, 120-bass LMM or LMH accordion for a beginner.
Yeah. Smaller LMM accordions tend to be wet tuned.
Thank you for this video. Very useful! Still struggling with playing seated but this tips will help I hope
That's always tricky. I've improved my fit a lot but I still have trouble getting the keyboard under my chin when I have the back strap on.
Very useful tips…❤
Thank you!
How much does the 31 key 96 bass button weigh.
That one weighs 17 lbs. Although it only has 31 keys, it has 4 sets of reeds on the right hand. A 3 reed instrument with 31/96 will be about a pound lighter.
Very good video it's a big issue with the accordion
Thank you! What accordion do you play?
@@BreezyBellows piano but I noticed on the one accordion I do have the keyboard under my chin , I play amazing. Do you mess with those small adjustment straps on the ends or only the shoulder straps . Im not really sure what the small ones even really do
@@joeysaccordion8555 sometimes I reach the extreme settings on the buckle Holes that connect the two parts of the straps. In that case I try to punch extra holes, but sometimes even that is not sufficient. In those cases I try to mess with the smaller buckles on the end. Sometimes I'll need a strap with a different length.
@@BreezyBellows fair enough. For me I always thought that you set the same hole on both the belts since once is longer but idk
@@joeysaccordion8555 not necessarily. Because we didn't know how much the right strap extension is longer than the left. I didn't think there's a standard for that.
1:37 wow, I'm glad I picked CBA instead of piano accordion. My little Ukrainian bayan's buttonboard has 52 buttons and is only 15" long 😅
That's not fair!