Beginners Accordion

Accordion Course
For Beginners
Accordion Course
For Beginners
eBook
2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 1
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Enzo Giribaldis Accordion Course For Beginners.
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Welcome
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It is strongly recommended that you print out this eBook preferably in Color!
Print the odd pages first then place them back into the printer tray upside down and print the even pages.
You can then bind the pages into a BOOK!!
Combine your printed copy with your Computer Screen to view and hear the exercises.

of which about half were
ABOUT THE learning the accordion. Dur-
ing this time Enzo produced
AUTHOR local, state and Australian
champions.
Enzo began learning to play the accordion from
the age of five years old from the local parish The reason for his teaching
priest in a small northern Italian town. He soon success was that Enzo invent- Enzos first competition win.
was introduced to formal lessons from Maestro ed new teaching techniques
Carlo Ferrero.
Father - Teacher & Organiser.
which helped his students
Enzo with the cavorted
learn quicker and at the
MO Award
Enzo won his first competition when he was same time making the
six years old. At the age of nine years old his learning experience pleasant and enjoyable. He
family emigrated to Australia where he con- basically broke away from traditional teaching
tinued his studies with a German teacher, Otto which was too stringent and lacked the fun
Weiss located in Sydney. in learning an instrument.
Enzos first band whilst still at school.
At the age of 17 years old he continued his To list all his achievements would be too
studies with Maestro Dante Simonelli who had lengthy, but one achievement Enzo is very
also emigrated to Australia. Maestro Simonelli proud of is that his dance band was nominated
had produced Italian and World Champions and for Australias most prestigious award, (The
under his tutoring Enzo improved immensely, Australian Entertainment MO Awards) in the
so much so that he was destined to become one category of Best Accompanying Band Cat-
of the best accordionists in Australia. egory no less than SIX times in consecutive
years, winning the award TWICE! What was
Maestro Simonelli was not only a great teacher special about Enzos win was that no other
of accordion but was himself a world class ac- band before or since had won the award with
cordionist who was a close friend of the great an ACCORDIONIST as the band leader! Accordion Quartet
Gervasio Marcosignori. Enzo was fortunate
to have met Marcosignori during his frequent The author, Enzo Giribaldis Accordion
tours of Australia and in fact was invited by Course for Beginners is to our knowledge, the
Marcosignori to take part in the tour as a sup- only accordion ebook available today!
port artist.
In this book Enzo puts his immense experience
Aged twenty, Enzo began to teach accordion in teaching and playing the accordion to the
under the supervision of Maestro Simonelli. fore.
During this time Enzo had been playing in
Australias largest Italian club, Club Marconi Unlike other authors, Enzo can be heard
with his quartet. Enzo also completed a Theory Enzos Quartet at Club Marconi
playing the exercises and also includes
of Music course at the Conservatorium of
some of his favorite tunes for the stu-
Music - Sydney.
dent to listen to. This is both designed to
Aged twenty four Enzo opened his first music inspire students and also to reinforce the
school and in a short time he had a total of ability and credibility of the author.
four music schools with twenty two teachers
working for him teaching about 600 students
Enzos Quintet at Club Marconi
Enzo - 2005 Enzos Tempo 7 TV Appearance
Enzo circa 1990

Listen to Enzo play
The Choo Choo Samba
Enzos Award winning band - 1998

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 3 Enzos Club Band
Items covered in this eBook
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Apart from reading and acquainting yourself with your teacher (Enzo Giribaldi) you can also
hear Enzo play the Choo Choo Samba.
HOW TO READ & PLAY MUSIC
Beginning with the basics at first, the eBook gradually introduces new material throughout
the book such as:
The Staff It is strongly recommended

Fingering that
Clefs
Note Values you print out this eBook in
Time Signatures Color!
Counting Time
Basic Accordion Parts Print the odd pages first then place them
Playing Bass & Chords back into the printer tray and then
Bellow control print the even pages.
Repeat Signs
Rests You can then bind the pages into a
Tied Notes BOOK!!
Octaves
Dotted Notes Use your Computer Screen to
Accidentals view and hear the exercises.
Scales
Each new item is explained and in most cases a video clip is available to view and hear how
the particular exercise should be played.
Throughout the eBook, exercises include color coding, arrows and text notes so the student is
alerted to the new technique hand.

How to read music
Before we begin to play the accordion we need to learn to read music notation.
Be patient and make sure you understand how to read the notes as explained below and locate them on your
accordion. Once you fully understand how to read music you will begin to play what you have learnt in the
next lesson.
In order to read this book or any other book you had to learn the alphabet (A,B,C, etc.)
In order to read music we use the first SEVEN letters of the alphabet to name the notes.
The letters are....
A B C D E F G
Thats it! - With only seven letters we can identify every key and bass notes on the accordion.
How we do this will be explained step by step as we progress through each lesson.
You may have seen before at some time or other some printed music and you may have noticed that music is
written using lines.
Below you can see some lines for music notes to be placed on them.
We call this a STAFF.
A staff consists of FIVE LINES.
The distance between a LINE and the next LINE is called a SPACE.
Therefore a STAFF consists of 5 LINES AND 4 SPACES
5th Line
4th Space
4th Line
3rd Space
3rd Line
2nd Line
1st Line ==== 2nd Space
1st Space
In the staff below notes have been placed on all the lines and spaces.
w w w w
w w w
ww
====
The Lines The Spaces
F
D E
C
=======
E
G
B
F
A
Learn the saying - Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit and that the spaces spell FACE.
This way you will always know the names of the lines and spaces.
SUMMARY
The notes on the lines are E G B D F The notes in the spaces are F A C E
Because the accordion has many more notes than the ones shown before, we place notes ABOVE and
BELOW the STAFF as well.
We can add a note above and below the staff. (Shown in RED)
We can add more notes above and below the staff and to do this we use.....
w
Leger LINES. (Shown in GREEN)
w w w w
LEGER LINE
----
w w
E w
F w
G A
=======
w
---- w w F G A B w
C D
C D E
LEGER LINE
The notes BELOW the lines (Below the staff) are C and D
The notes ABOVE the lines (Above the staff) are G and A
The notes we need to know for NOW are shown below.
==== w w w w
w
----
C D E F G

For now we will only use FIVE notes
i.e. C D E F G. Each played with a
different finger. See Fingering below.
==== w w w w
w
----
C D E F G
The note before the TWO BLACK NOTES is C.

The next FOUR white notes are D E F G.
FINGERING
4 3 3
2 4
5 2 FIRST FINGER (Thumb)
is always indicated with the number 1
5 SECOND FINGER (Index)
1 1 is always indicated with the number 2
THIRD FINGER (Middle)
FOURTH FINGER (Ring Finger)
FIFTH FINGER (Little Finger)
LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND

The Treble Clef
When you see this sign at the beggining of a STAFF This sign is called the TREBLE Clef, also
- it means that all the notes written on that staff will known as the G Clef.
be played with the RIGHT HAND and on the
KEYBOARD side of the accordion
& There is also a Clef for the LEFT HAND
which is the BASS Clef, also known as the
F Clef. (This clef will be covered later.)
Q Q Q Q
--
q Q Q Q
& --q q q q
======== q
Below are the FIVE notes we are going to play soon.
& ----w w w
===== w w G
E F
C D
Before we play these notes we have to learn about...

NOTE VALUES and COUNTING TIME.

NOTE VALUES
Whole Note = 4 Beats
w
Half Notes = 2 Beats
h h
Quarter Notes = 1 Beat
q q q q
Eighth Notes = Half Beat
eeeeeeee
On the next page you will learn how to COUNT TIME.

TIME SIGNATURES
This is a Time Signature - It
tells us how many beats are
in each BAR OF MUSIC
4 In this case a 4 over a 4
& 4
==== tells us that there are
FOUR BEATS per bar.
This is a BAR LINE - It is used to
separate one bar from another.
This is a BAR
4 This is a BAR
& 4
====l ===l What is a BEAT?
A beat is a REGULAR AND EVEN PULSE -
just like your heart beat or the ticking of a clock.
Listen to a clock. Consider each tick of a clock as being a beat.
In the example below you would press the C note and would play it
until you finished counting up to FOUR - (FOUR SECONDS/BEATS)
4 COUNT 1 2 3 4
4
& ----w
====l l
C
4
COUNT 1 2 3 4 COUNT 1 2 3 4
4
& ----w
====l =
w ==l
C D
Lets Play!
PLAYING WHOLE NOTES
To play the TWO WHOLE notes below do the following.
1 Start with the bellows closed.
2 Put your first finger (Thumb) on the C note.
3 Press the C note and pull the bellows out AND count 1234 nice and steady.
4 Press the next key (D) with the second finger AND count 1234 nice and steady.
Remember to count evenly!
4 COUNT 1 2 3 4 COUNT 1 2 3 4
4
& ----w
====l =
w ==l
C D
The following exercise is very important.

DO NOT RUSH - COUNT ALOUD - COUNT EVENLY!
Repeat many times so as to master the opening and the closing of the bellows.
Open Bellows Close Bellows Open Bellows Close Bellows Open Bellows
COUNT 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234
4
& 4
===l =
w =l=
w =l= w =l=
w =l= w =l=
w =l=
w =l=
w
---- w =[
----
C D E F G F E D C
FINGERING 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1

Lets Play!
PLAYING HALF NOTES
To play the FOUR HALF notes below do the following.
1 Start with the bellows closed.
2 Put your first finger (Thumb) on the C note
3 Press the C note and pull the bellows out AND count 1 2 nice and steady.
4 Press the next note (D) with the second finger - Keep pulling the bellows out AND
count 3 4 nice and steady.
5 Press the next note (E) with the third finger and continue to pull the bellows OUT
AND count 1 2 nice and steady.
6 Press the next note (F) with the fourth finger and continue pulling the bellows out
AND count 3 4 nice and steady.
Repeat the exercise many times making sure that you are counting evenly.
Remember to count evenly! (Like a clock!)
COUNT COUNT
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
4
& 4 ----w w =
====l w
w ==l
C D E F
FINGERING 1 2 3 4
Using the same method as above - play the following exercise.

Please note the last note is a WHOLE NOTE so remember to hold it for FOUR COUNTS!
Open Bellows Close Bellows Open Bellows

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
4
& 4 _h h =
====l h =
h ==l h ==l
h =h ==l
h = w ==[
----
C D E F G F E D C
These are ALL HALF NOTES
This is a
WHOLE
NOTE
The Basic Accordion Parts
Treble Keyboard Bellows
Bass
Couplers
Air
Button
Bass
Strap
Treble
Couplers
About half way

down from the top
there is a
Bass button
with a hole.
This is the
C BASS
The
Bass
Section
If you dont have a FULL SIZE accordion (120 Bass)
you can located the C BASS easily.
Accordion Sizes
q
==
8 Bass 60 Bass
12 Bass 72 Bass About half way
16 Bass 75 Bass down from the top
24 Bass 80 Bass there is a
32 Bass 96 Bass Bass button
40 Bass 111 Bass with a hole.
48 Bass 120 Bass This is the
50 Bass 140 Bass C BASS
The Bass Clef
When you see this sign at the beginning of a STAFF This sign is called the BASS Clef, also
- it means that all the notes written on that staff will known as the F Clef.
be played with the LEFT HAND and on the
BASS side of the accordion
BASS CHORDS
Q Q Q
-- Q
--
q Q Q Q Q
==============[
q q q q
--q --q --q
--
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D
In the example below a Bass is played followed by TWO Chords

3
Because there are THREE beats in each bar THE TIME SIGNATURE is indicated as
4
The Bass is played with the 4th finger and the Chords with the 3rd finger.
This RHYTHM is known as the WALTZ - UM PAH PAH - UM PAH PAH etc.
Chords (C Major Chords)
Fingering 3 3 3 3
--Q --Q
CM CM
--Q --Q
CM CM
3q
4 q
====l===l C
Fingering 4 4
Bass Note Bass Note

Please study the following pages which are designed to help you locate
where the Basses and Chords are on the Accordion.

Location of Bass Buttons & Bass Chords
Fundamental
Bass Row
Major Chord Row
Diagram Of Layout
For Bass Buttons
Locate this button.

It has a HOLE
G GM
10th
Row From C CM
The F FM
Bottom
The C BASS The CM

(RED) (GREEN)
--Q
Is written thus. Is written thus.
6th Row - Diminished Chords
2nd Row - Fundamental Bass
4th Row - Minor Chords

3rd Row - Major Chords
1st Row - Counter Bass
q
5th Row - Seventh
===== C CM
Fingering 4 3

But First! What are Basses and What are Chords?
The accordion and other instruments like the Piano - Organ - Keyboards and Guitar can be used to play a
MELODY and an ACCOMPANIMENT at the same time.
When you listen to a song, you often find yourself tapping your foot to the beat of the song. This beat you
are tapping is the STRONG BEAT.
In between the strong beat there are WEAK beats which normally you would not tap your foot.
If we take the WALTZ as an example, it consists of ONE STRONG BEAT followed by TWO WEAK
BEATS. As explained earlier the waltz is often referred to as the beat that goes UM-PAH-PAH UM-PAH-
PAH etc. In this case the UM is the STRONG BEAT and the PAH-PAH are the WEAK BEATS.
PAH PAH PAH PAH
--Q --Q
CM CM
--Q --Q
CM CM
3q
4 q
====l===l C C
UM UM
The UM is the Bass and the PAH-PAH are the Chords
As can bee seen from the previous page the accordion BASS SECTION consists of rows of buttons that go
from top to bottom in straight lines and thus forming rows of buttons going across diagonally.
As can be seen from the diagram on the left - the Bass section of the Accor-
Diminished Chord - 6TH ROW
dion is made up of 6 rows of buttons going up and down forming many rows
Seventh Chord - 5TH ROW
going diagonally.
Fundamental Bass - 2ND ROW
Minor Chord - 4TH ROW

Major Chord - 3RD ROW
1 The row nearest the bellows contains the Counter Bass - 1ST ROW
Counter Bass - 1ST ROW
2 The next row contains the Fundamental Bass - 2ND ROW

3 The next row contains the Major Chord - 3RD ROW
4 The next row contains the Minor Chord - 4TH ROW
5 The next row contains the Seventh Chord - 5TH ROW
6 The next row contains Diminished Chord - 6TH ROW
To begin to play the Basses and Chords we are going to use the.....
Fundamental Bass - 2ND ROW and the Major Chord - 3RD ROW
BELLOWS SIDE
Please note: CM indicates that a C Major chord has to be played. M stands

for Major Chord - Later you will learn to play Cm which stands for C Minor
Chord, C7 which is the C Seventh Chord & C Dim which is the C Diminished
Chord.
--Q --Q
CM
--Q --Q
3q
4 q
C
Lets Play! Basses & Chords
Before you begin this section make sure you fully understand the layout of the bass section
as shown in the previous pages.
You would have noticed in the previous pages that the layout of the bass section consists of
rows of buttons from top to bottom and rows of buttons (At an angle) from left to right.
A full size accordion has 120 bass buttons and the smaller accordions have less. Some com-
mon ones are... 96 Bass - 48 Bass - 24 bass - 12 Bass and 8 bass for the toddlers.
If you have one of the smaller accordions the C Bass is always found about the middle of the
vertical rows
1. Locate the C BASS (The one with the hole). See previous page for help in locating it.
2. Place your left hand through the Bass strap and place your 4th finger on the C Bass.
3. Place the 3rd finger on the CM Chord (C Major Chord).
4. Press the C BASS - lift the finger and then press the CM CHORD - lift the finger.
Do this whilst opening or closing the bellows. REPEAT MANY TIMES!
5. Make sure you are only pressing ONE button at a time by having your left hand
well through the bass strap and with the fingers curved over the buttons.
The C (BASS)
(RED)
Is written thus. --Q The CM (MAJOR CHORD)
(GREEN)
Is written thus.
q
=====
C CM
Fingering 4 3

Bass Exercises
1 Place your 4th finger on the C Bass - Press to play it by pulling on the bellows.
2 Place your 3rd finger on the C Major Chord - Press to play it - Do this 3 times because there are
THREE C Major Chords to play.
3 Now play the second bar which is exactly like the first bar.
4 Make sure you count aloud and evenly - Slow at first and with practice you will be able to play it
quicker.
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
CM CM
--Q --Q --Q

3
--Q --Q --Q
3
4q
4 q
4 4
C bass C Bass
Now we are going to play the G BASS and the G MAJOR CHORD in the same manner as
you did for the exercise above.. They are marked in BLUE for the bass and in PURPLE for
the chord on the diagram. As you can see - you have to move UP one Row.
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 GM
GM GM G
4 Q Q Q Q Q Q 3 3
CM
4
=====l
== q =
q ===l
C
4 4
G bass G Bass
Now we are going to play the F BASS and the F MAJOR CHORD in the same manner as
you did for the exercises above.. They are marked in BLUE for the bass and in BLUE for the
chord on the diagram. As you can see - you have to move DOWN one Row Below C.
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 GM
FM FM G
4 Q Q Q Q Q Q 3 3
CM
4 q
=====l
== =
q ===l
C
F
FM
4 4
F bass F Bass
Bass Exercises Continued
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Play this line
CM CM
then go straight
--Q --Q --Q
3
--Q --Q --Q
3
into the next line.
4q
4 q
=====l====l
4 4
C bass C Bass Go UP one row
to play this next
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 line
GM GM
4 Q Q Q Q Q Q 3 3
4 q
=====l
== =
q ===l
4 4
G bass G Bass
Go DOWN one row
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 to play this next
CM CM line
--Q --Q --Q
3
--Q --Q --Q
3
4q
4 q
=====l====l
4 4
C bass C Bass
Go DOWN one row

Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
to play this next
FM FM
line
4 Q Q Q Q Q Q 3 3
4
=====l
== q =
q ===l
4 4
F bass F Bass
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
CM CM Go UP one row to
--Q --Q --Q

3
--Q --Q --Q
3 play this last line.
4q
4 q
=====l====l
4 4
C bass C Bass

Lets Put It All Together Now!
PLAYING WHOLE NOTES WITH THE BASSES
Things to remember when playing the following exercise.

1 Count Evenly
2 Keep your right hand fingers curved and each one on the notes youre going to play.
3 4th finger of your left hand for the Bass note and the 3rd finger for the Chords.
4 Progress from one bar to the next evenly maintaining a steady count.
5 Practice slowly at first and repeat many times.
6 Try to play ONE line whilst opening the BELLOWS and one line whilst closing the bellows
Open Bellows
44 C D E F
l=====================
& _w lw lw lw =l
l Count 1 2 3 4 l l l l
ll 4 CM _ _ _ l GM
l
l CM _
_
_
l FM l
l l l
?4

l=====================
l l l =l
C G C F
Close Bellows
G F E D C
l& w lw lw lw
======================
l _w =
l l l l l
l l GM l CM l GM l CM
l l l l l _w
CM
_

_
_
_
_
_

w
l? l
====================== l l l =
C G C G C Bass & Chord
Together
Hold for 4 Beats

PLAYING HALF NOTES WITH THE BASSES
C E
44
From here on the Bass note will not be shown
l&
========
_ l
with a letter. Only the CHORD name will be
displayed. The reason for this is because the l 1 3
l
ll 4 _CM _ _ ll
name of the Bass note and the Chord are both
the same.
l ? 4
======== l
1 Count Evenly
Please note that the notes in the right hand (Treble) in the following tune are now mixed
Count 1 2 3 4 Etc.

C E G E F D E C
44
_
l ======================
& l
l l _ =l
l 1 3
l 5 3
l 4 2
l 3 1
l
ll 4 _CM _ _ ll _ _ _ ll GM l CM
_

_

l l _

l
?4

l====================== l
l l =l

C E G E F D C

l ======================
& _ l l l _w =
l 1 3
l 5 3
l 4 2
l 1
ll _ CM _ _ ll _ _ _ ll GM l CM Together
Bass & Chord

l _w

w
l======================
? l l l =
PLAYING QUARTER NOTES WITH THE BASSES
1 Count Evenly
Count 1 2 3 4 Etc.

C D E F G F E D C
44
& _ l l _w
l====================== =
l 1 2 3 4 l 5 4 3 2 l 1 Bass & Chord
ll 4 _CM _ _ ll GM ll _CM
w Together

? 4

l======================
l l w =
Count 1 2 3 4

C E D F E G F D C

& _ l l _w
l====================== =
l 1 3 2 4 l 3 5 4 2 l 1 Bass & Chord

ll _ _ _
CM l
_CM _
l
_

l CM
_w
l w
Together

?

l====================== l l =
Count 1 2 3 4
C E G E D G F D C E G E G F E D
44
& _ l l _ l =l
l======================
l 1
l 3 5
l 3
l 2 5
l 4 2 1 3 5 3 5 4 3 2
_
_
_
_
_
_

44 l l l l
CM GM CM GM
l
? l
l====================== l l =l
C C D E F F F F G F E D C

& _ _ l
l====================== l l _w =
l 1
l
1 2 3
l 4
l CM
4 4
4 5 4 3 2 1
l
_
_
_
l
CM
FM GM _w
l l w BassTogether
& Chord
?

l
l======================
l l =
All Together Now!
1 Count Evenly
CM
Q Q Q CM_Q_
GM
Q
CM
_Q_ _Q_ _Q_
__ __ __
In the next tune =q

=====l =q ==l q = q ==[
Watch Out C C G C
For THIS!
Play C Bass - C Major Chord THEN G Bass - G Major Chord
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
44

l======================
& l l _ l =l
l 5 3
l 3
l CM GM l
4 2 2 1
l 2 3 4 5 5 5
44 _ _ l l l _ l
l
CM _ GM _ _
CM _
l======================
? l l l =l
Careful Here!

&
l====================== l
l _ l w =l
l 5 1
l 1
l 4 2
l 2 1
l 3 5 5 3
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _ _ l
CM GM CM GM CM
?
l====================== l l l =l
Careful Here!

& l
l======================
l l =l

l 2 2
l 2 2
l2 3
l 4
l 3 3 3 3 3 4 5
_ _ _ _ _ _
l
l l l l
GM GM CM CM
l======================
? l l l =l

l======================
& l l _ l _w Bass & Chord
=
l 5 3
l 3
l4 2
l 2 Together 1 3 5 5 1
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _
CM GM CM GM CM CM

l======================
? l l
l

=
Careful Here!
THE DOTTED HALF NOTE
THE DOTTED HALF NOTE and the 3/4 TIME SIGNATURE
h. = 3 BEATS
A HALF note with a dot next to it equals 3 BEATS
h.
A HALF note is 2 beats therefore the dot adds HALF of what the note is. In this case 2+1=3
Open Bellows Close Bellows
COUNT 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
3
4 h. =l=
& ===l==l=
l= h. =l=
h. =l= h. =l=
h. =l==l==[
h. h.
h.
__ __ h.
C D E F G F E D C
This is a 3/4 time signature. It means that there are THREE BEATS in each BAR
1 Count Evenly
Count 1 2 3 Etc.
C D E F G
43 .
l======================
& _ . l .
l . l . l =l
l 1
l l 2
l l 3
l 4 5
l _

_

_

_

_

34 l l l l l
CM GM CM GM CM
_

l======================
? l l l l =l
F E D C F

.
l======================
& l . l . l _ . l . =l
l 4
l l 3
l l 2
l 1 4
l l _ _ l l _ _ l l
FM CM GM CM FM

? l
l====================== l l l =l
E D C C

& . l .
l====================== l _ . l _ . =
l 3
l l l CM2
1 1
.
Bass & Chord
l _ _ l l _ _ l _
CM GM CM Together

l======================
? l l
l .
=
In the following Tune, please note the following.
1 In the BASS line the name of the bass is not shown. From now on ONLY new bass notes
and chords will be shown. (This is done so as to make sure that you have learnt to read the notes).
2 Please note the jump from F to G in the last line.
3 This tune uses the FIVE notes you have used so far (C D E F G). The name of each note is no longer
shown. (This is done so as to make sure that you have learnt to read the notes).
4 Continue to use the correct fingering for each note.
3
Count 1 2
.
3 etc...
& 4 . l
l====================== l . l _ . =l
l l l l l
_ _ l _ _ l _ _ l _ _
34
CM
l l

l======================
? l l l =l
. .

l & . l
======================
l l _ . =l
l l l l l
l l l _ _ l _ _ l
GM CM

l ? l
====================== l l =l
. .
l======================
& l l . l _ . =l
l l l l l
l _

CM _

l _

_

l _

_

l _

_

l
l======================
? l
l
l
=l
.
& . l
l====================== l _ . l _ . =
l l l l CM Chord
Bass &
l
FM
l
GM
l _ _
CM
l _

. Together

l ? l
====================== l l . =
F Major to G Major

So far you have learnt to play....
WHOLE NOTES w
DOTTED HALF NOTES h .
HALF NOTES h
All Mixed Up!
QUARTER NOTES q
4 3
In the next exercises we will mix these notes using the 4 Time Signature and the 4 Time Signature
Count 1 2
JOIN THE FUN!
3 4 etc...
44

l======================
& l l _ l =l
l 5 3
l 3
l CM GM l
4 2 2 1
l 2 3 4 5 5 5
44 _ l l l _ l
l _
CM _ GM _ _
CM _
l======================
? l l l =l
Careful Here

&
l====================== l
l _ l w =l
l 5 1
l1
l 4 2
l 2 1
l 3 5 5 3
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _ _ l
CM GM CM GM CM
?
l====================== l l l =l
Careful Here

& l
l======================

l l =l
l 2 2
l 2
l 2 2
l
3 4
l3 3 3 3 3 4 5
l
GM

l
GM

l _ _ _ l _ _ _ l
CM CM

l======================
? l l l =l

&
l====================== l l _ l _w Bass &
=
l 5 3
l 3
l 4 2
l 2 Chord 1
3 5 5 1
l _ _ _ l l _ l _ _
CM GM CM GM CM Together

l======================
? l l
l

=
Careful Here

JINGLE
BELLS
The fingering for the RIGHT HAND has been removed
so remember to have your fingers curved over the keys so
as each finger is sitting on top of each note.
Count 1 2 3 4 etc...
44
l&
====================== l l _ l w =l
l l l l l
l
_

CM
_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

44 l l l l
l?
====================== l l l =l

l & l l l
====================== =l
l l l l l
_
_
_

l l l l
FM CM GM
l

? l
l====================== l l =l

l & l
====================== l _ l w =l
l l l l l
l
_

CM
_
_

_

_
_

_
_
_
_

_

_

l l l l
l? l
====================== l l =l

& l l
l====================== l _w =
l l l l CM Together
Bass & Chord
l
FM
l _

CM
_

_

l
GM

l _
_

l======================
? l
l l =

THE WALTZ
The fingering for the RIGHT HAND has been removed so remember to have your fingers curved over the
keys so as each finger is sitting on top of each note.
Count 1 2 3 etc...
3
4
l======================
& l l l _ . =l
l l l l l
l
_

CM
_

34 _

_

l
GM
l _

CM
l _

l
======================
l? l
l l =l

l======================
& l l l _ . =l
l l l l l
l
_

CM
_

_

l _

GM
l _

l
CM
_

l
l======================
? l
l l =l

.
& l .
l====================== l l =l
l l l l l
GM _

l
CM _

l _

_

l

l

l
l ?
======================
l l l =l

l======================
& l l l _ . =
l l l l CM. BassTogether
& Chord
_ _ _ _ _
CM GM
l l l

l .
?

l======================l
l l =

THE REPEAT SIGN
In the previous song (THE WALTZ) you would have noticed that the FIRST line of music IS THE SAME as
the SECOND line of music. We can dispense with the Second Line simply by repeating or playing it again.
To do this we use THE REPEAT SIGN ]==} Any music between this sign ] and this sign } is Repeated.
REPEAT SIGNS
]===l===l===l===}
By using the REPEAT SIGNS we can save a lot of space. This is useful when we have a song
with parts that are the same. Instead of writing the parts again we use THE REPEAT SIGNS.
THE WALTZ
Play this line.
Play this line AGAIN. Then go onto next line.

34

l======================
& {
l
l l _ . ={
l l l l
_

CM
_
_

_
GM
_

CM
_

l 34 l l l
l======================
? { l l l ={
.
& l .
l======================

l l =l
l l l l l
l
GM
l _

l
CM _

_

l _

l

======================
l ? l l l =l

l======================
& l
l l _ . =
l l l l CM.
l
_

CM _

_

l _

GM
l _

l .
l======================
? l
l l =
REST SIGNS
Just as a Note is a duration of sound a Rest is a duration of silence.
Every note Value has an equivalent REST Value
44 Whole Note (4 Beats)

Half Note (2 Beats)

Quarter Note (1 Beat)
w
=======================
& l l =l
Whole Note Rest (4 Beats) Half Note Rest (2 Beats) Quarter Note Rest (1 Beat)

=======================
& l l =l
We are now going to use the song you have already learnt (THE WALTZ)
to learn how to do the QUARTER REST.
THE WALTZ
Here on the 2nd Beat - play the CHORD in the left
hand - NOTHING with the right hand.
Count 1 2 3 etc...
34

l======================
& { l
l l _ . ={
l l l l
_

CM
_
_
_
GM
_

CM
_

l 34 l l l
l======================
? { l l l ={
.
& l .
l======================

l l =l
l l l l l
l
GM
l _

l
CM _

_

l _

l

======================
l ? l l l =l

&

l
l======================
l l _ . =
l l l l CM.
l
_

CM _

_

l _

GM
l _

l .
======================
l? l l l =
QUARTER RESTS EXERCISE
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
44
&
l ====================== l l l _ _ =
l 5 3 l 5 3 l 5 4 3 2 l3 1 1
ll 4 _ C _ _ ll _ _ _ ll G ll _C _C
? 4
l====================== l l l =

Up until now we have displayed the MAJOR CHORDS thus...

CM (C Major) - GM (G Major) - FM (F Major).
From now on ANY Major chord will be displayed only with its Letter Name. C - G or F
Here is the above exercise again without any ALERT SIGNS.
44
&
l====================== l l l _ _ =
l 5 3 l 5 3 l 5 4 3 2 l3 1 1
l l l l
l 4 _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
C G C C

?4
l====================== l l l =
The following exercise is similar to the exercise above.
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
44
&
l======================
_ l _ l l _ _ _ =
l 3 1 l 3 1 l 4 4 5 5 l1 1 1
l l l G l
l 4 _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
C F C C

?4
l====================== l l l =
Careful Here
Play F Bass Play G Bass
then F Major then G Major

LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN
Hand position for this tune
Up until now the Bass and Bass Chords have been shown as
C, G, F, D etc. From this page onwards you should be able to read
and know the Bass & Chord notes. The only symbol shown will be the M
indicating that the chord is a MAJOR CHORD.
Eventually you will learn about MINOR CHORDS (m)
SEVENTH CHORDS (7) & DIMINISHED CHORDS (dim).
Start playing on the 3rd count
Count 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 etc.
34

l & Fingering _ l
====================== l _ l l _=l
l 1 l 3 5 l3 1 l 3 5 l3 1 l
ll 3 . l M l l l l
Stretch
l l l l l
l? 4
====================== l l l l =l
This is a Dotted Half Rest
3 Beats Bass & Chord together

l &

l
======================
l l _ =l
l 3 4 l 5 4 3 l 2 3 l 4 1 l
ll l l M
_

l
_

l l l l
l
l ? l
====================== l l =l

l &
l
====================== _ l l =l
l 3 5 l 3 1 l 3 5 l 3 l
ll M l l l
l l l l
l
l ? l
====================== l l =l

l&
====================== l l l =
l 3 4 5 l 4 5 l 3 l 3
ll l M
_

l M

l
l l l

l ?
====================== l l l =
Introducing a NEW note (B)
w w w
& =====l
l= w
---- w w w
C D E F G A B
1st finger on FIVE fingers can play SEVEN notes!

the E note
44 w

& l
=======================
l l w =l
Fingering 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1

l w l l _w
=======================
& =
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1
5th finger on 5th finger on

the A note the G note
LIMBERING UP
Swap Swap
fingers fingers
44
& _ l l l l =l
=======================
1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4
Move finger Move finger
UP UP

& l l l _w
======================= =
5 4 3 2 5 4 3 2 5 4 3 2 1

PREPARATION FOR NEXT SONG
New hand position
Nearly all the instructions found in music are written using Italian terms.
D.C. al Fine ( Da Capo Al Fine) Means FROM THE BEGGINING TO THE END
D.C. (Da Capo) means FROM THE BEGGINING
FINE means THE END.
New bass notes (D) Next row UP from G
--Q
l=
? ====l
--q
D DM
Fingering 4 3
Practice this exercise many many times until you can play it fluently.
_ _ _ _
M M
34
l
=======================
? l l =l
New Bass & Chord - D Bass D Major Chord

M

_ _ _ _
M

? l
======================= l _ l _ =l
M
_

_
M
M

.
? l

======================= l l . =
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
EXTENDED
HAND POSITION
Stretch
34
Count 1

2

3

1

2
3 etc.
l
l======================
& l
l =l
l l l l l

5 5 5 1 5 4
l
M
l l l _ M
_
l
3
? 4 l
l====================== l l _ =l
Stretch New Bass & Chord

D bass & D Major Chord

l======================
& l
l

l =l
l 4
l l 4
l 4
l 1 4 3
l

_

_
l

_

_
l

_

_
l
M
l

? _ l _
l====================== l _ l =l
Stretch

& l l
l====================== l =l
l l l l l

5 5 5 1 5 4
l

l

l

l _ M
_ l

? l l
l====================== l _ =l
Stretch
Finish Here

l======================
& l l l =
l 4
l 4
l l 4
Fine
1 4 3
l

_ _ l

_ _ l

_ _ l
? _ l _
l====================== l _ l =

& l
l====================== l l =l
l 1 1 l 2 l 1 3l 5 l 1 1 12 1 3 5
l l l l l

l
l======================
? l l =l

=l
& l
l======================
l l
l 5 4
l 5
l 4
l 5
l
3 3 2
l

_ _
l

_ _
l

_ _
l
M
l

? _ l _
l====================== l _ l =l

& l
l====================== l l =l
l 1 1 l 2 l1 3 l 5 1 l 1 2 1 3 5
l l l l l

l======================
? l l l =l
Go Back To Beggining

l======================
& l

l

l =
l l l l D.C. al Fine

5 4 5 4 3 3 3
l _ _
M
l _ _ l
M
l
? _ l _
l====================== l l =
Playing Staccato and Legato

Up until now we have been playing LEGATO - That is going from one note to the next
smoothly without a break. This is called playing LEGATO NOTES.
A dot above or below a note means that the note has to be played very short.
This is called playing STACCATO NOTES.
Playing STACCATO notes

. . . . . . . . .
. . .
44

w

=======================
& l l l =l
Playing LEGATO notes

w
& l
======================= l l =
More on Legato & Staccato in volume 2

BASS SOLO - When you play ONLY BASS NOTES its called a BASS SOLO.
Practice this exercise as it is used in the following song Old Macdonald
Play G Bass Play D Bass
Play D Bass Play G Bass with 4th with 3rd
with 3rd with 4th finger finger
finger finger
44

=======================
? _ l l _ _ =
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
SAME HAND POSITION AS OLD MACDONALD
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
44
.

l

l =l
l======================
& l
l 3 1
l l 5
l 1
l
l l l M l
l
l 4 l _ l

M M M M
_ l l

l ? 4 l
====================== l _ l =l

.
& l l l =l
l======================
l 3
l l 5 l 1
l
l l l M l
l
l l _ l

M M M
_ l l

=l
l ?
======================
l l _
l
=
l &
====================== l l l l
l 3
Play D Bass Playl G Bass l 3 1
l PlaywithG 4th
Bass Play D Bass
with 3rd
l
l with 3rd
l
with 4th l l finger l
l
finger
fi nger
l l l l
finger
l?
======================
_ l l l _ _=l
4 4
3 3

.

& l
l ====================== l l =
l 3
l l 5 l
l l l M l

l

M M M M
_

l l _
l

? l l =
l======================
l _
THE TIE (Tied Notes)
A TIE JOINS NOTES TOGETHER
A Whole note tied to a Half note = 6 Beats (Hold the note for 6 Beats 1234+12)
Play this note and count... Play this note and count...
44 w
1

2
w
3

3

44 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2
& l l l
======================= =
When notes are BELOW the 3rd line the TIE is placed underneath.
When notes are on the 3rd line and above the TIE is placed ABOVE.
SAME HAND POSITION AS
NO PLACE LIKE HOME JESSE

JAMES

44
.

l======================
& l
l
l
l . =l
l 1 3
l5 l l 2
l 1 3
l
ll 4 l M l l M
_
_

_

l M
l l l l l
l
l? 4
l l l
====================== l = l
Tied Notes

w

=l
l======================
& l l l
l 5
l l l 1 3
l
l l l
l l l _ _ _ ll

_
l
M
l

?
l
l======================
l _
l _ =l

& l l l =l
l======================
l 5
l l 2
l 1 3
l
ll M ll ll _ M _ _ ll M ll
? l l
l====================== l =l
Tied Notes

& l
l ====================== l w l =
l 5
l l l
l l l M l M
l l _ _ _ l _ l

M M

l======================
?
l _
l
l =
Passing the THUMB UNDER and the SECOND FINGER OVER.....
The hand position can be changed by passing the thumb under the second finger,
OR the second finger over the thumb,
Thumb under Second finger

second finger over thumb
34
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 2 1
& _ l l
======================= l l _ . =
THE POET AND PEASANT WALTZ
34 . .
&

l======================
l

l

l =l
l 5
l l l l
l l l _ _ l _ _ l
M M
34

? l
l====================== l l =l

.

l======================
& l

l l . =l
l 4
l l l l
l
M
l l _

M
_

l _

_

l

l ? l
====================== l l =l
.
.
&

l======================
l

l

l =l
l 5
l l l l
l
M
l _

l
M
_

l _

_

l

l ? l
====================== l
l
=l

&
. l l _ .
l====================== l _ =
l 2
l l 2 1 2
l 1
Fine
l

M

l

l _ _
M
l _

? l
l====================== l l =

l l _
l======================
& _ .
l =l
l 1
l M l M l M l 1 2 5 4 2 3
l _
M . l . l _. l . l
. .
l .
l======================
? l l . =l

l l _
l======================
& _ .
l =l
l 1
M.
l M l M l M l 1 2 5 4 2 3
l _

l . _

l .
l . l
? . l .
l====================== .
l l . =l
Thumb under

second finger

& _ _ _ l _ _ _ l _ l
l====================== =
l 1
l M l M l 1
2 1 2 3 4
l _
M

l l _
l .
D.C. al Fine

? l
l====================== l l =
FROM THE BEGGINING
TO THE END (Fine)
q q Q Q
& --
l= q q
=========l
qq C D E F G A B C
Thumb UNDER THIRD finger
THIRD finger THE C MAJOR SCALE OVER thumb
44
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

l l _ =

& _ l
=======================
Practice this scale many times!
THE
CAN CAN
44
1 2
5

5

4

5 2 3

l&
======================

l l

l

=l
_w
l l l l l
4 _ _ l l _ l l
l
M _ M _M _ _ _
l? 4
====================== l l l =l
THIRD finger
Scale OVER thumb
1 2 2 4 3 2
1

2

51 43 32
l &

======================

l l _ l =l

l l l StretchM l l
l l l _ _ _ l
l
M M

l ? l
======================
l l =l
1
5

5 4 5 2 3
l & _w
======================

l l l =l
l l l l l
l _ _ _ l l _ _ l _ _ _ l
M M M
l ?
====================== l l l =l

1 2 2 4 3 2 1 5 2 3 1
&

l l _
l====================== l _
_ =
l l l l M
M
_
M M
_ _
l
l l l
l======================
? l l l =
THE OCTAVE
THIS IS AN OCTAVE THIS IS AN OCTAVE
An OCTAVE is 8 Notes An OCTAVE is 8 Notes
D E F G A B C
q q Q Q
& --
l= q q
=========l
qq YOU CAN PLAY ALL
C D E F G A B C THE SONGS YOU HAVE
LEARNT AN OCTAVE
HIGHER BY STARTING ON
THE SECOND C NOTE!
The Play Octave Higher can be indicated in several ways.

1. 8va_ _ _ _ _ _ _ (8va with dotted lines to indicate a section of music to be played an octave higher).
2. Play 8va (play octave higher). 3. Second time 8va (play octave higher on repeat).
Applying the 8va (play octave higher) using the song The Can Can which you have already learnt.
Place 1st finger (thumb) on the NEW C NOTE. Play the song in the same way as before.
Practice repeating this exercise over and over

44
1

2
5
5 4 5 2 3
l&
======================
_w l l l =l
l l l l l
44 _ _ l l l l
l
M _ M _ M _ _ _ _
l?
====================== l l l =l

1 2 2 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1 3 2
&

l======================

l l _ l =l
l l l l l
l _

M _

_

l l l l
M M

? l l
l====================== l =l
SHORTNIN BREAD
4
1

5
3

4
======================
l & _

l _
l _ l _ =l

l M l M l M l M
l
_ _
_
_
_
44 l l l l
M M M M M
l
l======================
? l l l =l
1
3
5
l & _
====================== l _ l _ l _ =l l
l l l l M M M ll
l _
_

l l l l l
M M M M _

M M _

_

?
l====================== l l l =l l

5 3
l&
====================== l l l _ =l
l l l l M M M l
l _

M M
_

M
l l l l
M
_

M M
_
_

?
l====================== l l l =l
8va _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _

5 3
&
l====================== l l l _ =l
l l l l M M M l
l _
M

M
_

M M
l l l l _

M M
_
_

l======================
? l l l =l
Loco Loco - Means Back to NORMAL
1
5

3
l & _
====================== l _ l _ l _ =l

l l l l l
_ l _ l _ l _ _ l
M M M M M M M M M
l

l ?
====================== l l l =l
1 3
5 1 2
=
& _ l l
l====================== l l
l l l M l M l
l _
M

l l
M
_
M

M
_

l l

l======================
? l
l l =l
1

2

5

& _
l====================== l =
l l M
l _
M

M

l _

l======================
? l =

ALPINE MOUSE
3
4
44
5

l======================
&
l l
l =l
l l l l l
_
_
_

M M M M M M
l 44 l l l l
?
l======================
l l
l
=l
4

1

3

l & l l l
======================
=l
l l l l l
_
_
_
_

_
_

l l l l
M M
l
l ?
====================== l l l =l

1
3

l======================
& l
l l =l
l l l l l
l
M
_
_

_

l l l
M
_

l
M

l======================
?
l l
l

=l

& l
l======================

l l =l
l l l l l
_
_
_
_

_
_

l l l l
M M
l
l======================
? l l l =l

l======================
& l l

l =
l l l l
l
M
l
M
_

l
l _

M
_

_

M

? l
l====================== l l =

E PLAYING EIGHTHS NOTES
An EIGHTH NOTE is actually half of a beat.
We use numbers and the word and to count eight notes.
2 HALF notes to make.........ONE WHOLE note.
4 QUARTER notes make.... ONE WHOLE note.
8 EIGHTH notes make.........ONE WHOLE note. (Thats why they are called EIGHTH notes.
e
Count 1 2 3 4
44 w
=======================
& =l
Count 1 2 3 4

=======================
& =l
Count 1 2 3 4

& =l
=======================
Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

=======================
& =l
Eighth notes can be written in groups using a beam E
(Beamed notes) or individually using a flag or tail. e
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
& _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ l _j
===================

_j

_j

_j

_j

_j

=l
_j
_j
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 3 and 4 and

and

& _ l _j
j
j j
j
======================= j
j j
l _w =
44 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 2 3 4 1 & 2 & 3 4 1 & 2 & 3 4

& _ l _w
l======================
l l =l
l l l l l
_
M _
_

_

_

_

_

_

_

l 44 l l l l
M M
l?
====================== l l l =l
1 &2 & 3 & 4 & 1 2 3 4 1 & 2 & 3 4 1 2 3 4

l & _ l _w
====================== l l _ . =
l l l l
l _
_
_
_

_

_

l l l
M M _

_

l======================
? l l l =
THE DOTTED QUARTER NOTE
A QUARTER note tied to an EIGHTH note has the
SAME VALUE as a DOTTED QUARTER note One + Half = Two + One =
One and a Half Three
We learnt in an earlier lesson that a DOT
after a note ADDS half of what the note
q. 1
__
= 1 2 Beats h. = 3 Beats
These are palyed the same way
44
l&
====================
_ _ l _ . j
. j
=
l l
These are palyed the same way
44 _
l _ _ l _ _ _

l?
==================== l =
EXERCISE - PLAYING TIED NOTES
44
1 2 & 3 4 &
1

2 & 3 4 1

2 & 3 4 1

2 & 3 4

l====================
& _ _ l

l l _ =l

l l l l l
44 _ _ _ l l l
l
M _ _ _ M _ _ _ l

l====================
? l l l =l

1 2 & 3 4 & 1 2 & 3 4 1 2 & 3 4 & 1 2 & 3 4

& _ _ l
l====================
l l _ _ _ _ =
l l l M l
l _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
M
?
l==================== l l l =

SAME EXERCISE - PLAYING DOTTED QUARTER NOTES
1 2 & 3
44
4 &
1

2 & 3 4 1 2 & 3 4
.
1 2 & 3 4
.

l====================
& _ . j
. j

l

l j
l j _ =l
l l l l l
44 _ _ _ l _ _ l l _
l
M _ M _ _ l

l====================
? l l l =l
1 2 & 3 4 &
. j
1 2 & 3 4 1 2 & 3 4 &

1 2 & 3 4

& _ . j l
l==================== l . j l _ _ _ _ =
l l l M l
l _ _ _ l _ _ _ l l _ _
M
?
l==================== l l l =

PLAYING DOTTED
QUARTER NOTES
CLIMBING
1 2
44 .

l====================
& _ . j .
_j
l _ l . j l
j =l
l l l l l
l 44 _ _ l _ _ l l l
M M
l====================
? l l l =l
3
. j
.

1

.
& j
l==================== l l . j j
l =l
l l l l l
l _ _ l _ _ l l l
M M

l ?
==================== l l l = l
. j J .
2 3

.

& j
l==================== l l . j l =l
l l l l l
l
l l l l
M
l====================
? l l l =l
Move 3rd Finger UP
4 5 4 2 3 4 3 1
1 2 5
3 4 3 1 3 4 3 1 3 4 5 3 2 3 4 2

l====================
& l l l _ =
l M l M l M l M M M

_ _
M M M
l
l l l
l====================
? l l l =
Careful here!

Dotted Quarter Note and
Quarter Note Tied To An Eighth Note
The first bar in each line in the following exercises sound the same but are written differently.
The first bar in exercise 1 uses a dotted quarter note.
The first bar in exercise 2 uses a quarter note tied to an eighth note
EXERCISE 1 4 2 1 4
34 . j
l&

====================
l _ _ l l _ =

l l l l M
l 34 _ _ l _ _ l l _
M M
====================
l? l l l =
EXERCISE 2 4 2 1 4

l====================
&

l _ _ l l _ =
l l l l M
l _ _ l _ _ l l _
M M
l====================
? l l l =
On the next page you will learn to play a tune which uses the Dotted Quarter Note and
Quarter Note Tied To An Eighth Note as explained above.
You will play the tune using notes from the NEXT OCTAVE!!
These are the notes you These are the same notes BUT are
have used so far. written as shown below
D E F G A B C
Q Q Q
-- Q
-- Q
--
--
q Q Q Q Q
& -- q q
l= qqq
=========l
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
On this page you will learn to play a tune which uses the Dotted Quarter Note and
Quarter Note Tied To An Eighth Note as explained in the previous page.
Introducing the notes in the In NEXT OCTAVE
These are the same notes BUT are

written as shown below
These are the notes you
have used so far.
Q Q Q Q
---- Q
--
q Q Q Q Q
& --
l= q q q
=========l
qq C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
In the following tune,
please check the note
you are playing with
the notes above and the
Keyboard. Make sure
you use the correct
Start Here
34 . _
J
fingering
Stretch

Stretch

=l
l======================
& l l l
lPlace
Fingering 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l
onll the 3G note _ M _ l l l l
4th finger
l _

_

l
M
l _

M
_

l
? 4
l====================== l
l l =l
_
l .
l ======================
& l l =
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 3
l l l l M.
l _
_
l _
_

l

M

l _

l======================
? l
l .
l =
The More We Are Together
34 . _
J

l======================
& l l

l =l
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l
ll 3 _M _ l
l _
_

l
l
M

l
l _

_

l
l
? 4
l====================== l
l l =l
. _J

l&
====================== l l l =l
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l 2 2 l
l l l l M l
l _ _ l _ _ l
M

l _
l

======================
l? l l l =l

=l
l======================
& l l l
l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l 3 1 1 l 4 2 2 l
l l l l l
l
M
_

l
M
_

M
l _
l
M
_

l
?
l======================
l
l l =l
. _J

.
l======================
& l l l =
l 4 5 4 3 l 2 1 1 l 3 1 1 l
ll _

_

l
_
l
M
_

l
l
M

l M.
_

l .

l======================
? l
l l =
A NEW REST - EIGHTH REST
So far you have learnt... 1The Whole note and the Whole rest. 2 The Half note and the Half rest.
3 The Quarter note and the Quarter rest 4 The Eighth note.
w
Below you have a summary of these PLUS the new rest - the EIGHTH REST.
WHOLE NOTE WHOLE REST

=======================
& =l
H
HALF NOTE HALF RESTS

=======================
& =l
Q QUARTE NOTE QUARTE RESTS
&
=======================
=l
E EIGHTH NOTE EIGHTH RESTS

=======================
& =l
NEW TIME SINATURE 2
TWO FOUR TIME SIGNATURE 4 q q =
& ====l
l= h ===[
TWO BEATS PER BAR
Count 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &

24
l====================
& _
l _ _ _ _ l _j _j l _ =l

l l l l l
l 24 _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l
M
l ? l l l =l
====================
Count 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &

& _ _ _ _ l _j
l====================
_j
l
_

_ l
_ =
l l l l
l _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l _

l ? l l l
==================== =
2 Timing and Eighth Rests Exercise
4
Count 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
24 j j
===================
l& _j
j
l l
j j
l _ =l

l Fingering 1 3 l 5 3 l 4 2 l1 l
l 2 _M _ l _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l
ll ? 4 ll ll ll =
=================== l
l

Thumb Under

J
l===================
& l
_j l l =
l 1 2 3 l 1 2 3 4 l 5 5 2 l 5
l _ _ l _ _ l _ _

l _M
l l l

ll===================

? l l l
=
2 Timing and Eighth Rests Exercise

4
Count 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
24 J

l===================
& l l _ l _ =
l Fingering 5 4 3 l 2 1 3 2 l 1 5 2 5 l 1 5
l 2 _ _ l l _ l _
M M M M M M
_

ll=================== l l l
4

? l

l l
=


m b and n
ACCIDENTALS
Sharps Flats Naturals
Accidentals are symbols that alter the pitch of a note. Accidentals are placed immediately to the left of the
note they affect.
When an accidental is placed on a line or in a space, it affects all the notes on that line or in that space. It is
cancelled out by a bar line or another accidental.
A SHARP sign ( m ) in front of a note raises the note by a Semitone (Half a Tone)
A FLAT sign ( b ) in front of a note raises the note by a Semitone (Half a Tone)
A NATURAL sign ( n ) in front of a note RETURNS THE NOTE TO NORMAL)
Raising - From Low notes to High notes

Lowering - From High notes to Low notesnotes
From C to C Sharp is a Semitone From D to D Flat is a Semitone

=======================
& _w # _w C Sharp & D Flat w bw =l
are the same note
=======================
& w #w D Sharp & E Flat w bw =l
From D to D Sharp is a Semitone From E to E Flat is a Semitone
are the same note
w #w
=======================
& w
From F to F Sharp is a Semitone
bw
From G to G Flat is a Semitone
=l
F Sharp & G Flat
are the same note
& w #w
======================= w bw
From G to G Sharp is a Semitone
=l
From A to A Flat is a Semitone
G Sharp & A Flat

are the same note
w bw
From A to A Sharp is a Semitone From B to B Flat is a Semitone
& w #w
=======================
A Sharp & B Flat
=l
are the same note

Chromatic Scale
Fingering
1 3 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 1 3 1 2

=======================
& _ #_ #

#

#

#
=l

C C sharp D D sharp E F F sharp G G sharp A A sharp B C
2 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 1
b
&

b b b b =l
======================= _
C B B flat A A flat G G flat F E E flat D D flat C
Whole and Half Steps or

(Tones & Semitones)
The octave is divided exactly in
twelve notes. The distance between
each note is known as a half step or
(Semitone). On the keyboard any key
is at the distance of a half step (Semi-
tone) from the next and previous key.
A whole step (Tone) contains two

half steps (Semitones). All the white
keys on the keyboard separated by
a black key are at a distance of a
whole step (Tone). The keys that are
not separated by a black key are at a
distance of a half step (Semitone).
Notes corresponding to the white

keys on the keyboard are called C,
D, E, F, G, A and B. These notes are
considered natural notes. They can
be raised a half step with a sharp or
lowered with a flat. A black key, for
example the one between C and D,
can be considered a C sharp or a D
flat.

OVER THE WAVES
D Sharp TIED NOTES

34
Count 1 2 3 etc.
.
.
l===================
&
l #
l l =l
l Fingering 1 l 2 1 2 l4 l 3 4 l
l 3 _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l _ _ l
M
l 4 l l l l
l===================
? l l l =l
.
.
l&
====================
l l l =l
l 5 4 3 l 4 1 2 l4 l l
l _ _ l _ _ l l l
M
l
l l
l l
l?
====================
l l l =l
A Sharp
.

#
l & .
l l l =l
====================
l 2 l 1 2 3 l4 l 3 4 l
l

l

l

l

l l l l

l
l
l ? l
==================== l l =l
A Sharp
#

. .
l&
====================
l
l l =l
l 5 4 3 l 4 1 4 l1 l l
l l l _ _ l _ _ l
M
l

l l l l
l ? l
==================== l l =l

Beginners Accordion

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Click Here to close

You can play the video

Simply click on the

Stop - Start Play

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 2

Enzos Quintet at Club Marconi

Enzo - 2005 Enzos Tempo 7 TV Appearance

Enzo circa 1990

Enzos Award winning band - 1998

HOW TO READ & PLAY MUSIC

The Staff It is strongly recommended

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 4

The letters are....

Therefore a STAFF consists of 5 LINES AND 4 SPACES

The notes we need to know for NOW are shown below.

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 6

The note before the TWO BLACK NOTES is C.

LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND

Before we play these notes we have to learn about...

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 8

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 9

4 In this case a 4 over a 4

Remember to count evenly!

The following exercise is very important.

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 11

Using the same method as above - play the following exercise.

Open Bellows Close Bellows Open Bellows

About half way

In the example below a Bass is played followed by TWO Chords

Chords (C Major Chords)

Bass Note Bass Note

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 14

Locate this button.

The C BASS The CM

4th Row - Minor Chords

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 15

PAH PAH PAH PAH

Minor Chord - 4TH ROW

2 The next row contains the Fundamental Bass - 2ND ROW

Please note: CM indicates that a C Major chord has to be played. M stands

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 17

--Q --Q --Q

Go DOWN one row

--Q --Q --Q

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 19

Things to remember when playing the following exercise.

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 20

In the next tune =q

Open Bellows Close Bellows

2 Please note the jump from F to G in the last line.

4 Continue to use the correct fingering for each note.

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 25

DOTTED HALF NOTES h .

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 26

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 27

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 28

Play this line AGAIN. Then go onto next line.

44 Whole Note (4 Beats)

Up until now we have displayed the MAJOR CHORDS thus...

Here is the above exercise again without any ALERT SIGNS.

The following exercise is similar to the exercise above.

2005 Accordion Course For Beginners eBook Page 31

1st finger on FIVE fingers can play SEVEN notes!