Cajun accordion

The Cajun accordion is a simple, small, diatonic button accordion, which allows melody with accompaniment. It is an important instrument of Cajun music.

History

German immigrants introduced around 1880 the German Melodeon to Louisiana and the Cajun Country. The melodeon was then better matching keys C major and D major rapidly integrated in 1920 after conversion to the to the Fiddle used as another main instrument in Cajun music in the music, since it was virtually indestructible. Besides, it was loud enough for the weekly dance events in the barns and warehouses, as there were no electrical amplification of the instruments.

Design and operation

On the right side of the fretboard with ten buttons, on which the melody is played. When you press a button while dragging sounds and while squeezing the bellows each a different tone. It can be played so twenty different tones. The mood of the tones depends on the mood of the accordion, so for example, corresponds to the C- major scale.

The instrument has in over four individually adjusted rows of reeds, ie for each button, there are four blades, which generate a sufficient volume. When you press a button on the fretboard is opened by a spring the associated air damper, the air from the inside of the bellows ( or is removed, the outside air ) flows through the reeds and makes them sound. Belonging to each a tone four reeds are slightly detuned against each other. On the top are above the reeds, the four registers with which you can open or close each in a vertical direction, a series of reeds. Thus, tone, and volume can be regulated.

On the left side there is a fingerboard of the bass and the chord button. With these two buttons to the right music played is accompanied rhythmically. On the back there is another button on the left, which is operated with the thumb ball. He serves the soundless breath or drain in play, if depending on Balgöffnung more or less air is required to play the melody.