fbpx

Next Steps for Accordionists

What to do once you've learnt the basics

The Next Steps for Accordionists course is a series of lessons that follows on directly from the previous “Accordion for Beginners” course.

With the first lesson numbered as Lesson 6, so as to recognise the previous course, a similar format is used where right hand melody, left hand accompaniment and both hands together are taught in separate clips.

Downloadable sheet music is available for each tune.

Accordion and concertina
John Somerville

Your Tutor - John Somerville

Accordionist John Somerville is one of the current crop of exciting musicians to emerge form Scotland’s vibrant Folk scene. His current musical itinerary includes playing with supergroup Treacherous Orchestra, Cask Strength Ceilidh Band and along with outstanding fiddler Adam Sutherland. He has also worked with David Byrne, Salsa Celtica, Franz Ferdinand, Session A9, Babelfish and Croft No Five. He has taught at organisations including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Fèisean Nan Gàidheal, University of the Highlands and Islands, Falkirk Traditional Music Project and Celtic Connections festival.

Lessons in the Series

Click on a lesson to be taken to it (you must be a subscriber)

John Somerville Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 6a. Leaving Lismore

John’s first lesson in his Next Steps Course, looks at a lovely gaelic waltz in the key of D Major. This lesson immediately follows on from his Beginners’ Course.   This Post

Accordion player
Accordion

Lesson 6b. Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh

John continues this lesson by looking at another waltz that translates as Lament for Red Iain, this time in the key of A Major.   This Post is only available to subscribed

Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 7a. The Fox

John moves onto a tune that is in a pipe scale, also known as a Mixolydian mode; a scale that has the 7th note lowered by a semitone.   This Post is

Accordion keyboard
Accordion

Lesson 7b. The Battle of Waterloo

John next looks at a very popular traditional pipe march in 4/4 time adding to the skills already learnt.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 7c. The Barren Rocks of Aden

John turns his attention to a very well known march that complements the pipe marches already learnt.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Accordion player
Accordion

Lesson 8a. Jig Preparation

An important lesson is up next from John where he delves in to the jig and the requirements for playing in this rhythm.   This Post is only available to subscribed members.

Accordion

Lesson 8b. The Eavesdropper

After looking at the basics of the jig, John turns his attention to a great jig to start our 6/8 journey on!   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Accordion player
Accordion

Lesson 8c. Ness Bothan

Next up from John is a fabulous tune in D Major to continue the journey looking at jigs!   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Red Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 8d. Mckenna’s Jig

The next tune on John’s series for accordion is another brilliant jig in the key of D, looking at some split chords.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Accordion and Concertina
Accordion

Lesson 8e. The Tenpenny Bit

A great jig in a minor key this time – The Tenpenny Bit. This tune is in the key of A minor, so along with the melody John teaches some new chords.

Red Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 8f. The Rabbit

This time John looks at a slip jig; a jig in 9/8 rather than the usual 6/8 jig. He explains this time signature before looking at a slip jig by Kevin O’Neill.

Accordion keyboard
Accordion

Lesson 9. Pipe March Prep

Before John starts teaching the next tune, he does some preparatory work looking at the distinctive 6/8 Pipe March.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 9b. The Heights of Cassino

John now turns his attention to the brilliant pipe march The Heights of Cassino by Pipe Major Donald MacRae of the Queens’ Own Highlanders. Here he looks at the first two sections

Benefits of Joining

Any Device