Music Lesson

Cajun Music, A Reflection Of A People, Vol. I, Ann Allen Savoy

Sometimes called a "squeeze box" or a "Cajun accordion," the diatonic accordion came to Louisiana from Germany. Today it has become such a vital part of Cajun music that many accordion builders are established in southwest Louisiana. The quality varies and the physical appearance ranges from natural wood tones with wooden and abalone inlays to bright colors with glitter and sparkling tapes. The sought after Monarch and Sterlings of the 1920's-30's are solid black with "gold" keys and trademarks.

Structurally the instrument is small (6" x 11" when closed) and light weight (8 lbs.). The size, however, is no indication of its sound power. The finest Cajun accordions have 46 reeds (four reeds per melody button and three reeds per bass button) which supply them with much more volume power than a 28 pound piano key accordion.

Though the diatonic accordion has many reeds, it has a limited range, having a full tonal range in only one key. A talented accordionist can perform in as many as four keys, but the 3rd and 4th keys are short of many notes. The Cajuns generally prefer C accordions, the second favorite being the D accordion.

On the right hand side of the instrument is a button keyboard consisting of basically ten buttons arranged in a “major" scale. Each button produces two notes, according to whether the bellows are being pushed in or pulled out while pressing a button. A tune is played by pushing or pulling the bellows in or out while pressing the button that corresponds to the needed melody note.

Here you can see my uncle playing his cajun accordion. He's pretty good!

You can see him in action with the accordion here.