Accordion is *Nearly* the Easiest Instrument in the World

10k subscribers accordion reveal! And then Luke goes off on one about how the accordion is *almost* super easy to play, but isn't. *NOTE: I said the accordion was invented in the first half of the 18th century, I meant 19th. Sorry. Also the B7 chord in the piano bit is actually Bm7, apologies for the typo.

#accordion #music #musictheory

[ChrisGummert]

My grandfather had a polka band, and he knew I played piano, so he gave me his accordion. (Grandpa's instrument was the trumpet, so the accordion was a mystery to him.) I've had it for 20+ years and I'm still not past the three button/chord songs. It's a nightmare. It's all the difficulty of the piano, turned on its side, with an aerobic workout and an attached computer keyboard in a language you don't speak.

[gaildahlas]

Not only did I really enjoy Music Theory with Luke, I now feel the need to go out and buy an accordion. My poor neighbours had better prepare themselves.

[AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Are you ever afraid that if you opened it up you’d find it was full of musically-talented bees who can all vibrate at the pitch you’re playing and they’d be so mad at the intrusion that they’d rush out toward you and give you a stern lecture about minding your own damn business and then when you came to play next time some of them would still be mad so wouldn’t buzz and the sound wouldn’t be quite so rich and full of vibrancy and you’d be disappointed and never again able to hit that first high of the whole bee-chorus and life wouldn’t feel quite so magical anymore?

[adamcolbertmusic]

The accordion is the coolest, dorkiest musical instrument ever. It has equal potential of amazement or annoyance. It's completely unnatural to play. It's a physical workout to play and even hold. It's just barely a "portable" instrument. It requires no electricity. It's a one-person miniature orchestra. It's a strange bird, alright.

[ZootSax]

"A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't." - Tom Waits

[bilbo_t_baggins]

What I like is Lukes commitment. He wants an accordion for one of his songs. Fair enough. Does he use a synthesiser? No? Hire a session musician? Nope, he buys his own, then learns it. That's awesome.

[mungerk]

Love that the Google Doodle today is celebrating the accordion and this video is both the top link and top image for the results. Luke nailing the algos

[VirgilDrister]

I never knew I was interested in accordions but here I am, interested in accordions.

[poppopken]

I love the accordion. I played as a kid and am just getting back into it. Playing it presents literally a lot of moving parts. Unlike other instruments, the box is a solo, stand-alone instrument that can handle a song with no accompaniment.

[jamesd]

As a musician who plays bass, guitar, drums, piano with a comprehensive understanding of musical theory... all you've done is make me want one lol

[DavidBennettPiano]

Great video! I inherited an accordion years ago. The button system is actually so clever. The only thing that I struggle with is the actual motion of opening and closing the bellows! 😊

[ELiiSE_YT]

Every part of this was comedic gold. Literally, everything. perfection.

[evBeef]

when i was first learning accordion, the book my dad gave me advised practising in front of a mirror - then you can see what you're doing!! wonderful video!!

[Jin_]

I learned playing the accordion as a child and started playing again during lockdown. It’s been great fun

[johnsharplin]

You really hit the nail on the head with the idea that the accordion is an incredibly intimidating-looking instrument that hides a secret of exquisite simplicity! The chord buttons are one of my favorite obscure musical facts to pull out on the rare occasion that music theory comes up in everyday conversation.

Also congrats on 10k! 🙌🎆

[johndonlan]

Luke, this video is brilliant! I've been playing the accordion since And I have never heard it explained in such a clear and fun way as you did. I've always thought that it was one of the easiest instruments to play, but I've had a hard time explaining that to people who ask, "Why?" You just answered that question in the most delightful way!!!

[billthebodyguy]

I know absolutely nothing about music theory, but I still found this video interesting and informative!

[dru]

This is on the front page of todays Google doodle when you click on it!!! Luke is Google's face of accordions! 🙂 Yay! Well done Luke!

[Tcustoms]

I’ve been playing the accordion for a couple of years now, it’s cool to see others discover it’s secrets. Just wait until you learn the bellow shake. Great video!

[RobertKarlBerta]

As a life time gigging musician on pipe and electronic organ, keyboards, sythesizers, classical guitar, and accordion...both acoustic and digital....my favorite by far is the accordion. While you can get some simple notes out of one if you are a hacker...at least on the piano keyboard, But it has an inredible level of complexity, nuances and dynamics thanks to its bellows which allows a good player to get those nuances and dynamics like you can with a violin or wind isntrument. It also provides its own accompaniment via the left side. I play both Stradella bass as well as Free Bass when all those notes play individidual notes. Combined with the right side it will have a greater note range than a 88 key piano. in the hands of a master an accordion can play with all the skill of a top concert musician in any other it is a lot easier to carry around than a pipe organ ;-)