"Standard" tuning is also a "tempered" tuning.. usually 12TET. The Cajun accordeon is usually tuned to a "just" tuning favoring only one key., mostly the key of C. But they often [play in G which gives you the typical Cajun sound. When tuned this way, playing Irish , or English, or Canandian tunes sound "out of tune". Where as the 12TET tuning will sound good in most keys and marginal for Cajun playing. Not all Cajun accordeon makers tune the same. As an example, Savoy has been tuning his latest accordeons flattening only one note. Another note.. many Cajun players are now tuning their boxes "wet", but to a "just" tuning. Excellent video. Though I have owned many fine accordeons, I still enjoy the sound and playability of the HA 114 Hohners.
I seek out these explanations of Cajun tuning to understand the mystery of it and this is one of the best explanations I have seen (heard!). Your explanation of the tremolo difference was very helpful but your description of the Cajun tune as “sweet” is exactly why I love it. Great work Ole!
Hi Ole, what a really good video this is. Well done. I do a fair bit of tuning myself after am really interested in how you tune the thirds, fourths and sevenths in comparison to standard tuning. Can you please let me know how many cents these notes are plus or minus from the standard tuning. All the best from Scotland. Derek.👍
Thanks so much for the video. I have one of those and need to replace the bass spoon parts. I would appreciate a link where I c as n buy those. Think you
Would it also be possible to change a Hohner Marca or other single row accordions without registers and lots of tremolo to cajun tuning? And how complex would the work be? Regarding the tremolo. Is there anything I could do by myself to reduce it?
Hi DirkTube, this tuning can be put into any one row accordion. I have put variants of this also into two-row diatonic accordions. It's a tuning job. So if you know how to tune accordions, you can give it a shot ;-) Cheers, Ole
Hi Blokfluitgroep, if you are playing a melody in unison with an instrument that has been tuned with equal temperament (Piano), then it will indeed sound off on the thirds. It does not matter much when the other instrument is accompanying (Guitar) or not at all when the other instrument can intonate (Fiddle). It's closer to the baroque idea of sweetened thirds than to the equal temperament used today ;-) Cheers, Ole
