Figuring Out Zydeco / Tex-Mex Accordion Music 

Zydeco and “Tex-Mex” are two completely separate genres. Both are really forms of music from a hybrid of cultures. Zydeco has Louisiana creole and blues roots and “Tex-Mex” has European polka and Mexican influence. Instrumentation of Zydeco is typically accordion (usually 1 row diatonic), guitar, bass, drums, and washboard. Songs are usually sang in English, sometimes in french. Instrumentation of “Tex-Mex” is typically the Accordion (usually 2 or 3 row diatonic), bajo sexto or bajo quinto, bass, and drums. Songs are typically sang in Spanish. I’ve been using “Tex-mex” as quoted because texmex really is a blanket term that covers further subgenres with the most popular being Conjunto and Norteño. These two genres are comprised of the same “Tex-Mex” instrumentation listed above. Some people may say “tejano” as a genre, but usually they are referring to a more modern genre of Texas music starting in the 1960s that has roots in both conjunto and norteño music (1900s+) along with stylistic influences from rock, big band, country, cumbia, and even 70-80s electro-synth pop. I’m a “Tex-Mex” player so I have limited knowledge on zydeco music in depth, but hopefully this helps bring some clarity into these two genres of accordion folk music.

The Accordion was introduced to Mexican music by the early German immigrants that settled in Texas. That is why Tex-Mex polkas have that "oom paa paa" feel to them. I have always loved Zydeco it like folk music meets the blues. Great video.

"It will be a catastrophe with a few nuggets of knowledge" 😆 I definitely got the nuggets of knowledge, this was great! Thank you so much!!

I couldn't believe the timing of this video! I am currently working on a Zydeco piece; a very simple piece my instructor wrote for me. It's slow going, but I'm enjoying it. We're also working on ear training which is something I never used in all my years of playing classical music (mostly oboe & english horn and some cello). This falls in line perfectly with my accordion studies.

I've been curious about playing Tex-Mex on the piano accordion. Thanks for the video. Hope to see more.

Two giants of diatonic accordion in their genres, Flaco Jimenez and Boozoo Chavis. Fantastic video and playing.

Always been a bit intimidated by this type of music but the way you broke it down helped ease that for me! Thank you so much!

Brilliant lesson. Thanks.

Interesting point of view on the music... this is a milestone or iconic song in Latin or Mexican culture. In Texas every single dance club plays this songs as they close for the night. Cool.video

Hey, Love you and your content! Keep it up! I can't wait for your next video

Minute 6:58 it's a polka called La nopalera. by Santiago Jimenez sr. here played by his son Flaco Jimenez is done on 2 parts starts on G major then goes to C mayor and back to G,,a very easy one on diatonic accordion,, i guess on piano accordion requires more speed as you have to go up and down over a large keyboard, saludos keep on squeezing !!!!😁😁

What are you favourite Zydeco / Tex-Mex tunes? Would love to learn some pieces that don't require any other instruments. Also, let me know if you enjoy these types of uncut videos.

The song he started with is called Tragos Amargos and yes the song is in C(DO) Maj. The original artist is named Ramon Ayala. Well, he's the one that made it famous. The diatonic accordion the artists play it in FBbEb(FA) accordion. The guy in the video plays it in GCF(SOL). The second video is Tim and Flaco that teach the accordion in that video! These guys are still around. Polkas, Redovas, Huapangos, Rancheras, and Boleros are pretty popular. The guitar used is called a Bajo Sexto('bass sixth') which is used to play the rythem and bass. This is the original music we used to listen to back in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

Ahh yes, the moment I've been waiting for, glorious zydeco and Forro.

This is awesome.

Nice video. Why do you hide the view on your hands on the piano keys? Would be nice to see what you are doing.

Crazy how quickly he catches on

Never saw a better tube here. for sure

Look for a song called "El Circo". It's a polka, a staple of Northern Mexico /Texas. It's awesome.

Check out Los Canelos’s de Durango!

Can I ask how you just get the rhythm quick ???

Check out El Cholo - Gerardo Ortiz, the accordion in that song is insane.

also Norteño which is similar to conjunto is also really popular In Mexico and some countries from latin America, and the accordion is one of the main instruments

Great video! How much does affect the fact that almost all Tex-Mex music is played in a diatonic button accordion? As a piano accordion player, I've always thought that is a hard-to-learn instrument

was it not better an accordeon zydeco partto use then an diatonic buttun aaccordeon , mostly one row? look at renier

Informative-🤙🏽

can you post links to the videos you working with? thanks

תודה!!

Good video sir 👍 We are a new band from New Braunfels TX Darren prieto y sus amigos Keep up the great videos

Great video Ronen, far too advanced for me but who knows, 5 years from now !!! lol

Them Boudreaux Brothers can jam!!!!

And check out Chubby Carrier. One of the best Zydeco accordion players.

Indeed it is quite easy to play mexican music on 3 row diatonic accordions.

Hello Hello Excellent, I wish success👍🤓👍🤓🎼🎼🎼🎼🚀

This song is for the end of the party when you're too drunk to stand and yall all singalong

If you’re ever in south Louisiana, give me a shout. I’ll take you to see some bad ass zydeco bands and accordion players. 🪗

What you’re calling Tex-Mex is called Musica Norteña

Musica nortena is not tex mex nortena music is ramon ayala flaco jimenez us tex mex texas tornados is tex mex los garcia bros is tex mex

I wish this guy would do less talking