Performers

Alan, Alex G, Alex K, Ben, Bill M, BillMc, Bill V, Bob B, Brian, Chico, Chris, Chuck, Clem, Craig, Cynthia, Dave B, Dave L, Del, Diana, Eddie, Eileen, Ernie, Franco, Frank, Gary C, Gary D, Gary K, Gloria, Hal, Hammer, Hermann, James, James G, Janet, Jannie, Jerry, Joe F, Joseph H, Joe W, John P, John R, John V, Judy, Julio, Ken, Kieth, Lynn, Marcelo, Mark, Mike C, Mike M, Mike S, Neal, Patrica H, Patrica J, Patrick, Pauline, Peter, Richard H, Ron, Spike, Steve, Sunny, Susie, Ton, Torben, Vince, Warren

(Dec, 2004) Ben Corsetti is currently living in Leesburg Florida in a +55 development.

Background: I started learning accordion at the age or 4 as my father was a music teacher and my mother a piano player. I was an accomplished accordionist by age 10 and playing all over the place locally. To work my way through college, I taught accordion and, later, trumpet and drums and had a small dance band. I played the accordion for about 40 years and then discovered keyboards that auto-constructed chords. I sold my last accordion 15 years ago and never looked back. I can play sheet music, but I really enjoy playing by ear. I, as some others of you, have the gift of knowing the correct chord to play at the right time.

I have owned a bunch of different Yamaha PSR series keyboards. I don't even remember all the numbers. My latest were 5700, 7000, 2000, and now, finally, the TYROS. My greatest pleasure in playing seems to be different from what I see submitted to the PSR site. What I really enjoy is to Pick a Style, Listen to the Style, and then select a song that matches the style. I rarely pick a song and look for a style. The first two groups of songs I have submitted reflect this in that I have named the Style and leave identifying the tune to the listener. These midi files are live performances that I recorded with all the mistakes we all make. Enjoy the midi files and good luck identifying the songs. I will continue to record more tunes in this manner and submit them in the future.

Some Tips on Faking It. The following is guaranteed to make many of you groan when you read further. I have a little secret to tell you all about faking (playing by ear) with the correct chords. I have about 40 years experience playing the Accordion. This may be the best preparation for faking songs that I can imagine. Why, you ask??. Because of the structure of the BASS on the accordion. Just picture the 120 bass buttons on an accordion. They are arranged in the most logical fashion imaginable. The Bass buttons are arranged in the order of key signatures. Starting with the marked button in the middle, they are (going up) C, G, D, A, E, B . Starting from C and going down - C, F, B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat.

Iin other words, going up: 1 sharp, 2 sharps, 3 sharps; going down: 1 flat, 2 flats, 3 flats, etc.. Consider the following. Start on C and go up one and down one row (C up to G, C down to F) and you have the major chords in the key of C. start from F and go up one and down one and you have the major chords in the key of F ( F up tp C, F down to B flat) . It works whereever you start on the bass of the accordion.

You want an Intro? Just start with the major chord and go up to the third button, then the second, then the first. For example, for the key of C, go to A, then D, then G, and back to C. Again, this will work wherever you start. This will work for about 80 percent of all songs.

Sorry all you non-accordion players.

Ben Corsetti