What are disadvantages of playing the accordion?

•  
• The instrument can be heavy. Some accordions with electronic gadgetry installed can weigh around 30 lbs. Even a full size accordion without electronics is between 22-25 lbs. Although the shoulder straps support most of this weight, there is a physical burden with the instrument.
•  
• 
•  
•  
• The reedy tone quality of the instrument can become overwhelming to its listeners. It is definitely a loud instrument if played with gusto and enthusiasm.
•  
• The accordion is the perennial favorite of jokesters so the performer must be sensitive to being the brunt of tasteless jokes at his/her expensive.
•  
• The performer will be asked, often with some humor or sarcasm intended, to play "Roll Out the Barrel" or "Lady of Spain".
•  
• The bass set-up does not really allow more than an octave in pitch displacement, which makes it difficult to play many melodies as they have been notated in the left-hand.
•  
• The performer will be compared to accordionists the audience knows, which will mostly be Lawrence Welk.
•  
• People will continually ask you how much their old accordion is worth and where they can sell it. They even may ask if you want to buy it!

Back