TREKHARMONICA-TAB
Bass chords
The number of bass chords in a two-row melodeon is usually 8. This is not a lot, but with a little creativity it can be expanded. Here you find how.
We assume an melodeon in GC tuning with 8 buttons on the bass side. We write the bass notes with a capital letter and the bass chords with a small letter, just like the bass accompaniment in the tablature.
A melodeon with GC tuning normally has 6 different bass notes and bass chords, namely:
Pulling: (A am) (D d) (F f) (G g)
Pushing: (E e) (G g) (F f) (C c)
The (G g) and (F f) occur twice and can be played both pushing and pulling.
The number of bass chords to accompany a melody is therefore limited.
However, it is possible to play or simulate a number of other bass chords.
7 chords (seventh chords)
When a 7 is placed next to a chord, it means that a note has been added to the chord.
A C7 chord has the 7th note from the C scale added to the C chord; this is a B.
A C chord consists of the notes: C E G and a C7 chord consists of: C E G B.
A G chord has the 7th note from the G scale added to the G chord; this is an F.
A G chord consists of the notes: G B D and a G7 chord consists of: G B D F.
There are different types of seventh chords, but for the melodion only the major and minor seventh chords are important.
You can look at the music theory too for an explanation about minor and major scales.
Minor 7 chords
The Em7 chord as played in the “Sombre Waltz” (see Tab GC).
You should actually play the E bass and then the E bass at the same time as the g chord.
If you play the E bass at the same time as the g chord, you get an Em7 chord, as you can see below.
E + g = E + (G B D) = (E G B D) = Em7 playing pushing
You can also play the E bass and then the g chord, as in the example above. Strictly speaking, this is not an Em7 (but a G/E chord), but it suggests it enough, so that it seems like an Em7 chord is being played.
The same goes for the Dm7 chord in the example.
D + f = D + (F A C) = (D F A C) = Dm7 playing pulling
You can also play the D bass and then the f chord. Strictly speaking, an F/D chord, but it seems like a Dm7 chord is being played.
Major 7-akkoorden
The G7 chord as played in "Da-Ja" (see Tab GCa)
You should actually play the G bass and then the G bass at the same time as the b chord.
If you play the G bass at the same time as the b chord you get a G7 chord, as you can see below.
G + b = G + (B D F) = (G B D F) = G7 play pulling
To play a C7 chord you need to play a C bass at the same time as an e chord.
C + e = C + (E G Bb) = C E G Bb = C7 play pushing
If you apply this to differently tuned melodeons you get the following table.