Introduction to Norteño Polka

Polka timing and feel, characteristic melodic shapes and a basic accompaniment, practiced with original exercises.

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1. 1Polka in 2/4: two beats, bass and chordCount polka bars in 2/4, feel the bass on beat 1 and the chord on beat 2, and play a short melody in quarter notes and then in eighth notes over that pulse.Free · 14 min
2. 2The polka feel: short chords and pickupsHear how a short, crisp chord on beat 2 changes the feel of the pulse, and play an original phrase that starts with pickup notes before beat 1.Members · 14 min
3. 3Characteristic melodic shapesLearn four beginner shapes that fit the middle row well: the scalar run, the push-chord arpeggio, the neighbor-note figure and the pull–push turnaround to V and back.Members · 18 min
4. 4Basic polka accompanimentPlay the bass–chord polka accompaniment in C and G, change between the home chord and the V chord with the bellows, and play an original melody on the outer row over it.Members · 16 min
5. 5Original polka study: “Fuelle Alegre”Put the course together in an original two-section polka study on the middle row: section A in the middle register, section B higher, both with the bass–chord accompaniment.Members · 22 min