Hammond Organ Technique

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 3:40 pm

Loving the new organ patches. Here's my question:

Do you know of any YouTube videos on electric organ technique that you recommend? Playing technique as well as chord voicings would be great.

As a piano player, I've never done well on the electric organ. I suspect that a lot of it has to do with chord voicing. I'd be happy with the simplist of help.

Thanks!

KevinH · Post by **KevinH** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 4:02 pm

http://www.youtube.com/user/keithapplet ... ery=Lesson

This guy has a lot of lesson videos on playing jazz and rock organ. You might find them useful.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:25 pm

Something really basic that you can apply to much of what you play is to try glueing your chords together with your fingers, also while playing lines - hold a chord with thumb and index finger and play a line on top with your three remaining fingers. Keeping unbroken "pad" can really help you sound convincing, assuming the piece doesn't require very percussive comping. This is simple but something we're not used to in piano playing, especially not in pop/rock/jazz cause the sustain pedal usually helps us out.

Using an expression pedal the same way you would use velocity to play a line or groove will also do a lot for your realism. And don't forget to play with the drawbars!

Fading some highs in and out at logical transition points in the song also adds a lot.

Hope there's anything new in that for you.

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:54 pm

KevinH wrote:http://www.youtube.com/user/keithapplet ... ery=Lesson

This guy has a lot of lesson videos on playing jazz and rock organ. You might find them useful.

Thanks, I'll check that out!

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:57 pm

SanderXpander wrote:Something really basic that you can apply to much of what you play is to try glueing your chords together with your fingers, also while playing lines - hold a chord with thumb and index finger and play a line on top with your three remaining fingers. Keeping unbroken "pad" can really help you sound convincing, assuming the piece doesn't require very percussive comping. This is simple but something we're not used to in piano playing, especially not in pop/rock/jazz cause the sustain pedal usually helps us out.

Using an expression pedal the same way you would use velocity to play a line or groove will also do a lot for your realism. And don't forget to play with the drawbars!
Fading some highs in and out at logical transition points in the song also adds a lot.

Hope there's anything new in that for you.

That is helpful, thanks. I'm always trying to grab big chords like on the piano. I will definitely try 2 note pad with melody.

Zeroesque · Post by **Zeroesque** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:09 pm

I agree about not grabbing huge chords. Two or three notes usually does it. Also, I think it was Jimmy Smith who used to say that he could tell a piano guy was on the B3 because it was too legato.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:39 pm

I would think it would be the opposite, because we don't really learn to connect our chords by finger technique alone anymore we get lazy from having a sustain pedal. But I'd need the context of the remark. And of course playing slow gospel padding is different from quick groove jazz comping.

Zeroesque · Post by **Zeroesque** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:41 am

Totally...but considering his signature sound and taking much of the spotlight time in his trios, I think he was referring to getting the percussion to come out on many notes in melodies and solos. I wish I could remember the exact context, but I can't find the interview (it was 20 years ago).

karmathanever · Post by **karmathanever** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:58 am

Hey Dan

This is a great topic as I am also trying hard to sound like a "Hammond" player.
I play in a blues band currently and 80% of our music needs that "Hammond".
Kronos (especially since this recent update) is mind-blowing with its CX-3

Sent you a PM

Pete

jurason · Post by **jurason** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:49 am

hello all,

when I think Jazz Organ Mlt Buckner comes to mind. I love his organ sound.
The specific sound I am refering too is on a reccord: Milt Buckner with Buddy Tate - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwz4eqxFzvk
start at 1.07 how do I find this sound in the kronos - OR what preset would one start with..

Milt has many more sounds I love. Great player and very well worth to check out-. Piano too.

Cheers

arne v · Post by **arne v** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:51 am

KevinH wrote:http://www.youtube.com/user/keithapplet ... ery=Lesson

thnx for the link Kevin, it saved me the trouble of earching throught youtube

Im a piano guy, but i love the new organ sounds and want to know how to play an organ

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 12:24 pm

Another thing is remember to adjust the Leslie speed. I have my damper pedal set so I can just tap it and it changes the speed. Doing volume swells and speeding up the Leslie at the same time can be a great effect.

genehart · Post by **genehart** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 7:25 pm

Check out the organ lessons here
http://www.gospelskillz.com/gospel-organ-lessons/
especially by Trina Washington

djcactus · Post by **djcactus** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 7:29 pm

I learned keys on a wurlitzer organ, personally, i think the technique is all in the feel of the keys. Its much easier to slide up and down on some organ/synth action. If you got a non-weighted keyboard lying around give it a try, I always had trouble with organ sounds on heavy keys, unless I was trying to play phantom of they opera.

jerrythek · Post by **jerrythek** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 7:39 pm

There are a lot of good instructional courses, both on YouTube and via DVD.

Here's an amazing jazz organist who has a series:

http://www.b3monaco.com/

Go to the Instructional key preset...

Jerry

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