A new method of playing organ that is really old

[diverse379]

there is a style of playing organ that I have never really seen anyone in gospel do.

yet it is a popular style
in the jazz world

strangely it lends itself to contemporary and hymn playing so I dont know why it hasnt caught on more

The technique is called block chord

this is where the melody note is on the top and bottom of the chord and you are basically moving between 6chords and diminished chords

some of the textures are really rich

and once you learn it you can apply it to both piano and organ
it lends itself to soloing using chords melodic playing and rich harmonies

F/AbCEb
G/BbEbG   (slide the Eb to E as a grace note)
Ab/CFAb
A/CF#C
AbDFBb
F#/ACF#
C/F#AC
C/GBbDF




play the F pedal for the first three chords the Bb pedal for the next four chords and the Eb pedal for the last chord

its all about movement can you see the 2 5 1
the first three chords are all F-7
the next four chords are Bb7  even though you see the A diminished chord that is really the relative diminished to the Bb
and the last chord is of course the Eb major9

if you dont understand this dont worry aboutit practice the exercise below you will get it
this one is easier

Bp/lh/Rh
C/Bb/EbgBb
F/A/EbGbC
Bb/Bb/FGD

it is so easy because the left hand only has to play one note at a time

what you need in order to under stand this system is the four inversions of a sixth chord and the four inversions of the diminshed chord

both long and short versions
short are condensed small voicings that sound tight
long chords are open voicings that sound spacious

here is an example of a 1-4 movement going from G to c with a little diminished chord in between

now you use two fingers in each hand

G/BE/GD
 /BbE/GDb
C/AE/GC

no lets make this a little more advanced

that used a Bb diminshed chord to connect we can also use the diminsihed from the c chord

G/BE/ED
B/BF/AbD
C/CG/AE

this may seem basic but believe me it gets really intense when you think about the fact that every note in a scale plus passing notes can be handled by just alternating between diminished and 6th chords

for example practice this
C/E/AGCE
B/F/AbBDF
A/G/ACEG
Db/Ab/BDFAb
D/A/CEGA
Ab/B/DFAbB
G/C/EGAC
B/D/FAbBD
C/E/AGCE

I just threw the 1 6 2 5 1 on the foot just for the heck of it you can try other progressions as well as you practice this scale pattern
notice every note in the major scale is covered plus one extra


there really is a lot you can do with it
for example it works just as well with 7th chords
C7 alternating with diminsihsed
or minor7 alternating with diminished

take the above example and make all the


george gershwin and george shearing made theire careers on these chordal movents
as well as Bary harris Kenny Baron Bill Evans McCoy Tyner Red Garland Wynton Kelly bobby Timmons  have all used them at one time or another
if you want to know more let me know i will post this as a series

[4hisglory]

T'anks Diverse..

[4hisglory]

F/AbCEb
G/BbEbG   (slide the Eb to E as a grace note)
Ab/CFAb
A/CF#C
AbDFBb
F#/ACF#
C/F#AC
C/GBbDF

It seems that with the progression, the hands are jumping around alot.

[diverse379]

It seems that with the progression, the hands are jumping around alot.

you are right playing it now it sounds a little strange i think there was something rhythmically i was doing with that leap

i dont know what to say i dont remember what i was thinking at the time i think only that i was exploring the locked hands approach and i think this was supposed to be a drop 2 type of thing

hey what can i say i am bound to lay a couple of duds from time to time
often great successes are preceded by equally great failures

[bishopcole]

you are right playing it now it sounds a little strange i think there was something rhythmically i was doing with that leap

i dont know what to say i dont remember what i was thinking at the time i think only that i was exploring the locked hands approach and i think this was supposed to be a drop 2 type of thing

hey what can i say i am bound to lay a couple of duds from time to time
often great successes are preceded by equally great failures

Diverse, may I have your autograph?    Bishop Cole

[diverse379]

Diverse, may I have your autograph?    Bishop Cole

huh???
you mean because i made so many failures you know i am going to be a great success one day?

[bishopcole]

huh???
you mean because i made so many failures you know i am going to be a great success one day?

Nope, I need it now so I can have a role model to follow by!    Bishop Cole

[melrhyne]

Ahh, Diverse, the Barry Harris method!

[diverse379]

Ahh, Diverse, the Barry Harris method!

exactly i hope you can expound on this because barry does the movements so sweet
i dont have that understanding yet

but i am glad someone knows what i am trying to reach for

[Mysteryman]

Things I trying a long time ago but never stuck with.
Play the melody note on the top and bottom of the chord. What ever chord you play in the RH the LH will play the same note on top of the RH chord.
This style is nice on organ

Only play within one octave. Meaning what ever chord you hit in the RH the note the LH plays must be in the scale octave of the 12 notes.
This forces you to learn your chords because you are going to want a thick sound.

I cant remember the terminology of which is which. Closed hands, Lock hands, Block chords?

[diverse379]

Things I trying a long time ago but never stuck with.
Play the melody note on the top and bottom of the chord. What ever chord you play in the RH the LH will play the same note on top of the RH chord.
This style is nice on organ

Only play within one octave. Meaning what ever chord you hit in the RH the note the LH plays must be in the scale octave of the 12 notes.
This forces you to learn your chords because you are going to want a thick sound.

I cant remember the terminology of which is which. Closed hands, Lock hands, Block chords?

it is called all of the above locked closed and blocked

[TheReturn]

HREAT POST DIVERSE. I'M NOT BY A KEYBOARD RIGHT NOW, BUT THE CHORDS LOOK VERY INTERESTING.
I'M GOING TO TRY THEM THE NEXT CHANCE I GET.



HOLLA
CATRON/TheReturn