Bass Pedal

[HolyDiva]

Hey everyone!

Here is the lowdown.  Gotta Hammond to work with at church, but broke my left foot twice in the past year.  I've had about 15 years of classical training, but my janky teacher wouldn't allow me to be versatile and get into gospel.  So after despising theory and classical stuff, I stopped and started teaching myself some stuff.  I can read notes and harmonize, but tell me to play what I sang and we're done for the day.

What should I do about the bass pedals and exciting myself to learn theory (since I start teaching youth choir in 7 days)??????????

Yahoo: god2judge
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The theory that you have will be more than enough...it's just now you have to channel it in the realam of gospel music, there conventional music theory is thrown out the window, but the rules apply!
That sounds odd, but it's true. The organ is NOT a piano. Can't play it like one. Play it very smooth, fingers glide across the keys like a snake.

Look at it as a big band instrument
left hand: deep strings and slow brass
right hand: woodwinds and flutes
left foot: bass

That would be your approach. Try this drill:
FP / LH / RH
C / CG / Bb
- / - / Eb6
- / - / Bb
G / FB / Eb
C / EBb / D
G / FM7 / G_G <--PLAY OCTAVE IN RIGHT HAND

GET USED TO PLAYING THAT UNTIL IT BECOMES SMOOTH AS SILK, LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES.

[proctor]

Hammondman I have been playing the organ for about four years. Funny thing is that I don't play any left hand chords. For some reason I have never concentrated on left hand chords I always use the bass pedals. Even when I play the piano I use an octave basss or a walking bass line.
Do you have any left hand chord suggestions to get me started. I like the sound of the Tritones but I haven't been very successful at putting them to good use.

HELLO PROCTOR...

OK, YOU'RE GOIN TO HAVE TO STRT OFF SLOW...PLAY NORMAL TRIAD CHORDS, UP AND DOWN THE BOARD...THEN JUST ANYWHERE, AT RANDOM, TO GET YOUR FINGERS USED TO IT.

NOW YOUR LEFT HAND IS THE FOUNDATION IN WHICH THE RIGHT HAND FOLLOWS, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY A BbM7 IN THE LEFT HAND, YOU CAN PLAY A G IN THE FOOT BASS, AND DO A 1_2_1 PROGRESSION IN THE RIGHT: C_Dm_C.

LET'S JUST STRT OFF WITH THAT.

[proctor]

Thanks Hammondman.

It looks like I have yet another obstacle to tackle. I'm looking forward to getting comfortable with left hand chords because that will offer my right hand some freedom to do other things. Thanks again.