how to groove on the organ

[diverse379]

I have been playing the organ for about 5 years or so
and I have much to learn

but I discovered something yesterday
that may just push me to another level

I was looking at a drum book
and I remembered that the organ can be played like a drum

the foot pedals as the bass drum
the left hand as the snare
and the right hand as the hi hat

even the right foot can be the hi hat pedal (pumping th volume to accent the snare or back beat


I have attempted to do this in the past without much success

until I realized that I was playing with a one two feel

instead of a four four feel

in other words

the oompah
needs to be delayed

to allow the eighth notes of the right hand to fill in

I am going to write down a rhythm that you can try
I did it with a variety of chord progressions and it is one of the funkiest grooves I have ever done on the organ to date



the beats are written on the top and underneath are the symbols for right foot
left foot lefthand right hand


(please note somehow due ot a glitch in the print macro  the lh parts didnt originallly line up  under the two and four they should be I repeat the left hand should be played on the two and four)
1  &  2  &  3   &  4  &
rh rh rh rh rh  rh rh rh
        lh             lh
lf       lf lf       
        rf             rf     (volue pedal)
lf       lf lf        lf  variation

a variation is to play the left foot also on the and of four
basically this is a one measure pattern
so if you look at a chord chart this pattern works for one full measure
you can change chords keeping this same rhythm going


the foot can play a half step or whole step below or above your target tone for the first Left foot symbol
or on the and of two and the and of four
and the target tone on the two and four

the left hand will play the chord or tritone
on the two and four

the right hand can either play one two one harmony
appeggios
licks
concenceted chords

as long as they are done in eighth notes
this is your basic groove
the right hand of course can vary
but training to do this develops coordination



I hope this helps somebody

I wish someone broke this down for me when I first started


try this progression


F/FAbCEb
Bb/FAbbbDb (FAbBD) variation
Eb/GbBbDbF
Ab/GbACEb (GbBbCEb)

do this progression with the rhythym variation
that is the one where the left foot falls on the and of two and the and of four

the right hand can play Bb blues
or any combination of Db and Ebminor chords
remember to keep the eighth notes until you have the rhythm locked


if anyone has any other rhythms that really work well please share

[Mysteryman]

Playing the organ percussive like makes a big different during testimony service with no drummer.

[Ramar]

Playing the organ percussive like makes a big different during testimony service with no drummer.

Amen!!! Yeah, it sure does!!!

[diverse379]

Playing the organ percussive like makes a big different during testimony service with no drummer.

its funny before I discovered this I found it incredibly hard to play organ without a drummer
unless I used my left hand as a bass rather than chord with it

because I was playing with that two feel and it just didnt come accross correctly

but this rhythm grooves

of course you can vary the right hand but when you play a devotional song within a rhythm like this you dont even ned a drummer

of course a drummer is always appreciated.

[docjohn]

good stuff bro-gonna try this next practice!

[organman88]

u kinda use the ragtime and stride technique on organ when no drummer is present it helps keep the timing

[diverse379]

u kinda use the ragtime and stride technique on organ when no drummer is present it helps keep the timing

yes and no

I say no because as much as I knew aobut ragtime
for some reason When  I did it on the organ
The oomp pah came accross as eighth notes

without having the right hand set up the hi hat

it made the groove somehow incorrect

I think having actual drum beats that you work from
on the organ
transcribing bass snare and hihat and then playing those rhythms on the organ

it is harder for a beginner to launch into an effective rhythm

[Mysteryman]

I way playing a few days back and thinking about this thread. I notice I will play the bass like double time on my feet and I mix the rythmns with it. I do what ever I need to do with my hands and feet to make sure it sounds full. Next time I will have to remember to bring my recorder.

[diverse379]

I way playing a few days back and thinking about this thread. I notice I will play the bass like double time on my feet and I mix the rythmns with it. I do what ever I need to do with my hands and feet to make sure it sounds full. Next time I will have to remember to bring my recorder.

this sounds very interesting
what do you mean double time?

if you could transcribe something for me I would be ever so appreciative.

[Mysteryman]

Think of a jazz feel kinda old timey with a busy bass. The bass may be bouncing on certain notes and walking on others but there are no gaps in it. I can change the sound of it to old school or newer by changing my chords.

[diverse379]

Think of a jazz feel kinda old timey with a busy bass. The bass may be bouncing on certain notes and walking on others but there are no gaps in it. I can change the sound of it to old school or newer by changing my chords.

are you running the bass with your feet

[Mysteryman]

are you running the bass with your feet

Yeah. But I double up to make it seem there is some type of rythmn there

[diverse379]

Yeah. But I double up to make it seem there is some type of rythmn there

I got you