Whats the difference in the piano vs Organ

[spydamike]

I'm new to the website and I have a question.I've been playing the Piano/keyboard for two years now.I m very good at it but now I'm about to start playing the organ.Can  someone give me a rundown of the difference in the organ and piano.Do I play the same chords?Do I pay like it's a keyboard?Any advice would be great.    -Spyda Mike

[LaylaMonroe]

I can't help, but welcome to LGM!

[nessalynn77]

LOL.  I don't know if I'll be much help, because I play the organ and not the keys, but the biggest thing is that the organ sustains by holding down the keys or the pedals, rather than using a sustain pedal.  When you say organ, I'm assuming hammond, so there's a lot you can do with the sound as you play.  I'm sure you'll learn all the drawbars and switches, but IMO the organ allows you to do more with less.  You can hold down chords and change the sounds with the leslie and drawbars making something that would sound small and empty on the piano sound much more full. 

[Arkhams Finest]

I'm new to the website and I have a question.I've been playing the Piano/keyboard for two years now.I m very good at it but now I'm about to start playing the organ.Can  someone give me a rundown of the difference in the organ and piano.Do I play the same chords?Do I pay like it's a keyboard?Any advice would be great.    -Spyda Mike

Hey Mike.

I play both.  The footpedal board is the main difference between the two.  Because you have the bass in your foot your left hand is freed up to play fragments.  This is why left hand chords are a bigger focus on the organ than the piano.

Also, technique is vastly different.  The piano is more percussive than the organ.  On the piano you can play a chord, use the sustain pedal to extend the notes, lift your hands and move to the next chord.  On the organ there is no sustain effect so you want your fingers to be in constant contact with the manual (generally speaking).

Drawbar registrations and expression pedal work are two of the most overlooked aspects of the instrument.  Learning to use the expression pedal will make the organ sound infinitely prettier.

[under13]

Hey Mike.

Drawbar registrations and expression pedal work are two of the most overlooked aspects of the instrument.  Learning to use the expression pedal will make the organ sound infinitely prettier.

Yeah, I never paid that much attention to the expression pedal, until I saw someone use it in a way where they would raise the volume for a second or 2 to accent certain chords, and you'd hear the organ's tone sound a lot different as the volume increased.

[Arkhams Finest]

Yeah, I never paid that much attention to the expression pedal, until I saw someone use it in a way where they would raise the volume for a second or 2 to accent certain chords, and you'd hear the organ's tone sound a lot different as the volume increased.

Maaaan I've heard some cats use the expression pedal to really throw the listeners a curveball!

BTW, I saw Cory Henry in Kings Plaza about three weeks ago.  I started talking to him and he seemed really cool.  He said he's going to start a mentoring program in NYC.

[musallio]

The organ sounds like an instrument for clever people

I'd have to buy a proper one for myself before being serious about it.

[nessalynn77]

The organ sounds like an instrument for clever people

I'd have to buy a proper one for myself before being serious about it.

Yeah, I have to go to the church and practice, which is cool unless someone is using the sanctuary.

[under13]

Maaaan I've heard some cats use the expression pedal to really throw the listeners a curveball!

BTW, I saw Cory Henry in Kings Plaza about three weeks ago.  I started talking to him and he seemed really cool.  He said he's going to start a mentoring program in NYC.

He was the one that I saw doing that. I've always heard people do it, but the way he did it and created dynamics in the song just really stood out to me

[musallio]

Yeah, I have to go to the church and practice, which is cool unless someone is using the sanctuary.

eish, not the best way to practice if you're a beginner like me. I prefer to make noise at home than have people watch me during prac..

[phbrown]

a good organ bass line sounds better than a good piano bass line

[rut]

I never played the Organ before I guess cause its huge and super loud and just looks ugh... trying to learn the keyboard is enough on my hands for right now. lol 

[Fenix]

Yeeeeeeaaaaaah, the organ sound on my keyboard is fine for me. You get the best of both worlds; you can get a nice organ sound and still use the sustain pedal.

[Mysteryman]

Yeeeeeeaaaaaah, the organ sound on my keyboard is fine for me. You get the best of both worlds; you can get a nice organ sound and still use the sustain pedal.

You use the sustain pedal with the organ?  

[under13]

You use the sustain pedal with the organ?  

lol. I use mine as a leslie switch when playing organ on my keyboard

[motifbludd82]

LOL.  I don't know if I'll be much help, because I play the organ and not the keys, but the biggest thing is that the organ sustains by holding down the keys or the pedals, rather than using a sustain pedal.  When you say organ, I'm assuming hammond, so there's a lot you can do with the sound as you play.  I'm sure you'll learn all the drawbars and switches, but IMO the organ allows you to do more with less.  You can hold down chords and change the sounds with the leslie and drawbars making something that would sound small and empty on the piano sound much more full.

what if you have an organ without drawbar lol...is that Blasphemy? I found something to practice on..its not bad..but I know its not a hammond..besides it was given to me for free..no one would just give away a hammond would they..hint hint..lol
I'm learning to play as well..found this website, hoping to find some good info.

[Arkhams Finest]

Yeeeeeeaaaaaah, the organ sound on my keyboard is fine for me. You get the best of both worlds; you can get a nice organ sound and still use the sustain pedal.

Unless that keyboard is a Nord Electro, no.  Just no.

[Fenix]

Unless that keyboard is a Nord Electro, no.  Just no.

Yeeeeeeaaaaaah, the organ sound on my keyboard is fine for me. You get the best of both worlds; you can get a nice organ sound and still use the sustain pedal.

 

[Arkhams Finest]

[spydamike]

Thanks everyone!^_2