new organ

[junkmailjlh]

i've been playing organ on a little keyboard for about 3 years and finally last night we got a new digital organ...roland VK-88 and oh it's awesome!  i need help though.  i've never played on a real organ like that.  I'm catching on that you can pretty much do anything, be messy, and it still sounds good.  there are no foot pedals.  if anyone coudl give me some interesting licks to play, or tell me when to do slides, what notes to hold, ANY tips at all, it would really help me out.  thanks.

[c3hamby]

i've been playing organ on a little keyboard for about 3 years and finally last night we got a new digital organ...roland VK-88 and oh it's awesome!  i need help though.  i've never played on a real organ like that.  I'm catching on that you can pretty much do anything, be messy, and it still sounds good.  there are no foot pedals.  if anyone coudl give me some interesting licks to play, or tell me when to do slides, what notes to hold, ANY tips at all, it would really help me out.  thanks.

congratulations on the purchase of your new organ.  that is a nice piece.  I would suggest you get a copy of Jimmy Smith's 'The Sermon', there are some good licks on that, I have transcribed it, and can send it to ya if you like.  That's the best place to start.

[c3hamby]

Well, Jimmy Smith was a really incredible jazz organist, his CD 'The Sermon' is available on Blue Note records, should be really easy to find.  I can send you the transcription, but you need to listen to the cd to see how he grooves, how he plays it, you know?  

You do read music right?

The Sermon is great to start off with, it's just a blues in F, and he plays a little more sparsely than his harder hitting stuff, I'm currently learning it in other keys.  I don't have the transcriptions scanned into a computer, but I will get that done for ya...it might take me a little while, so be patient

[junkmailjlh]

yes, I can read music/notes/etc.  I know my blues scales on F and C and G and Eb, haven't really taken the time to learn the others yet...

so what I've learned lately is that when you listen or even better WATCH someone play, this is a great way to learn to play better.  duh...right?  so if I listen to jimmy smith, will I be able to apply some of his techniques to my own playing?  and who else is there that I should start listening to their stuff?  I don't want to get overwhelmed though with how great they play and how I can't figure some of their stuff out....tips tips...need tips.

[c3hamby]

well, John Patton is cool, too.  I like his tune Milk N Honey, these are tunes that have cool little licks in them that you can learn and do whatever with.  He gets these little grooves started, and it's pretty cool.  

These 2 will get you started.

Then theres Jimmy McGriff, his older stuff is bluesy, but some of his more recent stuff has some gospel influence.  Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, Don Patterson.

If you REALLY wanna get overwhelmed, check out Larry Young or Joey DeFrancesco.  

Hopefully some of you gospel organists out there will give you some gospel people to listen to, so I don't go leading you off the straight and narrow  8O

[c3hamby]

tips:

study with as many organists as you can....

you are right-listen and see as many organists as you can...

...not just jazz and gospel but classical organists too...from the Jimmy Smith organ solos that were recorded, it is evident he was familiar with classical organ music to a great extent.....

use a metrnome religiously...when you're playing those scales...and record yourself...it's like a free private lesson....

stay relaxed while you're playing...have a time of prayer at your instrument before you play...return to prayer throughout your practice session....

Start and end your session with something simple that you can play-will help your confidence.

[junkmailjlh]

could you send me some jimmy smith stuff?  I bought one of his CDs. "jimmy smith finest hour".  I love Ol' Man river and the organ grinder's swing.

[Dooley]

 I'm catching on that you can pretty much do anything, be messy, and it still sounds good.  there are no foot pedals.

Dont sound sloppy on purpose.  The best way to sound good is to be clean with your fingering, and runs.

[sacred-composer]

c3hamby can you email a copy of your Jimmy Smith transcrition I read music. Thanks my email address is sacred-composer@excite.com
God Bless!

[c3hamby]

Ok, just please be patient with me.    Right now the only copy I have is the copy that I used to get it off the cd...it's ok for me, but it's pretty raggedy...I need to re-copy it to make it look presentable, and then get it scanned, and I am getting ready for at least one gig April 1 with some rehearsals before that and maybe and Easter gig... 8O

I'm not blowing you off, I do want to get this done, because I want to get your feedback on what you fellow organists think of these transcriptions...and your persistence will help me get there!

[sacred-composer]

Well I think I have the patience of Job!  :lol:
Thanks for all your help man.
God Bless!