sonic phenomenon/ pedal technique

[diverse379]

Coming from queens ny  most of the organists i have observed use a lot of great pedal work

I have seen guys play the pedals and sound just like a bass player

yet until yesterday i never really saw anybody play almost exclusively from Ab to Ab (the upper register
there is something beautiful about the chords that can be made when you use the upper pedals the high f and Ab can sound great when using detroit type stylings

I would like to know how many of you organists out there use these upper pedals to great effect and let me know where you play

because i understand geographic region plays a part in this technique

[Muziqmann]

I from NY as well I, get up there sometimes, it's very rare.  I gotta do it more often for a different effect with the chords I play.

[b3wannab]

I'm intrigued by this technique, diverse. Can you post a clip or offer an example of an artist that has done this on a recording. I'm an amateur but like to learn new and advanced techniques.

[diverse379]

I am not sure I can find any clips but I can tell you that detroit and chicago musicians employ this technique

One in particular who used this was the late thomas whitfield
the sound is completely different from the sound you get from lower pedals

Ab to Ab is the range they use only coming lower occasionally for effect

i have a post of annointing and welcome if you take those chord changes and use the above pedal technique you can hear what I am talking about.  thomas whitfield used this technique often

so if you could get a chance to hear him on the organ that is the best person to check out,



check these chords for welcome and try the organ pedals from Ab to Ab then try it with the lower pedals and see which ones sound better

Gb/ Gb Bb/ Db EbGb   welcome
G/EG/BbEG               into this
Ab/GbAb/BEbAb  pla
Db/FAb/BdFAb      ce

Eb/GbAbBb/DbEbGbBb    welcome
D/GbC/DFBb    into this
Ab/GbB/DbEbAb   holy ve
Db/FB/DbEbAb     ssel

Bb/BbAb/EAbBbDb   I desire to a
G/GBb/EGBbDb      bide
F/FAb/DFAbB        in
Eb/GBb/DbEGbb    the
Ab/GbAbB/ Gb (Db, Db b Bb)   praises of your
    /    / CFA      peo
E/ D Ab/ DbGbBb    ple   and i
Ab/Gb B/ EbGbAbB    lift my
Eb/ G Bb/ DbEbGbb   hands
F/Ab/DFAbB             and
G/G/DbEGBb            I
Ab/GbB/EbAbB     lift
            Db,Eb     my
Bb/AbD/AbDbE    voi
Eb/GDb/GbBEb     ce
          Ab, Bb       and I

Ab/EAbB/EbAbB offer up my
Ab/GbB/EbAbB    praises
Db/FB/EbAb     to your
E/BAb/BEbGb    name

[b3wannab]

Thanks, I'll check this out tonight.

[SupremeSaltine]

I find this technique to be rather hazardous to the "family jewels".

Just my $0.02.

[diverse379]

I find this technique to be rather hazardous to the "family jewels".

Just my $0.02.

you so crazy

[rafman1718]

Play it with your right foot, maybe? 

[diverse379]

Play it with your right foot, maybe? 

man please he is just kidding I am sure

I am no special organ player and i have no problem playing these pedals and second usually this style is for slow songs

please just try it before you start judging it

you dont need to use your right foot unless you are playing classical style

since we use our right foot for the volume pedal i wouldnt say it is necessarry

you have to take what people say with a grain of salt

saltine is an accomplished musician who loves to throw salt in the game he's a cool brother so i dont put him on blast
too much

so far i have heard a lot of petrified fearful comments but nobody has said Hey I tried it I like it I dont like it I understand it I dont understand it


Hey if I took it out too far let me know I will reel it in a little

[docjohn]

how can you improve pedal sound?a b3 with a leslie is the way to go,but i've seenother cats using a plain tone cabinet plus leslie,or a 1/4 out to a bass amp,or a string bass attachment.any advice?

[diverse379]

Some organs with just a leslie have lousy bass sound while others have tremendous bass sound

it has a lot to do with the crossover

somethimes the amp pre amp or crossover needs work

there is a way to boost the sound contact a good hammond technician to find out more

Sebastian from wheatworks is a wizard with stuff like that

[SupremeSaltine]

No, I have genuinely "squished" some items when crossing my left foot under my right foot.  Whenever the organist is more white and sweaty than usual--you know what happened.  I also use my right foot for the volume pedal so that's out.  I do like the sound.  It gives the lower octave more emphasis if you use it more sparingly.  I suppose you could use the 8' pedal drawbar.

how can you improve pedal sound?a b3 with a leslie is the way to go,but i've seenother cats using a plain tone cabinet plus leslie,or a 1/4 out to a bass amp,or a string bass attachment.any advice?

If your leslie bass is lacking, you can run a direct out from the organ to a 1/4" jack into a bass cabinet.  I use this setup for jazz gigs at large clubs.

[diverse379]

No, I have genuinely "squished" some items when crossing my left foot under my right foot.  Whenever the organist is more white and sweaty than usual--you know what happened.  I also use my right foot for the volume pedal so that's out.  I do like the sound.  It gives the lower octave more emphasis if you use it more sparingly.  I suppose you could use the 8' pedal drawbar.




If your leslie bass is lacking, you can run a direct out from the organ to a 1/4" jack into a bass cabinet.  I use this setup for jazz gigs at large clubs.

WOW

didnt know you were for real bro

interesting running your organ through a bass cab i imagine even a small one would give good definition to the bottom end like maybe a 60 watt
or a small hartke kickback

[SupremeSaltine]

Yeah I was for real.  I was being funny though and was not attacking your post.

I aapreciate the nice things you said in coming to my defense though -- thank you.

[SupremeSaltine]

interesting running your organ through a bass cab i imagine even a small one would give good definition to the bottom end like maybe a 60 watt
or a small hartke kickback

Actually I use a 2x800 watt Mackie Amp, a 2x15 JBL cab and an 18" JBL sub cabinet, but who's counting 

[SupremeSaltine]

Sorry for the consecutive posts.  I hate that there's no post editing on this forum.

When I saw Joey DeFrancesco live he was using 2 4x10" Hartke cabinets.  One for him and one pointed directly at his drummer's head.

[diverse379]

Sorry for the consecutive posts.  I hate that there's no post editing on this forum.

When I saw Joey DeFrancesco live he was using 2 4x10" Hartke cabinets.  One for him and one pointed directly at his drummer's head.

I have yet to play at a big venue yet I play at medium size churches
so I would never need that much power but when I plyed bass i ran about 400 watts through a 4x10

i would imagine if you are running a 1/4 inch out are you directing that from the pedals only?

if your foot technique is really good I guess you could get some really good bass sound

by the way if you look at the top of your post you will see modify click on that and you will be able to edit your post