Hammond Organ Complete [Paperback]

Dave Limina (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

The secret to creating funky sizzles and classic Hammond sounds is mastering the combined use of the drawbars, expression pedal, and the Leslie speaker speed switch. Sound intimidating? It doesn't have to be! This hands-on guide takes you step-by-step through the techniques of playing the drawbar organ, one skill at a time. You'll learn to: play gospel, R&B, jazz, blues, funk and rock; achieve fantastic special effects; understand all the parts of the organ and how to use them; and much more. The accompanying CD includes 21 exercises, plus performance demos of 8 songs, with minus-organ versions so you can jam along! "A fantastic introduction to all aspects of playing the B3 organ. Definitely worth checking out." - John Medeski

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Berklee Press Publications (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634014331
• ISBN-13: 978-0634014338
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the few Hammond methods around, November 18, 2002

By 

Miguel Angel Martinez Rolland (Madrid Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hammond Organ Complete (Paperback)

I thought there were no Hammond methods, but somehow I found this one, and it's a good starting point for neophytes of the B-3 and drawbar organs. Don't expect it to disclose all the techniques you heard on Jimmy Smith's records, but it can be really useful as a reference book. The addition of the CD is absolutely essential: a good feature from the author.
It's a fairly good catalogue of riffs, although I wish it focused a lot more on funk and jazzy riffs (there are some good examples, however -but not enough nor representative) than on poppy ballads and clichés.
Anyway,at least it can lend some help to us forgotten organists and lovers of the Hammond!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enough information to get you started on the hammond (and cool CD), September 22, 2007

By 

book buddish "book buddish" (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hammond Organ Complete (Paperback)

I have this book, (not like the reviewer who gave it 1 star without reading or owning the book)and I think it's full of interesting information regarding functions and controls on a hammond organ, various playing techniques and the concept and theory behind creating registrations with the drawbars for different styles of music. Also the Cd is very well played and contains a number of nice pieces of music to play-a-long, plus some voicing techniques, bass lines for the left hand and some soloing techniques. It's not a course on improvisation, but rather an overview of the hammond organ and its possibilities, with music examples played with a full band to put it all in context. Most of the info here can be applied to hammond clones as well (as long as they have drawbars) like korg cx3 nord c1 nord electro, roland vk series , the new hammonds xb1 xk3 etc. So, even more for the players of this new generation keyboards, the philosophy behind the B3 is explained here with enough detail to get you going, and helping you to get a more authentic use of your clone.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlike the rest, April 30, 2008

By 

Graham English (Salem, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hammond Organ Complete (Paperback)

There are a few good Hammond books out there but this one is the most complete. Drawbar settings, percussion and chorus/vibrato settings, swell pedal and leslie instruction, very thorough. Not only does it take you through a gradual learning process to get the instrument down, you gain some cool licks and stylistic direction along the way.