Customer Reviews

Hammond Organ Complete

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

This is the book to get, if you're interested in Hammond Organs, although it's more geared toward the musician.
Dave Limina gives a very thorough history of the development of this instrument and how to play it. After describing the technical part of the organ, he uses music charts of well known Jazz and Blues songs along with some keyboard exercises. On each chart he has a diagram of the drawbar settings used to get the sound which you can hear on the accompanying CD. Dave and his band play two tracks on each tune; one track has the full band and the other a mix-minus where you can play along with just the band. I've seen nothing better on the subject.

Hammond Organ Complete is a great book. It requires some piano or keyboard skills, also reading scores. So it's perfect for me, someone hwo has been learning piano for 3 years and now wants to learn the particularities of this instrument.

The cd includes empty tracks (rithm and bass) so you can play on them.

The writing is clear and the lessons well organized. It cover a wide range of knowledge, from basics to advanced use.

Highly recommendable.

I am a piano player looking to learn the organ. This book is great and details everything that you need to know concerning the draw bar/vibrato and Leslie settings on an organ. I have a B3 clone and have really benefitted from this text. The book also covered many differnent styles of organ playing which was an added bonus.

Great instruction and simple to understand advise. You need to have at least a basic understanding of reading music. The CD is a great aid to the book so don't buy one if it's not included.

This book is really well done, in that it explains in detail all the controls and idiosyncracies of the Hammond organs and then presents a series of musical exercises to illustrate. The musical exercises though aren't for begginers... they are more for intermediate to advanced players I would say... so for experienced players looking to get into the "tone-wheel" sound it is perfect... absolute beginners though will need to work up to this.

This product makes it easy to see how many of the classic Hammond sounds are made. The explanations, photos, and cd are excellent ways to learn. Now I just have to make time to practice them.

Great book. The excercises are all good to know techniques across multiple syles. Very solid voicings and good explanations. This book will keep me busy for awhile.