Drawbars are ENERGY in a song. In this lesson using the classic pop song "Better Be Home Soon" by Crowded House, I'll show you how to use the drawbars in a track!
There are keyboard players.....and there are "Hammond" players. There are things the Hammond does that can't be done on anything else. When I try to explain this to some people they don't understand.......till they hear it. Thanks man.
This is a FANTASTIC VIDEO! Drawbar settings tutorials only ever show you places to start and end, I've never been able to find a video that taught how to use them dynamically like this. THANK YOU SO MUCH
Wow, you are a legend! I'm finally understanding where to kick on the leslie and how to use the different drawbars. You and your organ have a lot of soul.👍
In the mid 70s I played in a band for a living for a couple years. One day Ray Charles came to our town and they needed an organ for the show. Our keyboard player had a B-3 at home and he let them use it. Don't know if Ray actually played it at all but your Jon Lord story reminded me of this. Too bad our keyboard player didn't get Ray to sign his B-3 like yours. As a big Deep Purple fan, I really enjoyed your Jon Lord story.
Absolutely brilliant video and demonstration Mike. As a piano player who just bought an organ, this is invaluable since it’s an overwhelming jump to make.
Really nice! So refreshing to see/hear more than just the 888000000 registration. I think there are 253 million possible drawbar combinations. Let's use 'em! Also, give a close listen to Joachim Young's playing on Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle". He's a master of tone-shaping on the Hammond.
Thank you :) I am doing a full break down of Fly Like An Eagle for my online course. I consider that to be one of the greatest B3 tracks of all time.. It was a HUGE influence on me as a young player. Thanks for watching!!
@@UniverseofKeys I just discovered this, but I'm sure you're already aware of the isolated Hammond track. It's here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9GBFqHbD1aE.html
That was a perfect approach for this style. 100% I have gotten a lot of mileage out of 16’ or 8’ in exactly the same way. Thank you for demonstrating this approach in a real-time application. Great job.
Playing organ since mid 70’s and still love learning from guys like Mike. Drawbar settings can make or break a track. Great video and haunting vibes. Thanks so much
Right on! I had an XK1c on the road w me for about 5 years, loved it and it served me well :) If you are looking for more Hammond content check out my online course at www.universeofkeys.com Thanks for checking out my page!
Thanks, Mike! As a curious guitarist who occasionally bashes at the keys & loves the B3 sound, I finally understand the drawbars -- after asking a couple B3 players. I'm thinking about adding 'virtual B3' to a recording, so the Crowded House playthrough was invaluable (also picked up a few tips from your Jon Lord video).
Love this video , the song that made me fall in love with the Hammond was “ id rather go blind “ on Rod stewarts Never a dull moment album . Ian Mclagan was my hero. I also love his Hammond work on Reason to Believe . He got the high notes to whistle up top. And of course who doesn’t love Billy Preston. I do love crowded house as well . The organ on “ Dont dream its over “ is legendary .
I travelled all the way from Canada to Austin to see Ian play. He was one of my heroes for sure!! Don't Dream It's Over is the reason I started playing Hammond. Mitchell Froom is a master. Thanks for checking it out!
Wow man, I absolutely loved this. This is exactly what I want for my pop-rock band. Too bad that you don't live here, and that I... don't have a band, but when I do (hopefully soon) I really would love to have a keyboardist like you. Loving what you do man, congrats!
I am glad this helped! Drawbars are actually quite fun and simple and can create so much emotion. All the best and thank you for checking out my channel Douglas! Mike
Such an awesome video! I'm not an organ player but I use the B3 all the time in my songs with simple chords and fills. I've never actually thought about using the drawbars with more finesse like this. Being primarily a guitar player I've had a habit of adding more drive to the amp when I wanted more energy, but this is also an excellent way to going about it. Thank you!
Thanks for the great master class! As a pianist, I thought of the registrations as setting the instrument and leaving it like that for a whole song. Was I ever wrong!
@@UniverseofKeys I am a theory knowledgeable plinker on the keys... but your videos could make me buy the new Hammond XK-4 and enroll in your life course....
Thanks I occasionally play a Korg cx3 and Gregg Allman was good with drawbars to go along with his understated playing with the guitars in the Allman Brothers Band
Excellent, seeing you demonstrate your intuitive way of using drawbars is really helpful. Lately, I've been just staying on first 3 or 4 stops all out and trying to use the volume pedal, but honestly, the way it responds to the volume pedal is really uneven and hard to get right (especially for a lapsed player like me--also on a clonewheel, btw). Using the drawbars instead for dynamic control was actually the way I used to do it when I started playing, because it just felt easier. Your playing really validates my original method! I also used to cut out my 16 and 8 by half to try for an almost e-piano type sound for rhythms. We had a really great bassist, so I often felt like I was just muddying things up with my 16 stop all out.
What got me into the Hammond was Boston´s first album which has some absolutely amazing organ work, with some dynamic changes that are not of this world. After many years playing in bands I finally managed to get the original, analog Korg CX-3 which I use to this day, through a tube pedal, Danelectro Spring King reverb and a Neo Ventilator II. It gives a pretty badass sound which is perfect for the classic rock covers I do with my band but the keyboard feel is lousy, impossible to do fast, precise solos or palm smears, so I´ll probably upgrade to something more modern when I can. I feel that using the drawbars is pretty intuitive. I usually use the first 4 pulled out, when there is a guitar solo I just use the 16 and 8 for a warmer, full sound that does not get in the way, and when it is my turn to solo I add a bit of brightness with the upper drawbars. Using just the odd-numbered drawbars gives a very sharp, eeire sound, almost like that of a transistor organ, which is useful for some Sixties´ stuff.
@@UniverseofKeys I bought the Hammond SkxPRO organ to learn how to play. I was having a hard time trying to figure out the drawbars, but you're videos explained them very well, now I understand how to use them.
The church I used to go to as a child had a huge pipe organ. A Clele D'Autrey (1973) .... but it is really a refurbished Wurlitzer Opus 42 from 1914. " originally from Seattle's Liberty Theatre, is Wurlitzer Opus 42 from 1914, the 42nd organ made by the factory. It is currently a 3/25, although it will most likely be a 3/30 or 3/31." gorgeous!
@@evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879 What an amazing instrument. I recently was in Mesa Arizona at Organ Stop Pizza and witnessed a very similar organ being played. It was awesome!! Thanks for sharing the vid :)
simply beautiful ~ nice swell pedal work as well ~ any chance of a camera insert of that as well? I'm always learning how to extract even more expression out of the volume pedal.
Best use of drawbars and Hammond organ in rock IMHO is on Steve Miller's Fly like an eagle. Who was that? Oh and BTW thanks for the online stuff Mike, you have a great teaching approach. I learnt Riders on the Storm through your video, a very generous share!
Just found your channel, watched this video and immediately subscribed to your channel. Great explanation of using the drawbars. I’m gonna search on my XK5 how I can get that nice warm overdrive. There’s an overdrive potmeter but it sounds to synthetic/electronic, or how should I tell you. Maybe I can try the valve sound settings in the menu but I still think that I won’t have your sound. Fyi I don’t have a leslie because my room is to small (I have too many guitars and a Kurzweil PC3K8). Question, are you using a 122 or a 147 leslie ? Best regards from Belgium.
Thank you so much for checking out the video!! The Leslie I use is a 145 (same amp as a 147 but a shorter cab). When I am using my clone on the road (which is a Yamaha YC61) I run it through a Neo Ventilator pedal. I swear by it, it has been with me for about 10 years and in my opinion it has the most natural overdrive and best rotary sim on the market. It sounds almost exactly like my 145. Also... 10 years on the road it has never broken down, expensive but worth every penny!!! Have a great day :)
Does anyone know the drawbar registrations, used in either Eric Clapton's "Give Me Strength" (organist was Dick Sims), and/or Janis Joplin's version of "Me & Bobby McGee"? I've been playing Hammonds for almost 37 years... different models & clones, but I've never quite gotten THE sound on either song... and to me, they both feature some of the most beautiful organ registrations I know...
Hello :) Here is something that may be helpful ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-M2w-ADJ4ALc.html I also have an online course with tons of blues coming tutorials www.universeofkeys.com hope this is helpful and all the best! Mike
Thanks for this video! Quick follow up question: why are there multiple sets of drawbars? Do they all do the same thing, or are they different in certain ways?
There are two sets of drawbars for each manual (4 sets of 9) and yes they all do the same thing. So you can set up two different sounds for each manual and change between them. I hope I am making sense ;) All the best, Mike
@@UniverseofKeys awesome, thanks for the clarification. I am assuming that "manual" is another word for "keybed" in this context? If that is correct, then I'm following what you're saying. (I come from the world of synths/keyboards, and am unfamiliar with organs)
I have limited times playing a real B but have played many clones. One thing that happens is that with a certain drawbar pulled out like the 8th, the second highest G note will be mega loud and if I'm on the ball I will push it in a couple of clicks while I'm playing that note. I never see a lesson on this and would like to see how a pro handles this. Or maybe it's only a clone issue.
Interesting!! You know I have a B3 that actually does the same thing, it's amazing how they all have quirky personalities! i just adapt to the "quirks" of different instruments over time and make the appropriate adjustments. I also try to enjoy the quirks and not let them drive me crazy, because sometimes you literally can't fix the issue. Thanks for your note!! Mike
Well I know that certain drawbars add 5th or maj 3rds from the note you’re playing. Does this clash when you’re playing minor chords? For example.. you add the drawbar that adds a maj 3rd and you’re hitting a G minor chord but it’s adding that B.
I think you might be talking about the Leslie switch? It turns the Leslie rotary speaker on either fast or slow speed. It creates a vibrato effect. Hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching!!
You would generally use the Leslie speed control to add and remove energy in much the same way as 'playing' the drawbars. If you are coming from a piano background, this may seem secondary, however it's a big part of the sound. There's a mental shift when moving from Piano to Hammond - you might be playing simpler voicings but the colour & movement comes from drawbars & Leslie changes. As much as I love the practicality of the clones, if you ever get the opportunity to be in the same room as a Hammond & Leslie you will understand the physicality of the sound. It will interact with the room & your ears in a way that can't be described.
Thank you! Try adjusting the tone on the AO28 amp or the volume, also re capping the AO28 amp can make a huge difference to brightness. Other things to try would be to re tube leslie and organ, tubes have alot of character and can drastically change tone. Hope this helps and Happy New Year. Mike
@@UniverseofKeys Hi Mike, Happy new year for you as well! I recapped/retubed the AO28 and the vibrato unit long time ago, made not much difference (but the hum went away!). Then I got my hands on a Trek II Solid State Amp and swaped the AO28. After that, I recapped the generator with new caps from an US specialist. That was a big improvement, but still too lifeless. The next logical step would be readjusting the generator magnets - but I'm a bit scared of that work though. Until then, I'm happily listen to better sounding organs online ;-)
In my opinion you're a little too rough on the organ sliding like that. Maybe you should check out how Nat King Cole did it, and he slid on piano keys waaay more. smoother.
You have to keep in mind that modern Hammond organ players are inspired by Jon Lord and Keith Emerson. All I can say is, if you feel he was being a little rough on the organ... then DO NOT check out Keith Emerson's famous live punishment of his Hammonds... You'll probably have a heart attack.
@@UniverseofKeys Thank you. You know… now that you mention it, I’ve heard the name Crowded House before; I just never knew anything about them, or what they played. Now I’ve broadened my horizons just a bit.
cool so more drawbars more prescense , less drawbars more subtle , some drawbars give more bass and some more trebble , thanks for the simple explanation mate , cheers 🥸
