Sunday, March 22, 2009

Playing the Organ is fun!

By Bryan Smith

Although there are many people that think that if they can play the piano then they can manage to play the organ without any adjustment, they are wrong. Other than the keyboard, there are very few other similarities between the anatomy of the organ and that of the keyboard.

Have you ever heard the rich, harmonious sound that comes from the organ during Sunday Service? This is done by the organ player using their feet on the pedals, which produce the low-pitched bass line to help to bring the sounds of the organ alive. This is entirely different from the two pedals that a piano player uses when playing the piano.

There is a unique art in playing the organ, one that you too can develop with a little help and knowledge of the organ itself. The first thing to know is the difference in the pedals that you will use when you are playing the organ. The pedals range in keys from C, D, E, F, G, A and B, and shorter, higher keys for C#, D#, F#, G# and A#. This is imperative to know, otherwise your magnificent selection that you have decided to play on the organ may result in the sound of a woman screaming.

If you truly want to learn how to play the organ, go out and purchase a small organ and make sure that you purchase one that has the foot pedals. Experimenting with different types of music is the key here. If you already know how to play the piano then you should either know how to read music or play by ear, if not both. Try playing some of your favorite music on the organ. How did it feel? How did it sound? Unless you already know how to play the organ, it probably sounded pretty awful. Nevertheless, you have accomplished one goal. You have acquired some new knowledge, and that is the first step in making a huge difference.

Sure, you can play piano music on an organ, but it will sound different. The best way is to experiment with the various foot pedals to see which sounds better, and learn that way. If you are able to sort out the various keys on the pedals to find out which keys sound best when playing the organ then you are well on your way to learning how to play the organ.

Additionally, you could also purchase a DVD which contains organ lessons on it. Because most people are better able to learn by watching instruction, be sure to watch how the person plays the organ. Watch their footwork, how they hold their feet on certain pedals. Listen to how the music sounds. By taking the time to practice, you too will eventually be able to play the organ like this.

The one thing to remember is that it took some time to learn how to play the piano, and similarly it will also take you some time to learn how to play the organ. If you really want to accomplish this goal, make sure that you are in the right frame of mind. Do not get discouraged as nothing is accomplished overnight. Nevertheless, if you truly want to learn, you will soon find that you too will be playing the organ. - 2361

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