Discover the Perfect Left Hand Bass line & Simple Melody on a Blues in Bb for Hammond Organ

[@DrLumpyDMus]

We hear Frank doing something lots of really good musicians do. He sings what he's playing. Not unlike what George Benson did in his take on "Masquerade". Singing what you play indicates you KNOW the note you're about to play. It's a wonderful way to practice that I learned 60 years ago. It doesn't take long to get comfortable with it. And it's not dependent on you being a beautiful singer. It turns solos from "I have to hit the 7th then the 3rd" to "I'm going to hit the notes that go DOO-BAH". Thanks Frank. "Da doo ba DOO bahh dooo".

[@frankmontis]

Ha Craig, love this comment and I agree and think it is the way to tell a story , whether you can sing or not. You learn how to breathe too.! Thanks ! 🙏

[@frankmontis]

Thanks Craig, it is what I try to do for sure. I do believe that George Benson is doing it too, but maybe he can just sing more complicated lines . Singing your solos whether you can sing or not always helps your ‘story’ and even your breathing while you play. It’s serves multiple purposes to sing.

[@silverlicious2086]

Nice demonstration Frank. I like your drawbar graphic video transitions. Very creative. Quick story for you. I met J McGriff several times. Very first time was here in Cincinnati about 35 years ago. I found out he was playing a very small club here. I think maybe 100 people max. I was young and lived in an apartment just down the street form the club. So I walked down early to get a good seat. I was standing around outside the club about 2 hours early and all of a sudden out of nowhere a black 1955 Cadillac Hearse rolled into the parking lot right near where I was standing. I had no idea what was going on. Jimmy was driving it. He gets out with several of his band members and says to me, can you help me something. I follow him to the back of the hearse and he opens up the back door and said grab the organ. We all pulled the B-3 out (without the bottom legs) and carry it into the club. The B-3 was closed up and looked like a casket. Haha! They bring the legs in and we set the B-3 on the legs. I sat about 3 feet to the left of him during the whole show. Had a perfect view of the keys and his hands. I remember him playing a rendition of "Teach Me Tonight" that I will never forget. The whole show was incredible and he had people in tears at the end. Will never forget it. By the way, I met with J Smith 6 different times and even gave him a lift to his hotel once, in between sets, to change his shirt. Smith was and still is my hero. First met Smith in Detroit long time ago. Smith remembered me years later when he saw me at a club here and said "Dave, I need a quick lift to my hotel to change my shirt". I was almost in disbelief he remembered me by my name. I was very fortunate and grateful to meet and know both players. My favorite key to play in is E flat. Best wishes from Cincinnati, USA.

[@frankmontis]

Wow Dave, thanks a lot for sharing this story, makes me feel like I’m actually part of Hammond history here. I saw Jimmy Smith twice as a young boy, once with Jimmy McGriff. 2 Hammonds, 4 leslies in stage. I will never forget the energy. And who knows, it may very well be the reason that I do what I do. Thanks again for sharing!

[@maskkottube]

wow, what a story! i ve been listening to Jimmy Smith since i was 7, because my father used to play his tunes - and i am 50 now) its a shame i didn`t know J McGriff until today because of this video. Once (2002 or 2003) i was in Los Angeles and overheard a conversation that Jimmy Smith was playing at some small club - i thought that i just needed to get there and witness the magic and get an autograph for my father, but i didnt have a car, so a friend gave me his - and - i failed to find the club, can you believe that?) i was so close) and i`m a guitar player from moscow, russia, mostly playing grunge/metal , but i still cannot live without listening to J Smith tunes once in a while)

[@markr8326]

That's a super cool riff. Please can you consider creating some Bb Blues etudes Frank ,or a full Bb Blues tutorial.

[@frankmontis]

Oh yes, will consider that for sure !

[@rengertijhuisQualityOfLife]

Yessss! I love mcgriff too ❤️. Nice lick ❤

[@marshalmcdonald7476]

Tasty stuff to use here. Thanks for your concise instruction.

[@frankmontis]

You’re welcome! Taking requests for tutorials atm!

[@jackblack3886]

That bass run adds so much. I'm inspired to try. Great video. Thank you!

[@frankmontis]

Thanks Jack! Enjoy the try!

[@Danny-nm9sn]

I have that album too Jimmy McGriff live where the action's at! It sounds like I'm like you - I've got more Jimmy McGriff albums than any other organist! I got to see him live a bunch of times with Hank Crawford when the two of them came to St Louis and I'm not too far from there. I used to play jazz guitar but I hurt my shoulder and now I'm looking to play the organ. I messed around in fact I played some in church accompanying a missionary baptist choir. Not an easy gig for a white man to get but my guitar playing got me in there my friend used to be the organist. But he had to "go away for awhile" and I jumped in and started playing the organ. Anyway I'm hoping to get their new small portable model and start jamming around in my house. I hit the subscribe button. Thanks for the lesson!

[@frankmontis]

Hi Danny, thanks for sharing your story here! I probably still have more Jimmy Smith albums though just because he has so many and I have to have ‘em all. But Jimmy McGriff is a close second and I love them all! Thank you for subscribing! Really appreciate it!

[@oldmannewman]

Fantastic! Thank you for the lesson Frank!!

[@frankmontis]

🙏

[@ImpliedMusic]

gold.

[@frankmontis]

Thanks !

[@B3-R]

Frank thanks for this lesson,by the way know you use the Mojo,and I have the Mojo Desktop,if is not to much for you, would you share your settings from this video? Would be very thankful.

[@frankmontis]

Hi Rudy, I don’t use the Mojo anymore, so in this video I use the Hammond SkPro on a 142 Leslie .

[@B3-R]

@@frankmontis well , what I knew was for a long time ago, any way thanks.Question & Opinions: is the Hammond SkPro more realistic sound to the original Hammond?, Thanks

[@frankmontis]

@@B3-R To me all clonewheels out there at the moment have their pro’s and cons, so I guess it’s coming down to personal preferences. I love my Hammond Xk5 on a real Leslie. And the SkPro too. I’m not a big fan of Leslie simulations. I never leave home without my Leslie. Without it I don’t like many of the clonewheels, especially with the Leslie on fast. There are things I like about the sound of the Mojo, it has character even without Leslie but with the Leslie in fast I don’t like the sound either. Same goes for all brands in my opinion. I prefer the drive of the Mojo over the SkPro, but on a real Leslie I don’t use that so much. So, like I said, personal preferences mostly. The reverb on the skpro could be better too, but same goes for the one in the Mojo.

[@B3-R]

@@frankmontis thanks again ,as you said is a matter of preferences, I have also a Mini Ventilator since a couple of years ,but yet didn't try it on the Mojo, as about a Leslie never try any , in an apparment house isn't so suitable to play open.umfortunately. I'm not a Profi, but a passionate organ player since many years.thank you for your evaluation.

[@msclvr2]

Really appreciate all your tutorial videos, Frank! You do such a great job of pulling out a small, but meaningful concept that can be applied universally in my playing. And, more than that, you demonstrate it at the right level so that both beginners and more advanced players can get something out of it. Thank you for posting!!

[@frankmontis]

Thanks Dave! Appreciate your words! See you on Zoom!

[@AiryusOnline]

rad grooves bro! +1 sub!

[@frankmontis]

Thanks 🙏 , will keep ‘em coming !

[@martijnlie-hap-po9611]

hey coole video ...zou ook Bb tof zijn om mss te laten zien hoe je die f als opmaatje in het ritme van de baslijn doet

[@studioopinions5870]

Update: OOPs! I looked at your channel, and found out you do know Green Onions! My Bad, I will watch it, and comment. Terry

[@studioopinions5870]

Wow! that Bass line has a sort of Blues or Boogie effect to it. Nice and it makes me want to try that. Question, Do you know how to play the song called: Green Onions? That song is by Booker T. Jones, If you haven't heard it, look it up on youtube the one by NPR music radio. I would love to see you play that, and perhaps one day, I can learn it. Terry

[@frankmontis]

Ha! Thanks, yes I made a video about it long time ago. It was mostly about the drawbar settings though, I didn’t play the exact notes, but I never do that 😀

[@studioopinions5870]

@@frankmontis I just finished watching it, I left a comment, and yes it seems exactly like it. (smiles) Terry

[@pacocasanovas1605]

Hey Frank - your tutorial let me start on the organ about 3 months ago..... as you know I'm an absolute beginner (I'm a guitarist just started playing organ) but willing to learn everything I can get..... currently I'm taking piano lessons to improve my non existing technique..... I made my own version of your mcgriff inspired blues - here is it! -> kzbin.infozKo6uMFjUws?si=1EsIP7qLF0myhzo8

[@frankmontis]

That is great to read ! I noticed you implemented this into your video. Great job and of course: Keep going !