Farfisa Organ Magic: Recreating Classic Tones on the Nord Stage 4

Hey there, it's Marc from My Keys to Music. Today, I'm diving into the world of the Farfisa organ, a classic transistor organ that's made its mark in music history. I'm stoked to show you how you can emulate its iconic sound using Nord Electro or Stage keyboards like the Nord Stage 4.
Before we dive in, let me give you a heads up about my new course, "Master the Nord Stage 4," available on my website, www.mykeystomu.... It's packed with over 125 lessons and 25+, hours of video content covering everything you need to know about your keyboard, with insights from my 38+ years of playing live.
These sounds are also available on my Patreon page.
🔗 Link to the Farfisa video featured in this video: • FARFISA - The Mother o...
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[@FranklyNorman]

If you're wondering about the Bennie And The Jets chord, it's actually an interesting story. The Fmaj7 at the top was a total accident in the studio, Elton just happened to come in a bar early. But it got Gus Dudgeon to thinking that it SOUNDED like he was cueing a band. So, he decided to make the studio version a fake live recording, and he added in the crowd noise and the slap/verb. Then, when Elton DID play it live, he often started with that chord as a joke. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@FranklyNorman Love this story! I had to listen closely to the song again to see where the live audience was spliced in. It's very cool that they did this with the engineer putting his artistic footprint on the song. The hand claps add something too.

[@JJamJ]

Wow! I learnt to play the organ on the Farfisa. Also had the Vox organ too which I wish I had not sold. Thanks for the vid 👍

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@JJamJ JJ! I love the fact that you learned to play on a Farfisa - I've never even seen one in person! My first "real boards" were the Roland D-50 and the Roland SH 101.

[@johnselig8261]

That was Great! Says Neil Young Tribute Drummer in Vegas!

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@johnselig8261 Thank you John! And cool that you are drummer in Vegas. 👍🏻

[@camodude51]

good job

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@camodude51 This was a fun one to do and I learned a lot in the process...🎹

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

A full lesson on Bennie would be great,you’ve got those licks down perfectly.

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@robertmichalscheck3072 Thanks for the compliment. Although I don't have a full lesson planned, you can check out this version, which looks to be very good as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g37VZH6ga8RkeM0feature=shared

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

@@MyKeysToMusic great thx,gotta wait til I get my keyboard but will watch for now,👍

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@@robertmichalscheck3072 Got It! 🏄🏻‍♂

[@DavidEllis-rw1of]

Sounds just like the Farfisa I had. Great lesson.

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@DavidEllis-rw1of David! It is so good to hear that it replicates a real Farfisa well. Brings back memories, I'm sure...

[@timn6811]

Thank You! I just enrolled in the Stage 4 course! Awsome work! Love it! WHOOO HOOOO

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@timn6811 That's awesome, Tim! Thanks for enrolling and enjoy the course (and your Nord Stage 4)!

[@mckreunski]

Great review! Thanks again Marc, You really make making music fun!

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@mckreunski Hello Cees! So happy to hear from you. Thanks for your support!

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

Damn,those Bennie variation chords were perfect,I’m gonna learn those off this vid,thx👍

[@MyKeysToMusic]

👍

[@DiegoBezerraMusicKeyboard]

Hello, I would like your opinion, I migrated from stage 3 to stage 4, but I am not able to get the same sound in the organ generator! It seems to me that stage 3 sounded better! I would like your opinion!

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@DiegoBezerraMusicKeyboard Hello Diego! So, technically speaking, the Organ engine has the same root sounds generation components (at least on paper). For the NS4 specifically, if you add the Compressor effect it adds a LOT to the volume and to the overall sound presence. Additionally, I tend to put the EQ on and enhance the treble just a touch. I find that these two settings along can make a world of difference for the organs. You may want to experiment with different reverbs too. For example, when you use a Room reverb on the NS4, it feels completely different than any of the reverbs on the Stage 3 - and I'm not sure I like it better or not at this point. So, yes, even though the root components are the same, the end sound needs a touch of enhancement. Let me know how things go on your end if you can...

[@沈秦宇]

hi，Mike，Do you know How can I use the sync on the nord stage4 synth？

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@user-ox6hg4mj3z By "sync," I assume you mean to say that you want to plug in a MIDI-compatible controller device (like a drum machine or software from a computer) to drive the MIDI clock and thereby "sync" the tempo on the Nord Stage 4? Although I don't have an actual video of this for the Nord Stage 4 at this time here on KZbin, I do have a variety of videos in my master class on my website where we go deep into all the sync options for the Nord Stage 4: www.MyKeysToMusic.com In the meantime, you can get a general sense of syncing Nord keyboards (the same concepts apply) if you watch my Erasure video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ7SemyBbs-AedUfeature=shared And another here where I sync to the Arpeggiator on a Nord Stage 3 from Logic Pro: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qInPlphojMZrn5Ifeature=shared And here is where I sync a Boss RC 505 Loop station to a Nord Stage 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moXEqWpqqquJfNUfeature=shared

[@沈秦宇]

@@MyKeysToMusic thank you Mike！

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@@沈秦宇 Happy to help. FYI my official name is "Marc" but for some reason, many people call me Mike LOL. 🤷🏻‍♂

[@gabrielmoore6099]

So I know the Nord organ has bass pedals, is it possible for me to use it for the stage 4? I see people use bass pedals on the Electro 6d, I want to get a set for my stage 4

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@gabrielmoore6099 The Stage 4 is fully compatible with bass pedals. These days bass pedals are connected via MIDI.

[@keyboardplayer6521]

Mark, where did we get to on a program for WHFA (The Who) for NS4 88 we discussed a few days ago? Remember, it's all I want... We menetined a Patreon pack of 3 /6 / 12 songs, as an income stream for you.

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@keyboardplayer6521 Good news. I have this sound available for individual sale now here: www.patreon.com/MyKeysToMusic/shop/who-wont-get-fooled-again-ns4-264226?Link& FYI: Also, at this time, I'm not making bundles or sound packs, but today, I have just turned on individual pricing for most (if not all) of the posts on my Patreon page that include downloadable files for either the Nord Wave 2, Stage 3, or Stage 4. Note that not all sounds cover all keyboards as these "posts" were not originally intended to be a warehouse of sound collections, but rather individual lessons about a particular song discovery that happens to also have a download for the board. In any case, thanks for inspiring me to move in this direction as I think it will be good for those who just want the sound without the training.

[@johnscott4693]

@@MyKeysToMusic thx - after a hard, 2am gig finish last night I'm just in bed (GMT London is 10pm).... must be getting old 🤣🤣 Will buy in the morning, and on Friday my Guitarist and Bassist (who both Play in a well know [soft rock] band you will know...) will have an orgasm - as they've always wanted to play it. I owe you, and unexpectedly for me ... I'll even pay! Thank you

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@@johnscott4693 Great! Let me know how it goes. The post also includes a link to a video demo to see exactly how it's done (it's here too: kzbin.infoSwVZWTlSYTo?si=9yhBwvqfoLhpJZ2W). You may have to rehearse the timing a bit since you're playing against the arpeggiator.

[@johnscott4693]

@@MyKeysToMusic Should be ok, it's an easy number, played before (I do this full time). Chopin Nocturne in Db ... now, that's a difficult number. 😉

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@@johnscott4693 Chopin Nocturne in Db: I listened to that today to refresh my memory of it. Ya, not an easy selection.

[@RichKielbasa]

I don't know if you heard, but Bob Heil died on February 28, 2024 😢 🎛️🎚️🐷 📻

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@RichKielbasa Hi Rick. How sad is that! I hadn't heard this news but have been using his mic since 2017. It has been rock solid - simply magnificent quality and I use this mic for nearly everything when it comes to talking head videos or training when I'm at the computer.

[@RichKielbasa]

@@MyKeysToMusic If new get time, bookmark this Playlist of a recent into with Bob Heil and his passion for audio quality, music, and ham radio. kzbin.info/aero/PLciQmeEv5vON2nLzmwVYOvKs-BX7ttkwK&si=AO-qjanHTwTNDIme

[@glyemhouse5590]

You spend too much time talking about the instrument and too little time actually playing it. I wanted to hear what the old Farfisa organs used to sound like. Your video is more of a tutorial on the Nord Stage 4 than anything else.

[@MyKeysToMusic]

@glyemhouse5590 You are correct. This is a Nord keyboard training channel more than it is a Farfisa appreciation channel. Here's a few videos I found for you which you may have already seen by now): All playing and no talking: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn6Tpqtupq2YmZofeature=shared And this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5Pbk4F-r5yiiNUfeature=shared and this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYbTdXeMaZWJiskfeature=shared

[@keyboardplayer6521]

WGFA

[@MyKeysToMusic]

www.patreon.com/MyKeysToMusic/shop/who-wont-get-fooled-again-ns4-264226?Link&