Reeding101 - Chapter 3 - Playing Techniques

This is a simple tutorial for the North American suction reed organ, also known as the pump organ, called Playing Tecniques. It looks at 3 ways to enhance your playing: (1) how to stop those reed organ keys from chattering, (2) how to do a glissando without requiring medical attention and (3) different ideas for the sub bass.
Not all suggestions that I have might be applicable for your reed organ, but if it can help just one person only I'll be happy :)

[@tommy111949]

I was so very excited when I discovered you on You Tube!!! I was delighted to hear you play. It brought back memories of the Dominion 2 manual, full pedal board organ in my home Church. It had long since disappeared. It had so much character and such a variety of voices. I own a small Dominion parlour organ which I have partially restored. Thank-you again...

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I wish that organ can be fixed

[@cecilspianos]

Thanks for another great video! As always, great job playing and instructing. You should consider putting these all together on a DVD. I would buy it! (Please keep posting them on KZbin also, though!) Can't wait to see the next Chapter!

[@DSM1G90]

Love the sound of the 16' Subass to where it can almost parallel the sound of a good 16' Bombarde stop when using the right fingering and touch ... as with the piece by Bach "Come sweet death" Excellent !

[@jkmek99]

Great video! I especially enjoyed the cross-sections of the organ action!

[@jozg44]

Another wonderful demonstration of genuine musicianship! You've made me wish my organ had a proper sub-bass on it now.

[@lindeman1913]

Well done! another enjoyable and informative video; now I understand my "sub-bass" better, and how to use it well. Looking forward to the next instalment; also, wondering whether you could consider some simple "how to dismantle and maintain" films?

[@paulj0557tonehead]

That 1st organ looks like a Ft Wayne Packard. I found one in pieces, but kept the lid, stops, and ornaments. I'm sure it was a lower level instrument, but from 1878The only thing I have with reeds is a T-Shape accordion and a melodica. Oh', and a 1946 Wurlitzer Orgatron, but these are 'keyed reeds' and electrostatically charged resulting in variable capacitance between the oscillating tine and the strategiacally placed pick-ups for voices Okay, so now I'll watch and learn...thanks for uploading.

[@ChucklesKeys]

Rodney, Another GREAT video! WOW! I wish my reed organ sounded like your Berlin.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Some Reed Organs have Bass Pedals like a Pipe Organ so you can play them the same way as a Pipe Organ. Piano Cased Reed Organs often have the same range as a Piano & you can play them very much like a Piano while getting a Reed Organ sound

[@harpsichordkid]

Another great video!

[@krzysztofwaleska]

Incredible! I never heard that instrument. It is on the choir of our church, but even when main pipe organs was in restoration they wasn't used. Speakers, laptop, midi keyboard and power amplifier was used insted. Does anybody heard reed organs in church? Are there of any use today except of enthusiasts?

[@JamesEncliffe]

as always, wonderful & very useful. LOL "bionic" !!!

[@CryTears1]

One of my favorite numbers...Bach longed to see his savior after his wife died....a lot of people think this song is morbid, i think because of the title, but it really is mistranslated, is "Come Sweet Jesus"...i don't think Bach wanted to die as the song title suggests, but is more of Bach longing for Jesus to come and this life be over. For me, playing on my pump organ, I can control the music by less pumping and then emphasizing in other areas and is why i love my old antique Cottage Organ...sadly its developed a bad leak and all the G keys stick...but I'm pretty good at fixing things...i took the back off, hooked up our house vacuum and now I can play...but I worry if i'm harming it with too much suction? and those sticking keys....oh my....need to find one thats already reconditioned...i'm going to go nuts without having it broken down....I love Virgil Fox playing Come Sweet Death on that famous organ...Wannamaker?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

What's that Opening piece of music?

[@simonjonathan3359]

thumbs up before watching

[@simonjonathan3359]

laugh at 1.30

[@Haggismaker]

Thank you very much for a fascinating insight into reed organs. We've just had our 90-year-old instrument lovingly restored and it's to be installed this weekend back in its place at our local church. I don't know who the manufacturer was, but I'll post it soon. I'm a pianist and will be expected to play it, and your tutorials have helped enormously. Just one question, the church is not heated, and it's about -5 there just now and generally pretty humid. Will that matter much? Thank you for your help.

[@ReedOrgans]

Congratulations on getting the organ restored! If the restoration used original and natural materials that the builders used, the organ will be fine in -5 temperatures. The problem is with dampness where condensation forms, or sudden changes in humidity. Most of these organs were made for expansion/contraction, and survived for many years in unheated churches. The organ in this video was one of those, and could still lead congregational singing after almost 100 years with very little maintenance. Feel free to send a message if you record the video! Rodney

[@baritonebynight]

I wish I had a sub bass....but I'm too attached to my little two rank organ to ever part with it.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Why not switch to a bigger one w/ Bass Pedals? The Sub Bass Reeds are controlled w/ Bass Pedals

[@Knappa22]

Hi Rodney - what is the piece you are playing on the digital organ at 0:24 - 0.48?

[@user-74652]

+Knappa22 Bach's organ concerto in A minor, BWV 593, transcribed from Vivaldi RV 522.

[@stephengriffin9778]

Where did you get that T-shirt?! I want one!

[@Pentatonus]

I like your explanations very much. Just got a harmonium (Mannborg) as a gift and now i want to play in a proper manner. Your videos will help :-) What's the music in the intro/outro of your videos?

[@Pentatonus]

Ok, i found it, because i asked for it somewhere else.

[@ReedOrgans]

Pentatonus Sorry, I didn't get notified of your original message. The music is March, from Scipio, by Handel. It lends itself really good for reed organ.

[@decimaquinta69]

Eccellente