Is it possible to play an octave tuned harmonica like a hammond organ?

[bartlettbooks]

I have always been a fan of Booker T. Jones and his hammond organ playing and I am wondering if it would be possible to emulate his organ playing on an octave tuned harmonica.  I have never played an  octave harp  and was  wondering if it is possible to get a sound reasonably close to a  Hammond organ.


          Thanks       Bob Rice

[David Thomas]

Hi Bob
This is how my Seydel Octave Harp sounds ie very organ type sound. I shot this video in an underground munitions bunker which has very good acoustics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMdRh66TF9U&list=PLoSHKP3nCywcAcYt6k_DbdPxkHHEpt43G&feature=share&index=7

[gvelasco]

I have always been a fan of Booker T. Jones and his hammond organ playing and I am wondering if it would be possible to emulate his organ playing on an octave tuned harmonica.  I have never played an  octave harp  and was  wondering if it is possible to get a sound reasonably close to a  Hammond organ.


          Thanks       Bob Rice

I'm ASSuming you mean a Hammond B3. Much of the classic sound of the B3 actually comes from the use of Leslie speakers. If you figured out a way to play your octave harmonica through Leslie speakers you would go a long way toward simulating the sound of a B3. There are electronic effects pedals that simulate the sound of Leslie speakers which produce a variable speed combination of phase shifting and tremolo because of the physical movement of the horns.

Another aspect of the tone of the B3 comes from the tone wheels used to generate the tones. The each key activates pickups positioned next to tone wheels.



The shape of the bumps on the tone wheels determines the series of overtones, that is the timbre, of the sound that is generated. If the bumps are triangular shaped, then the tonewheel will generate a triangle wave. If they are rounded, then it will generate a sine wave. If they are square, then it will generate a square wave. If they are sawtooth shaped, it will generate a sawtooth wave. The Hammond B3 and its offspring were designed to emulate a pipe organ which is almost pure sine waves.  We only get one choice on the harmonica, and unfortunately it's not a sine. Free reed instruments like the harmonica and the accordion produce a very complex wave pattern different from an open or closed "pipe" like a flute, a clarinet, or the pipes of a church organ.

Finally, the B3 has a huge range of octaves all the way from 16 foot pipes for the pedals to 1 foot pipes for the upper register. Most octave harmonicas have a comparatively puny three octave range starting at middle C.

[bartlettbooks]

I had not realized that the organ he plays was so complex.  I had read that the octave harp has a sound like an  organ and I just wondered if it could be made to sound like a hammond.  Not  in volume of course.  Oh well back to another idea.

                                      Bob

[dougharps]

Leslie speakers are expensive and heavy to load in and out of a performance.  However, there are pedals that emulate rotary speakers.  I have read varying reviews.  Richard Hunter likes the Digitech units.  Some effects offer an octave or two octaves below the pitch of a reed that is being played (POG).  I have not tried these effects, though I have heard recordings.

Using an effects pedal, an octave harmonica, or just playing a chromatic or diatonic harmonica using tongue blocking to get octaves can help give a more full sound.  Usually octaves are likened to an accordion sound. 

I occasionally have played songs using octaves and chords on chromatic through a tube amp with tremolo, and adding vibrato technique as needed to approximate an organ.  It is close enough for my needs.  I have a friend who plays diatonic and often brings Leslie speakers. I havent heard him play octaves through them, though they do sound more organ like than through an amp or PA. 

These effects and techniques can sound pretty good, but in my opinion, such effects are best used occasionally, on a song or two a set at most. 

[smojoe]

Your sound is easy enough to explain. First of all the bunker is metal lined. Secondly it is rippled. Thirdly it is a half circle. Fourthly it has cement ends and floor. It is (basically) a buried 'Quonset Hut'' prefab building. Sooo, your sound waves...already doubled up by the reed design...is bouncing around on the ripples very much like the tone generator wheels of a Leslie system. And YOU are the drive wheel. Another case solved by the "They that say"

smokey-joe

[drshock]

I got a good Hammond rotary type sound after tweaking a Line 6 Pod unit.
The Boss RT-20 is also good
The real key though, IMHO, is to listen to a lot of organ players ( like Jimmy Smith ) to get the phrasing and riffs