The Cat (Jimmy Smith) - Short slower tempo version - Nord C1 Hammond B-3 Clonewheel Organ Clavia

[wvmm94]

Hi Rounder!

I just started to play the hammond organ, so now I have two questions.

I'm playing on a Hammond L122, and unlike by your Nord C1, the upper keys sound a lot louder then the lower keys! Is that normal or is my hammond broken?

And the setting 'Chorus C2', is that something that can only be done on a Nord, or is there also a way to manage this on my Hammond?

Thanks a lot, and i really like your vids!

[rounder2u]

Hi wvmm

Thanks!

I suggest you get in touch with an old Hammond tech hand in your area to get 100% accurate answers, as I can't give you more than general answers here.

The Nord C1 (and C2) is modelled after the Hammond B-3/C-3 and it might well be the case that your L122 doesn't have all three Chorus settings like the B-3/C3 has.

The L122 also have fewer tonewheels than the B-3/C-3 which unfortunately gives it a bit 'weaker' sound. Still a great organ though!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[jazz383841]

why dont use you thump on left hand?

[rounder2u]

Hi jazz

When I play this kind of bass line pattern, basically alternating between the root and the fifth (below) I find it

1) most natural and

2) with the least mental effort for me,

to use the index finger for the root and the little finger for the fifth.

(for other bass line patterns I use the thumb)

I won't stretch is as far as saying that a certain fingering is right and another fingering is wrong. It may be different for other players.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[numanuma20]

I have some question for you. This is like a mini interview:

1. Do you use pedals when you play?

2. Have you always played the organ or

have/can you played other keyboard instruments as well (piano, synth, harpsichord, clavinet ect)

3. Is the organ easy to transfer from the piano? Do I have to learn a whole other instrument?

[rounder2u]

Hi numanuma

My mini-answers :-)

1. No.

2. Not always, since like 2008. Fiddling with keyboards a bit. Keyboards/piano/organ is not my main/first instrument.

3. Not easy but sure possible! In jazz organ the left/right hand independence is extremely important, as you play the bass with your left. Also many specific jazz organ techniques (please, check out my 5 min version of 'The Cat' for a number of those).

PS. Rule No. 1. in jazz organ: The left hand is The Boss!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[jymcaputo]

hey Rounder.....don't give a hoot about what Redbull has to say. Redbull's the kind of player who's all talk. If he had any balls, he'd come to Phx and I'd school his low life ass in how to swing. You keep working at your craft. And remember, there's always someone somewhere who can probably kick our asses. Redbull can't swing and he probably has a tiny weenie.

[rounder2u]

Hi jymcaputo

Well, I now my shortcomings - a humongous list, by the way :-)and are practicing, and hopefully improving that lovely but quite elusive thing called 'swing'. So you are right, I keep working :-)

And listening to those Masters: J.O.S, Joey DeFrancesco, Jimmy McGriff, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, and quite a few more.

Keep Phx swinging!

Rounder

[redbull101991]

Dude, you play that in a way too stiff way. You need to relax to play like Jimmy :3 Your hands shoulda be swingin!

[rounder2u]

Hi redbull

The list of what I have to do and what I have to improve to be able to play like The Incredible, J.O.S - Jimmy Smith is to long to be covered even if I wrote a book about it :-)

I hope and believe though that these are the notes Jimmy Smith played during the melody in his truly great orginal 1964 recording with the Lalo Schifrin big band arrangement. If I have managed to reach that goal, and thereby might be helping others learn this song I'm happy with that.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[Denvermorgan2000]

Ok i kinda figured it might be the reason nice playing i like the jimmy smith sound i saw you have some very good videos i will have to watch some more of them :-)

[rounder2u]

Thanks Denvermorgan!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[Denvermorgan2000]

I dont mean to be a critic but shouldnt you turn the organ on i noticed

that the clav is not even turned on.

[rounder2u]

Hi Denvermorgan

I promise I will remember to turn on the organ next time I do a recording! :-)

Anyway, the explanation is simple. I 'floodlight' when I record to get as clear picture as possible, but floodlight makes LED's difficult to see.

I had less lights on some of my older uploads. E.g. my 'Double Driving Blues' was recorded in quite low light, and hence the LED's are more visible.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[Cocoschatz]

Hi rounder2u,

i love your videos with the correct playing fingers and the sound. Actually I would like myself to play green onions and the cat. Can you tell me something about you are playing this peaces? Im myself owner of a Yamaha P-120.

[rounder2u]

Thanks Cocoschatz!

I have sent my guide for learning how to play Green Onions to your YouTube message inbox. It's a lengthy 1700+ words text that also covers general playing tips. The tips in the guide for practicing and memorizing also applies to The Cat.

Dial in the 'Jazz Organ' setting at your P-120 and...

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[Jimb0678]

Again rounder, I can't thank you enough for providing these videos.

No messing around and a nice view of the keys, this helped me learn "The Cat" really quickly. When I get a camera I'll upload a version.

[rounder2u]

Hi Jimb

It's great that you had use of my video for learning the lovely Cat!

Btw, I saved the messing around for my full-length uptempo version :-)

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[Patrick19702210]

Love it , use to play organ back in the early eightys , looks like nord brings it all back , wanting me to buy one :)

Do u use the optional pedals ?

Patrick

[rounder2u]

Thanks Patrick!

Go for the Nord C2, the improved successor to the C1. You will have great fun and it is a tremendous instrument.

I'm not using the 'Pedal Keys 27' or any other pedal board today.

Keep swinging, or should I say start swinging again! :-)

Rounder

[ftv777]

Hi rounder, it is me again three-quarter year later. You gave me inspiration once again. My cat is even shorter, almost null so far, but I hope make it longer soon ...

ftv

[rounder2u]

Hi ftv

Good to hear that I have inspired you again. Thanks!

Yes, that was a short cat you have gotten yourself, indeed. A kitten so far :-) But well done and full of the joys of spring. And it will grow.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[timtimster]

Great tune, Ive always wanted to play this. Could you send me your tutorial, please?

[rounder2u]

Thanks timtimster!

I'm sorry, but I have no tutorial for this tune - 'The Cat'. The video, I hope, should suffice as a tutorial with its overhead camcorder view. If stuck in a specific spot, send me a message with the exact timestamp (e.g. 1m35s) and I will reply with what I'm doing at that timestamp.

PS. I have a tutorial for another song - 'Green Onions'. Send me a message if you would like to have that tutorial.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[timtimster]

@rounder2u Hi Rounder,

It was actually the tutorial for Green Onions I was after. For some reason when I signed in and went to send a response it took me to your home page. Sorry for not being clear, it was late! The Cat is a great tune though and Ill give that a go when Ive got Green Onions down.

Cheers,

Tim

[rounder2u]

Hi Tim

You have my guide for learning how to play Green Onions in your YouTube message inbox now :-)

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[584mart]

Its just the great way you move around a keyboard. your fingers don't seem overly long. in fact just like mine and i play like an elephant with boxing gloves on.

[rounder2u]

Hi mart

Now I see what you mean :-)

I tell you about my thinking regarding right hand movement for this song, and maybe it might be of interest for you:

I try to play with the fingers of my right hand in line with the keys I play as much as possible. Like if the finger is an extension of the key I press. I believe this makes the right hand a little bit less error prone, but it also means that I have to move the right hand more, to follow the notes I'm playing.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[584mart]

Hi, you seem to have a great reach but not a great finger span if you don't mind me saying. practise i suppose.

[rounder2u]

Hi mart

Thanks for commenting. Would you, please, enlighten me about the difference between reach and finger span?

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[RiqpeR888]

pretty cool!!! I love the part where your hands jumps up and down!!!

Deadgood, for sure!

[rounder2u]

Hi RiqpeR

Thanks!

You mean the part starting at around 1 min where I'm sliding the hand/the chords from the upper to the lower manual? That's a jazz organ technique used now and then.

If you are interested in other jazz organ techniques (two note tremolo, one note 'machine gun' tremolo, palm glissando, palm staccato glissando) you might be interested in checking out the two short solo choruses in my arrangement of 'Baby Elephant Walk'.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[RiqpeR888]

Yes, i´ve already heard it, it´s very cool too. I admire that very much!!

[rounder2u]

Hi RiqpeR

Good to hear :-)

PS. I don't know if you're playing the organ yourself, but in case you do, or wanna start, and have any questions about practicing, tips, etc, that you think I might be able to answer, just send me a message and I will reply.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[soulrongang]

Well done! Bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rounder2u]

Hi Ron Gang

Thanks!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[73guy]

Rounder you are great!

[rounder2u]

Hi 73guy/Larry

Thanks!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[batfink777]

You play the coolest tunes!*****

[rounder2u]

Thanks batfink!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[frontenay]

Tempo is too slow for a good groove!

[rounder2u]

Hi frontenay

So you believe groove has to do with how fast you play a certain tune? Interesting...

Anyway, I play at the same tempo as the song was performed in the original 1964 movie soundtrack for Joy House/Les Félins.

Jimmy Smith performed 'The Cat' in many different tempos (on the record 'The Master' not that much faster than here, and sometimes at breakneck speed. And he always played with great groove :-)

Keep grooving,

Rounder

[ritachain]

wonderful, you are very gifted !

[rounder2u]

Hi ritachain

Thanks!

Unfortunately, the truth is that I'm not that gifted. I have quite good ears, but the way from my ears to my fingertips is excruciating and long!

I have learnt though that everyone can improve by practicing hard!

Hours after hours at the organ... There is no short cut to that. At least not for me.

But the really good news is that if one is willing to put in the time, improvements will come. Maybe in a trickle, but still :-)

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[benatkin815]

beautiful

[rounder2u]

Thanks benatkin!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[andrewpit]

Thanks Rounder love your version of this tune Regards Andy

[rounder2u]

Hi Andy

Thanks!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[CleverDjembe]

Jimmy Smith is THE Absolute King Master Champion of the Drawbar Organ. =)

[rounder2u]

Hi CleverDjembe

I agree...

And there was really good reason for J.O.S's nickname those first years when he struck the jazz scene like a lightning bolt: The Incredible.

But his most prominent disciple, Joey DeFrancesco, is also a real wizard.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[tvseal0001]

Thank you for making this! Finally i can see that triplet part

[rounder2u]

Hi tvseal/AJ Blues

Good to hear that you will have use of this video :-) Yes, that triplet part might be a bit deceptive.

And soon we have yet another player, and that would of course be you, grooving with The Cat!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[tvseal0001]

Haha yeah probably next weekend I'll make a vid of my version on my Nord Electro 2. Hard to tell, but for the top manual are the drawbar settings just 888000000 ? And what are your percussion settings? 2nd/3rd harmonic? soft/slow? Thanks

[rounder2u]

Hi tvseal/AJ Blues

Please, click the 'more info' field at the right side, just under my YouTube alias. Then you expand the field and you will find all details regarding drawbar settings, sound settings, and also additional text about the song in question.

I always write down sound settings, etc, for my C1 videos.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[rounder2u]

Thanks diego!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[alfafulll]

Hi Rounder

GREAT job as always! Congratulation! You inspired me to buy a C1 for around a year. Shortly I changed it with a C2. There is a small but fine different between C1 and C2. I would like to ask you: why don't you use a foot pedal? It gives more fun by playing.

All the best!

Gabor

[rounder2u]

Hi Gabor

Thanks!

Good to hear that we can inspire each other through YouTube :-)

Congrats to your C2! It's a tad better then the C1.

I've been pondering about foot pedals a loooong time... I'm mostly missing the J.O.S 'tapping' style, but also the walking proper. Well, while waiting for that, my left hand keeps the brain quite busy :-)

I'm tempted by two models: 'Clavia Pedal Keys 27' (27 pedals) or 'Hammond XPK200' (20 pedals).

But I havn't swiped my card yet...

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[alfafulll]

Hi Rounder

I have a more more cheaper solution for foot pedal without any restriction! Do you have skype, so that I can explain you? I also can show you with camera my solution. You will find it great! My skype name is also Alfatull (coming from Jethro Tull and Alfa Romeo)

Ciao

Gabor

[rounder2u]

Hi Gabor. Please, check out your YouTube message inbox.

[knowthetruth2]

hell yea man! =D

[rounder2u]

Thx knowthetruth! :-)

Keep swinging,

Rounder