What is the difference between a piano and an organ




















When playing the organ, the stops they choose will determine the type of sound the instrument will produce. Stops are simply a set of pipes in a given rank in the organ. For example, there are trumpet stops, flute stops, and Diapason stops, just to mention a few. The organ has numerous stops, giving the organist plenty of options to produce a wide range of melodious tones.

The piano and organ are significantly different in the way they are constructed. The piano has just one level of keyboards consisting of 88 keys.

The grand staff is the main source of reference for the pianist. On the other hand, an organ has two levels of keys known as manuals.

Each manual has a specific number of keys depending on how many octaves the instrument has. The more the number of octaves, the more keys the organ will have. The organ also comes with a pedalboard. The organist presses the pedalboard using their feet to produce varying sounds out of the pipes.

Although the organ and piano keyboards look and work the same, there are some differences. The organ has comparably shorter and narrower keys that produce sound at the slightest touch. The organ and piano seem quite similar but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. If you are looking to play the organ, a good first step is to get acquainted with and learn how to play the piano.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. History of the Piano The clavichord and harpsichord , two keyboard instruments, inspired the invention of the piano. Organ vs Piano: Classification Image: Noname Music The organ and piano fall under different classifications of musical instruments.

Windwood Instruments Windwood instruments were so called because they were initially made from wood. Percussion Instruments The piano belongs to the percussion family of instruments but it is also considered a stringed instrument. Pianos vs Organs: How They Work Apart from their different origins, there are significant differences in how the organ and piano work too.

How does organ work? How does a piano work? Hammer An interesting feature of the piano is that after the hammer strikes the string, it bounces back to its resting position. Strings When the strings vibrate, the piano produces the desired sound.

Pedals Pedals give the pianist control over the sound he wants to produce. Differences In Tone Production The mechanism with which the organ and piano produce sound is quite different too. Differences In The Range Of Sound Compared to the organ, a piano is slightly limited in the range of sounds it can produce. Differences In Construction The piano and organ are significantly different in the way they are constructed.

Summary The organ and piano seem quite similar but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. The bottom of the organ also has a set of tone generators called the pedalboard. The pedalboard is designed strictly for the feet to press down and produce pitches out of the pipes.

The pedalboard looks a lot like a giant version of the organ keyboard. When reading through organ sheet music, there are many times an additional staff level indicating what notes should be played and when.

In general, the piano and organ keyboards look and function the same. The biggest differences are in the size of the keys and the touch response. Organs, for the most part, have a much lighter action and require less touchweight to produce tones.

The keys of an organ are also much shorter, and the width of the keys are slightly more narrow than piano. While there are enormous differences between acoustic pianos and traditional pipe organs, there is less of that when it comes to their electric counterparts. Electric organs and keyboards produce their sounds in a similar way.

Both are dependent on a loudspeaker or an amplifier of some sort to produce sound. In the case of a Hammond organ, the sound is produced from a large speaker cabinet. The speaker cabinet has a rotating tonewheel, and so the sound is produced using waveforms. Those sounds can be manipulated using the Leslie, tremolo and vibrato settings on the Hammond.

Things like additional pedals that allow for vibrato effects and actually raising and lowering the volume are very common.

There are also tons of sound effects that can be added to simulate other instruments. Many electronic organs are designed to look and feel like pipe organs, however, they produce the sound without using the pipes themselves. The action of those organs is tweaked to allow a realistic touch as if air pressure were being used as well which makes them very likable. Digital pianos like these are very similar to electronic organs. They are built to replicate acoustic pianos, however, there is a lot when it comes to features.

Some digital pianos have speakers built into them. Usually, pianists will hook these up to an amplifier to get the best sound, or use headphones. When it comes to sound effects, there are endless possibilities with digital pianos. Many of them come pre-installed with hundreds of choices.

More elaborate pipe organs cost in the millions. A lot of this has to do with the type of metal the pipes are made with, how many stops the organ has, and the overall size of the instrument. Not only are those expensive, but it requires a lot of architectural work to build a pipe organ into a church building. Acoustic pianos also come with substantial costs as well. While the digital and electronic counterparts are much cheaper, they are not all created equal.

Some digital pianos are better than others. Much attention has to be paid to the dynamics since the sound dies away quickly. A look inside of a piano at the small hammers and strings.

Yet, when you strike an organ key, an electrical circuit is completed- the key being pressed does not physically strike anything. The keys are tuned to specific frequencies, and when the circuit is completed, the sound can be held for an indefinite amount of time — in other words, the sound continues as long as the key is being held down! However, this also means that much more attention has to be paid to releasing the notes.

Another difference is the number of sounds each instrument can generate. A piano sounds like just that- a piano! An organ on the other hand is a bit more versatile; it can be altered to sounds like a variety of different instruments. The hands and the feet- on the keyboards manuals as well as the pedals control these ranks.

Each rank in an organ can be combined with the others to produce sounds of a variety woodwind and reed instruments.

An organ has different levels of keys, as well as many pedals. The role of the two instruments when used as accompaniments is different as well. The piano works well as a leading instrument- the power of percussion instruments comes from the first strike. The piano can also produce rhythms and melodies much faster than an organ, making it an excellent introduction piece. Likewise, it is also a good tool for guiding the melody. An organ is capable of filling a larger space with sound, and supporting a large congregation, for example, in singing.

It achieves its power during the sustainment of the notes. A primary function of an organ is to fill in sounds and provide the supporting chords. Each instrument calls for a different set of manual dexterity and music theory skills. Although both instruments are keyboard driven there are many differences between them when it comes to playing. Organ players must learn to play bass notes on a pedaled keyboard while controlling a volume pedal as well.

Piano players must learn complex chords and fingerings. This is because a student with a solid background in piano will be able to better focus on the issues unique to the organ. Pianists who are at a relatively experienced level should consider trying to find an organ they could play!

Developing skills on the organ will give a pianist a new perspective on playing keyboard instruments; therefore, it will indirectly influence their piano skills as well!

If you are already skilled on the piano, an organ may be exactly what you are looking for! We sell a variety of digital, player, and acoustic pianos- new and pre-owned! If you are looking to begin your practice and start off with lessons, we offer those as well. We have a variety of classes for all experience levels and age ranges. Contact your local Evola Music, or visit our website for more details!



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