Drawbars

General Information
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TA98
TA2
FMA
Details
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Artery
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Lymphatic drainage
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Drawbars are a component of Hammond organs and other electronic organs that allow the player to control the volume of individual harmonics in the sound. They are a type of additive synthesis control, enabling the musician to shape the timbre of the sound produced by the organ.

Function

Drawbars work by adjusting the levels of different sine waves that are combined to create the final sound. Each drawbar corresponds to a specific harmonic or overtone in the harmonic series. By pulling out or pushing in the drawbars, the organist can increase or decrease the volume of these harmonics, thus altering the overall sound.

History

The concept of drawbars was first introduced with the Hammond organ in the 1930s. Laurens Hammond, the inventor of the Hammond organ, designed the drawbar system to mimic the sound of a pipe organ, which uses different pipes to produce various harmonics.

Usage

Drawbars are typically used in jazz, gospel music, and rock music, where the distinctive sound of the Hammond organ is a key element. Musicians can create a wide range of sounds, from mellow tones to bright, sharp timbres, by adjusting the drawbars.

See also

• Hammond organ
• Additive synthesis
• Harmonic series (music)
• Electronic organ

External links

• Hammond Organ Company
• Jazz Organ Resource