HEY PIANO 4UWhat Do Organ Drawbars Do? A Quick Answer
Short answer: each drawbar adds one layer of pitch to the note you play. Pull one out and you hear that layer; push it in and it goes away. Together, the nine sliders let you mix the sound from soft and flute-like to bright and cutting.
What each drawbar adds
| Drawbar | Pitch compared with the 8′ (the note you play) |
|---|---|
| 16′ | One octave lower |
| 5⅓′ | A fifth higher |
| 8′ | The same pitch: the main body of the sound |
| 4′ | One octave higher |
| 2⅔′ | An octave and a fifth higher |
| 2′ | Two octaves higher |
| 1⅗′ | Two octaves and a major third higher |
| 1⅓′ | Two octaves and a fifth higher |
| 1′ | Three octaves higher |
The numbers are borrowed from pipe organs, where a longer pipe makes a lower sound. The three lowest-numbered sliders give weight, the middle ones give body and the highest ones give brightness.
Each slider has nine settings
A drawbar goes from 0 (off) to 8 (full). You can set any combination, which is why drawbar organs can make such a wide range of sounds from one keyboard.
The presets in Hey Piano 4U
- Jazz: the three lowest drawbars at full, for a warm, round tone.
- Full: every drawbar at full, for a big, bright sound.
- Church: a soft, hollow mix built around the 8′ and 4′ with a little of the higher pitches.
- Flutes: a gentle, pure sound with the 8′ and 4′.
- Bright: the 8′ plus high pitches, for a sharper tone.
Learn more
For the full story, including tonewheels and the rotating Leslie speaker, read how drawbar organs work.
Hear the organ with a Bach prelude
Keep learning: Organ Keys vs Piano Keys: Touch, Weight and Feel · How to Play Piano with Your Computer Keyboard