Chord organ

Hammond Chord Organ (c.1950)

Magnus Chord Organ Model 890 (after 1960s)

The chord organ is a kind of home organ with a keyboard and a set of chord buttons, enabling the musician to play a melody or lead with one hand and accompanying chords with the other, like the accordion. It was invented by Laurens Hammond in 1950 ^[1] as an electronic home organ based on vacuum-tube circuits similar to the Novachord and Solovox.

Also Farfisa and Estey Organ made some professional chord organs.^{[citation needed]}.

In the 1960s, Magnus Harmonica Corporation introduced their electric chord organs similar to electrically blown small home reed organs.^[2] Since then, chord organs were generally designed as toys, and separated from the mainstream of home electronic organs. In addition to Magnus, also Emenee toy companies, Bontempi and Belcanto made chord organs.^{[citation needed]}

Chord organs have seen a recent revival amongst minimalist and ambient musicians.

Chord organ musicians

• Daniel Johnston
• The Microphones/Mt. Eerie
• The Music Tapes

References

1. ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica Online". 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/253678/Laurens-Hammond. "His later inventions included ... the chord organ (1950), on which chords are produced simply by touching a panel button."  (Note: In 1950, Hammond introduced S-6 chord organ)
2. ^ "Magnus Organ Homepage". http://www.dbeconline.com/magnus/. "In the 1960's, Magnus introduced their famous Electric Chord Organs to compete with Hammond." 

External links

• The Hammond Chord Organ]
• How the Hammond Chord Organs Works]
• Disassembly Photographs of a Small Electric Chord Organ
• Magnus Chord Organ - Inside Look