Organs usually have two or more keyboards called manuals. From top to bottom, they are typically:

• Swell (top manual)

• Great (bottom manual)

• Pedalboard (played with the feet)

• Others may include Choir, Positive, or Solo

Stops control the different sounds the organ can make. Each stop activates a particular sound or “rank” of pipes. These can be used individually or combined to create different sounds. When no stops are on, the organ won’t make any sound. To produce sound on the Great manual (the lower keyboard), engage stops from the Great division. The same principle applies to other manuals and the pedal—each requires engaging stops from its own corresponding division to produce sound.

General thumb pistons are programmable buttons located underneath the manuals on the left side of the console, often labeled 1-10, that save presets of stops for all divisions of the organ (swell, great, and pedal) into a single preset.

Divisional thumb pistons are programmable buttons located underneath the manuals, placed in the center of the console, often labeled 1-5 or 1-6, that save presets of stops for only a single division of the organ into a single preset.

Expression pedals (also called swell shoes) control how loud a particular division of the organ sounds. They are often labeled to tell you the division of the organ they will affect. When these pedals are pushed forward, they open shutters and allow the organ to play louder. When they are closed, the organ is soft and also sounds muffled. For this reason, when accompanying a congregation, all expression pedals should be fully open. Your choice of stops is what should adjust the volume.

The crescendo pedal gradually adds stops to increase volume and is NOT an expression pedal. Its normal position is fully closed. The crescendo pedal is not commonly used in church playing because it activates a sequence of stops that can be unpredictable and cannot be turned off while the pedal remains engaged. It is best to choose your own stops so you know exactly what you are getting, rather than relying on the crescendo pedal.

Toe studs are buttons located above the pedalboard that are pressed with the feet. They have various functions and are typically labeled to indicate their purpose. They often duplicate general pistons or might be divisional presets for the pedal division.

Pressing the General Cancel piston retires all of the stops of the organ. It is a good idea to get into the habit of using this piston after playing a hymn, so that if you bump a key, no stops will sound.

Middle C on the pedals is the highest C of the pedalboard.

• Center yourself over the D in the middle of the pedalboard. 

• Sit back on the bench so your full weight is supported by it. 

• Position the bench so your toes dangle just in front of the black pedal keys, and your right foot can rest flat on the expression pedals. 

• Adjust the bench height so that your heels lightly rest on the pedals. Some organ benches are equipped with cranks or bench blocks to adjust their height.