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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
 Posted - 01/04/2005 : 08:39:11 AM
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I've been playing my squareneck resonator in taropatch, and I often go from the fifth fret on the first string to the open first string (G to D). But the sound of the open string is tinnier than the sound of the string with the bar on it.
Do players usually avoid the open string because of the change in timbre, or do they play it differently?
Also, I was listening to the Ho'opi'i Brothers sing "Sweet Lei Lehua", a sort of novelty/swing-style song with some comical steel guitar in the background. I think it was on "Aloha From Maui", an album I don't own. Anyone know who was playing on that album?
Jesse Tinsley
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Gary A
Lokahi
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 08:16:20 AM
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My Crafters of Tennessee dobro is pretty balanced - there's not a big difference in tone between open and fretted strings and I don't consciously avoid open strings. In general, longer strings have better tone than shorter strings. A D played on the open first string should sound "fuller" than a D played on the seventh fret of the third string. Sometimes I avoid open strings because they tend to sustain longer.
It's hard to diagnose your situtation without hearing and seeing you play (and I don't claim to be an expert). With a resonator you have to spend some time experimenting with your picking to see what gives you the best sound. If it sounds thin or tinny you might try picking picking further from the bridge, picking harder (people starting out often don't pick hard enough) and making sure your picks are hitting the string squarely.
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Gary |
Edited by - Gary A on 01/05/2005 08:39:50 AM |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 07:39:59 AM
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Hi Gary,
I need to work on my picking technique, but the open string, especially the first, has a bit of twang to it when picked open. Those of us who are adapting slack key skills to steel often work the first string more often and we like to do pull offs that go closed-to-open, so I have to learn to avoid those.
And I could probably up the size of my strings a bit to cut down on twang.
Jesse Tinsley |
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Gary A
Lokahi
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 7:06:50 PM
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| I (and a lot of other dobro players) use the D'Addario EJ42 set. It's their Phosphor Bronze Resophonic Guitar set. The 1st string is an 0.016. It works fine for the GBDGBD tuning. For the DGDGBD tuning the 5th and 6th strings are a little "flabby". You might want to move the 6th string to the 5th and replace the 6th with something heavier. |
Gary |
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