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neeej
`Olu`olu
USA
643 Posts |
 Posted - 09/17/2005 : 6:22:37 PM
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Well, my credit card snuck out t'other night & apparently had a frolicsome time, with the result that I came home to find a box upon my doorstep containing an orphan baby Artisan lap steel. Being the kindly soul that I am, I invited it in, snugged up its strings, and gave it a bitty amp of its very own. It sung delightfully and seems to be getting along very politely with the rest of the string-gang, but it needs proper educational tools to become a productive member of society. Any recommendations of books, etc? I really don't know what I'm doing atall atall (not surprising, eh?).
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--Jean S |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2005 : 06:59:23 AM
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Tune to either open G or to C6th and start playing along with anything and everything. Best learning tip I ever got was from Ken Emerson who told me; "Stick to one tuning for the first year or two - until you understand it. If it keep changing your tuning, everything will remain a mystery."
If you already are playing slack key in open G, I would suggest you start there. You will be surprised at how much your slack key will teach you about playing steel, and vice versa... they will complement each other. C6th is more traditional for electric steel, but if you listen to Ken Emerson, all his stuff - both electric and acoustic are in G or G6th.
Bob Brozman has a lot of good learning tools for G. Check his web site. And of course he will be teaching at Georges Camp next summer.
Aloha,
-Konabob |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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neeej
`Olu`olu
USA
643 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2005 : 8:59:09 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
Tune to either open G....If you already are playing slack key in open G, I would suggest you start there. You will be surprised at how much your slack key will teach you about playing steel, and vice versa...
That's what I've tuned him to, and twiddled a bit---whee!!
quote:
Bob Brozman has a lot of good learning tools for G. Check his web site. And of course he will be teaching at Georges Camp next summer.
Aloha,
-Konabob
Mahalo for the info. I hope to tuck the beastie into my luggage for AMC in February---prolly scare all the geckos off the island <G> |
--Jean S |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2005 : 04:46:06 AM
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Wow! How cool!! I have this feeling we're going to hear some music the likes of which this traditional instrument has never heard!! By the way, last night Mark played a song that he attributed to someone or other and I said it sounded like one of yours... he said you'd taught it to him.
Have fun!!!! (like always!!)
n |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2005 : 12:30:19 PM
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Ah, another slider....
I'd second staying with G fer now -- Taropatch will be fairly familiar to you. If you want to move to high G (G-B-D-G-B-D aka Dobro Tuning) you'll find a lot more instructional material. (Incidentally, the short scale of the Artisan means you can crank up those strings to high G without a worry. The bass comes up a minor third, the 5th string a second. Not a biggie.)
Fred Lunt will be teaching at the February Aloha Camp. Fred's style is very nahenahe, a lot like his teacher, Daved Feets Rogers. He's just about my favorite contemporary steel player & I'm really looking forward to studying with him.
One bit of advice: practice with a tuner, like so: slide up to a note and stop, then check the pitch. With time, you develop the ability to feel the right spot.
This goes triple for slants. And yes, your going to be playing a lot of slants.
Happy slidin'!
Mark |
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neeej
`Olu`olu
USA
643 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2005 : 5:45:52 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark
Fred Lunt will be teaching at the February Aloha Camp. Fred's style is very nahenahe, a lot like his teacher, Daved Feets Rogers. He's just about my favorite contemporary steel player & I'm really looking forward to studying with him.
Knowing this is what got me interested (well, that & seeing/hearing your cute li'l lapful at camp). I really like Feets' minimalist playing style---it's so easy to 'over-twang' things.
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[One bit of advice: practice with a tuner, like so: slide up to a note and stop, then check the pitch. With time, you develop the ability to feel the right spot.
I'll do dat---not got a very good ear anyhoo (though methinks it is slowly improving), so some electronic assistance be good idea. Just don't expect me to have got very far by February :-/ |
--Jean S |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2169 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2005 : 08:21:01 AM
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| Welcomem to the slippery realm, Neeej. I have a Dobro tuned to "high G". My buddy, Jack has an 8-string tuned to D13. Cool stuff. Warning: prepare to become addicted. It will change your "listening" style. Enjoy! |
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PuaLynn
Lokahi
USA
120 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2005 : 08:19:40 AM
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| Congrats on the new kid! You're inspiring me. I've look at the reviews on the suggested site, and most recommend an angle plug-in (not sure of how to describe this) and different strings. What accessories did you decide on? Also, I have no amp and am thinking about getting one for both my new Lake ukulele, which I hope to have in November, and this little fella if I decide to buy a relative of your new guy. Mark, how did you augment your Artisan? How am I going to find time to sleep during February camp if I keep getting pulled in new directions??!! |
Me ke aloha,
Lynn |
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neeej
`Olu`olu
USA
643 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2005 : 7:17:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by PuaLynn
Congrats on the new kid! You're inspiring me. I've look at the reviews on the suggested site, and most recommend an angle plug-in (not sure of how to describe this) and different strings. What accessories did you decide on? Also, I have no amp and am thinking about getting
Ya, got angle plug thingy (love dem technical terms!), keeps from smacking self on the plug-in. Just got new strings, poor Jack Aldrich spent most of today's lesson-time rassling 'em on for me. But now the wee beastie's tuned to C6 & sounding quite groovy. Uncle Henry Allen was quite adamant 'bout using the round 'bullet' slide, so I got one dem too (& haven't managed to drop it on my toe or fling it across the room---yet). Some brass finger picks, & a bitty battery amp that Mark will sneer at (graciously, of course), but 'twill do for camp (I've got an old plug-in one for home). Now all I gotta do is learn to do summat with all this stuff. Whee! |
--Jean S |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2005 : 7:38:52 PM
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Aloha Jean, what type of amp did you get? KonaBob had recommended a Pignose some time ago, but I had trouble finding one in my area. I now own a vintage Rickenbacker that I would to play on the beach, so I need a battery operated amp also. Must be nuts to go dragging all that stuff around. Life was simpler with my little ukulele!
Julie |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2005 : 03:34:20 AM
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Hi Julie,
Congrats. You set your sites on one of those a while back so way to go! You might consider a Crate taxi amp. I have never played through one but lots of buskers use them. From what I read online, they sound better than the pignose. And it comes in other models for more power. |
Andy |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2005 : 2:33:00 PM
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quote:
I need a battery operated amp also.
The Crate Taxi is very nice. But the Roland Micro Cube, which I use, is smaller, sounds great, runs on batteries or AC, gets as loud as you'll ever need, has good tone control, and has built in effects ('verb, chorus, flange & delay) plus amp modeling -- which helps a lot, take it from me. Also has line outs & headphone out.
Runs for many hourse on 6 AA -- pick up rechargeable ones, of course.
Not affiliated with Crate, Roland or any pigs, nosed or not.
Mark |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2005 : 5:46:37 PM
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So Mark, how do you drag your cube around? Is is small enough to put into a suitcase? Carry-on? At the last Ukulele Club meeting someone was playing on one and Larry got a close look at it, but I didn't. It sounds interesting.
Aloha, Julie |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2005 : 8:08:40 PM
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Hi -
The Cube is plenty small enough to fit in a suitcase -- ( 9 X 8.5 X < 6 in). Fairly light. Uses 6 AA batteries -- I use rechargeable ones, and we have a charger available at camp -- or 110 ac w/ a wall wart. Oh, and it has a handy handle.
So what kinda ric did you get? I may bring my Silver Hawaiian...
And, off topic, didja get my email about Kevin Brown at Lark next August? It's official!!!!!
cheers,
M
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2005 : 04:02:55 AM
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Aloha Jean!
When are you posting pix of the new baby??
By the way for camp - I found the DC power at the tentalows - it's by the light switch just as you go in the door. So if you have some kind of inverter, you can charge in your own tent to your heart's desire. On the other hand, charging down at the beach house was no problem - Mark has it set up very well to accommmodate everyone.
I'll bet it's going to be gorgeous!
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