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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
 Posted - 07/13/2007 : 3:46:47 PM
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Did any of you know that there is a "Steel Guitar Player's Creed"?
I found it printed on the back of a Jerry Byrd LP.
"Byrd In Hawaii"
Sweet Sweet Steel Guitar Series No. 2
Featuring
The Greatest Modern Steel Guitarist
Jerry Byrd
with guest vocals by Nina Kealiiwahamana
Produced by Maple Records MA-1002.
THE STEEL GUITAR PLAYER'S CREED
I play the most EXPRESSIVE
the most VERSATILE
and the most INDIVIDUAL
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IN THE
WHOLE WIDE WORLD
I play the ROMANTIC STEEL
GUITAR
Just thought that was kinda' neat.
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"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2007 : 8:56:29 PM
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Thank you for that tidbit, but I must say that sometimes the sounds I make on my steel are far from romantic! 
But I keep on trying...
Julie |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2007 : 5:25:39 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Julie H
Thank you for that tidbit, but I must say that sometimes the sounds I make on my steel are far from romantic!
But I keep on trying...
Julie
Hang in there. It DOES get better with time. I hope that you have someone to play with. It helps with intonation. It's tough to play by oneself (except to try and figure out tunes). Steel is not a solo instrument, in any of its incarnations. If you know someone who plays ki ho'alu, playing along with them is good, especially if they are patient. |
keaka |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2007 : 01:47:35 AM
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Jack is right (as usual) Julie. I am lucky in that I have a patient ki ho`alu player to torment. But, what we work on is songs we both know and that I arrange preliminarily (string and note choice) starting out with the melody. Some times I have to transpose keys, which is OK. Then we figure out a harmony for me to play, and appropriate, if simple, fills.
Kalena Kai is a great song to start out with because it is all vamps in D7-G, except for the first measure, and Sarah can sing it as well as play it.
That was interesting in that some transcriptions of vamp variations that worked when I was playing ki ho`alu guitar, just don't work when accompanying with steel - so I had to modify them. Also, treating the steel as a voice, we developed a real harmony part like a true duet between human voices - not the standard 3rds and 6ths alone, but 4ths and 5ths both under and over the melody. It takes work, but it sure is fun.
Another good song to start with is Aloha No Au I Ko Maka, a waltz. If nobody is around to play and sing it, loop Uncle Ray's recorded version.
Have Larry play bass rhythm, anyway, and you can sing all the songs at the same time, too. You have a giant repertoire and can use your own voice as the lead solo. That is probably the best thing - the human voice.
...Reid |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2007 : 03:36:45 AM
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In talking with Slipry1, I've found that Hawaiian steel is more sparsely played than Country or even Bluegrass resophonic style. You find the little pockets where a phrase or even a note will add accent. Restraint and a good ear are developed.
Less is more, sometimes. |
Edited by - thumbstruck on 07/16/2007 03:37:38 AM |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2007 : 09:09:33 AM
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| As I've suggested before. Listen to Hawaiian recordings. They invented it. And they understand the basics of sharing rather than standing out. One good example is Feets. Of course if you listen to Steel solos then you should hear pure steel. But when accomping singers the steel is best when subdued and humble. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 2:04:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by noeau
As I've suggested before. Listen to Hawaiian recordings. They invented it. And they understand the basics of sharing rather than standing out. One good example is Feets. Of course if you listen to Steel solos then you should hear pure steel. But when accomping singers the steel is best when subdued and humble.
I couldn't agree with you more. That is why Feet is my favorite steel player. He just overwhelms me with his minimalist style. And the way he backs up the vocals....at first you don't know that he is there, but when you really listen, then it's hard to hear anything else but him in the background. I have to be honest and say that it sometimes actually brings me to tears when I listen to him play. Even after I have heard his songs so many times it still hits me that hard.
We all owe Eddie Kamae a huge debt of gratitude for helping to showcase Feet Rogers. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 4:33:57 PM
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| Well, Julie and Markwitz live close..... |
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Basil Henriques
Lokahi
United Kingdom
225 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2007 : 07:57:01 AM
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quote:
I play the most EXPRESSIVE
the most VERSATILE
and the most INDIVIDUAL
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IN THE
WHOLE WIDE WORLD
I play the ROMANTIC STEEL
GUITAR
I feel pretty confident that that quote can be attributed to Jerry Byrd |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2007 : 09:42:04 AM
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| Basil, you are right. If you would take another look at the original post, I cited the source of the quote. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2007 : 7:07:15 PM
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Hey, Pua Kai is right!
Markwitz, do you ever got to the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz meetings? If you do, I'm the person running around like a fool, taking photographs. Come and say Hi.
Julie |
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Basil Henriques
Lokahi
United Kingdom
225 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2007 : 12:13:04 AM
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quote:
I cited the source of the quote
Sorry Norman, you didn't say Jerry wrote the sleeve notes, just quoted them.
Again here is that silly thing where the language is the same but interpretation differs between the 'states' and here (UK)..
I took it that Maple Records wrote the sleeve notes, again sorry for reading it wrong.
I'd better explain so as not to give the wrong impression AGAIN, (I keep opening my mouth and putting my foot in it)
Over here It's NOT the norm for the artiste to write the sleeve notes, it's usually someone at the record company, SO, that's how I came to misunderstand.
But I am confident that Jerry DID write that passage, as it's in his book.
Baz |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2007 : 03:30:02 AM
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| Basil,your explanation makes perfect sense to me. Not to beat a dead horse, but this is how I took it. Since Jerry was the artist on the album, and the quote says "I play.........", I just assumed it was Jerry talking. I'm sure that you and I both would like to think that it really was Jerry. And you have more evidence to support it than I do. But since I'm assuming that neither one of was was there at the time,(I know I wasn't, not sure about you though, LOL) we actually can't be sure 100%, can we? Again, let's just both take it on faith. I'm sure that the quote put a smile on both our faces...and that's the important thing with me. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2007 : 03:42:13 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Julie H
Hey, Pua Kai is right!
Markwitz, do you ever got to the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz meetings? If you do, I'm the person running around like a fool, taking photographs. Come and say Hi.
Julie
Julie, we just met each other with out knowing it Wednesday night at the Aaron, Martin and George concert in Felton. You were setting up the stage and I was the guy asking if you needed any help.
No I haven't been to a "Uke Club" meeting yet. I hear that they are a blast. We have lots of friends that go, so I'm sure that sooner or later we will. Nice to meet you. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2007 : 08:22:18 AM
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| Liner notes aside. Jerry used to tell me it"is really hawaiian if there's a steel in it and if you can make people cry you've done your job". |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2007 : 09:13:28 AM
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| Al, you have no idea how true that is. I can hear one note from a guy like Feet Rogers and I'm like jello. Others also, but Feet just hits me in my soul. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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