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fred d
Akahai
USA
60 Posts |
 Posted - 01/27/2012 : 3:14:12 PM
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Been taking lessons for a year now and can play all majors,miners and sevenths and about 10 songs that my instructor tabed out lately I have been trying scales and playing just melody notes? My instructor said the people don't play single note melody on the steel? That I should just play chords with run of noted? Any help here please  
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fred davis |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 9:58:10 PM
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Huh?
From what I've learned, the steel plays beautiful accent notes between all the other sounds. That means single notes. We must have different instructors?
But I'm no expert...
Julie |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2012 : 07:32:08 AM
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There is no Steel Guitar Police. Once you have mastered a tuning, you will find that your inner voice takes over your hands and you are free to play things the way your inner guidance system wants to hear it.
Playing by tabs means playing by someone else's guidance system. If you buy into this method, you are either playing it "right" or playing it "wrong". The musicians that you really admire for their skill are not playing by tab, are they?
As an experiment, find a group of 'ukulele players to sit in with. Try backing them up without looking at the paper. You can keep the volume down at first. You will quickly gain control of your ear-to-hand coordination. You will then be able to jump in on any song that comes your way... and in any key. Honest!
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 |
Edited by - Konabob on 01/28/2012 1:15:33 PM |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2012 : 12:56:28 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
There is no Steel Guitar Police.
Applause all 'round for that statement! |
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2012 : 06:50:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by fred d
My instructor said the people don't play single note melody on the steel?
And you say he is an instructor on this instrument? For anyone knowledgable about steel guitar and its origins, that would be (and I do not usually characterize in this way) the most ignorant comment one could make.
Sol Ho'opi'i... Bennie Nawahi... Andy Iona... Benny Rogers... Billy Hew Len... Jules Ah See... Bobby Ingano... Jeff Au Hoy... You would be hard pressed to find a significant player since the invention of the steel guitar who did not play single note melody. In fact, ask many players, and they will point out that the greatest virtue of the steel guitar is its ability to allow the player to elide one note into another, mimicking the human voice. And the human voice can only sing single note melody. You can make the steel guitar sing, you can make it smile, you can even make it cry. On a single string.
Most of Jerry Byrd's instructional courses focus on how to move cleanly from one note to another and one string to another when playing single note melody. You'll find the chords handy for comping behind a singer or other instruments. But when you're taking a solo, let 'er rip on the single notes.
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Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2012 : 12:38:15 AM
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"people don't play single note melody on the steel"
Absolute nonsense. Of course they do. Exhibit A - Sleepwalk by Santo & Johnny. |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2012 : 09:46:16 AM
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I have always been amazed at the comeraderie of the steel guitar community. Most of the people I know who play steel are open and inviting about the instrument (i.e., "Look at what I just figured out!"). I heartily recommend getting on the Steel Guitar Forum (http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/index.php)
and Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association (http://www.hsga.org/)
to find out what's going on. The HSGA Quarterly always has tab on the middle page. Basil Henriques has "Aloha Dreams", is also a good source. Alan Akaka's Ke Kula Mele (http://kekulamele.com/) is Alan Akaka's school. I'm taking Skype lessons from him. Oh - he's a good friend, too! Try him out; I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Finally, there's Brad's Page of Steel (http://www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html) a good resource. Play on!! |
keaka |
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lap steel guitars
