| Author |
Topic: Ending the rut. |
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 9:02 am |
|
Yeah, I've been in a steel guitar rut for some time. I've avoided it by improving on my fretted instruments where I don't seem to stall.
I've come to the conclusion that my own restrictions and tastes are responsible for the roadblocks I face in my steel guitar progress. With "spanish" guitar, there are infinite resources available in many many styles, and a "standard" tuning. I can always practice the never ending plethora of technical drills needed to improvise fluently.
My problems with the steel lie in the fact that I don't want to play any of the styles that steel is commonly used for. Hawaiian, country, swing, blues. While I enjoy listening to all of these, it's not my schtick. The steel is my singing voice. I want it to ebb and flow like a bowed instrument. I don't care about chords or fast scale runs across multiple strings. Those are for my fretted instruments. As a result, my path hasn't been clear. I don't need speed and most of the music I play on steel involves sticking to one string per passage. As I already know my theory, sliding a bar up and down one string is as intuitive as it gets. Instant rut.
Well, I found my challenge, last night. I've been wanting to emulate flamenco vocals and I started learning "Naci en Alamo", using the steel (with ebow) to emulate the vocals. The only left-hand techniques that I am using are vibrato, pedal bends, behind the bar bends and, of course, sliding the bar around.
Take a listen to the clip. How difficult would it be for you experienced steelers to emulate these vocals?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=B20qtXbX4Mg
It's a real bitch. The biggest difficulty, so far, has been transcribing the notes with my crappy musical ear. After that, emulating her vocal dynamics with the ebow..
Last edited by James Mayer on 29 Feb 2008 9:15 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
 |
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 9:10 am
|
|
Learning to sing with the steel guitar is an eternal journey, no matter what style of singing you're trying to do.
One of the things I most admire about the Sacred Steel players is their ability to emulate a vocalist. I can't get my head around that yet, but I keep trying.
I've been working on some klezmer tunes ("Freit Sich, Yiddelach", "At The Rebbe's Table", etc.) with a violinist I know. It's been a fascinating journey. The embellishments and slides are completely different from someone like George Jones (another person I'd love to be able to sound like).
Listen to the great stylists - Frank Sinatra, George Jones, Aretha Franklin, whoever you really like.
You might try not using the eBow at first, then add it as you become more comfortable with the part.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
Last edited by Brad Bechtel on 29 Feb 2008 9:20 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 9:12 am
|
|
| Brad, are you transcribing those klezmer tunes for steel? |
|
|
|
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 9:20 am
|
|
Not yet, but I probably will. I'm using C6th tuning, which seems to work pretty well so far.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 9:25 am
|
|
I meant to comment on another part of your response. I don't learn the tune with the ebow. I pick first, then relearn with the ebow.
Those long passages just don't sound that good to me with lots of plucks thrown in there. Maybe, some day, I learn to pluck it with a vol pedal to remove the attack. |
|
|
|
Mark Mansueto
From:
Michigan, USA
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 9:34 am
|
|
That's an interesting vocal, I'll have to give that a shot when I have a few hours to kill. I've been meaning for years to try an ebow with the steel but I have never done it.
I can relate to your situation and I'm glad you found a new direction. Emulating vocal with the steel is something I really enjoy and seems like a very natural thing. Even so, I still fall into a rut at times. Lately I've been working on my right hand technique which I've never really developed the way I'd like and that's been opening up things for me.
One song that comes to mind that I was able to nail the vocal part on was Desperado by the Eagles. Easy and fun to play.
_________________
https://markmansueto.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/65dQ3EyZC2RaqawA8gPlRy?si=dOdqc5zxSKeJI9cISVVx_A |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 10:10 am
|
|
James. You have picked an incredible task to learn. Post an MP3 when you get it worked out.
I would have to start out with something just a little simpler myself and work up to the girls track. Good luck to you. You will not have a "crappy ear" when you finish this!!! |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 10:19 am
|
|
| I'm gonna cheat! My bandmate has a much better ear and is learning the chords. I'll also be using Transcribe! software to slow down and loop passages of the song. |
|
|
|
Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 10:38 am
|
|
| Check out some Hindustani steel guitar (Debashish Battacharya for example) if you haven't already. Much of that playing is done sliding on a single string and it is meant to emulate vocal nuances. |
|
|
|
Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 11:59 am
|
|
If you want to be able to "sing" on the steel, you MUST be able to actually sing with your voice. Play what you sing, not vice versa. This is how classical raga is taught, regardless of the instrument.
Of course, for those of us who can't keep a tune to save our lives, this presents a real problem 
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 12:07 pm
|
|
| Bill Leff wrote: |
| Check out some Hindustani steel guitar (Debashish Battacharya for example) if you haven't already. Much of that playing is done sliding on a single string and it is meant to emulate vocal nuances. |
I've checked out the hindustani stuff. I like it but that type of speed just doesn't work on an electric steel. At least, it doesn't for me. The short sustain of an acoustic works much better for that style. I can't find any electric steel players in the classical Indian tradition. It's probably because of the reasons I've state above. |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 12:08 pm
|
|
| Twayn Williams wrote: |
If you want to be able to "sing" on the steel, you MUST be able to actually sing with your voice. Play what you sing, not vice versa. This is how classical raga is taught, regardless of the instrument.
Of course, for those of us who can't keep a tune to save our lives, this presents a real problem |
Right. I'm one of those that can't sing a lick. I can't hum in tune, either. |
|
|
|
Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
|
Posted 29 Feb 2008 12:31 pm
|
|
For a more practical suggestion for us non-singers, get a Real Book and start learning tunes. Listen to how a vocalist will take the written melody and muck with it. Put in breath marks like a singer. Also, practice the hell out of scales and chords. It's a slow path and there are no shortcuts.
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
|
|
|
