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Topic: A Solo Not Meant For The Steel Guitar |
Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 4:10 pm |
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A very strange situation has cropped up in our band in regards to a steel guitar solo. Our band leader wants me to play “The Last Cheaters Waltz” as a steel guitar solo; however, I just can’t get the signature sound of that tune out of my mind as I practice the piece.
As far as I am concerned this tune’s signature sound is the fiddle. The band leader and I have tried to work around it but I am just plain not happy with doing this song as a steel guitar solo. I have tried every variation I can think of and I don’t think the steel guitar can bring across the sound that this tune needs to make it work.
Do any of you guys ever get hung up on not accepting the sound of your own steel to play a solo that you feel has another instrument as its signature sound?
I forgot to add, we don't have a fiddle player in our band)
Last edited by Les Anderson on 25 Oct 2008 4:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 4:42 pm
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Yeah. I had a bandleader once that insisted I take the solo on "If you wanna play in Texas, (you gotta have a fiddle in the band.") I thought the idea was ridiculously stupid and told him so, but he reminded me that although he wasn't always right, he was always the boss....  |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 5:14 pm
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| Quote: |
Do any of you guys ever get hung up on not accepting the sound of your own steel to play a solo that you feel has another instrument as its signature sound?
(I forgot to add, we don't have a fiddle player in our band) |
No. In fact, I've played that solo on steel, I think it lays nicely. I think it would have been better if I could've gotten the guitar player to twin it, but c'est la vie.
Especially if there's no fiddle player, what's the problem? In a situation like that, I just play the solo as close as I can to what I think it should sound like in my mind. Or maybe they could just toss it to the guitar player with the Les Paul into the 100-watt Marshall stack. That oughta sound great. 
The "If you wanna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band" scenario is kinda funny though. But I presume you weren't in Tejas, so all bets are off.  |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 5:44 pm
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| Right you are, Dave. I was in San Jose, CA at the time. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 5:55 pm
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| I have to sympathize with you. All instruments are not created equal. There are some things that just sound better (or at least very different) on one instrument than another, and there are some things that some instruments just can't play. A trombone cannot play a sax run, but a sax cannot do a 'bone slide. And a horn cannot play a piano part. Fiddles have their own pattern of notes and bowing, and it can be pretty much impossible to duplicate that with a bar. Yeah, you can do banjo rolls on a steel or Dobro. But it's not quite the same (thank God). |
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Steve Gorman
From:
Gilroy California
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 6:00 pm
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| I've been in that situation before too- thought that a particular song just wasn't right for the steel guitar. But just as sure as you say the solo isn't made for steel, there is somebody out there who will own that song on the steel. The notes to make it sound right are out there, it's your job to find em. |
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Ray Leroux
From:
Vulcan Alberta CANADA/Thousand Palms CA.
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 6:31 pm
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| I sang and played this tune for years with no fiddle sad to say however I'm with Dave on this one. The song lays up beautifuly on steel. Oh ya I was also the band leader. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 9:08 pm
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| I've had the same thoughts about Faded Love. Somehow it doesn't sound the same without Bob Wills's fiddle introduction. |
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Robert Thomas
From:
Mehama, Oregon, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 1:36 am
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| "Last Cheaters Waltz" is a beautiful steel number. I have used it for years and everyone seems to enjoy it, of course I am a solo and maybe that makes some difference. |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 2:53 am
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| Robert, have you got a recording of your version, I would love to hear it. |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 2:53 am
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| Robert, have you got a recording of your version, I would love to hear it. |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 2:53 am
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| sorry about that |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 5:28 am
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| Mike Sigler has a beautiful version on a CD. Usually I have to play all the fiddle parts on steel, but there are limits. If you wanna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band is one for sure. |
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Bob Simons
From:
Kansas City, Mo, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 8:22 am
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OF COURSE it doesn't sound the same without blah blah blah! If you want it to sound the same get a juke box. Show mw what you've got, please...
_________________
Zumsteel U12 8-5, MSA M3 U12 9-7, MSA SS 10-string, 1930 National Resonophonic, Telonics Combo, Webb 614e, Fender Steel King, Mesa Boogie T-Verb. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 8:54 am Sounds more like a psychological problem.................
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Isn't that tune just so many measures, bars, count, and/or notes? It's just like any other.......
Tune that other 'noise' out of your mind and sit down and dig into this rich new song.
I can't imagine Buddy Emmons or Lloyd Green or any of the MANY OTHERS using that as an alibie (sp?).
Just play it and be happy! |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 9:56 am
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| The first time I heard "Last Cheaters Waltz" It reminded me of passages from the old "Westfahlia Waltz" {not sure of the spelling). This was a great old waltz recorded by Hank Thompson and many others. I think both songs are great for playing on the steel Guitar. |
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Robert Thomas
From:
Mehama, Oregon, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 12:37 pm
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I agree that Westphalia Waltz has similarities to Last Cheaters Waltz or vice versa and I use both of them in my entertainment efforts.
John Roche in answer to your question, I don't have a recording of "Last Cheaters Waltz", but I could put it on a cassette tape and send it to you if you are willing to wait. |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 1:14 pm
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| Wsstphalia Waltz was decades before Last Chheaters Waltz and IMHO probably had an influence on the Last Cheater Waltz unless the writer never heard it and it was a coincedence there were similiarities. |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 1:49 pm
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| Robert can you not make a mp3 from it , if not I would like a copy, thank you |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 3:02 pm
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I agree with Billy, "Last Cheater's Waltz" has some similarity to the old "Westphalia Waltz" popularized by Hank Thompson's band. But, it has even more similarity to the old '60s song "With Pen In Hand", popularized by Vicki Carr (and just about everyone else).
I've done it instrumentally a few times, and it's a great E9th song, with a good, flowing melody line.
It's perfect for pedal steel, Les! 
Try and find some other pedal steel interpretation of the song, like Mike's, to get you started in the right direction. |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 26 Oct 2008 5:18 pm
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I think we all have those problems on songs that have been pounded in our heads with radio waves.
What i do is; Lay down a backing track, stop listening to the original version, Learn the melody notes as single notes,then develop your colours, and develop your own sound for the song.
Shortly, the song will come together all in its own, with your touch and style, Beleive me, people will love it at your next gig.
The hardest request i ever had to play was 'Honydonk pa-donkey donk on the steel. 
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Oct 2008 7:38 am
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Les,
That has been one of my favorite songs to play for several years. Here is my rendition:
Last Cheater's Waltz
_________________
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book. |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
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Posted 27 Oct 2008 9:42 am
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| At least he didn't ask you to play Buddy Rich's part in Channel One Suite. |
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 27 Oct 2008 10:13 am
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| I didn't know any solo, song wasn't meant for steel guitar? |
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