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Topic: Cindy Cashdollar DVDs - Review |
Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 12:12 am |
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Learn To Play Western Swing Steel Guitar – 2 DVD Set
by Cindy Cashdollar
Volume 1 and Volume 2 are $24.95 to $29.95 EACH. You can save
by ordering the set of two for $39.95 . If you have one, you’re going
to want the other one.
Ordering information:
http://www.homespuntapes.com/shop/product.aspx?ID=786
If you have ordered from Homespun Tapes in the past, the quality
and content is consistent.
Your teacher in this set of lap steel instructional materials is
Cindy Cashdollar. I have voted her as the steel guitar player I
would most like to be stranded on a desert island with! Sorry,
Jerry Byrd, et. al.
Lesson (DVD) One is Learning the Basics
Lesson (DVD) Two is Beyond the Basics.
Both DVDs are about one hour long. If you are a “beancounter”,
that is only a few cents per minute for personalized instruction.
Here is a website showing some of her tunings:
http://www.cindycashdollar.com/tunings/
First Impression: The production quality and instruction is first-rate.
It is what many of us have come to expect from Homespun.
The advertising on the website states: “Cindy teaches everything you
need to know to get started on your 8 or 6 string lap steel”!
The only real point of contention I have with this set is the above
statement. I feel that some aspiring students (6-string) would not have
purchased this if they had known the particular tuning that is used here.
Cindy’s 8 string tuning is low to high, A-C-E-G-A-C-E-G
Cindy’s 6 string tuning is low to high, E-G-A-C-E-G
This is inconsistent with every other C6 tuning course I have ever seen.
Almost everything else for instructional courses in C6 tuning is, low
to high: C-E-G-A-C-E.
In a nutshell, she suggests that you remove the two bottom strings if you
want to play along with a 6-string instrument. However, removing the
lowest AND the highest would put most of us in more familiar territory.
In fairness, I would like to state that this entire course is a great inducement
for learning on an 8-string instrument. You do get several more major and
minor chord voicings with the extra two strings. But, if you only have a
6-string AND you have been studying other C6 courses, this could be very
confusing for the beginner.
Volume One: Bars, Picks, Volume Pedals, Bar Slams, Bar Placement,
Blocking, Bar Coverage, Single Note Picking, and Chord Riffs are discussed.
The song: “Cold, Cold Heart” is taught.
Double-noting licks and harmonies are discussed. Some courses refer to
these as “double-stops”.
Major Scales are harmonized in 6ths and 3rds.
Discussion and demonstrations on Chord Shortcuts, Bar Slants, Augmented
Chords, Pulling Off, Major Triads, Playing Backup, and Different Tunings.
The song: “San Antonio Rose” is taught.
Volume Two:
Harmonics and Cross Picking are taught.
The song: “Steel Guitar Rag” is taught.
Blues Licks, Horn Riff Solos, Don Helms Style Solos, Chord Substitutions,
and the Blues Scale are taught.
The Song: “Blues Stay Away From Me”
Minor Chords, Major to Minor Transitions, More Chord Substitutions
The Song: “Right or Wrong”
Augmented and Diminished Chords, Chord Subs, and Back Up Licks
==========
Bottom Line: If you have an 8-string lap steel, AND these are the types
of tunes you want to play… this is an EXCELLENT way to get started.
There are many split-screen close-ups of the right and left hand action.
The tunes are played slowly for teaching, and up to speed with a band.
There is a lot of good stuff here that will keep you busy for a long while.
If you just want to learn the songs, you get 5 of them for about 8 bucks
each. There are some DVD courses that offer one song for $25!
Disclaimer: Any review is merely the opinion of one person. I would
love to see many more reviews of this product, and other products, by
many others.
Ray Langley
March 5, 2009
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 12:39 am
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| Quote: |
Cindy’s 8 string tuning is low to high, A-C-E-G-A-C-E-G
Cindy’s 6 string tuning is low to high, E-G-A-C-E-G
This is inconsistent with every other C6 tuning course I have ever seen.
Almost everything else for instructional courses in C6 tuning is, low
to high: C-E-G-A-C-E. |
I for one have got to have a 5th on top. I've heard of guys who can live with a third on top but I play so much melody on that high G string it would be a real handicap to live without it. That's why 8 strings is a must for C6. |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 1:46 am
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I hear ya, Michael. I'm sure a lot of others feel that way too. But, if you only had 6-strings, would you have to have the 5th on top?
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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Fred
From:
Amesbury, MA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 3:27 am
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| Quote: |
The only real point of contention I have with this set is the above
statement. I feel that some aspiring students (6-string) would not have
purchased this if they had known the particular tuning that is used here.
Cindy’s 8 string tuning is low to high, A-C-E-G-A-C-E-G
Cindy’s 6 string tuning is low to high, E-G-A-C-E-G
This is inconsistent with every other C6 tuning course I have ever seen.
Almost everything else for instructional courses in C6 tuning is, low
to high: C-E-G-A-C-E.
In a nutshell, she suggests that you remove the two bottom strings if you
want to play along with a 6-string instrument. However, removing the
lowest AND the highest would put most of us in more familiar territory. |
Cindy is inconsistent on this. At the beginning she says drop the bottom two strings for 6 string. Throughout the course she talks as if the high G is gone from the 6 sting tuning.
She doesn't use the high G very often and when she does she shows how to do the same thing without the G.
All in all, I think buying the two DVD set is the best value to get you up and running on C6.
Fred |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 4:59 am
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Quote:
"This is inconsistent with every other C6 tuning course I have ever seen.
Almost everything else for instructional courses in C6 tuning is, low
to high: C-E-G-A-C-E."
Another thing about Cindy's setup that is inconsistent with a lot of others is that it blows me right straight away! What a player!
Not knocking any of the other top pro's, but this lady has a style all her own and I like it! Her approach to instrument is certainly different from most but I think we can all agree that it is sure enough working for her!
I purchased the Western Swing DVD's but haven't yet had a chance to check them out, I'm still busy with her two Dobro DVD's wich by the way are also very good.
I have kind of been limited to Dobro, and non pedal since the motorcycle wreck and am in a position to report that there can definitely be life after pedal steel!
Having not actually seen the Western Swing DVD's yet I can't really dispense advice on the subject but if they are at all like her Dobro series, it will be first rate material.
_________________
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 10:11 am
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| Quote: |
| I hear ya, Michael. I'm sure a lot of others feel that way too. But, if you only had 6-strings, would you have to have the 5th on top? |
If I only had six I'd get rid of it and get an eight which is exactly what I did,BTW.
Actually if you only have a six-string and you really want a challenge,you could put a third on top and tune your low C up to C#. You'd have no high fifth and no low root but if you know what you're doing and can slant your ass off,you'd have a really fertile middle ground. It worked for Byrd.... |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 11:15 am
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| Ray Langley wrote: |
The only real point of contention I have with this set is the above
statement. I feel that some aspiring students (6-string) would not have
purchased this if they had known the particular tuning that is used here. |
I purchsed both of her courses and had no problem using my 6 string lap steel to learn the songs as there were very few part that used the high G or the low A. |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 2:05 pm
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Fred - Thank you checking in on this. I agree that this 2-DVD set is a
good value!
John - Yes, she has a distinctive style. It it easy on the ears to listen to.
Not to mention the stylish "uptown" Western Swing attire.... The boots
and shirt make a great ensemble. 
Michael - I really appreciate your strong opinions on 8 vs. 6 strings. It
is definitely food for thought.
For those who are new to lap steel tuning discussions, Michael is referring
to the C6/A7 tuning, low to high: C#-E-G-A-C-E. In my opinion, this is
the "best" tuning for a 6-string (along with Leavitt) for the style and type
of music that I like to play, personally. But, it's not for everyone....
Andy - I'm glad it worked well for you. It is a great course, no doubt
about that. Reviews are merely opinions. It would have been more useful
to me from a 6-string perspective if strings 1 and 8 had been removed.
That is the way that both Georgeboards and Josh Cho chose to do it. If I
had seen Cindy's materials first, I might have felt differently.
No single method can be the perfect one for everyone. It is good that we
have several to choose from. I did not mean to come across as overly
critical on this one point that created confusion for me. I admire Cindy's
work.
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 2:54 pm
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Ray,
Up until lately I have had only one Dobro around the place that was being used and it was for C6, tuned up just like my 6 string lap, E on top, C or C# on the bottom. So far it seemed like the only way to fly.
At some point I will get a D-8 and then bust out her Western Swing material and have a go at her tuning. I gotta tell ya, it will seem weird to 86 that E up top.
_________________
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 3:26 pm
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John - I'm in agreement with you. I had a lot of inner conflict in finally deciding on C6/A7 in addition to Open E/D. I really had a major problem accepting those dang "string-skip" grips. But, with only six strings, I just could not see any other way to produce those pretty chord-melody arrangements that I heard in my head. So, I have recently bitten the bullet and decided to bear down on learning C6 and C6/A7.
If I do ever graduate to 8-strings, I can definitely see the benefit of a fifth (G) on top! I am almost ashamed to admit that I have a D-8 sitting here with strings 1 and 8 stripped off! Cindy's DVDs are truly an inspiration to aspiring 8-string players. Maybe I will grow into it one day. For now, C6/A7 seems very complex and versatile to my old brain.
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 6:02 pm
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I have the two DVD's and I think they're a great way to get off the ground. She covers the styles I'm interested in playing and the DVD titles say it all. I've played a lot of Spanish guitar and already understand the theory but I'm not sure how this course would be for an absolute beginner. Still, I recommend it highly.
Before I got my 8 string and before I got the first DVD I re-tuned my 6 to the high C tuning she has on her website. I found that tuning a lot better for trying to do the early C&W and the Texas swing stuff, but I did miss the low root C string. I guess if I were playing Hawaiian I'd want the low C instead, I don't know. I do know that she's a whale of a country and swing player and she's articulate as a teacher. |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2009 8:36 pm
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Mike Harris said: "I found that tuning a lot better for trying to do the early C&W and the Texas swing stuff."
It's interesting to hear that, Mike. Most of the early CW and Swing guys (like Jerry Byrd and Don Helms) used the "E" on top.
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2009 7:06 am
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Ray,
Basically, I'm probably just someone who prefers the 5th on top, or maybe I won't be much of a 6-sting player at all. I seem to really prefer the 8-string. Anyway, between the two six string C6 tuings I prefer the higher one, maybe I don't even know why. |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 6 Mar 2009 8:35 am edit
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edit
Last edited by George Piburn on 21 Jun 2012 7:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2009 12:41 pm
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Mike: There are no rules. You should continue to do whatever feels right for you! I use an electric guitar with a nut-raiser as my primary "lap steel", even though I do have some "real" ones... I play with bare thumbs and fingers. I cover all 6 strings with the bar all the time, like a slide player. So far, the lap-steel police have not knocked on my door.
George, it would be great to own everything. But, on a tiny social security check, I'm lucky to have 3 meals a day..... As for your "cheater's way", see above. Whatever works for YOU is RIGHT!!!
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 6 Mar 2009 1:00 pm
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| Quote: |
| So far, the lap-steel police have not knocked on my door. |
That's because we haven't found out where you live yet.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2009 2:45 pm
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Thanks for the chuckle, Brad!
Lately, I've pretty much been living here in the forum. It's a nice place. It's open 24/7, except for when it's down......
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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Greg Shadwick
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2009 8:57 am
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I really love these videos. I had never played steel before and after practicing with the videos I was hooked.
As mentioned, it does weigh heavy on the 8 string side, but she does an amazing job of teaching the fundamentals.
The truth is, so much of learning to play steel happens by screwing up. And Cindy makes a great point of this when she talks about why she loves non-pedal steel. The more you learn, the more you realize there are infinite possibilities.
The song choices really enforce this idea too. While they're mostly western standards, elements of each song can apply to almost anything. And the tricks and riffs you learn from them are easily used elsewhere.
And this idea is reflected throughout Cindy's career. From her straight up swing style with Asleep At The Wheel to her nearly pedal steel sounding work on Ryan Adam's Cold Roses, she has no fear of trying anything.
But her genius is pulling it off everytime. |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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