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Topic: Tip for beginners |
Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 1:39 pm |
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I've been playing various musicial instruments for about 40 years, played the road, done session work, played the Opry a few times, and I've observed a lot of great pickers. I offer this tip to the forum members:
Always, no matter what, without exception, tune your instrument to straight up A-440 tuning. This will make it easier to excute the right notes with the bar/finger positions and your playing will improve. After playing for awhile, and when moving the instrument from one location to another, they will often need to be retuned. I hope this helps take another brick out of that wall.
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 1:48 pm
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great tip, here's another
start early in life !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Steve Stallings
From:
Houston/Cypress, Texas
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 2:12 pm
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play the fiddle.... it weighs a little less! 
_________________
Steve Stallings
Emmons Legrande II 8X5 |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 2:34 pm Fiddle?
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 4:49 pm
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| Steve Stallings wrote: |
| play the fiddle.... it weighs a little less! |
We'll yes it does. But, let's expand on that a little if I may. My country fiddle rig consist of two fiddles, four bows, Amp, Stool, Rack Case, Fiddle Stand, a duffle bag full of cords, DI Box, Tuner, Preamps, Tools, Extension Cords, Candy Bars, Chewing Gum, etc... This usually requires several trips to the car, or using a dolly. When I do a steel gig, it's about the same, except for the heavy guitar.
The trade off is that playing steel you get to sit down all the time, and you only have the weight of the bar and picks to deal with. You have to hold the fiddle and bow all the time........ no straps like a guitar or bass. After about three hours of having a fiddle under your chin, it can get pretty heavy sometimes.
The bluegrass gigs are a little easier. Just take the fiddle out of the case and walk up to the mic and play. The trade off there is that you have to stand up all the time. Don't see very many bluegrass pickers sitting on stage.
I suppose each instrument has it's good and bad, but I love it, and it's worth it all to me.
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 4:52 pm Re: Fiddle?
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| Dick Sexton wrote: |
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I've thought about doing that to mine several times. Fiddle and steel share the function of being very demanding, frustrating instruments........ to me anyway.
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Steve Stallings
From:
Houston/Cypress, Texas
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 6:39 pm
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| Rick Campbell wrote: |
| Steve Stallings wrote: |
| play the fiddle.... it weighs a little less! |
We'll yes it does. But, let's expand on that a little if I may. My country fiddle rig consist of two fiddles, four bows, Amp, Stool, Rack Case, Fiddle Stand, a duffle bag full of cords, DI Box, Tuner, Preamps, Tools, Extension Cords, Candy Bars, Chewing Gum, etc... This usually requires several trips to the car, or using a dolly. When I do a steel gig, it's about the same, except for the heavy guitar.
The trade off is that playing steel you get to sit down all the time, and you only have the weight of the bar and picks to deal with. You have to hold the fiddle and bow all the time........ no straps like a guitar or bass. After about three hours of having a fiddle under your chin, it can get pretty heavy sometimes.
The bluegrass gigs are a little easier. Just take the fiddle out of the case and walk up to the mic and play. The trade off there is that you have to stand up all the time. Don't see very many bluegrass pickers sitting on stage.
I suppose each instrument has it's good and bad, but I love it, and it's worth it all to me.
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My fiddle rig consist of one fiddle, one bow......
and earplugs! (yes, I do play... but just enough to be dangerous!)
_________________
Steve Stallings
Emmons Legrande II 8X5 |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 6:46 pm
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| I pass out the ear plugs to the audience before I play. |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 7:30 pm Fiddle!
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And I used to, also.  But lately the crowds have been noticeably larger. |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2009 9:55 pm Re: Fiddle!
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| Dick Sexton wrote: |
| And I used to, also. But lately the crowds have been noticeably larger. |
Don't fight it man. Maybe they're build up their troops waiting on just the right moment to come after the fiddler? |
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Zeke Cory
From:
Hinsdale, New York USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 3:36 am NOT to start another Tuning war ... but -
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| after tuning everything to zero, my blend always sounds awful. It really is possible to play in tune using something between JI an EQ, and have your string blend sound pleasing. Whichever method sounds best to the player AND allows you to be in tune with the band is the method a player should choose. Thanks and Happy Holidays. Zeke |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 3:42 am Tuning Chart
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I've been using the Newman "tuning chart", for the 3 years I've got invested in PSG. I've played other instruments for about 45+ years in all, but the Steel is new to me, and I found I had to make adjustments,(bar) to keep the notes "true", hence I've relied on Jeff's method.
Have I been doing it wrong all along?
Rick
PS: Zeke-"whatever works" is my theory also |
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Zeke Cory
From:
Hinsdale, New York USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 4:04 am Opinions are varied, and that is good for all of us
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| There is no right or wrong here, black or white. I have learned alot, especially from views that differed from mine. All I had to do was be willing to look at them objectively with an open mind. Then settle in one that works best for you. Despite our differing viewpoints, most people will agree that there is always something we can learn, no matter how long we have played. I often play with many steel players onstage at the same time (13 in one instance at a steel guitar show). Many tune EQ, and many others tune JI, or something in between as do I. We never have any problems with this. You learn to play with the tuning setup you play, and make adjustments automatically. The A & F position is one example. I do have to bar adjust at this position but it is now a natural thing for me. Trying different things helps me find new things. Rely on your Ear, it works. Thanks again. Zeke |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 5:55 am Fiddle!
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Rick C... I think they are building for my final fiddle stomping finale! 
Rick W... For what it's worth, I started learning steel, using a $1.50 A440 tuning fork, tuning by ear, using harmonics. Moved to a Korg T-10, tuning the Newman Settings. Came back, tuning straight up EQ. Bought a Strobo flip, found how far out I was. Tried Newman, JI, EQ. Now I tune my 1st, 4th and 5th strings open referenced to A440, using the most expensive tuning fork on the planet, my Strobo flip. Then, I tune all other changes by ear referenced to those strings. Once the 1st, 4th, and 5th are in tune I don't touch them. Works for me, OOMV. Have been able to program the Strobo with all of my setting. Couldn't do that with the $1.50 tuning fork.
I do wish now, I'd paid more attention to my practice and less to the tuning distraction.
Rick C... PS: I think the problem with me learning to play fiddle was/is, I tune my E & A JI and my D & G EQ. |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 6:55 am agreement
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Once again Zeke we are in agreement.I will re-state it for the new steel guitar student.
"Keep yor eyes and ears open. Listen to EVERYTRHING, from Bach, to Coltrane, to Zane.
Take what you can, and make it yours."
There was a gentleman writing, on another post, about how he took "classical string quartets", listened,to the viola harmony parts, studied, and used, in theory ,the "counterpoint" moves,on PSG. True, and enligtening.
good luck in our quest,
to we,
who seek to make the Pedal Steel,
and a musical style,
of our own.
(myself included)
Rick |
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Wayne Franco
From:
silverdale, WA. USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 3:43 pm I don't do it that way
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| I Always tune my roots a little sharp and my 3rds strait up. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 4:07 pm
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Is this supposed to be a joke?
Lest any beginner take it seriously, consider this. Very few professional steel guitarists tune to "straight-up A-440 tuning". Most do not.
I don't presume to judge which tuning method is best. I'm just saying that if you play because you love the sound of the instrument on records, odds are good that the player did not follow Rick Campbell's advice.
_________________
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Danny Hall
From:
Nevada, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 4:31 pm
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I'd butt in here with this.
No violin soloist tunes straight up 440.
You can't tune a saxophone straight up anything, you got to find some spot on the horn where there will be balance up and down the keys. Then "pull" the notes into tune with your lips. (I'd say embrouchure but I can't spell it the same way twice.
We all know that six string guitar leads are tuned from a few cents sharp to a full step low.
I like Zeke's assesment. But if you're not somewhere "close" you and the piano man are gonna fight. 440 is a good place to start.
_________________
The Last of the World's Great Human Beings. Ok, well maybe one of the last. Oh alright then, a perfectly ordinary slacker. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 6:41 pm
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I am with Bob Lee on this
one.What I do with students is let them tune however they want. When they notice how crappy and out of tune they sound I have them try the Newman numbers. It always helps. After that if they're into it I show them how to tune by ear.
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Bob |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 7:49 pm
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No, not a joke, but not a serious statement either. More of a sucker joke. I did it to make a point. When you make a statement that is absolute, without exception, etc... you are asking for people that don't share that opinion to respond. If you'll notice, I didn't specify that this only applied to steel guitar. I said instrument, and mentioned both bar and finger positions. A-440 is the standard tuning for most instruments, but not in all cases. Therefore, everyones opposing comments are true, justified, welcome, and I appreciate you pointing that out to me.
I'm not asking that this thread be closed. Yes, it's strayed off topic talking about fiddle playing, etc... no problem to me, and no problem because you disagree with my original post........ I expected it. Please go ahead and share your opinons on different tuning methods, etc... have some fun, learn what you can, and ignore the things that are not important to you.
I wish each of my forum family a very Happy New Year, and all the very best for 2010. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2009 8:25 pm
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Some of us do not appreciate the humor in misguiding beginners. This is a hard instrument to learn, and deliberately posting false information as a "tip for beginners" is simply wrong. I remind you of the first sentence of the membership agreement:
"You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not post any material which is knowingly false...".
You can try to lawyer your way out of this, in which case I will simply point to another sentence in the membership agreement:
"We reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever, and to deny service to individuals that we deem disruptive."
This topic is closed by admin.
"An interesting game. The only winning move is not to play." -Joshua the supercomputer in War Games
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-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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