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Topic: Very Different Steel Guitar |
Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 5:55 pm |
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Trying to find something different or new
has always been a quest of mine.
On a previous thread I introduced my
Koto Board and Tuning set up with a few
bars of a little tune.
This next one goes somewhat further and
has some interesting new sounds for steel
guitar I think. Not for everybody ..just
nuts like me. 
The tuning goes from high to low:
A--G--D#--D--A#--A--G--D#--D--A#--A--G
Pentatonic scale based on the Japanese Koto
I use 4 treble and complimentry strings on
top neck and the remaining 8 on the back neck.
Link to Sound Clip:
http://www.mediafire.com/?vjztmnkmmmi
A pic of the Koto Steel Board
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 6:00 pm
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I enjoyed that, Roy. Thanks for posting it. I'll bet my wife could use a whole CD like that for when she teaches her yoga classes. Think about it: there might be a whole market out there for stuff like that.
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www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 6:18 pm
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Thanks Jim!
Actually I was in my Doctors office one day
and he plays recorded background music for patients.
While I waited I heard flute and Harp and it
was meditation selections, really beautiful.
I bought a few CD's and started listening while
doing my workouts on my Eleptical Trainer every
day. So the Koto Steel Board is a result of that
experience. I do a little Tai Chi also.. so have
some limited understanding of the required soothing
sound of the music required.
I plan to keep at it as it is really enjoyable
change from the norm. I can tab and teach this
material also if at anytime there is a demand.
My best to you and your wife.
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 6:49 pm
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Roy,that is great  . Thanks, YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 7:38 pm
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Very nice, Roy. Just what I needed to hear. Any chance for a couple more photos of the Koto Konsole?
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"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 7:51 pm
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_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 11:26 pm
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Highly refined and delicate sound!
Aloha,
Don |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 3:16 am Nut
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Sensitive and intricate. It painted many colors in my mind, and I enjoyed. I guess I'm a "nut" too, but the inroduction of this instrument to me, has really got me thinking in different directions.
You are a great player.
thanks for sharing
Rick |
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Ray Shakeshaft
From:
Kidderminster, Worcs, UK.
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 4:07 am
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| Very interesting Roy but given the thickness of the face (see sound hole) how did you get that volume? |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 4:58 am
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Wow. I dig it. I'd like to see a clip of you playing that. I'm not sure if I understand how you're playing with the bar and also picking. I really love it.
_________________
Al
My equipment:
One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 6:01 am
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Thanks for the nice remarks and feedback to all.
Ray, this board has good volume but to record
I used a mike to get the signal to my Roland and
then to my Hard Drive using Nero Software.
The whole thing is just a peice of pine with
hardware I made myself not counting the pins.
The feet are coat hooks so it can stand on a
table or bench , whaterever. This project obviously
is in an experimental stage.
If I get the motivation I will do something
with my Web Cam for YouTube. The encouragement
here may mean that will be soon.
Thanks again.
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Anthony Gundrum
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 7:11 am
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Roy,
Beautiful music. If you are not already familiar with Kitaro (http://www.kitaromusic.com/main.html) you might want to check out some of his work.
I really like the Koto you've made. I've been dabbling with the idea of making a steel and I really like the idea of an acoustic one like you've made. Are the top and bottom sound holes offset? I surprised at the thickness of the top. Usually an acoustic instrument top is thin. Although with pine I don't think getting it as thin as some acoustic instruments would be possible.
BTW, Les Paul started with strings and a pickup attached to a 4x4 or something of the sort. I think the Smithsonian has it.
Great playing! Keep it coming!
John
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Anthony Gundrum |
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Chris Renna
From:
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 7:53 am
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| What an amazing track and invention! |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 8:16 am
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| Roy, you are amazing. My shoulders sagged in happy relaxation by the end of that track. Overtones floating and mingling; beautiful. |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Bob Knetzger
From:
Kirkland, WA USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 9:24 am
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Namaste!
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Eddie Cunningham
From:
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 9:29 am Koto & Guzheng !!
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Roy , I enjoyed your steel Koto tune very much !! I've always believed that Jos. Kekukus Hawaiian steel guitar of 1890 was an evolution of the Japanese 13 string "Koto" and the Chinese "Guzheng", both from the Orient in 500 to 700 A.D. . I did some research on google and found some very interesting background info !! I have a C.D. of old Japans Koto music and it is almost Hawaiian in sound and tones !! Eddie "C"
Last edited by Eddie Cunningham on 14 Apr 2010 3:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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James Kerr
From:
Scotland, UK
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 12:07 pm
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Thank you Roy, its good to see others experimentation, I really like this and I think you have stirred up a lot of interest here.
James. |
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Kevin Brown
From:
England
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 2:36 pm
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| Brilliant stuff, Roy, listening as I type, nice n home made too, makes it even more of an achievement, not many of us have done that! |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Peter Lindelauf
From:
Penticton, BC
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 5:58 pm
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Listening for the second time, Roy. Wow. That's a very interesting hybrid.
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...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot) |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 14 Apr 2010 6:28 pm
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[url]Attn. Andy Gundrum[/url]
In your comment Andy you asked if the top and
bottom sound holes were lined up??
There is no bottom. It is just a board.
Actually I think the sound hole is redundant.
If it was not cut out I beleive the top
would vibrate more and be stronger also.
I considered maple instead of pine but
changed my mind as the sound may be too
bright and/or too thin.
Comments/opinions would be welcome from
some of the builders.
Thanks again everybody for the encouragement.
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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... looking forward to the video!