using tablature

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

this is probalbly not the category this should be in but i was wondering how many of you use tablature when playing at a show or when playing out somewhere.

Brandon Ordoyne · From: Needville,Texas USA

I never use Tab out on a show...I may sometimes use a chart if it is a hard chord progression. I winged myself away from Tab early on...I only usae Tab if I am stuck in a rutt and can't figure it out. I feel I can take the extra time to learn it without Tab, it will help me on the bandstand, because the time I took to figure it out myself, the song was stuck in my mind. Smile

This is my two cents anyway Smile

Brandon
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Daniel, it is fine to learn your way around with tab but tab is intended to be a teaching aid. Playing the Pedal Steel requires full attention to what you are doing, I think it would be very difficult to look at the TAB and look at the Steel at the same time. This would be like keeping your eyes on the road map while driving. If you drop one measure or even half a measure during a "live " song, you will be in big trouble.

Use the Tab to assist in the learning process but leave it at home when you are out on the gig, this may sound harsh but if you need the tab on the gig you may not be ready yet for the gig.

Reading charts or the numbering system is not the same as reading tab, with those you are reading ahead and glancing at them, they direct you in the song not give details how to play the song.

Practice....seat time...that will get you ready for the gig..

patience grasshopper...

t
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Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

If you need tab on a gig you shouldn't be playing a gig.
(just my opinion)

As far as charts go, I'd be lost without them. I do a lot of freelancing and some weeks I have to learn 40 or 50 songs (many of which I am not very familiar with) to play a 4hr show. Without charts I'd be lost. HOWEVER, after a couple of weeks of playing the song I charted out I don't need it any more.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

thanks for the info. So what are some of the ways you learn to play the songs besides tablature.

Stuart Legg · Posted 2 Jul 2010 10:09 am

There is a lot of good stuff to learn by on youtube.
If you just learn what's on there you'll be well on your way to becoming a good Steel player.
One thing that tab can not teach you is good technique and you're going to discover sooner or later how important that is. Learn it sooner.
Nothing will beat having a good teacher.

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

My dear sweet Mother, may she rest in peace, played the piano, her timing was nothing short of awful, when the song finally ended [thank God] I would ask her, "Mom, what was the name of that tune" she would reply "the Old Rugged Cross'. but absolutely sounded nothing like the song she would tell me, she had the notes, & the timing with normal music. With tab, you get no timing for the song, and unless you know the tune, probably never will. Most that have ever visited with me, that played using tab were in the exact same boat as my dear old Mother. I just can't imagine anyone playing out using tab. If you goal is to play like s--t, keep using tab, it'll happen for ya.

Ernie Laughing

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

there really isnt anyone around where i live that even knows what a steel guitar is so that is why i have been asking about tablature and other materials.Do some of you mememorize songs to play them do some of you read music or something else.these may be dumb questions but i really dont know much about playing steel.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

To PLAY music you need to LEARN music.
This can be done many ways but the objective is to be able to sit down with a competent band and hold your own. It's not intuition, it's EXPERIENCE and STUDY. You know where every Am chord is on your guitar; you know the most likely places where the next chord after that Am might be; you understand what to play if it's your turn to fill; you can create a musically interesting solo or just play the melody off the top of your head. Once you are there there's still a lot to learn.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

richard burton · From: Britain

Larry,
It is intuition.

It doesn't matter how much music theory is known, or how much study has been undertaken, when the rubber hits the road, if there is no natural 'feel', it's all for naught.

Donny Dennis · From: Atlanta, Texas

Daniel, someone told me that if he had to learn to play the pedal steel guitar by playing tablature that he probably would never have learned to play the steel. Also, he told me to first learn the chords, and once you have learned the chords you should be able to play without using tablature. Additionally, he advised me to practice a minimum of 1 to 1 1/2 hours each and every day. It's okay to break up the practice time in increments say 15 to 30 minutes each, but the total practice time needs to total 1 to 1 1/2 hours daily.

Hope this helps, and best regards.

Donny

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

what material could i use to learn the chords

Ray Riley · From: Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Ernie, What you said about tab having no timing is so profound. It may work if you've heard it before but not by just looking at the notes. A good example of this is "In the Mood" Look up a tab and try playing it. record it. Then try to find a recording of it by Benny Goodman and you will see what I mean. Ray

Bo Legg · Posted 2 Jul 2010 7:58 pm

I recommend starting out by ordering a good pick blocking course. Follow the instruction faithfully and practice until you get the whole system down.
You'll then have the ability to play any song or lick fast or slow that you want to learn.
Franklin uses this technique and if you just get to the fringe of his playing ability you'll be a great PSG player.
It won't be easy but you can do it!

Donny Dennis · From: Atlanta, Texas

Daniel, I just sent you an email concerning an E9th Fret Board Chord Chart produced by Ms. Patricia Warnock. I think you will find this to be an excellent E9th Chord Chart. All you have to do is click on the link below which will take you to her web site, and then scroll down, and left click on her "E9th Fret Board Chord Chart", to download a copy. According to her web site she has had over 35,000 hits for her chord chart. It is relatively easy to understand, and you might want to thank her for producing such an excellent chart.

http://www.globalpursuits.ca/graphicDesign.html

Best regards.

Donny Dennis

Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

Never had to use tab live, I have a pretty good ear. But in the studio, that's a different story. The singer always gives me number sheet. I have had to learn how to read and use the number system. It's really quite easy, if you can't read sheet music.
The first string you pick is the root chord.
Tommy Shown
SMFTBL

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

How did we get off on pick blocking and number charts? I thought the topic was tablature.

Number charts tell you the chord progression
Tablature tells you EACH NOTE TO PLAY
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Larry, although he was asking about tab, looking through the thread it seems that part of the question is really about how to play songs or backup on stage if you're starting from not knowing the songs...

My opinion on that involves knowing and using the number system, preferably integrated with knowledge of the steel itself. There are many other threads touching on that. As Larry mentions, I usually have partial number charts for any gigs where I'm not familiar with the songs, often only "has 3m in chorus" or "Bridge walks from 2m". The reason I don't need charts for songs I've heard before or are relatively simple is I can hear the progressions in my head, and know where to find the progressions on my guitar.

To play well and confidently onstage, you'll need to develop those skills. It can only be immensely difficult to add nuance and subtlety to your phrasing and style when you're concentrating on reading every note from tab, not to mention easily getting lost. (Although Classical musicians have been pulling it off for centuries!)

All that being said, I occasionally notate a short phrase or signature lick in tab alongside my abbreviated number charts on a new song. Last Saturday I had a one-off gig for a festival, 65 songs I'd mostly heard before. On two of the songs the band wanted the steel to cover an intro lick played by another instrument on the original recording. One of them I had heard enough to remember and just play. The other was unfamiliar, I just wrote out 4 or 5 notes in tab, enough to kick-start my memory of the lick when it came around.

Serve yourself musically- use the tools that help, but learn the language of music so you can truly express yourself.

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

all this information has been helpful i havent had my steel guitar very long but i havent really started to learn but im hoping to learn to play it.

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