Alkire EHarp soundclips

Stan Schober · From: Cahokia, Illinois, USA

I've done multiple searches here and elsewhere on the net, and I can't find any links that still work.

Does anyone have any Alkire music files that I can hear ?
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Roy Thomson · From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada

Hi Stan,

Here's a link to Tenderly which I recorded
a few years ago. I also did some work on
some up-to-date music writing for the tuning
of which I will post a sample of a little later.

Link:
http://picosong.com/qnw
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Roy Thomson · From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada

Alkire music transcribed from original
papers of Mr. Alkire. I programmed this on
my computer to match my playing. Just
page 1...I have the others somewhere but
this will get the idea of method across I hope.

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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Stan Schober · From: Cahokia, Illinois, USA

Thanks for that clip Roy !
Such a beautiful mellow sound !

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Thanks Stan, yes, I too would like to hear more of the Alkire tuning. Cool

Roy, your playing sounds really sweet, as always!

I've never tried the Alkire tuning... on paper I can see that it has six consecutive strings tuned in 1/2 steps, which means the player must pick the strings very selectively to play chords. It also means that a lotta chords are available, but not much strumming of the chords. It looks like a good tuning for an advanced player, but I can't imagine trying to teach students on the Alkire tuning.

A seller on eBay was recently selling Eddie Alkire albums, unopened. I think he had a whole box of them. I was going to buy one, but I haven't owned a turntable since 1992! As far as I know, Alkire released four albums on his own label: Steel Guitar Style, Exotic Steel Guitar, Jazz Steel Guitar, Exciting New Colors... all long out of print. The titles sound interesting!

Maybe a Forum member who has one of these records could make some mp3s so we could hear Mr. Alkire's picking? It's a shame that a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, a great inventor, teacher and performer is unavailable on CD or digital downloads.
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Mel Taylor · From: Alabama, USA

Hi Stan, I have two video's on utube that I recorded using the Eharp tuning that I play on my Eharp console steel. Keep in mind these were recorded using a very cheap video camera so the video and the sound quality is not very good. Go to utube and in the search area type in eharpplayer1 there I have the songs Cold, Cold Heart and Precious Memories. Give a listen and remember I am just a novice player.
Mel Taylor

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Stan Schober · From: Cahokia, Illinois, USA

I agree with DOug !
You sound great Mel, loosen up a bit !
HOw hard was it to get used to the Alkire tuning?
WHat other tunings were you already used to ?
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Roy Thomson · From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada

Mel is a great guy and a wonderful player!
Good to hear from you again Mel.

Just for the record my playing of Tenderly
above is played on a Fender 10 stringer
on the Alkire tuning which is as follows
for those not familiar:

High to Low: E-C#-B--A-G#-G-F#-F-E-C#

It is a hard tuning to master and you
must have good command of the left and
right hand techniques. As you can see there
are diatonic intervals and that means "proceed
with caution". Smile

Check out Kay Lang ..she is a nice Alkire
player..one of my favourites. Has a
beautiful vibrato.

Roy
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Mel Taylor · From: Alabama, USA

Thanks Doug, Stan and Roy for the kind comments. Yes Doug you did see a bar slant in the song Cold, Cold Heart. Even though you don't have to use bar slants in the Eharp tuning I have gotten to the point that I am trying more slants just to get an added dimension.
Stan the Eharp tuning was the only tuning I ever new until I came back to playing steel again. In explanation when I was about 12 years old (I'm 68 now)I took lessons back in the 1950's on the Eharp tuning then I just quit playing music for over 45 years and came back about 4 years ago. Since then I have experimented some with C6, A6, Leavitt and open E on my resonator but I still prefer the Eharp tuning but I will continue to work with C6 a little more since that seems to be the most popular tuning by lapsteel players for Hawaiian music.
Mel Taylor

Jim Mathis · From: Overland Park, Kansas, USA

Any post about Alkire always gets my attention because that is what I started out on. I think it was hard to learn because I was always discouraged. I was also nine years old.

Later when I switched to pedals and E9 it was an easy transitions because the 1,3,5,9 strings are open E and 1,2,4 are like pedals down A. The other strings just fill out 6ths, 7ths, 13ths, minors, etc. Once you get the grips down it makes sense, but pedals make life a lot easier.

I would love to have the Eddie Alkire albums if anybody has any for sale.
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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Eddie Alkire LP, sealed, on eBay ----> Click
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Jim Mathis · From: Overland Park, Kansas, USA

Thanks Doug.

I have a bid in.
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