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Topic: Video of Bakersfield style Lap Steel (Tom Brumley style) |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Nov 2010 8:18 am |
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After laying off this one for a while, I came back to it and sharpened up my adaptation of Tom Brumley's "Seven Come Eleven", as recorded with the Buckaroos. This one is a blast to play and it is difficult. On this recording, I played it at full tempo, which I believe is 162 bpm. It was recorded into my Boss BR-8. All the tracks were played by me and the steel is one pass, FWIW.  It ain't easy--a lot of breath-holding.
Here's the video:
Seven Come Eleven video
If you're interested in learning to play this great Bakersfield-style tune, it's loaded with really useful picking. It is tabbed for E9 tuning, 6 or 8 string. I've made the tab/notation in Tabledit and pdf, and the video and backing track is included. You can slow it down if you have those capabilities on your computer. Amazing Slow Downer works really well for this. Anyway, here is my ad in the Music, Lessons For Sale section: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1694173
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
Last edited by Mike Neer on 5 Nov 2010 12:52 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2010 9:30 am
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That was great Mike. You really had the essence of the pedal feel on non pedal. Those licks sound really cool. It sounds alittle over my head but I may have to give it a try anyway.
What guitar did you use?
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 1 Nov 2010 9:32 am
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For cripes sake Mike, you have to stop posting this stuff, it's driving me around the bend. When I played your link, I had to run downstairs, fire up my old Remington and give it a try. Without a doubt, this one is going to take some extended practice.
I have to ask this, what is the string spacing on your steel? My Remington D10 is 1 5/16" and getting between the strings for a pull at up tempo, without touching the next string, causes me a few problems. I will admit that I sometimes use a metal sewing thimble so I don't do any muffling of the strings. On my Guyatone D8, which has a 1 5/8" spacing, I can get in there but it does not have that pure pedal steel tone that the Remington does.
Second question, are you playing a long scale?
Another fantastic job. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Nov 2010 10:02 am
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Thanks, guys. That's my walnut Clinesmith. I removed the pickup cover and play really close to the bridge to try for that tone.
Les, the spacing on my Clinesmith is 5/16". There is no string pulling on this tune, just a lot of difficult slants and quick bar moves. And yes, it is a long scale guitar at 25".
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 1 Nov 2010 10:10 am
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| Mike Neer wrote: |
Thanks, guys. That's my walnut Clinesmith. I removed the pickup cover and play really close to the bridge to try for that tone.
Les, the spacing on my Clinesmith is 5/16". There is no string pulling on this tune, just a lot of difficult slants and quick bar moves. And yes, it is a long scale guitar at 25". |
I meant to print 3/8" and 5/16" as well. I don't know where the 1 3/8" came from.   |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 1 Nov 2010 6:00 pm
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Mike, you are right on!!!
Great execution and tone throughout.
Roy
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Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Chuck S. Lettes
From:
Denver, Colorado
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Posted 1 Nov 2010 6:31 pm
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Well done, Mike. What a labor of love!
Chuck |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Steve Cunningham
From:
Atlanta, GA
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 2 Nov 2010 4:18 am
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Outside of your formidable steel technique (which seems to have jumped exponentially in the last 2 years) you really have an ear for what makes an interesting non-pedal tune. Not all tunes lend themselves to the instrument equally well but you're sure finding the wheat among the chaff, Mike.
And Steve C. - talk about icing down your bar hand, I was listening to you first CD in the car the other day. Man! |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 2 Nov 2010 5:21 pm
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Andy, thanks, I appreciate that. I can tell you that the break-through for me was realizing that I needed to learn how to play the steel guitar the "right" way--like a steel player. It's a simple concept but the process isn't. Anyway, I'm beginning to find that it's getting easier for me to move in the direction I really want to go now, especially in the technique department. I've had a plan all along.
And then you get a guy like Steve C who just kills at everything he touches....
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 2 Nov 2010 7:38 pm
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Damn that sounds good! And the price is right- I would have had to think about it twice to buy the package if it was $10.
So what notes are in the 6 and 8 string E9 tunings?
ANSWER: (E) (G#) B D F# G# B E
I just got another Chandler RH-2 and I was wondering what tuning I was going to use... it looks like it will be E9th! Those Chandlers are really nice for the price (I got this one used for a little over $200).
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 3 Nov 2010 11:58 am
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I just wanted to add that I videotaped this performance with 2 cameras (overhead and right hand) and it is included in the package which is only $4.95. Took more time to edit the video and render it than it did to figure the whole tune out.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 3 Nov 2010 3:24 pm
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So what gauge strings would you recommend for the E9th tuning on a steel with a 22 1/2" scale? I would want to use heavier gauges than on a pedal steel.
I have to say that lap steels have pedal steels beat when it comes to instructional videos. It is too confusing for me to figure out how the player is using his left and right hands as well as his pedals and levers. Two cameras on a lap steel show everything we need to see.
P.S. I am finally getting ready to open up your Four Wheel Drive DVD (I wanted to develop my left and right hand techniques a bit before trying to tackle that- it did give me something to look forward to!)
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 3 Nov 2010 3:50 pm
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Steve, you could retune a C6 set and there would be just a little more slack, only really noticeable on the bass end.
Thanks a lot!
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 3 Nov 2010 5:23 pm
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| Great playing Mike. Reminiscent of Rusty Young's PSG playing with POCO back in the 70's. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 4 Nov 2010 4:10 am
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I finally managed to get the video edited (my software was corrupted and I had to run the gauntlet). A higher res widescreen version is included in the package. The Youtube version is not widescreen. If you're listening through a mono PC speaker, it's not going to sound right. This is a stereo recording and you need stereo speakers or headphones.
Seven Come Eleven video
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
Last edited by Mike Neer on 5 Nov 2010 12:08 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2010 7:37 am
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Mike, when you say you needed to learn to play steel guitar the right way (a contentious statement), what does that mean to you. What I am aiming at is, what are you listening for in your playing now that you didn't hear before? I am looking for a piece of what you are hearing that would send me in a new direction.
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 4 Nov 2010 8:31 am
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Mark, I knew that would get me in trouble, but I did at least use ""s around right.
When I bought my first pedal steel I was really determined to learn. I remember watching a Jeff Newman video where he was talking about technique and he said something about vibrato that really turned me off. After that, I went back to being my rebellious self. I sold the pedal steel not long after that, as I had sort of a negative impression of the whole experience (my fault really, plus I couldn't play it). I didn't want anyone to tell me what was the right way to do it--I'd figure it out myself.
Well, being that I don't have a lifetime to figure out how to do it myself....
Anyway, all I ever really wanted to do was gain the facility to play the instrument the way I hear it. I have a lot of ideas about where I want to go, but would never be able to do any of it without the technique. When I started transcribing stuff like Four Wheel Drive, it became apparent to me that there really is a system to playing with the right hand--it is not random. So, that's what I mean about playing the "right" way. I remember playing lap steel with a flatpick 10 years ago.... And then there are monster players who completely defy all the norms--I'm not one of them in that respect.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2010 9:17 am
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Thanks Mike
I was hoping for a bit of insight to help speed up my learning process. What I see is there is no short cut, and that you gained alot of insight from transcribing great players. Thanks for that effort. So I will dive into Seven Come Eleven this weekend.
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 6 Nov 2010 11:20 am
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| Mike Neer wrote: |
I finally managed to get the video edited (my software was corrupted and I had to run the gauntlet). A higher res widescreen version is included in the package. The Youtube version is not widescreen. If you're listening through a mono PC speaker, it's not going to sound right. This is a stereo recording and you need stereo speakers or headphones.
Seven Come Eleven video |
Will you be emailing the widescreen version to those of us who already purchased the package? The video on YouTube is incredible. It looks like you are using a skinny bar like the JD 918 "Jerry Byrd" model but longer. It is really a trip to watch the bar in the video- I would like to see a video of your left hand just like the one for your right hand. It is almost like watching a shell game... <g>
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 8 Nov 2010 9:37 am
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I've got a few more of these mini-lessons coming up soon. Thanks everyone for checking this one out!
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Mike Bagwell
From:
Greenville, SC, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2010 2:33 pm
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Nice work Mike, sounds great.
Mike |
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