| Author |
Topic: M. Neers Four Wheel Drive lessons |
Jerome Hawkes
From:
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
|
Posted 21 May 2012 7:06 am |
|
back a few years ago when i took up steel guitar, i got mike's first volume of steelin from the masters. at the time, it was a bit over my head as i was pretty green on C6, but i loved the tune and challenge.
well i got bogged down with various tunings and didnt have a std 8 string C6 (F-E) on a steel and it got put in the stack with the rest of my "to learn".
well, i've got a steel jam coming up and decided i needed something "hot" to play on my new clinesmith T-8 so the pedal steel guys wouldnt give me a "hard time" (all in fun, as i often drag my old 'Bud permanent to jams with a 3x1 set up). i got my copy out and went to work yesterday and i had forgot how good this tune is and how well mike did transcribing it over to non-pedal. i got the head up to 180bmp yesterday, but then i realized thats gonna be a long way from full on 260...ouch. i realized just how far i've come over these 2 years as it seems progress on the steel is so slow and gradual. i remember really struggling with the tune when i first got it - my picking, blocking, bar noise, sloppiness - it was painful - and yesterday, i just fired it right off after about an hour. so all you newbie's keep on pickin and pushing yourselves - it will come.
there is such a need for what i'd call advanced lessons and "fun with new tunings" - i guess the point of this topic is to say thanks to mike for all his work and to point out that you have to keep pushing yourself musically.
_________________
'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II |
|
|
 |
Thomas Temple
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 21 May 2012 7:23 am Just what I needed
|
|
Jerome,
This post could not have come at a better time for me. I have been plugging along for about 7 months now, bought both of Doug Beaumier's C6th books as well as other instructional material, took two months of lessons and really thought that I was gaining UNTIL this weekend when I got a web camera and video taped a short session of my playing. When I played it back I was shocked at how bad I play. I knew that the songs might not have been at the right tempo ( obviously played slower ) but if I didn't know what they were I am not sure I would have been able to guess what was being played. I am going to try and shake it off, as this is only a hobby and I have no aspirations of ever being much more than a bedroom player but sure was disappointing to say the least.
Tom |
|
|
|
Jerome Hawkes
From:
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
|
Posted 21 May 2012 9:07 am
|
|
Tom - you are doing the right thing - i can say that nearly everyone who picks up the steel underestimates the time necessary to get your skills together - i surely did. if you come from playing other instruments, we forget how long it took us to just play a clean barre chord for example. i remember it took me "forever" to play an "A-form" bar chord on guitar.
Doug's book is really what turned the corner for me. i had struggled with C6 and broke down and got it and finally started to "see" the C6 and how to use it. His arrangements are prefect because they arent difficult, yet they are perfect for getting you use to the harmonic possibilites of the tuning. i still play Harbor Lights, Tenderly and Always, etc at the jams i go to and many of the pedal guys (who own D-10s and never use them) are amazed at what you can get out of a "straight-8" C6 tuning.
oh, and - i dont ever listen back to gigs that are recorded for a reason...if in my mind, at the end of the night, we think we played well and are stoked, everybody is happy and had a good time - i leave it at that. there is nothing more depressing than listening back to a gig you considered "on", and be shocked at how "off" it was. this is an odd thing to say, but it helps keep your spirits up - and at my age, i'm not looking for record deals. and likewise, i've listened back to gigs i thought were awful and they werent as bad as i thought...it depends on how you mentally go into it i guess. i might do this to a tune i'm working on before i get up on stage and embarrass myself though 
_________________
'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II |
|
|
|
Thomas Temple
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 21 May 2012 10:18 am Thanks
|
|
Jerome,
Thank you Sir for the sage advice and guidance. As I said I am a bedroom player and as such guess if it sounds OK to me that is what counts the most. Besides if I ever do play for anyone else it will be without charge so I can give a money back guarantee if not satisfied!!
Tom |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 21 May 2012 10:42 am
|
|
Jerome, thanks a lot for the kind words and I'm glad you find the DVD useful.
I knew that breaking a song and solo like this was going to be the only way that I'd really get a bird's eye view of the C6 tuning; otherwise it made no sense to me at all.
This is what works for me--it still does.
I love transcribing stuff and it has gotten to the point with steel guitar where I can really focus in on every little nuance.
Figuring out exactly how certain things were played is almost like a challenge for me--I love to do it.
Basically, I will explore every option before I make my conclusion and as time goes on I know i'm getting better and better at it.
Want to check out some challenging stuff? The Sol Hoopii transcriptions are some of the toughest because of these little nuances.
I've just finished Singin' The Blues, the tune that Bix made famous, and Sol's playing is so clever.
Thomas, hang in there--it takes time. The amount of time is different for everyone.
It definitely took me a while and I'm nowhere near where I'd like to be or should be.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
|
Posted 22 May 2012 1:36 pm Re: Just what I needed
|
|
| Thomas Temple wrote: |
| [I] really thought that I was gaining UNTIL this weekend when I got a web camera and video taped a short session of my playing. When I played it back I was shocked at how bad I play. |
I like to think that my intonation has been getting better but whenever I record myself it always comes out a bit "pitchy" (as they say on American Idol)- definitely worse than it sounds when I am playing it. There must be something wrong with my recorder!
Steve Ahola
P.S. I had a question for Mike- do you know what tuning Buddy used when he recorded 4 Wheel Drive? Thanks!
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
|
|
|
Jon Nygren
From:
Wisconsin, USA
|
Posted 25 May 2012 11:54 am
|
|
I'm going to have to pile on here..
Earlier this week I thought i'd give Mikes "Almost to Tulsa" lesson a whirl. Man am I impressed. I haven't been able to spend too much time with it yet, but i've already got the pick up lick, melody, and bridge nearly up to speed.
That's a testament to Mike and his well thought out, organized approach. The tab/notation is really well done, and the video is what separates the lesson from the pack IMO- it's not so much seeing how he plays it, it's the tips and suggestions he gives along with it.
I could have put the tune on transcribe and worked through it myself for free, but this was the best 10 bucks i've spent in a long time. The lessons are a bargain considering what you get with them. |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 26 May 2012 7:26 am
|
|
Thanks, Jon, I really appreciate the kind words and I'm glad you found it useful.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Al Miller
From:
Waxahachie Texas
|
Posted 26 May 2012 4:09 pm Almost to Tulsa
|
|
Thomas , I must say that you are so right on mikes transcriptions.. I downloaded "ALMOST TO TULSA" by Buddy Charlton because i found mike's version the closest to the Original as i ever heard.. I was a student of charlton in my younger days and we never got to this level of teaching and i have always wanted to Play this tune JUST LIKE BUDDY!! but i waited to long for that lesson ... until i discoverd it on mikes site i had figured out a lot of the tune on my own but after getting mikes course i found out i was wrong in so many areas.. i now have the song down for the most part and like yourself i am working it up to speed .. i will make this a speacial track on my next CD that is going to be a tribute to the teachings of BUDDY CHARLTON as i remember them .. thanks Mike for Helping me make this song be a part of that Project . i will certainly acknowlege your contribution..
Boo Miller
_________________
AL (BOO) Miller
Mullen D10
76 Emmons P/P
2022 65 Emmons Resound P/P D10 |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 26 May 2012 5:37 pm
|
|
Doug, I was always under the impression that he played it on a D-8 Fender 1000.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 27 May 2012 6:13 am
|
|
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Alexander Stepanenko
From:
Moscow, Russia
|
Posted 27 May 2012 9:19 am
|
|
I also want to thank Michael for his work. Most of all I like that this song masters and the fact that i can play on gigs. I played Four Wheel Drive and Chloe. Four Wheel Drive is true in the style of slow Bossa Nova  |
|
|
|
