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Topic: Three Days Until Solo Show - Now What? |
Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 4 Sep 2013 8:23 pm |
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Advice needed.
I received a motivating ($$$) email to play a last minute gig - a backyard summer party for a friend's kiddo's Greek tragedy play. Cool, right?
So, what do I do for lap steel material completely on my own? (I'm used to being in a band.) Right now I'm thinking I take my instrumentals and slowing them down, playing smooth and expressively and cranking up the reverb. Is that cliché?
San Antonio Rose, Dinah, Crazy, Exactly Like You, Honeysuckle Rose etc...
Last edited by Nate Hofer on 4 Sep 2013 8:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 4 Sep 2013 8:27 pm
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| And no Band in a Box or fake back up tracks. That's not me. No loop pedals either. |
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Frank James Pracher
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 4 Sep 2013 8:45 pm
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Not sure if it's a cliché or not, but there is fellow who plays solo lap steel (and some dobro) once a week at a little café/deli around here and people love it. (and he doesn't even have reverb on his amp)
I've been thinking of trying it myself.
(playing solo, not the whole no reverb thing  )
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one" |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 5 Sep 2013 1:51 am
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Play lots of big chords. Play the melody. Play with feeling. Milk the unique aspects of the steel .... sustain, vibrato, sliding (but keep it subtle). People will love it. Years ago, friends asked me to play solo steel at their wedding and I chickened out. I regret that. Good luck!
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 5 Sep 2013 4:12 am
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Frank, that's good news! I was afraid solo lap steel was a little too much like all frosting and no cake.
But, Andy, with your advice to stick to the basics hopefully I can pull it off and have fun too. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 5 Sep 2013 4:27 am
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Time is not something you should be a slave to when playing solo. You don't have to play as if you are playing with a rhythm section--take your time and let your treatment of the melody develop and unfold.
If I play another steel show, I'm going to play a solo set.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 5 Sep 2013 5:08 am Melody Voice
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I agree with Andy & Mike , Focus on the Melody within Chords if you can - make them "Your Own".
The songs you have chosen are all Classic Standards - Maybe not so much for younger folks, but for you and their elders.
When I play Steel Shows my practice routine before is to play my set alone at the exact time of day as the show time will be - and play it as tight as possible as it will be with or without accompanied players - tracks. This way your performance will remain constant regardless of who else is there or not there.
Hope this helps and encourages.
Best Regards George Mr.Boards |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2013 6:32 am
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Ashokan Farewell is a great solo tune.... Falls better on a six-string tuned to Dmaj.
I like Alley Cat... Good for the kiddies, I think. Easy on a 6th tuning.
Stairway to Heaven falls nicely on C6 (high G)... Sing Gilligan's Island to it and youll carry the day!
_________________
New FB Page: Lap Steel Licks And Stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195394851800329 |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 5 Sep 2013 7:10 am
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Thanks, Mike, George and Stephen!
Ohh! Alley Cat! Might have to put that on the To Learn list. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 6 Sep 2013 8:10 am
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Do you sing as well?
I often play solo lap steel and sing. I am surprised at how full sounding it can be.
Most of the time I use my own original background tracks, but often I get requests for songs that I have no track for. So it's just my lap steel and vocals. It is always very well received.
You can do it!
Dom 
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Tony Lombardo
From:
Alabama, USA
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Posted 6 Sep 2013 8:23 am
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| Rubato! |
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Tom Snook
From:
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
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Posted 6 Sep 2013 3:16 pm
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Alley Cat,that's a real crowd pleaser 
They played that at my wedding(NOT)!
_________________
I wanna go back to my little grass shack........ |
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Steven Pearce
From:
Port Orchard Washington, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2013 12:35 am
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Hats off to ALL of you!
I'll tell you the truth.. I am NOT that brave! 
If the band plays to ten people or ten thousand, I'm having a great day. But solo lap steel and vocals, Tried twice, choked twice. If anyone has videos of solo shows, it would be great if you could post some.
Thanks much,
Steve
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http://www.fentonstwang.com/fr_home.cfm |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 6 Oct 2013 11:53 am
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Just to follow up a little on how this turned out, I had fun!
Here's a sound recording:
https://soundcloud.com/natehofer/honeysuckle-rose-c6-a7
It's an iPhone recording and it's the midwest so you can hear cicadas and the kids and parents. In this arrangement I start with the bridge.
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