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Topic: Grooving on Steel Guitar |
Matthew Walton
From:
Fort Worth, Texas
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Posted 25 Jun 2015 1:25 pm |
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Has anyone had any experience with or have any suggestions for "grooving" or playing rhythm on a steel guitar?
I've been playing guitar in a duo with a classical guitarist, and we've talked about me playing my lap steel. Well last Saturday, we had one couple breeze in and out of the wine bar we play at, so I figured it would be a perfect time to break out the steel and try playing it on some jazz songs. It was pretty fun, but sound was severly lacking when it was his turn to take a lead. Apart from learning how to play jazz chords on the fly, can anyone recommend a method of filling out the sound at all? It doesn't have to be a heavy "chunk chunk," just something to avoid the currently jarring emptiness of the sound.
Thanks guys!
_________________
If something I wrote can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, I meant the other one.
1981 MSA "The Universal" Bb6 S-12 9/5 | 2024 Excel Robostar Bb6 S-12 8/5 | 2009 MSA SuperSlide C6 S-12 | Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Adam Nero
From:
Wisconsin
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Posted 26 Jun 2015 6:42 am
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Cindy Cashdollar is a master at comping on steel... there was a thread not so long ago on here with links to videos.
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2 cheap dobros, several weird old lap steels, and one lifelong ticket to ride on the pedal steel struggle bus. |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2015 6:54 am
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| I have found it very helpful to think in terms of horn section hits & vamps in R & B . Also, think of the vamp in Miles's All Blues (as an example). Rhythmic patterns with strong harmonic footing like that yield huge musical grounding. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 26 Jun 2015 7:12 am
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Second recommendation to check out Cindy. Also guitarist Steve Cropper who used intervals, bass notes and arpeggios to great effect in the 60's. Buddy Emmons Swing Shift series has great comping. In addition to rhythmic comping, there's always the classic steel guitar "wash of sound." A volume pedal can be a big help here, coupled with the steel's natural sustain. You can play one chord per measure and swell it to create a sustaining harmonic pad.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Last edited by Andy Volk on 26 Jun 2015 10:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Adam Nero
From:
Wisconsin
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Posted 26 Jun 2015 7:52 am
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Here's another good example with Leon McAuliffe on Panhandle. Check out 0:54 when the fiddle solo starts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRoZpvBWwHc
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2 cheap dobros, several weird old lap steels, and one lifelong ticket to ride on the pedal steel struggle bus. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 26 Jun 2015 8:28 am
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Coincidentally I was jamming with a guitarist last night, just trying to find our way. I was using A6th tuning.
When he was soloing, I alternated between playing root and fifth or octaves of the chord, and just playing "dyads" - two note chords that supported what he was playing.
You could even try a walking bass line style if you're not too busy with it.
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Matthew Walton
From:
Fort Worth, Texas
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Posted 26 Jun 2015 9:18 am
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Thanks folks, I'll check all those out.
I was mainly comping behind him, but I found it hard to keep a good beat without any other rhythm source. I like the walking bass idea Brad; I'm playing again tonight, so we might have another chance.
_________________
If something I wrote can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, I meant the other one.
1981 MSA "The Universal" Bb6 S-12 9/5 | 2024 Excel Robostar Bb6 S-12 8/5 | 2009 MSA SuperSlide C6 S-12 | Peavey Nashville 112 |
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