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Topic: Newby First Attempt at The Melody |
Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 7:16 am |
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Hi All
I have had my PSG for some 5/6 weeks now,and this is my first attempt at a Melody.
My previous post was just following the chord progression on Country Roads,but I wanted to do something more ambitious,so here goes.
Thanks to everyone for the help and advice so far,I hope this proves I have been practising hard.
Your comments and criticism are most welcome,I just need to know if I am doing it right.
You can download the song here.
www.asvr14.dsl.pipex.com/HonkyTonkAngels.mp3
Thanks for listening.
Alan
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Donny Dennis
From:
Atlanta, Texas
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 7:39 am
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Hi Alan,
Great job! Sounds to me like you have been practicing real hard! I too am a beginner, and have had my PSG approximately 5 months, and so far have not practiced one time. However, your playing has inspired me to get mine out today, and see what I can do.
Are you playing from tablature?
Donny |
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 8:05 am
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Hi Donny
No Tab,don't understand it,found a Midi file on the internet,loaded it into Cubase and converted it to Audio.
I worked out the chords,and how to play it myself,then just practised it till it sounded right.
Thanks for the comments,and for listening.
Alan
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Jonathan Shacklock
From:
London, UK
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 9:54 am
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Hi Alan, I would definitely say you've been practising! For the amount of time you've been playing this sounds great. I've only been playing for about seven months and so although I'm no expert I would say you are well ahead of the game.
Your blocking and picking is very clean (cleaner than mine I think) and your timing is on the money. You've made me realise my technique has got a bit sloppy!
Some of your intonation was slightly flat here and there. Not awful but just noticeable. Take a note of the exact bar positions at each fret and how much to adjust as you move up the fretboard. Always sit at the same position (opposite the 15th fret is good). You probably already know there is a significant VISUAL difference due to parallax between the bar position on the 1st fret and that on the 12th. Don't only trust your eyes though. You're obviously a musician so I don't want to patronise you, but this is something you don't really have to worry about on six string.
I also noticed you have some unwanted 'harmonic' ringing on the 3rd or 4th strings. This is very common and something I'm struggling with right now. Assuming you are applying the right amount of damping with your left hand and that you have a clean bar without pits and scratches, you may need to look at gently cleaning/polishing the fingers on the changer where the strings rest on them and make sure the rollers at the other end are in good order. See these threads:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/008278.html http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/011307.html http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/011264.html
Posting your progress is a good way to go about things, if I had a bit more courage I'd probably do the same! It's a good way to get feedback, especially as PSG teachers are rare as hen's teeth here in the UK. I'm going to have a go at recording myself this evening and I've got a feeling I'm going to need to take some of my own advice re intonation etc. What gear/effects are you recording with?
Jonathan
P.S. Donny - if you can do a regular 15 minutes steel practise a day, you'll be amazed how quickly you see progress. Pretty soon you'll be addicted to your practise time. |
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J Hill
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 10:53 am
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Alan,
Are you playing this on a C6 neck? Thanks.
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 11:01 am
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Hi Leila
No,It's played on an E9
Alan
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 11:17 am
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For 5/6 weeks, you're doing just fine. 
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 2:46 pm
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Alan, you are doing MUCHO just fine..
great job
keep up the good work...
t |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 14 Jan 2006 2:50 pm
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| Sounds good man. I'd say your gettin the feel for it just fine. I'm in the same boat, just startin to learn steel and havin a great time with it too as you obviously are. Keep on pickin. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 1:42 am
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| Hey Alan, you got me fired up with that tune and I worked on it till I figured it out. I also worked out a little bit different version in the same key with some cool 3 string chords. Thanks for the inspiration. |
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 5:57 am
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Hi All
Just to say thanks for all your positive comments,it's nice to know I'm getting it right.
Andy
Nice to know I've been useful,any chance of hearing your version?
Alan
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Jonathan Shacklock
From:
London, UK
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 7:36 am
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Alan, I sent a reply to your email.
I just had an idea, why don't you post the backing track you did without the guitar - then we can all have a go at it. It would be interesting to hear some different interpretations of your melody. |
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J Hill
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 8:55 am
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Alan,
And tell us whereabouts you began on the neck, like the first note, (which I'm learning is a great place to start!).  Thanks!
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 10:59 am
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Hi Leila
Ok,first thing is you need to have the tune in your head,I will presume you do.
The song is in C,so here goes
Bar on 3rd fret A+B Pedals down.
Pick strings - 8-6-5 individually then 4+5 together then 6+5 together then 6+5 together no pedals.
Try and work out the rest of the first line yourself,it's not difficult.Clue,you need to slide down to the first fret at some point.
Hope this helps,I'm no teacher,but I hope you can understand,if not,let me know.
Do you want the backing track,or have you got it?
Good Luck
Alan
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 11:28 am
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| i like the way it sounds in the key of D |
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 11:48 am
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Hi All
Further to Jonathan's message,if anyone would like the backing track,just let me know,it's 3.5Meg.
Alan
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 1:25 pm
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sure i'd really like the backing trac to it
calvin |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 3:29 pm
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| Alan, I think it would be fun to hear versions from other steelers on here to compare and get some ideas from. I'm gonna try and record my version today and post it too. Here's another rhythm track to use with Honky Tonk Angels for anyone who wants it to practice with. It's got a 2 bar intro,5 choruses and an ending tag. Just right click on the link and choose "save target as" to download it. Also if anyone uses Band in a Box I can send you this ryhthm track to use with it. Email me at loveridehd@aol.com [This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 15 January 2006 at 03:35 PM.] |
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Steven Black
From:
Gahanna, Ohio, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 4:27 pm
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| Hello Alan, for your first recording you sounded fabulous, keep up the good work, I started out on a tune called Danny Boy that Jeff Newman had in his beginners courses, it took me quite some time to memorize all of the positions of that tune before I could be able to play it smoothly, where did you get your tracks from?. |
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Raybob Bowman
From:
S. Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 7:38 pm
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Alan wrote, "I worked out the chords,and how to play it myself,then just practised it till it sounded right."
The ability to do that is what makes the difference between being a musician and just playing music.
Raybob
------------------
Sierra U12 8+5 |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 10:19 pm
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| Ok Alan, here you go Honky Tonk Angels I've been playin E9 just a short time too and am finally startin to figure it out some. I used the above ryhthm track on this one but added two more measures in the intro and just played two choruses. [This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 16 January 2006 at 06:16 AM.] |
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 11:44 pm
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Hi Andy
That's great,thanks for posting it.
I love hearing how other people play the same song,there are so many different interpretations.
Come on guys,let's hear your version.
Alan
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 15 Jan 2006 11:46 pm
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Hi All
Sorry,forgot the link to the backing track.
asvr14.dsl.pipex.com/HonkyTonkAngelsBackingTrack.mp3
Alan
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Alan Sim
From:
Lancashire, U.K.
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Posted 16 Jan 2006 1:47 am
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Thanks Andy
Must be all the excitement.
Alan
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