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Topic: Mele Kalikimaka - gonna play it with a big band |
David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2019 5:33 am |
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I play guitar in a big band. In a couple weeks we are doing a Christmas show for 3 nights at the Franklin Theater in Franklin, TN. The singer/leader called me yesterday and said we'll be doing Mele Kalikimaka during the show and wants me to take a lap steel solo on it (from 0:50 to 1:28 in the song - we don't have a female vocalist and my steel will take the part covered by the Andrews Sisters). We have the a transcription of the big band arrangement from this Bing Crosby recording, so it will be fun to play lap steel in this setting.
I need to work this up. Haven't started yet. I'm going to try it in C6 and B11. I only have 6 string lap steels so it will be on a 6 string lap.
Any suggestions? I've looked but can't find any lap steel tab for this song. It doesn't sound too difficult, but I don't have a lot of time to work it up.
I'm looking forward to this and hope it goes well.
Here is the Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters version we'll be covering...
https://youtu.be/ob4LT_gUSFQ
Here's a photo of the band...
Last edited by David DeLoach on 21 Nov 2019 6:05 am; edited 2 times in total |
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2019 5:47 am
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OK, I worked up the intro and it seems to lay out well in C6.
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 21 Nov 2019 3:55 pm
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Yeah, C6 is the way to go for that song IMO.
My teacher just taught me another arrangement of the tune (without the "classic intro"). But before that this is kind of how I played that intro...it's a bit jumpy (I worked it out when I first started learning) but I like the double stop slides...
| Code: |
E-------7---------------2-/-7--7-7--------2---
C-----9-7-9-8-9----9-7--2-/-7--7-7--------2-2-
A-----9---9-8-9----9-7-------------9-\-4----2-
G--2------------2------------------9-\-4--2---
E--2------------2---------------------------2-
C---------------------------------------------
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_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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John Herb
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2019 5:25 pm
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| What an honor to play a steel part in that band! I'm sure a lot of us dream of that (I know I sure do). |
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2019 7:38 pm
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| Fredrick Herb wrote: |
| What an honor to play a steel part in that band! |
Yeah, it's not a bad group of musicians to jam with. Here's a clip from a gig.
https://youtu.be/YQ-08A1N1sA
I'm not sure if I'll know how to act if my steel is actually up in the mix vs. being buried like the big band rhythm guitar usually is.  |
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Steffen Gunter
From:
Munich, Germany
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Posted 22 Nov 2019 6:53 am
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What a wonderful opportunity for a steel player.
I'd say C6 too. I once did a home production inspired by Bette Midler's arrangement (which I really like) in C6:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Pjgi_hiak
It has some nice backing parts if you want some inspiration for this. I played the melody solo on ukulele but I am working it out on steel right now for the upcoming Christmas related gigs. Actually I concentrate on C#m9 (E13) tuning and try to play almost everything in this tuning and like what the results sound like but if you're not used to it I'd recommend C6 (or A6).
_________________
My YT channel: www.youtube.com/user/madsteffen |
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2019 5:53 am
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Well wow that was fun! We played 3 sold out shows this week (Mon, Tues, Wed) and playing lap steel with this band was a real highlight in my musical journey!
The guys in this band are A-List Nashville players who've recorded/toured with some pretty big name artists, so I did have a bit of nervousness about my lap steel debut with this band - I didn't want to do a belly flop off the high dive with everyone at the pool watching me. Normally I'm on archtop rhythm guitar, buried in the mix, but on this tune the lap steel was out front.
A lot of the guys in the band told me afterward the lap steel was their favorite part of the show. I'm still smiling. |
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 6 Dec 2019 7:08 am
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Congratulations, that’s a feel good story David.
Push that Lap Steel to the front of the show whenever you get the opportunity.
It’s a great instrument and I wish I’d discovered it earlier in my life.
Keith. |
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 5 Jan 2020 4:29 pm
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David, you are living the dream IMHO ! Playing rhythm guitar with such a group would be awesome... I always tell people when I am "reincarnated" I want to come back as the rhythm guitar player for the Mills Brothers ! The opportunity to play lap steel with a group like that would be an amazing experience too. Congratulations to you !
Happy New Year !
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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