how did i do this ?

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

this being labor day i thought it would be a good time to get a jump on some chirstmas music. so i dug out a tab book i got from stottys a couple of years ago , i started out with the first song in it " silent night"
i was having a little trouble with the phrasing the way the tab was written. after a few minutes of trying and getting frustrated with the intro, i stopped and lit a ciggerette
when i started playing again, without thinking i played it using differant strings and pedals . nothing like the way the tab was written. i ended up mixing my way and the tab seamlessly
i have never been able to do this before
but when i did it, i never even thought about it ...it just kinda happened
and to make it even better i remembered how i did it ...go figure

------------------
Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400

[This message was edited by Calvin Walley on 04 September 2006 at 10:01 PM.]

Russ Wever · From: Kansas City

. . . reckon it's the ciggerette ?

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Calvin, how about share them cigarettes with the rest of us ! They don't sell those kind around here..

Sounds like you were zoned in and things were clicking..Remember, TAB is just one persons view of how to play a piece of music, you obviously approached it from a different view...

good deal

t

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Well, that's what you get for practicing!! It's your own fault! (sorry, couldn't resist)

Whatever you're doing, keep it up....it obviously works!!

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Many times when I'm away from my steel for extended periods, say, a few weeks, when I come back, I've forgotten how I used to play something, so I just dive in and figure out a new way to do it, and some of it is often better than the old way. Sometimes you need something to break the old habit. In my case it's just time away. In your case, it's them funny cigarettes.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Another "breakthrough" moment... They sure are neat, and too infrequent.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Calvin, all you did was stop "overthinking" the instrument and just "played" it - you let your natural talents and abilites take over. Players often find they are better than they think, and it's a mental block of "needing to do it right" that locks them up and prevents them from being "musical".

It's almost a Zen thing...you went outside yourself, relaxed, and let it flow.

It will not always repeat - but once you've been there, you will find it easier to go back. It really is a huge breakthrough. Congratulations!

Jim

Jack Mansfield · From: Reno, NV

You must have had P.S.M.F.T. Pedal Steel Means Fine Tobacco.

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

talk about shocked
i could not believe i was doing this , it usually takes me days to learn to play a song but this time it only took minutes
i still don't know how i did it but i liked it

------------------
Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400

Barry Blackwood · Posted 5 Sep 2006 8:10 am

Fire up another one - you might get the answer ...

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

This works well for me:
* writing out the chord progression
* writing out as many ways to play those chords as possible and playing through the song (usually with a rhythm -- BiaB -- track) using full chords and exploring all the positions
* learning the melody by itself. If you're playing E9, learn it in both the no pedals (G at the 3rd fret) and A+B (G at the 10th fret) positions
* looking for ways to play the melody at the same fret where you found the chords and combine so that the melody note comes out on top of the chord

When that's done you have an arrangement. You can vary between single note, two note or three note harmonies and make it sound more interesting.

The biggest mistake I see people making when learning songs is that they never really LEARN THE SONG. One should be able to play a recording and name each chord as it goes by and know where to find those chords on one's guitar. Learning everything from tab doesn't develop the ability to create your own version or arrangement of a song. Those who only learn that way are missing out on an important aspect of being a musician.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

thanks guys

jim maybe right, maybe i have been over thinking what i am playing trying to hard to get it perfect
it was a simple song BUT IT SURE FELT GOOD TO DO IT WITHOUT FOLLOWING A TAB

------------------
Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

I was pokin' fun earlier (sorta)....but you're actually on to something. Many players have a hard time catching on to that "instinctive" mode where they can hear what they want to play, and just play it. You have obviously begun to learn enough about the musical structure of the steel that you can begin to play freely and express your ideas without a roadmap in front of you. Keep on studying as you have been and you'll see that ability really grow. You'll also begin to "just know" what fret positions and chord combos will give you the correct tones to match your musical goal.

It is extremely liberating to hear a new tune that excites you and be able go to your guitar and just play it because you understand mentally what needs to be done to make it happen. Great studio musicians have this ability honed to a razor's edge.

Just keep on doing what you're doing, because it's working. Congrats.

P.S. What Jim said is correct. The trick is to "lock in" during practise sessions and really learn the scales, chords, inversions, etc...you know..."nose to the grindstone" stuff. Don't shy away from the hard stuff...actually, practise that stuff more intensely! BUT ALSO add a separate segment to your practise time where you "let your hands go" and practise being free. Play what you "feel" not what you "should". (if that makes any sense)

If you can master both these techniques (and few ever do), you could become one awesome picker in short order.

[This message was edited by Mike Wheeler on 05 September 2006 at 10:15 AM.]

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I vaguely recall a comment made my JEFF NEWMAN at one of his wonderful seminars.

To start a song on E9th, FIRST, determine the key you choose to play it in.

THEN, determine the chord positions that make up that key with NO PEDALS DOWN.

BUT MORE IMORTANTLY...next go to the PEDAL DOWN POSITION to start off the tune and then largely remain in that mode or something like that. ANYONE ELSE recall exactly how that went?

[This message was edited by Ray Montee on 05 September 2006 at 12:09 PM.]

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

Did that Cigarret have a name on it?

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

camel

------------------
Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

The Silent Night thing is a good thing. Just relax and play. Another thing I got in the habit of doing years ago was learning at least two different ways to play most anything at two different positions. Stay with it!

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: