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Topic: I enjoy getting lost in the moment |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Mar 2022 11:31 am |
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Music is really the only outlet I’ve known my whole life for expressing myself. Though I was always fond of writing, I found that most of the time I wrote about music.
I’m finding ways to express myself with the lap steel now that go beyond the typical situations I’ve been involved in, though I enjoy that just as much, especially the interaction with others. But finding a way to tap into sound and organically letting the music evolve just as I hear, while self-indulgent is incredibly cathartic. I think my goal is to get this to the point where I feel comfortable just creating music on the fly in front of an audience, with guests. I think it in part stems from my love of both jazz and electronica. I like the idea of complete freedom.
I generally sit down and play something, whether a bass figure, drum beat, chord sequence—whatever comes to mind—and build from there. It could be simple, could be complex, whatever I’m feeling. In the time that I’ve been getting to know my new gear, I create about 2 or 3 of these every evening, some better than others. Then I just move on to something different, maybe even entirely different. I’m going to use YouTube to post some of these, so if you are interested in hearing how this develops, please subscribe. So, if you’ll indulge me….
https://youtu.be/4lhOJ74gtAg
If you think that I have anything of value to offer in advice or whatever, feel free to ask. Also, please share your thoughts on the subject. I have tried to wean myself off of social media as much as possible and the forum is a great outlet. |
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Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 1 Mar 2022 12:01 pm
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I dig it Mike
Both the overall feel and the sounds you have created on the lap.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
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Brooks Montgomery
From:
Idaho, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2022 1:14 pm
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"Music is really the only outlet I’ve known my whole life for expressing myself."
Mike, I agree, only, I would add a modifier: expressing myself through some sort of artform. For me, it's with my loose group of friends and fellow dive-bar jammers and giggers. There's nothing like it, when the band is tight (not that often in my case  )and it almost gets out of body when its all syncing up with unspoken nods and winks, and people are dancing and clapping. I really miss it. Covid has killed it in my town.
Which brings up another interesting observation. I don't dance. Can't. Playing music is how I dance I guess. I find it interesting how many of my fellow musicians don't dance. You notice the same?
(BTW--cool instrumental!).
_________________
A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2022 2:34 pm
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| Brooks Montgomery wrote: |
Which brings up another interesting observation. I don't dance. Can't. Playing music is how I dance I guess. I find it interesting how many of my fellow musicians don't dance. You notice the same? |
Me neither. Never have. Never, ever, even had an inkling of any desire try. And never will. And it's not due to any spiritual or religious affiliation. It just seems dumb to me. But if I'm listening to music that moves me, I can boogie along with it to beat the band, with feets a'tappin' and head a'boppin' up and down and all over the place. Go figure... |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 1 Mar 2022 2:48 pm
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| Quote: |
| Which brings up another interesting observation. I don't dance. Can't. Playing music is how I dance I guess. I find it interesting how many of my fellow musicians don't dance. You notice the same? |
Same here. Of all the bands I've been in and the musicians I've played with, I can only think of a very small number of them who enjoyed dancing. I'm not much of a dancer. It's weird because I've played over 5000 gigs, watching people dance, and providing the music, but having no desire to dance at all. I think that's very common among musicians.
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My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Mar 2022 3:24 pm
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I like to dance, though I am not particularly skilled at it and cannot do any of the steps like the Hustle, etc. Just freestyle dancing. A lot of the women I dated when I was single liked to go to clubs, so you do what the babes want.
I think being a good dancer is like being a good musician in a way. In some ways, you’ve got to let go and be in the moment. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 1 Mar 2022 8:02 pm
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I like to dance, though I’m not a particularly good dancer.
I like to do the kind of thing that Mike is doing much more though. Mostly using a Trio pedal for bass and drum track, then lap steel, then either flute or vocal tracks. All extemporaneous.
One cool thing about the Trio is that it seems to “learn” to play bass and drums to weird and randomized rhythms.
You can hear some recent music by searching for “Papa Dafoe” on Spotify, Apple Music , etc,
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G – G B D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D (re-entrant)
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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Chuck Hamilton
From:
Flower Mound, Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2022 9:33 pm
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Mike, I’m with you but I’m always worried about remembering and reapplying whatever I stumble into that that sounds good, then I get off track and stop creating and start writing it down or recording it. Sometimes I come back and use it later, and sometimes it’s just gone. Do you think it’s all still in my fingers and brain somewhere, adding to the next creative burst? I hate to think it was all for naught.
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Too much crap to list and who really cares anyway?? |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2022 12:34 pm
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Nice stuff...always enjoy your playing...to me, it is very reminiscent of Jeff Beck in feel, tone, and direction. ....here is one example, maybe not the best...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drAv2FoYji8
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https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Chris Brooks
From:
Providence, Rhode Island
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Posted 5 Mar 2022 8:05 pm
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Love the track--and the concept, Mike.
Chris |
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