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Topic: Alkire E-harp tuning 10 string |
Charles Buttner Jr
From: Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 24 Dec 2002 12:16 pm
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I have been playing this tuning for years. I took lessons from Eddie Alkire in Easton Pa., back in the 50's. I'm wondering if there is anyone still playing this tuning. The only other person that I knew who did was Claude Brownell. He was from here in Pa. and moved to Flordia some time ago. He passed away this past Oct. Charlie |
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Roy Ayres
From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Dec 2002 12:25 pm
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Charles:
I knew a teacher in Louisville in the 50's who taught the Eddie Alkire method, but I never had the nerve to tackle it. As I recall, the Alkire tuning was a true chromatic tuning, is that right? |
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Roy Thomson
From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Charles Buttner Jr
From: Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2002 7:54 am
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Roy Ayres, your right about the chromatics. I never could master it. I never tried any other tuning so I can't really compare it any other tuning.
Roy Thomson, Thanks for the information, I'll give it a look. |
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Roy Ayres
From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Dec 2002 8:52 am
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Charles:
While my recollection of fifty-plus years ago is not that great, I think the teacher in Louisville that I mentioned above used five picks -- Thumb and all four fingers. Dr. Hugh Jeffreys, Forum Member, uses all five fingers witout picks and plays some nice jazz stuff with great chords. I don't know what tuning he uses but it must be somewhat akin to the Alkire tuning. That approach gives you a wide open field for forming chords -- if you can master the "grips" involved. |
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John Bechtel
From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Dec 2002 12:35 pm
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I am also originally from Telford/Souderton area of Pa. I took lessons n the EHArp tuning from Joe Clemmer Music, Harleysville, Pa. I completed (2) courses on that tuning, before going to PSG. It is an interesting tuning, however; I prefer the C-Diatonic tuning to the EHArp Chromatic. In fact, I have expanded the Diatonic tunig to 10 strs. as such, from 10 to 1: C,E,F,G,A,B,C,E,D,F This is my favorite non-pedal tuning by far! "Big John" Bechtel, Nashville, Tn. KeoniNui@webtv.net http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/doc |
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Charles Buttner Jr
From: Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 27 Dec 2002 8:37 am
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John do you know of anyone who might still be playing E-harp tunung |
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Dec 2002 9:02 am
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Well, I guess I'd better say it, I just finished a non-pedal CD and have it for sale at my store using the 10 string, Epiphone built, Eddie Alkire steel guitar. I used his tuning and some retuning to a C6th chromatic, to accomplish this country, western swing, Merle Travis, non-pedal CD. Nashvilles finest players were used on the recording.
(Wanda Vick, Buddy Spicher,Steve Hinson,Buddy Harmon,Ron Oates,Bob Moore, Billy Sanford, Leon Rhodes,and the "Berry Hill String section.) So, for the last posters question, yes, the Eddie Alkire method is being used today, and always will be, I hope. I'd like some one to critique this CD on this forum. I'm a big boy, I can take it!
www.steelguitar.net
Bobbe Seymour
Phone,615 822 5555 |
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Bobbe Seymour
From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Dec 2002 9:14 am
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You may ask,(and may not): Why did Bobbe record a non-pedal CD now , after a whole career in pedalsteel? Very simple answer, I LOVE IT!! Now, I have been playing many non-pedal "retrobilly" steel jobs in Nashville in the last four years and have developed a new appreciation for this "Perfect" musical instrument. I wish, everytime I lift a pedal steel, that they could be outlawed.(so does my back). The people listening don't know if we have pedals or not, if we play well, Anyway, I am thankful for you guys that share my love for this greatest of instruments.
May the rise in popularity of lap, non-pedal steel guitar continue it's upward swing. I'm going to do my part!
Bobbe
www.steelguitar.net
www.bobbeseymour.com |
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