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Topic: Do you play like this? |
Rick Garrett
From:
Tyler, Texas
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 2:18 pm |
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My friend Jody Sanders gave me some advice that stuck real well in my mind about playing. He told me to learn to play "Around" the melody. Is that what some of you real pros do? Right now I do seem to be a little better at lead guitar than steel but I find that I do play around the melody when picking lead. Now if Reece can help me do it on the steel maybe one day it'll sound alright.
Rick Garrett |
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Terry Wendt
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 2:35 pm
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Yes... but, learn the melody first. 
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appearing regularly...
Jimmy Crawford/Russ Hicks... aLotOfSpace.com |
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 2:37 pm
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Jeff Newman always told me "just play the melody".I've always tried to do that, but sometimes it comes out "around" the melody.
Roger |
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Bob Carlson
From:
Surprise AZ.
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 3:43 pm
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I'll take the straight melody, note for note so folks can tell what you're playing and not messing up. I feel it also adds to the complete song.
I love those old songs of Ray Price that he re-recorded on Step One and Emmons plays the melody. Some of his best Playing I think.
Bob. |
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Bob Mainwaring
From:
Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 4:41 pm
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I think what a lot of players do including other types of instrumentalists, is to play the melody line as close as possible first time around then "step out" and do your own thing to differentiate you from other players.
I would think that this would open up your style and sound and not as hum-drum sticking to the original melody.
I humurously call it country jazz!! especially when a guy can use a few sincapated/off beat notes and can come back in with the tempo.
Just my 2cents worth.
Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 5:04 pm
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Well Rick, Jody's right. When you back up a singer, you should play around the melody. Nothing drives a singer banannas more than someone playing the melody...at the same time they're trying to sing the melody!
But when it comes time to take your ride, you should stick close to the melody line. That's the safe way to play, and it makes it easy for everyone else in the band to know what you're doing. If you stray too far off the melody, there's a greater chance of someone else losing their place, and the result is a "train wreck", as some players call it.  |
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Steven Knapper
From:
Temecula Ca USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 6:34 pm
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| A steel players job is to make the singer sound good, and we do what we have to do to make that happen. I have been told this since day one. We have our time to shine on instumentals, bridges and fills I guess. |
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Andy Greatrix
From:
Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 9:18 pm
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Everyone, including the singer, should serve the song. In other words, work together to make the song a success. George Jones, Johnny Bush, Ray Price, are a few people among many who do this so well.
Whitney Houston does not. (Never mind the song, look what I can do with my voice!)
I think of a steel as another voice.Make it sing like George Jones.
I'll go and stand in the corner now.8~) |
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Steven Knapper
From:
Temecula Ca USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2002 10:20 pm
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Andy, you funny guy!!! Now go stand in the corner!! (I should go stand with you)
Steve |
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Keith DeLong
From:
Dartmouth NS Canada
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 5:31 am
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| Donny Hinson has it right on the money--nothing drives you crazy like somebody playing the melody behind your singing. You change phrasing, trying to throw them off, then if that doesn't work you turn around and glare at whoever is doing it. This habit is not exclusive to steel players. |
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Bill Crook
From:
Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 6:01 am
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I play behind the singer a lot !!!
This guy needs it. (All the help he can get)
It fills in the dead spots,gets him back in- to the right key,sometimes we have to actually finish the thing as a instrumental because of .......... |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 9:10 am
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You really have to know your positions well to play the melody by ear. You get out on a limb. Everyone knows what your next note is supposed to be, and if you miss it, it's a mistake!
I love playing the melody. It keeps me on my toes. If I know it well enough, I'll embellish it, but straight melody playing is one of the most challenging things to do on the pedal steel (for me, anyway).
------------------
 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6) |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 11:19 am
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Well this is my second time around. On my first go around (70's thru the 80's) I played around the melody, then played around , then pretty soon I wasn't even playing the same song !!
Now, currently back on Steel for about 6 months after a 12 year lay-off, I am staying right on the melody or rather lead line. b0b says it best
above, to play the melody be ear you gotta know your positions, pedals and knee levers with a fair amount of certainty. I'm not saying I'm there but I can say this, I'm getting there !!
Playing around the melody is a very important tool in the arsenal but playing the melody should come first because with that comes the discipline of "knowing" your guitar.
here's a few songs I practice regularly,
Tenn. Waltz
Waltz across Texas
Rose Colored Glasses
Star Spangled Banner ( try playing around that melody!) Amercia the Beautiful.
These tunes are giving me a clear workout on the Pedals and Knee levers for sure..
TP[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 28 March 2002 at 11:20 AM.] [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 28 March 2002 at 11:21 AM.] |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 12:49 pm
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| ....on my first touring band,I was told,"play close to the melody,so the audience can follow what your playing.... don't play to that two or three musicians in the back of the hall who didn't pay to get in anyway..there ain't nobody here to knock-out but me, because I'm the one who signs your checks...how many notes you can fast-play from the beginning to the end of a song don't mean a d--- thing. Play something pretty"....Merl Lindsay (Ozark Jubilee Band)......... www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 28 March 2002 at 03:22 PM.] |
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Moon in Alaska
From:
Kasilof, Alaska * R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 1:24 pm
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I totally agree with Gene --Even when we
fight the urge to play for the musicians,
we should try to keep it simple for the
audience.
I keep thinking of Lloyd Green's famous
saying --- The 3 thinks most important about
steel playing -- "melody, melody, melody" !!
Of course, when backing a singer, I stay
completely away from the melody. Just try
to add enough fill to compliment the
vocal. just my 2 cents worth !!
------------------
<< Moon Mullin in Alaska >>
==Carter S-10==
<< Old Fender-400 >>
== Evans FET 500 Custom LV ==
CLICK HERE FOR MOON'S NEW WEB SITE
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Leroy Riggs
From:
Looney Tunes, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 1:38 pm
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I play now with a singer that insists that I play "around" the melody. Sometimes he says that when I play the melody while he is singing, he tries to follow ME! (And he is very experienced singer.)
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Al Miller
From:
Waxahachie Texas
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 2:55 pm
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scales! scales! and more scales!
learn your scales ACROSS the neck and UP and DOWN the neck the melody and the improv ( around the melody) are all in those scales and pockets . just ask charlton
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AL (BOO) Miller
mullen D10
65 EMMONS P/P D-10
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Scott Clancy
From:
Liberty, TN, USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 10:38 pm
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I posted this as a separate subject by mistake OOOOOPPPPSSS! This is where I intended it to be,,,
I can't resist this one guys and hope I don't start a war, but it furiates me to see people "Self Appointing" themselves as an authority in an ART. And hest we forget that music is an art, a form of self expression, so here it is, To just play the melody can get boring, to just play around the melody can get ambigous, but to Start off playing the melody one line then rippin it up at the end of the lead maybe even jumping down on the C6 for the finish !! is what turns me on the most.
But let me end with this, art should never have rules, it's one last freedom Americans have and rules distroys the soul attachment to your playing. Just because I like it that way doesn't mean it's law or officially better, it's a preffrence from a single idividuall [me] If you want to play well You better play it the way you want not the way "Other" people say it should be played.
OK I'm done now kill me !!!
Scott
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"Money distroys or Food and Music keep it an art and play from your heart". Sierra Session D10 Keyless , Too many amps to list.
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Mike Weirauch
From:
Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe
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Posted 28 Mar 2002 10:49 pm
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| Quote: |
| OK I'm done now kill me !!! |
OK, your spelling is worse than B.J. Bailey and Bobbe Seymour put together! Are you dead yet? 
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