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Topic: Playing "blind" |
Chuck Fisher
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Dec 2006 10:55 pm |
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Because I have a strange playing position, I am forced to play looking at only the side of fingerboard, barely seeing the face of it. (and somewhat off axis too)
I wonder how many steelers play without looking. Or how the compensate for paralax, have any tricks to share.
btw, I use side markers on my lap steels that were made for me. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 17 Dec 2006 11:05 pm
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The fret markers are only a general reference to get you close to the note.
All steel players must learn to use their ears for fine tuning. (Especially when doing slants)
Unless you learn to "play by ear" in this way, you will be constantly searching for the correct pitch. Consider the poor violinsts with no fretmarkers at all!
Dom Franco |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2006 4:34 am
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true. the fret markers only get us close; the ear and left hand styling does the rest.
hint: if you gig with a band always sit on the right side of the stage. that way you can look up at your band mates and still have a glimpse of your left hand.
sitting left stage was an unpleasant experience.[This message was edited by Randy Reeves on 18 December 2006 at 04:35 AM.] [This message was edited by Randy Reeves on 18 December 2006 at 01:47 PM.] |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2006 6:24 am
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| A fretless instrument is the best way to develop your ear. Fretless instruments provide a great sense of freedom. There are so many more possibilities than being held hostage to frets IMHO. |
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Terry Farmer
From:
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2006 8:34 am
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| Great tip, Randy! |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2006 9:26 am
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| I have worked where it was too dark to really see the fretboard-with mixed results. What I'm doing now to try to improve my blind ability is to work on some sight reading. Since I can't look at the page and the guitar at the same time, I'm hoping that this will improve me. |
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Chuck Fisher
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 5:21 pm
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| I have all 22 1/2 to 22 7/8 scales, I got rid of my long scale guitars for consistency, and that helped, I am ok after playing a half hr or so, but pitchy initially, Maybe I need a strobe tuner hooked to a voltage source to shock me when I am off. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 3:32 pm
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When you're on stage and they dim the lights you have no option but to play blind.
I've often wondered whether making a fretboard out of cellulose and lighting it from behind would catch on. I think I'll start another thread on this idea alone... |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2006 6:07 pm
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| y'know Georgeboards makes a fretboard that can be lighted up. They also supply the lighting. But I think you have to have one of their guitars. |
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Ron
From:
Hermiston, Oregon
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Posted 5 Jan 2007 7:03 am
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I am making a guitar for Norman Hamlet that has LED lights at each fret marker and will lite upwith a switch. Right now it is to bright so will soffen it with a bigger resister.
Robro Ron
_________________
what am I doing here? Ask Norman Hamlet |
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