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Topic: Zeroing In On Vain Attempts |
Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 8:12 am |
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| When pulling out all the stops, while trying to chase down a special lick on the steel guitar, it may prove to be one of the vainest of all endeavors. It doesn't matter how determined you are. Everything traces back to finesse levels, with a touch of exceptional insight and memory. Please walk me through this matter, if you are so inclined. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 8:48 am
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| what is vain about copying someone elses art? vanity is admiring your own beauty. create your own masterpiece. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 10:04 am
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Chris,
I didn't write vanity, if you'll be so kind to reread my post. I'm referring to vain as it applies to failed best efforts. |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 11:21 am
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What Bill means is 'trying in vain', in other words trying, but being unsuccessful.
This seems to be a constant theme in Bill's musings, ie 'X' practises constantly but sees no improvement in his playing, regardless of the years spent trying. |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 11:23 am
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I seem to be constantly saying 'constant'  |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 11:32 am
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| You are very consistant Richard |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 11:58 am
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Richard,
Innuendoes slipped past pure logic can at times heckle the fittest of hopefuls. You've stating that I would attest to myself making no progress on the steel. That part is clear. I don't agree to those terms, although you were very kind in expressing true word meanings.
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 1 Sep 2008 12:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 12:05 pm
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Bill,
You're seeing innuendoes where there aren't any.
I simply reiterated, in plain english, the gist of the majority of your previous posts. |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 12:06 pm
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That is exactly why I hold fast to my opinion: Tone is in the hands
I realize that you are talking about touch, finesse and insight, (which by the way can make a Maverick sound like pro level guitar) but all these aspects must come together if one wants to achieve a "Signature" lick. |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 12:10 pm
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| Is it possible for an illiterate person to have a "Signature"lick? |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 12:21 pm
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Richard,
I've heard you speak through your responses, and I've heard you play your steel on You Tube. I have gained respect for you, after hearing you play. You may agree that any chosen subject matter can be passed back and forth, from negative to positive. I always enjoy your input, even though I'm aware that it may slip into a negative posturing, in favor of the other "guy".
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 1 Sep 2008 12:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 12:30 pm
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Billy,
I submit that it is! Even though the aversion for classrooms has led his brilliance astray,he may be well educated in a musical sense. It is very possible! His adeptness may exceed all others.This is difficult to perceive.
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 1 Sep 2008 12:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 12:32 pm
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Curt,
Good one! Right on the money! Thanks... |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 4:09 pm
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| I gave up trying to copy someone else's licks and I am now trying to copy what I did in the first verse........seems so elusive. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 5:00 pm
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Roual,
You wrote "copy" in your response. You may want to break away from copying. There are 3 important areas on the steel guitar that require levels of stamina. The most difficult, I find is how well the feet and the pedals meet. The 9th tuning calls for a lot of energy output at the pedals. The knee levers are demanding, necessitating a full reserve of energy. At the very top, the eyes and hands may diminish how very important the two prerequisites below the top function. Some of the restraints that could improve playing are striking the strings with less force, and compensating for the changes by additional volume.
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 2 Sep 2008 1:33 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 5:09 pm
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| I've been thinking about hanging wires on my ears to control relays that will run motors to pull strings.........rekon that might help.........or do I need to think about it some more????? |
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Matthew Prouty
From:
Warsaw, Poland
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 5:46 pm
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Bill,
Thought that only accordeons had stops. Does your steel have stops and how do they work. I guess it would be cool to have a couple stops for the musette sound and octave sound. |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 6:02 pm
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Bill,
Paying particular attention to "touch" on the strings, I taped an attempt at copying player X's lick. On the playback it did not sound like player X and now I find that I cannot copy my lick unless I am trying to copy player X's lick........would you call that a compounded erroueous lick??? |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 1 Sep 2008 8:24 pm
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| would a signature lick of a dyslexic steel player sound right reflected in a mirror? |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2008 2:25 am
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Matthew,
After reading the responses this morning, I find that euphony is on the rise. I must get ready for a trip to Springfield, Ma., this morning, but I shall return to answer Chris and Roual. There really is a need to respond accordingly, the moment one feels the jerk of the chain. Chain jerking is fairly common here, while toying with important issues. Absolutely no harm done, considering that humor is an absolute must in the lives of all. Think about it! Small babies love to giggle when encouraged to do so. Some folks giggle at the wrong time and place whenever they're amused. My wife has a great sense of humor. If we sit at a popular local bar, there is a lady tending bar who puts everyone in stitches. Four hours of constant laughing is quite enough, mingled with the sounds of Billy Phillips playing "Sleepwalk" on the staging area with his band called "Just In Kace". Matthew, I must get ready to leave at 7:30 A.M., to make my appointment. "I shall return". Yes, on the stops, I consider them the most accurate that I've seen. The concept occurred to me 25 years ago.
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 2 Sep 2008 12:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2008 2:26 am
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| Oops, faulted by computer! |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 2 Sep 2008 3:52 am
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| Billy Murdoch wrote: |
| Is it possible for an illiterate person to have a "Signature"lick? |
No. I think that's why Bobbe came up with the "X" lever - to help all those players.  |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 2 Sep 2008 3:57 am
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| Nice one Donny |
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Robert Harper
From:
Alabama, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2008 4:59 am Missing the Mark
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Bill, I hear what you are saying. I really haven't tried to copy anyones licks. I have mostly know that I couldn't do them any way. Anyhow, I believe if we look at the past, the greatest measure of sucess came to those who were original and unique. Elvis, the Beatles, Jim Reaves, Dolly to name a few. Anyway, I have been picking at the darn thing for a few years and it seems like I just started. Keep your post comming Bill. Do you post your work on You Tube?
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"Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first begin to deceive" Someone Famous |
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