Link to hear my best pedal steel playing ever

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

The other day I programmed the chord changes to a couple of tunes into my Casio keyboard so it would play rhythm, bass, and drums, and recorded them on my laptop. Then I added pedal steel solos.

The result was by far the best pedal steel playing I have ever recorded. Both were done on the first take...

Here's the link:

www.barryhyman.com

When there, click on "Free Music" and enjoy.

(These were recorded on my S-12 Williams, 700 Series, 5+5, wood body, wood neck, and E-66 pickup. I was playing through a Hilton volume pedal and a Holy Grail Nano reverb unit into my Music Man 210-65 amp, using a Rodes wide-diaphragm condensor mic. As usual, I was playing with no picks, and straight-up equal-tempered tuning.)
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

C'mon guys, rise to the challenge! No picks? Equal tempered tuning? Ten inch speakers? Tell me how it sounds to you!
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Larry Baker · From: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.

Would like to listen, but I can't get any audio when I get to your site. Larry
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Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P.

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

Dear Larry,

It has been working for everybody else. Just go to the site, click on "Free Music," and choose broadband or dialup. It should work; good luck.

And thanks for trying!

Barry
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

wow.. Quite interesting stuff.
don't know what to say really.. Its a pretty atypical style .. Almost more like a lap steel vibe. Not sure if its exactly my bag, but its certainly music I couldn't do play very well, thats for sure.
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

Dear Bob,

I'll do some traditional country next. These just happened to be tunes I had programmed into my Casio. But I love traditional country pedal steel; coming soon. I'm having fun now, after 38 years of frustration!

Thanks for listening, and for the kind words...
_________________
I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Skip Cole · From: North Mississippi

Barry,
I'm , by no means, am a music critic, but i found your playing and your song choice enjoyable. All you need to do is keep pickin on the side that has the strings on it(the steel that is), and keep at it. Smile

Skip

Ryan Barwin · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Nice stuff. I liked the blues tune especially...nice phrasing and a cool edge to the sound.
You've said before that you use your B>Bb lower about every ten seconds...would you mind pointing out some of the times in those recordings where you were using that lever?
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www.pedalsteel.ca

Hal Higgins · From: Denham Springs, LA

Barry.....different is the word, but I liked it.
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HAL...Excel D-10 w/ 8 & 5. SteelSeat.com w/back,SteelSeat.com Pedal Board on Legs with Quilter Tone Block 200 amp, Boss GE 7, Boss DD 3, Boss RV 6, Boss RT-20 Hilton Expression Pedal, Evans Cabinet with 4 ohm Eminence 15" speaker. BJS birthstone bar, Powder coated Tone bar by Michael Hillman. Dunlop Coated finger picks and Zookies L30 thumb picks.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Barry--

I am not a "mainstream" country steel player myself. I love to play country, and try to remain true to the "country" style and spirit when I do, but I think most players who dwell more inside that tradition than I do would find shortcomings (to put it most generously) in my style of playing. It is, however, also a leading interest of mine to play E9th pedal steel in music that is not typically associated with pedal steel.

With that as my disclaimer/declaration of qualification (or lack thereof):

Having listened to your clips, I feel that your volume pedal and blocking techniques need some work. A lot of what you played in these examples sounds somewhat like standard (6-string) guitar recorded and played backward. The swells and abrupt cutoffs of notes or intervals/chords at the end of melodic phrases sound awkward, to me.

The above is feedback in, I hope, the spirit you were looking for. Regardless of the value of my comments, I encourage you to keep on (not that any negative word from me, or probably anyone, could discourage you.)

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Barry: I have listened to both your tunes. You have good musical ideas. But you already know that you have some unorthodox approaches to playing steel. It is reflected in your playing and the tone you achieve.

I reviewed your pictures and I am curious how you hold your bar. There is a picture of you sitting behind your Williams and I can see both your hands. You are posed as if you are ready to play, but your left hand is positioned on the bar in a very unusual manner. Is that how you hold the bar when playing? If it is, I believe that could be a significant issue that you might want to address.

Now for the most controversial subject; tuning. I noticed that you mainly played single note passages. Your intonation on those passages was very good. But when you played two and three note chords I heard intonation problems. Not majorly out of tune, but enough that the steel sounded brash/harsh on chords. It lost its sweetness.

If you don't hear what I'm hearing, then disregard my comments. Intonation is something I constantly struggle with.

Best wishes. Paul

Ray McCarthy · From: New Hampshire, USA

Paul Sutherland wrote; "But when you played two and three note chords I heard intonation problems. Not majorly out of tune, but enough that the steel sounded brash/harsh on chords. It lost its sweetness."

Could that be the result of the ET tuning?

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

"Not majorly out of tune, but enough that the steel sounded brash/harsh on chords. It lost its sweetness."

Could that be the result of the ET tuning?"

That's what I heard too. But interesting playing, regardless.

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

Well I don't mind a few personal insults now and then, but stupidity sometimes rubs me the wrong way.

Brint -- I wouldn't have put those tunes online if they didn't sound exactly the way I wanted them to sound. I don't have any "problem" with my volume pedal technique or my blocking -- those notes sound the way they do because that is the way I wanted them to sound. Duh?

Paul -- yes, you're right -- I associate orthodoxy with idiocy. As for how I hold the bar, no, that is not an "issue" because it works just fine, thankyou. Pedal steel guitarists really seem to think that there is only one correct way of doing things, which is the very essence of ignorance.

And for those of you who found those clips "harsh" or "brash," perhaps you should see an ear doctor. If ET bothers your sensitive ears, then I feel sorry for you -- you won't be able to enjoy piano, or guitar, or banjo, or 90% of all recorded/performed music that is out there. Really guys -- I'm no newbie -- I've been playing music continuously since 1964, and steel since 1972. I don't need your concescension or "instruction." If you don't like it, fine. But don't be assuming I don't know how to play. I do it this way because I like it this way, not because I don't know what I'm doing!
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

The clips sound great Barry. You have a remarkable amount of blocking control and musicallity. Thanks for sharing Very Happy

You also see exactly why I don't Sad

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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer

Ransom Beers · Posted 6 Mar 2010 6:24 am

"Pedal steel guitarists really seem to think that there is only one correct way of doing things, which is the very essence of ignorance."

My sentiments exactly,there is no wrong way or right way but your way.Thumbs Carlilse is an example.Some think you can't play right if you don't use picks or all the other stuff developed through the eons.Whatever is comfortable & works for the individual is the right way as long as the music doesn't suffer

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

Rick Barnhart · From: Arizona, USA

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

Cool, I get it. I would also bet that audiences enjoy a taste of that style occasionally. You have a nice website and have had an interesting life. Thanks for sharing.

Mike Bagwell · From: Greenville, SC, USA

Barry,

I think the title of your post should have been, "I'm begging for unconditional praise". IMO you're way outta line bashing folks for giving an opinion you ask for.

Mike

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Well, Barry, now we've each insulted the other (though insult was not my intention), so I guess we're even.

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Somehow your response doesn't surprise me.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i find it an artistic expression with a pensive mood and quacky tentativeness that appears to be an honest unique expression with some good notes. yes...since you ask for opinions you should willingly and appreciatively accept them. i opined on another request from an avid poster of himself only to be called an idiot and a jerk-off. he won't hear your clip because he is too amazed by his own.

if i were to display my playing for all to ponder i would probably label it as 'possibly my worst playing ever', as this would leave the listener the option of thinking i may actually be 'better' than what they're hearing. i would never say 'my best playing ever'...but that's just me. i've never really been that stoked about myself!

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

Yes, it is true that I asked for comments on these two tunes. But after 40+ years in the music business, I am not used to people telling me I don't know how to play my instrument or that my hearing is no good. I assumed enough courtesy, intelligence, and professionalism from my pedal steel peers that I expected you all to know the difference between comments and insults. What I do on the pedal steel is usually (although not always) atypical. If you think atypical is "wrong," then you have a lot to learn about life.

Do I have things to learn on the pedal steel? Of course. Am I trying to improve myself every day? Of course. Does that mean that anyone should be rude enough to tell me I can't hear whether I'm playing in tune or not? Especially when they are mistaken? No. If you did that around here, some of my friends, fans, or bandmates would take you out in the parking lot and teach you some courtesy.

I have gotten several emails today from both friends and strangers who say I should give up on The Forum, take the link to The Forum off my website, and stop posting, because people on The Forum are too rude and close-minded. But I don't plan on doing that. I can take the heat. I'm even sort of enjoying it. Very Happy

Just don't insult me without expecting me to snap back hard.
_________________
I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

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