| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic 4 Notes To Make a Train Whistle
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  4 Notes To Make a Train Whistle
Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 5:26 pm    
Reply with quote

??

Larry Behm
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Sonny Priddy

 

From:
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 5:41 pm     notes
Reply with quote

Place Bar On 8th Fret B Pedal Down and D leaver In Strings 4 5 6 Move Bar To Get Sound Then Move Bar Back Toward The Nut. SONNY.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 5:53 pm    
Reply with quote

I've got one of those wooden train whistles that plays four notes.

A B D and a slightly flat F#
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Gene H. Brown

 

From:
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 6:13 pm     4 notes
Reply with quote

Hi Larry,
Just wanted you to know I'm retiring in JUly of this year and I will be in Portland for a while and hangin with my old buddy Doug Jones and we are bound to be comin after you and getting a duel going, it will be good to see you again, I'll bet you are all grown up by now , LOL.
Best Regards
Gene Brown Very Happy
_________________
If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
Wink
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Jim Bates

 

From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 6:20 pm    
Reply with quote

Assuming you mean a steam train, I always use a 2 fret reverse slant on some middle strings (E neck) around the 12 or 14 th fret and wobble the bar to get the 'woo-woo' sound and then slowly drop down a few frets to create a Doppler effect. Works great on Folsum Prison.

Thanx,
Jim
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Steve Norman


From:
Seattle Washington, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 6:21 pm    
Reply with quote

I like a 6th chord with volume swells on C6
_________________
GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 7:38 pm    
Reply with quote

I believe I remember reading that Casey Jones had a custom made whistle tuned to A6. Lee's wooden whistle is D6.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Marc Friedland


From:
Fort Collins, CO
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 9:59 pm    
Reply with quote

The other night shortly before going to a gig in Redding, CA, I heard a train go by, and it's whistle sounded very much like a Major 7th chord, but I was not near an instrument to test out my theory. I admit it's possible that I was only hearing the 3, 5, 7 and imagining the 1 in my head, it's hard to say for sure. This would mean that in the key of C it would translate to the 4 notes being C E G B.
My slightly uneducated guess is you can probably play a 6th, Dominant 7th, major 7, or similar variations to those, and if you play it with the right attitude and expression, you will most likely get the idea across of sounding like a train whistle.
-- Marc
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Fred Bova

 

From:
Connecticut, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2008 11:21 pm     Name that note
Reply with quote

Marc, from playing "name that note" with you and Michael, and Ribs, I trust your ears! If you remember we started the game on the piano in your parents living room,... and then as it progressed over the years it changed to everything from "shoe sqeeks", to key chains, Water Drips, and to the sound of a peach pit hitting the floor ! Those were great times, times when EVERYTHING could be fun, and WAS fun, when we were with you.I hope we can all play that game again sometime soon. Fred
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
David Mason


From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2008 4:41 am    
Reply with quote

Quote:
American train whistles usually had anywhere from one to six frequencies which were sounded together. As compared with automobile horns, for example, which form a major third, usually with the notes "F" and "A", the train whistle usually forms a non-major chord which is full of dissonance, allowing it to have a distinct, frightening, and serious sound, rather than a happy one.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_whistle

I'm sure I've seen a video somewhere explaining it with a tritone in there (b5) - I'd have to dig through mine, Hiland, Mason etc.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2008 5:11 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks for the input.

Gene I live 7 miles from Doug and yes I grew up and out, but at 61 I have been working out and beefing up a little.

Larry Behm
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2008 3:44 pm    
Reply with quote

i currently live a block from the tracks....i love it...just the feel of power from the big trains helps put me right to sleep...our guitarist, bob woods, is a steam and diesel engineer. some whistle/horns drop as they trail off, and some raise in pitch right at the end.. can't play it but love it!
View user's profile Send private message
Tony Orth


From:
Evansville, Indiana, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2008 4:14 pm    
Reply with quote

Like Lee, I've got one of the wooden train whistles that sounds like a steam engine. The notes are, from low to high: A#, C#, D#, G.

I could look up this chord but one of you theorists could tell us more quickly.

TOny
_________________
Tony Orth
No longer pedaling.
Christian Praise and Worship, a little Folk-Rock, Old Time and Bluegrass on the side.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tony Orth


From:
Evansville, Indiana, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2008 4:35 pm    
Reply with quote

Looks to me like an Eb7. Played at the fourth fret with B pedal and Eb lever engaged, strings 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Looks like we're back to verify Sonny's version.

T
_________________
Tony Orth
No longer pedaling.
Christian Praise and Worship, a little Folk-Rock, Old Time and Bluegrass on the side.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jim Robbins

 

From:
Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2008 5:00 pm    
Reply with quote

Tony Orth wrote:
Like Lee, I've got one of the wooden train whistles that sounds like a steam engine. The notes are, from low to high: A#, C#, D#, G.

I could look up this chord but one of you theorists could tell us more quickly.

TOny


Theorists know that as the "Train Whistle Chord".
View user's profile Send private message
richard burton


From:
Britain
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2008 10:31 pm    
Reply with quote

Here's one I found a few years back, it's fun, but only works in key of E.

Strings 1 + 2, 8th fret, strings 3 + 4 open, strum across all 4 strings, whilst sliding into the 8th fret, then play 1 + 2 at 5th fret, 3+4 open Smile
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tony Glassman


From:
The Great Northwest
Post  Posted 11 Jan 2008 12:51 am    
Reply with quote

I use the Eb lever w/ A+B pedals down and add the 9th string. (e.g. in the key of E....@ the 5th fret sliding down from the 5th-->4th-->5th fret).

I think that gives you a partial E9th with a flatted 3rd on the bottom. It's the dissonance of the adjacent flatted 3rd next to the natural 3rd which makes it sound like a train-whistle to me.
View user's profile Send private message
Fred Glave


From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 11 Jan 2008 2:45 pm    
Reply with quote

There are different types of train sounds you can get from the steel, but my favorite is using any diminished chord and using the volume swell with a gentle slide upward then back on the fretboard. It sounds real fat for that far away train.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Duane Reese

 

Post  Posted 11 Jan 2008 3:43 pm    
Reply with quote

To give you specific info on what chords different ones play...

The Horn & Whistle Board

Five Chime Consultants

Steam Whistles

There used to be a really good site about steam locomotive whistles called "Voice of the Iron Horse", but it's apparently gone.

Train horns are funny things. I have a Leslie S-5T myself, and the lowest B note always seems to be a little sharp on that model, making a diminished chord but it's supposed to play Bdom9 (don't ask me why they call it a Bmaj9 in the site)

There's various flavors of 9th, 7th, maj7th and 6th chords, depending on the horn, railroad, etc.

Now for you Canadian steelers, your official regulation is D#minor - don't forget that now! Wink
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 11 Jan 2008 4:56 pm    
Reply with quote

In Key E (Folsom Prison Blues) Strings 4,5,6,-ish
Try 15th fret push F lever to raise Es.
Wobble vol. as descending in pitch.
Look out!! Whoa! Whoa!
Man.. that thing will run you over.
Kenny
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Chris Schlotzhauer


From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 11 Jan 2008 6:18 pm    
Reply with quote

Boxcar Willie taught me how to do it with my mouth.
Seriously!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tony Dingus

 

From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 12 Jan 2008 7:32 am    
Reply with quote

I use the B & C pedals, strings 4,5 and 6.

Tony
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 13 Jan 2008 9:03 pm    
Reply with quote

I like strings 7 and eight, with a reverse slant so that there's not quite a unison.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Jim Peters


From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 14 Jan 2008 7:32 am    
Reply with quote

Strings 9 8 7,(strum it) lower E lever, 13th fret for key of D. Little crooked on the slant, slide it down, use volume pedal to taste. JP
_________________
Carter,PV,Fender
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 21 Jun 2011 9:52 pm     Four notes to make a train whisle
Reply with quote

If you are playing in E cord go to the 3rd, A pedal and raise the 4 & 8 (F)strings add a little vibratto and volume. Go to the 5th fret and lower the 4 & 8 (D)strings. Then to the 7th fret A&B Pedals down now as you release A&B Pedals rock on the lower 4 & 8 (D) knee lever and slide one fret forward. These are Steam train sounds. Had some train whistle duels with some fiddle players on Orange Blossom Special using these. Work it a little you can pick 3,4,5,or 6, 5,6 & 8 or or 6,8 and 10 strings just to mix it up to suit yourself. Fade the volume give it a haunting sound. In a gosel group we played a song about a gopel train to Heaven. A&B Pedals down at the 5th fret. Slide one fret forward and D knee lever Lowering 4-8 train sound the slide to 3rd fret pedals being released and this made G chord for the singers to start. Hope this will help you. Good Luck and Happy steeelin.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron