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Topic: A good, close up look at Billy Robinson's superb technique. |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Dan Simard
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 13 Jun 2012 7:27 pm |
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I've been practising slants since a couple of days and I corrected a lot of bad habits I had. I am wondering, is this normal that his index finger is not on top on the bar but on the "side" of the bar? It's more obvious when he slants, his index is really "crooked" on the side of the bar...
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Tremblay 8 strings |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2012 8:02 pm
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HEY Andy, I hope this isnt considered a hijack! but I want to add a link to Boobe Seymour's playing for the sake of our friend Dan S. RE: slant-finger (no not after Mr. Bobbe's accident!) Way before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwb4FaUWQdM&feature=relmfu
Do it long enough Dan, and your hands become the hands of a master!
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 2:12 am
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| Wherever Billy puts his finger in relation to the bar the sound comes out right! Like Wes Montgomery, Bobby Koeffer, etc., some players just make "proper" technique irrelevant. |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 3:13 am
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It seems impossible. You watch Billy and he does this stuff, and it sounds great...I try it...and it sounds tenative at best. Simply astounding musicallity and touch.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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Dan Simard
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 5:24 am
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I'm sure that all the magic comes from his mammoth ivory bar 
By the way, I never saw that kind of bar. What is it?
_________________
Tremblay 8 strings |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 5:37 am
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| Dan Simard wrote: |
| I've been practising slants since a couple of days and I corrected a lot of bad habits I had. I am wondering, is this normal that his index finger is not on top on the bar but on the "side" of the bar? It's more obvious when he slants, his index is really "crooked" on the side of the bar... |
I'm certainly no Billy Robinson or Jerry Byrd, but my index finger is also placed on the side of the bar. I was never able to get completely comfortable with placing it on top of the bar, like Jerry Byrd. A lot of pedal steel players put it on the side, too.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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ed packard
From:
Show Low AZ
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 7:20 am Billy's white bar
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| Dan...that bar is ZIRCONIA. Billy has been using it for over a decade (first batch). Zirc's come in black, and in white. |
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Dave Mayes
From:
Oakland, Ca.
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 7:57 am
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A number of the great Hawaiian players placed their index finger on the side of the bar. From photos I've seen, I've counted David Keli'i,Gabby Pahinui, Herbert Hanawahine, and possibly Joe Custino among that group.
Last edited by Dave Mayes on 14 Jun 2012 8:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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William Lake
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 8:07 am
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Dan, the magic does NOT come from his mammoth bar. Did Jerry Byrd's magic come from his little 3/4" bar? Ever hear of anyone complaining about Byrd's tone? The magic is in your hands and comes from practice. Don't waste your time and money on anything else.
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Bill |
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Dan Simard
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 8:20 am
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| Quote: |
| Dan, the magic does NOT come from his mammoth bar. Did Jerry Byrd's magic come from his little 3/4" bar? Ever hear of anyone complaining about Byrd's tone? The magic is in your hands and comes from practice. Don't waste your time and money on anything else. |
Hi Bill, it was just sacarsm  I just wanted an excuse for my bad sounding slants! I begin to realize how hard they are to achieve even with the bar you sent me.
It really helps to look at different techniques. I began creating another bad habit of pushing the base of the bar with the tip of my middle finger. It works but it is unstable and slow.
_________________
Tremblay 8 strings |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 6:12 pm
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| Dan Simard wrote: |
| I've been practising slants since a couple of days and I corrected a lot of bad habits I had. I am wondering, is this normal that his index finger is not on top on the bar but on the "side" of the bar? It's more obvious when he slants, his index is really "crooked" on the side of the bar... |
He keeps the bar captive between his fore- and middle-fingers. His reverse slant starts as a middle-finger motion, with the thumb catching the back of the bar and setting the final placement. The forward slant starts with the thumb pushing the butt of the bar back while the fingers keep the far end as a pivot. Part of his technique is the large diameter bar as well (I coulda swore it was a Paloma!).
Try tackling the notes one at a time... set the high one first, then adjust the low one to fit, or vice-versa. I usually pay more attention to the higher one.
Also, set the first note by eye/ear and the second one by the angle (with ear) from there, easier than dealing with two eye points. Of course, you also have to practice spinning the bar around a point, both from the near and far sides, without changing the pitch. Once you can hit that first note the second one's not too far away, just grow some elephant ears, right? |
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