Where else for melodic ideas?

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

What else do you listen to besides other steel players to try to get (and apply) musical ideas? Obviously some rock steelers have listened to rock guitarists, and Doug Jernigan and Jim Cohen play some distinctly horn-y lines. I listen to classical violins and Indian music in the hopes of absorbing melodies by osmosis, but I find that most of what I actually work hard on is melodies taken from my standard guitar playing. Does anybody read through violin transcriptions or books of jazz licks?

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

HORN PLAYERS
everything from Bird to Prez to Trane and newer stuff too. Wynton and Bransford M are geniuses at melodic improv.

Guitar players can be cool too. I like Joe Pass and Barney Kessel, among others. You can pick up both single line and chord stuff that way, but for melodic ideas, horn players are my favorite to listen to and learn from.

For exercises, check out the Hanon exercises that keyboard players cut their teeth on. Some very challenging scale-oriented exercises. Transcriptions can make stuff easier too -- there are several Charlie Parker transcription books out and even some stuff for free on the net if you nose around.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 08 August 2004 at 07:46 AM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Astor Piazola's bandeon
Birds
Tchavalo Schmitt
Klezmer
French Trad
tzigane

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

One of the reasons I love Bach is his nearly inexhaustible supply of wonderful melodic ideas.

But probably more useful for country music is a book called 1000 Fiddle Tunes. You can find them on line (Amazon etc).

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

It is interesting that dear friend Larry Bell talks about "horn players".

I am reminded of the time back in the late 40's when my brand new teacher (of musical theory) told me "we do not teach tab here, if you want to be a student here, you will learn music!".

After that ole mama lion gave me the basics over several weeks, she told me to go to a music store and purchase a specific book on saxophone learning scales. There was not one complete song in the book. Just hundreds and hundreds of scales that I assume is used in saxophone 101.

There was one problem, Because the scales were often well above the staff, she demanded I play them one octave lower. Which I did. For many many months after that, she would play rythym guitar as I played the particular scale selections she had picked out the week before.

Plus, there were NO chord symbols on any page. She insisted I figure out the chords. Which I did after many painstaking hours of study. Which was her objective. Which I am eternally greatful.

Also, she insisted that not every note be picked. Rather to increase speed (as she described it) I should "gliss" into as many notes as possible. Which of course I obliged.

I shall never forget that musical tenure in my past. While I learned it from the sheet music, I envy you folks that learn it by listening. Maybe, just maybe, if I had learned it your way, I could play today.

But dreams are not what life is all about. Although in retrospect I doubt much would have changed. Talent is inborn, IMO. It can't be learned.

Blessed Lord's day,

carl

[This message was edited by C Dixon on 08 August 2004 at 09:49 AM.]

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Carl-You just may be right on that!
Someone with real talent makes it look so easy.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Lester Young.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

David, I'd suggest some classical music or some dixieland! Almost nobody is tapping that vast reserve of great melodic ideas. There's challenging musical ideas all over the place if you just listen. Most of the rock steel that I hear is pretty formulaic...just fuzz and fast notes. Try some "Blood, Sweat, and Tears," some "Chicago", or some "Queen" for some new rock ideas. I think they'll keep you busy for awhile!

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 08 August 2004 at 01:47 PM.]

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

An interesting source that I've just discovered is those computer generated music programs. You can find a bunch of them on the web (search for... I dunno... "Fractal Music" might work), and by tweaking the numbers you can get the programs to make up melodies according to whatever algorithms they use. Keep tweaking till you find something interesting.

-Travis

P.S. I should note, however, that often the compositions will simply sound like bad Bach, so you could also just go to the source, like Mr. Bovine suggests.

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

In my opinion, one of the absolute masters of melodic improvisation was jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli. His recordings with Django Reinhart are phenomonal, even by today's standards. The live Hot Club recordings capture these two monsters at their absolute peak. A pairing such as this shall not soon happen again.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Jazz Trombone! http://pw2.netcom.com/~stotzerm/marka.html

Robert Parent · From: Gillette, WY

For the past year or so I have been listening to what the local station calls soft jazz. I would mostly call it a pop flavored jazz with sax being the main instrument. On the weekends I also try to listen to the PBS radio station that has a local produced bluegrass Saturday morning show. The last place I listen is country radio. It's so bad that I have removed the presets from the car radio!!

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Its fun to tap in to your own melodic ideas by singing. What I do is let a chord vamp loop in BIAB or the Jamey Abersold play along CD. Then sitting at my steel and WITHOUT PLAYING I sing a very short phrase over the changes. Once I get some little phrase clear I play it on the steel exactly like I sang it.

Sometimes on the bandstand I'll sing along to myself over the verse and then when my solo comes up I've got a new melodic solo ready to go.

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Bob
intonation help

[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 09 August 2004 at 06:48 AM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Donny, my first gig in France was a Dixieland band.
First on mandolin, and later on guitar and bass.
But even with the non trad instruments It was a really Dixieland gig.

I have listened to that for ages it actually is still quite alive here.

I also played in a Classical choral ensemble of 45 last winter,
and in a symphony in NYC ranging from
60-65 normaly to 525 players and singers.

After I did Dvoraks "New World" I went directly to a bluegrass gig,
and quoted the 3rd movement bass line in a Bill Monroe tune's bass solo.

If I had ONE and only one CD on a desert island it would be.
Ding *
Bela Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.

I have quoted the finalé intro in a blues jam segueing into a Fats Waller lick,
and somebody recognized both and bought me a Guiness for shear brass.

Bach is great for everything to contrapuntalism to the origin of the rock boogie woogie lick.
1 3 5 6 7 6 5 3

But thanks for the suggestion non the less!

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Anything recorded by Charlie Christian is a gold mine. Great melodic ideas, most played over fairly simple diatonic changes so they'll fit about anywhere, and all lay well on C6.

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Bill Frisell's guitar playing has been a real inspiration to me. It has widened the intervals in my playing. I really like that sound!

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Ella Fitzgerald and her scat singing.
Louie Armstrong and his scat singing.
Wynton Marsalis on trumpet. He can do more with one note....whew.

Wayne Franco · From: silverdale, WA. USA

Great idea Bob Hoffnar. Singing through lines is a great idea. As Jamie A. says, You very seldom sing something wrong. I was listening to a jazz station in the car. They played a song with a female jazz singer. I swear everything that she sang sounded like a great steel line. I wish I know who she was. But never the less I would bet there are a lot of them you could get some great sounds in your head from. If anyone know some names other than just mentioned I would love to hear them.

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