Search found 118 matches

by Bruce Clarke
8 Aug 2006 10:12 am
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: Tone bars - everything you know is wrong.
Replies: 52
Views: 9193

To Billy Wilson, still no info about bronze bars! Am I the only player using one? Do I record my U12? Now and then, as follows. I am a pianist/arranger, no longer working professionally, but using computer software such as Cubase, Garritan personal orchestra, a soundfont collection, Steinberg B4 Ham...
by Bruce Clarke
6 Aug 2006 12:07 am
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: Tone bars - everything you know is wrong.
Replies: 52
Views: 9193

I use a bronze bar which I bought in the UK during WW2 because it was the only type available,and I've used it ever since. I don't see any mention of bronze bars in the many posts on the subject, so any opinions would be welcome. Incidentally it was made for 6 string lap steel, and therefore suits m...
by Bruce Clarke
30 Jul 2006 8:48 am
Forum: Music
Topic: King Sists
Replies: 13
Views: 1422

The fourth voice gave the King sisters an advantage over most of the other girl groups of the period. Their very advanced harmonic ideas are evident on the LP in question, which I have owned since it was first issued.
by Bruce Clarke
28 Jun 2006 11:16 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Hammond Organs
Replies: 19
Views: 10110

Steinberg do a really authentic software version of the Hammond B3. You need their sequencer (Cubase) and plenty of computer power. Ethel Smith had solo spots in several films, in "Scandals 1945" she does a very impressive workout on "Lisa", mostly in close up. She follows that w...
by Bruce Clarke
11 Mar 2006 12:44 pm
Forum: Steel Players
Topic: List of Chords and formulas wanted
Replies: 10
Views: 1028

JD,a lot of excellent suggestions in these posts. I live in Alfaz del Pi, am no great shakes on the steel, but was a pro piano player for 50 years. I would be happy to do a keyboard harmony/chord demo chat session with you any time, if you think it would be useful, and you can get yourself down here...
by Bruce Clarke
16 Jan 2006 11:30 am
Forum: Steel Players
Topic: tennis elbow anyone?
Replies: 13
Views: 1876

I had it in both arms many years ago, from lifting heavy gear in the wrong way. Cortisone injections cured it, but I don't recommend those. The condition goes away eventually, providing you don't aggravate it.
by Bruce Clarke
2 Dec 2005 8:27 am
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: Documenting my Progress: Taking a step Back
Replies: 6
Views: 931

This seems to run counter to what most teachers (including Joe Wright)advise, namely that one should concentrate solely on the skill being practised. In a playing situation is it possible that when about to execute a particular lick you might get a quick flash of a TV programme instead?
by Bruce Clarke
2 Dec 2005 8:04 am
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: A Modest Reading Manifesto
Replies: 18
Views: 1978

Quote; Learning to read a piece of sheet music is much learning to read text...You start by seeing the alphabet--- True, but there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, whereas the signs and symbols in written music number many more. I started reading music (piano) at age 5, and by age 12 I was prett...
by Bruce Clarke
30 Nov 2005 1:18 pm
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: Playing from sheet/book music?
Replies: 56
Views: 5912

Quote.
Ray speaks the truth below- that middle C can be played in 4 different places on ONE STRING, let alone the other strings. But it IS finite.
Could we have a bit more explanation as to how to do this?
by Bruce Clarke
25 Nov 2005 6:55 am
Forum: Music
Topic: 12 Essential Tunes" - how many?
Replies: 14
Views: 1030

"At Last" was one of Glenn Miller's big hits, featured in the film "Orchestra wives" Nothing to do with any blues that I've ever heard, unless there is another tune of that name
by Bruce Clarke
24 Nov 2005 7:26 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Perfect pitch....can it be taught?
Replies: 48
Views: 6185

Memorising music has long been a part of the teaching, and learning, of Western music also. The perfect pitchers don't need to learn how, they just do it. It certainly has nothing to do with magic, to call it a gift is convenient, but maybe it would be more accurate to describe perfect pitch as a fa...
by Bruce Clarke
24 Nov 2005 2:00 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Perfect pitch....can it be taught?
Replies: 48
Views: 6185

Jim, certainly many musicians with only relative pitch can memorise, say, piano scores (I can) but the perfect pitch people do it so much more easily. Andre Previn, for instance, during the time he was performing as a piano soloist with leading symphony orchestras, could learn and perform complex mo...
by Bruce Clarke
23 Nov 2005 1:38 pm
Forum: Music
Topic: Perfect pitch....can it be taught?
Replies: 48
Views: 6185

One advantage that the possession of perfect pitch confers on a skilled instrumentalist is the ability to memorise long and difficult pieces with ease. They seem to do it automatically, whether by just hearing a piece, or working from the score. They hear it, or they see it, and they've got it!
by Bruce Clarke
23 Nov 2005 2:28 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Perfect pitch....can it be taught?
Replies: 48
Views: 6185

I have just taken a look via the web at a list of people with perfect pitch. Here are just a few of the names. Andre Segovia,Oscar Peterson, Andre previn, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Cole, Michael Jackson, Bing Crosby, Marvin Hamlish,Jasha Heifitz, Miles Davis,Chopin, Mozart,Julie Andrews, B...
by Bruce Clarke
3 Nov 2005 11:48 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Aha Moment a Dummy: 3rd/b7th inversions....
Replies: 33
Views: 5359

If there is a forumite who is not absolutely 100% sure what Eric was writing about in his original post and would like to know, try the following. At fret 8 on your steel, play the note E, and note Bb above it, and have your friendly bass player sinultaneously play the note C in the bass. Together y...
by Bruce Clarke
24 Oct 2005 11:44 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Aha Moment a Dummy: 3rd/b7th inversions....
Replies: 33
Views: 5359

Eric, I remember finding this on the piano, and then realizing that on the steel one only needs 6 frets to play the 12 dom seventh chords (correct bass notes required)
by Bruce Clarke
26 Sep 2005 1:56 pm
Forum: Steel Without Pedals
Topic: Advice for New & Old Students of Steel Guitar
Replies: 13
Views: 1529

That is certainly true in a performance situation, and in the final stages of learning a piece, but afterwards I think it is wise to go back and sort out that mistake, as it is likely to recur. You have already learnt it ito some extent by playing it once.
by Bruce Clarke
1 Aug 2005 1:42 pm
Forum: Steel Players
Topic: pedal steel guitarists.. INSTANT virtuosity...
Replies: 72
Views: 15583

Quote.Every really great musician I've heard of or known went through a period of playing 12, 14, even 16 hours a day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur Rubinstein, one of the great pianists of the 20th century, didn't. He had a faultless musical...
by Bruce Clarke
22 Jul 2005 9:50 am
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: How many players own a sierra?
Replies: 33
Views: 5325

Universal 12 keyless, about 3 years old. The wheelie case is surely a bonus. Len, why 3 identical guitars? just curious.
by Bruce Clarke
20 Jul 2005 11:13 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Fingerboard notes Learning Game
Replies: 3
Views: 605

IMHO these things are of doubtful value, as thinking note names when reading music is not a good way to go. A better way is to connect the position of the dot on the stave with where the note is on the instrument. Does the next note go up or down, and by how much? I started to learn this at age 7 on...
by Bruce Clarke
13 Jul 2005 12:02 pm
Forum: Music
Topic: Sleazy tales from the classical pit
Replies: 13
Views: 1079

Man,proud man, Dressed in a little brief authority; most ignorant of what he's most assured. His glassy essence, like an angry ape,plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, as make the angels weep. William Shakespeare.
by Bruce Clarke
12 Jul 2005 5:18 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Number System Question
Replies: 32
Views: 4160

HowardR, a chord played in isolation can be nice, but sometimes sounds even better when followed by another. A keyboard is the best way to demonstrate musical ideas, such as the different resolutions for a dominant 7th chord, and an augmented 6th chord, but to try it here I have to assume that you k...
by Bruce Clarke
11 Jul 2005 7:58 am
Forum: Music
Topic: Number System Question
Replies: 32
Views: 4160

The augmented 6th chord sounds the same as a dominant 7th, but is notated differently and, most importantly, resolves differently.If anyone is interested,I can explain further.
by Bruce Clarke
15 Jun 2005 3:03 am
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: Triads, chords, voicings, inversions
Replies: 37
Views: 3453

Bobby and Jon, I dig your replies to my previous post, a bit of humour,I like it! To seekers of knowledge, I would suggest that they study the posts by Jeff, Larry, James, Dan and Ed. These guys have nailed it, they know whereof they speak, they have got it RIGHT! To those who prefer to invent their...
by Bruce Clarke
14 Jun 2005 12:35 pm
Forum: Pedal Steel
Topic: Triads, chords, voicings, inversions
Replies: 37
Views: 3453

Jon, a triad can only have two inversions, so I'd have to agree with you, the word is ignorant. Ignorance can be cured though.