The Steel Guitar Forum

Only a week to go, and still no schedule. What's the delay? Bak in the days of new television, amateurs appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show playing a musical saw. I resolved that I would never sound like that on my guitar. On the other hand, I don't play jazz either. Will any of this year's line-up fit...

An Outstanding Muscian and a Fine Gentleman, he was an inspiration to many of us. In deepest sympathy, I offer a copy of my poem: (originally written for an "old crone", which I am) As the old crone lies dying, Those she leaves behind Mourn the doleful passing Of ties thaat once did bind. ...

It is with deep sorrow that I hear of Maurice Anderson's passing. He was an outstanding musician, and a fine gentleman. I last heard Reese at an ISGC in St.Louis three years ago, when he played "Tiny Bubles" in the Hawaiian room. We conversed briefly in the MSG room, and, as always, he wa...

Thank you Donna. It's nice to have mementos of that great convention. How good of you to name the performers....talent and skill.

Of course, I enjoyed Saturday at the convention: Main Stage was terriffic and the Gospel show was fantastic.....but there were some remarkable quieter moments also. Here's a couple shots of E. Robinson off stage, during a break, when he played my request for "Nola": http://bb.steelguitarfo...

Inspirational Show!

Austin Stewart and Jerry Newberry:



Mike Sigler and (?)Great Drummer

Mike Sigler and Band:




Great players! Great combo! Great music!

Mike Sigler, Your remarkable playing is one of the chief reasons I attend the convention each year. To say that I was "not disappointed" this year would be an understatement. Your picking was superb! It is we who thank you. http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix0912/7259_Mike_Sigler_2_1.jp...

I'm an old down-beater from the Western Swing era.
Ahhh, it's GREAT to hear Lee Jeffries on the steel again! That's my kind of music!

This is positively the very best music I've heard during or since the Swing era. Does this old heart good to be hearing it again!

Thanks Ramblers

Also, with this melody, as with all, the objective is touse slides in a way that does not emulate a "musical saw." I use chords wherever possible.

This continues to be my all-time favourite, and occasionally I do indulge in playing it solo in Ab. I originally heard it in a slow 1,2+3,4 tempo, and I still like to hear the ukes that way.
My newest addition is "Mapuani" as played gy Duke Kaleolani Ching.

Thank you, Mike, for sharing this with us. It is certainly one of the best examples of fine steeling I've heard for some time! I am not familiar with this song and would like to give it a try. Can you tell me, please, how I may obtain a copy of the sheet music? (Piano, voice, & chord) I predate ...

Sorry, hand splints cause typing errors.... Correction: I have been playing intermittantly for about 65 years.

A plethora of Thanks to you,, Mike, for all this important information, so well laid out forus. It is more than I can assimilate quickly, so I plan to spend hours of study on both your post sites. I have been playing the Hawaiian/Steel guitar intermittantly for about 6 years. However, without formal...

An excellent rendition of Silhuette Hula in Kay Das' superb style: smooth and easy transition, always hauntingly beautiful. Bravo!

I enjoyed his performance at the HSGA convention last year and sincerely hope he will appear again this October.

All right, Ray, I will comfess to being an olde timer for the purpose of replying to your post. Circa 1942 I took the 10-lesson course for beginners, free with the purhase of a small Stella lap guitar. Among the few selections was a peppy little march, simple and rythemic, original A tuning, keys of...

From lap Frypan to peddle Fire: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix0903/7259_ISGC09_Frypan_to_Fire_2.jpg Mike Sigler and band in GFI room: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix0903/7259_MikeSiglersGroup_1.jpg Jan Jones and grandson Landon http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix0903/7259_JL_Drumme...

I was lucky to get a snapshot of "The Master" and his "Frypan" shaped guitar. This one with his Old Lap is great! http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix0903/7259_ISGC_09_Scotty_1.jpg Across the Years and Across the Ocean: An Old Lap and a New Pedal: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com...

George, I forgot to mention: I used the only tuning I knew in those days: E - C# - A - E - C# - A -G Of course, that was fine for the Hawaiian genre, but also worked well for the melodies of that time. The mellow tones were great for dinner music, but the sharper ones accented country. Also, that gu...

Well, well! It's a sight for sore eyes and a longing heart! Yeppers, that must be my original lap steel which I purchased in 1945 for $125.00! Oh-mi-gosh, how I dearly loved it!!! Unfortunately, I traded it in three years later for a 10-string Eddie Alkire EHarp, and life was never quite the same......

Tom, Your tuning seems worth a try. I am still using the old classic tuning but have often regretted the absence of a D string. E C# B A G# G F# E After all these years, I wonder whether I could handle your variation. Well,let's see now: the G string gives me a 7th for a chord rooted on the 4th stri...

OK, so now let's have a poll of first second and third choices of tunings on an 8-string lap steel. I'll go with A6 first, C6 second, and an E13 as a third. I find that the chordal tunings work best for me on Hawaiian, gospel, and country music. BUT for classical,jazz, and "big band era," ...

Regretfully, I and my lap Alkire Eharp cannot be there. Currently near St. Louis, MO, I was a long-time resident of Tucson, and I will be returning for a visit Nov.11-22. Do you know of any event I might be able to attend during that time?

Gosh, why didn't I know about you folks while I was there!

Oh M'gosh! TV reports that a hacker has corrupted the airline traffic computers.....delays and cancellations are in effect.....what will tat mean to ISGC? Oh my..... This is my FIRST steel guitar convention, and I'm too old to count on future ones.....praying that the problem will be solved before t...

Well, some steelers prefer floor-length skirts.......
-Delb