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Topic: A Player's Barometric Potentiality |
Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 6 Oct 2007 2:48 am |
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| No such thing? Maybe there should be! This writer has been, for quite some time, trying to ascertain full potentialities, as they pertain to the art of playing steel guitar. Standardization may sway potential, resulting in a student attempting to cut corners, and skip "paying their dues". |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 6 Oct 2007 7:37 am
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| There are too many permutations on a pedal steel guitar for any player to achieve its full potential in their lifetime |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 6 Oct 2007 9:23 am
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Richard,
Granted, the permutations are endless, much like the endless varieties of musical scales and note patterns. Moreover, the absolute ratings of a given artist's ability to meander wherever he or she pleases through most difficult melodies, is indicative of cumulative achievements born from hours of practice. Of course, talent is a major incentive, that stirs the will to learn to greater or lesser degrees. In any event, a major workshop, instigated by lesser achievers, to unravel the complex
order of things, relating to technique and actual abilities to perfect performances, may be desirable. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 4:50 am
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| I wish that the distance to the upcoming steel guitar show in Bangor, Maine could be right around the corner. They have an excellent group of steel guitarists who have been confirmed to participate. Chuck Sherman is one of the most experienced, and knowledgeable steel guitarists, who spends summers in Maine, after wintering in Florida. I can assure you that he is a credit to the steel guitar industry, by penetrating the finer points of steel guitar artistry. Dana Flood, has performed here in Massachusetts, where he unleashed a style not heard before in this immediate area. This struggling musician will be trailing the future accomplishments of the gentleman from Maine. I had hoped that this topic would interest a much wider participation of writers. Determinations made through visual and audio reviews provide those approximations that ultimately surface as ratings. Ratings that fluctuate with each golden egg, or ace card display of artistry. Establishment of meaningful ratings, quite often are prone to error, when an artist pulls out the "Golden egg". There may be those who are not concerned with this branch of study. I can't foresee a deviation away from this issue, by those engaged in a determined study of the pedal steel guitar. |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 9:50 am
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Bill, I think that playing a musical instrument and it's effect on the person playing it is what's important.
Randle Currie for example might simply "crank out" a perfectly executed run, intro, outro, that he's manicured. Something done with little stress and strain. Something he does almost every day. Flawlessly. Possibly leaving him feeling very little barometric change.
Eric West on the other hand might for the first time, play a lead to "Memphis" on a strange, more rudimentary instrument with a marginal but loud band for the first time, and feel like all his problems have been exorsized through his connection to the Universal Music Spirit.
The onlooker would of course believe that the "spirit was moving" more in the former. Of course the execution, taste, and musical profundity is more present.
The Barometric change would be more marked in the latter, however.
It's never what other people experience while you are playing.
It's you.
JMHO.
HFLE |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 12:07 pm
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Eric,
Thanks Eric! First I must ponder your elusive wit, after preparing to hear still another band this evening featuring Pete Adams on steel. There is a vague message in your written words, and I hope to find it by early morn. I'll shake out the cobwebs and sip a coffee after kicking up some thoughts to expand on your concepts. Keep picking that Tele. |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 12:46 pm
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No hidden algorythms, anagrams, or other faint subliminal messages.
The clearest of things are sometimes the best hidden to those intent on a different object.
A fish can look at a newly submerged car and miss it entirely for the bug that's slowly rehydrating on the windshield. He calls it a bug.
Sometimes a thing is merely what it appears to be, and nothing more.
EJL |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 1:19 pm
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Eric,
From the first time that your words appeared to me on the forum, I recognized you as a master of witticisms. I'm not aware of your educational background, although your vocabulary "cued" me in early on, that constraints in responses may subdue your powerful pen, or at least give me a running start. The evaluation issue warrants further studies, of which a new dawning may find new concepts unfolding. Those that have been regarded as trivial or useless could very well be interpreted with a renewed interest once the benefits become more apparent. |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 1:33 pm
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Well some of my "witticisms" are just dumb.
I like your posts and topics because just throwing random thoughts out there sometimes encourages others to join in and let fly with some of their wilder thoughts, and brings a lot to the surface. Kind of like multiplying the number of chimpanzees in a room with typewriters.
As I coined it: "A person can Smart themselves Dumb. Why can't they Dumb themselves Smart?"
In my first answer however, I was trying to say that unless a person gears and gauges their performances toward themselves, their benefits are going to be at the mercy of "what other people think".
Simply put:
No matter how many other people you please, it's the most important thing to please yourself.
I think that's a loose Ricky Nelson quote..
The other one is "Woa Dude, that's enough with the lighter.. ( plane crash noises..)"
Anyhow. Much to do lately and it's not going s well or smoothly as I like.
100/nite Elks gig this coming weekend at least to "get my mojo back".
EJL |
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Archie Nicol R.I.P.
From:
Ayrshire, Scotland
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 2:31 pm
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Get a room! 
_________________
I'm well behaved, so there! |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 3:19 pm Indeed...............
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Lysergic acid diethylamide.....................
An entheogen, sometimes used for enlightenment.
Most often underrated. |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 6:01 pm
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| My neck hurts. That always means it's gonna rain. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 7 Oct 2007 6:02 pm
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I simplify that to :
How well do you play under presure?
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2007 1:23 am
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Archie N.,
All things in fun, I'm thinking that your line, could be my line. I say to you, come out and make known YOUR thoughts, excluding innuendos.
Your depiction of a frustrated steel guitarist could easily dismantle a coffee "break" with its jarring nail bitings. As for your suggestion to get a room... wrong person, wrong place in time. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2007 2:06 am
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Eric,
I had written that Pete Adams, steel guitarist for the "Dooley Austin Band", would be playing last evening. The show was one of the best performances, by a country group, that I've attended this year. The show was in celebration of summer fun, and would be closing for the season. The campground is located at the base of Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. My step-son gave me a tour with his mom through the wooded campground before the show. I enjoyed the show that features song writing abilities, excellent vocalization, super picking styles, and above all, a warm friendship within the group. The owner of the campsite blew my mind when he stepped up to the "mike", to sing "Look At Us". Mike, the owner, tied in with the band as smooth as cotton. Vince and John would have been proud of his performance. Good things are happening here in the Berkshire Hills. |
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