What songs would make good instrumentals?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 8 May 2009 8:41 am

Walter Bowden wrote:In fact, I have not heard "classical" music done on a steel but, admittedly, have not been actively seeking it.

Walter, Check out Buddy Emmon's "Canon in D Major) on his white album, and B.J. Cole's "Transparent Music" CD which contains 4 classical selections.

A player named Marshall Hall recorded an LP of classical music back in the 70's but it's impossible to find anymore.

And I've recorded 3 CDs of classical music. You can hear a lot of my stuff at my web site. It contains 6 MP3s, 2 from each CD, and a tune widget with some more songs.

Joel Johnston · Post by **Joel Johnston** » 8 May 2009 11:24 pm

David - I love your videos and your playing. I think you could do a great job of "instrumentalizing" the old Platter's tune, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes". I have always thought the chord progression favors a steel. I could see you doing for that tune what Lloyd Green did for "Moon River".
One other idea is Buck Owens "Under Your Spell Again", but do it in split tempo - the slow ballad version as Barbara Fairchild did it, then flash to the uptempo shuffle version as Buck did it, then finish back in the ballad mode, or visa-versa.
I hope these suggestions hold merit. You are a fantastic player and I would love to hear your interpretation of these tunes.
Joel[/b]

Joel Johnston · Post by **Joel Johnston** » 9 May 2009 9:01 am

Here's one that might hit closer to home for you over there across the pond. I am a huge Matt Monroe fan and I think the progression and the feeling that can be expressed in his song "Softly As I Leave You" would make it a great ballad instrumental on the steel.
I'm interested in your thoughts and anyone else's on these suggestions.
JJ

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 9 May 2009 12:03 pm

"Softly As I Leave You" --- Woah!!!

That's the one, David. I can't understand why it hasn't been done on PSG long before this.

Matthew Carlin · Post by **Matthew Carlin** » 9 May 2009 2:17 pm

I like to hear a steel guitarists take on Purple Rain... or on the jazz side St. Thomas

Rick Lodholz · Post by **Rick Lodholz** » 11 May 2009 6:39 pm

OK; I'm not sure who wrote it and have only heard it from one guitarist. I believe the song is called "The Prophet" and I have it on a blues album that was done by a guitarist from Thin Lizzy named Gary Moore. It's a beautiful piece of work and I would pay good money if I knew someone who could tab it out for E9-(if it's possible). Someone help me out here!

I am also a Mark Knopfler fan and think there are some sweet choices in his repertoire.

Regards

Rick Lodholz

Bob Simons · Post by **Bob Simons** » 12 May 2009 6:13 am

Speaking of Dire Straits, how about "Sultans of Swing"????? I can already hear those changes on a steel guitar in my head!

Rick Lodholz · Post by **Rick Lodholz** » 12 May 2009 4:04 pm

Bob;

I agree "Sultans" would be nice! As far as Knopfler goes he has been so prolific and has penetrated several genres of music in a positive way. I cannot think of anything that could be said about his music that was not complimentary. (my favs have got to be some of his "Sailing to Philadelphia" album..like his duet with Van Morrison). JMHO

Regards

Rick Lodholz

Cameron Tilbury · Post by **Cameron Tilbury** » 13 May 2009 12:46 am

A couple of great songs occurred to me as I was taking the train home last night. I think these would make really nice instrumentals:

Gran Torino (the theme from the film). Jamie Cullum did the vocals with Clint Eastwood.

Bad Timing by Blue Rodeo

John Richmond · Post by **John Richmond** » 14 May 2009 2:48 pm

David, anything you and your mate John S. tear into comes out great, but here are my picks (sorry if they've already been suggested):
1) "You Don't Know Me" Mickey Gilley
2) "Don't Cheat in Our Hometown" Ricky Skaggs
3) "One Way Rider" Ricky Skaggs
4) "Rainy Day Woman" Waylon Jennings
5) "Down Along the Cove" Bob Dylan
6) "She Belongs to Me" Bob Dylan
7) "Lay Lady Lay" Bob Dylan

"Big Mamou" Jimmy C. Newman or Fiddlin' Frenchie Burke
9) "Blame It on Your Heart" Patty Loveless
10)"I've Just Seen a Face" the Beatles

Joan Cox · Post by **Joan Cox** » 15 May 2009 8:51 pm

I was in the Jackson room at the Dallas show this year, and Rusty Rhodes was in there playing one of the guitars. He was playing one of those songs you know, but can't think of the name of it...it was the theme to "I Dream of Jeannie"..Rusty's a great player, and I thought it was neat that he'd be playing that tune on steel...the bridge part is a little weird anyway, but he did it exactly right. Thanks a lot Rusty, I still can't get that song out of my head... A neat break song maybe too..

Joan Cox

Alan Miller · Post by **Alan Miller** » 16 May 2009 2:01 pm

David , JARUSALEM , a poem by william blake put to music by Sir Hubert parry.....a powerful , uplifting emotional piece, must be perfect for steel in that case.....AND DID THOSE FEET IN ANCIENT TIMES, WALK UPON ENGLAND'S PASTURES GREEN?
Not strictly a hymn some ministers in the uk won't allow it in church, originally the question was being asked " did a young jesus accompanied by his uncle, visit England (glastonbury area ) as maybe suggested in the bible.

Buddy's recording of the "cannon suite in D major" was awesome , it was my favourite " classical " piece anyway and to hear it played on steel by B.E was just whoooooooow !

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 18 May 2009 11:57 am

"Afro Blue" by Monga Santamaria (Emily Remler's arrangement)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVuAz9M381Y

"Finlandia" (the main theme) by Jean Sibelius. This was was adapted to a Christian hymn by Katharina A. von Schlegel and called "Be Stil My Soul". Here is a solo guitar version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYjiY9uI37k

Miles Davis' "All Blues"

Jimmy McGriff's "Grits, Gravy and Groove"

Jorma Kaukonen's "Letter to the North Star" aka "Lord Have Mercy"

Pat Martino's "Consciousness"

Keep on pickn'!
Glenn

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 18 May 2009 12:59 pm

ABBA's "Fernando".

Connie Mack · Post by **Connie Mack** » 18 May 2009 1:14 pm

hawaii 5-0

Joe McHam · Post by **Joe McHam** » 18 May 2009 4:09 pm

How about?
Sugar Foot Rag
Out There Somewhere
By The Time I Get to Phoenix
Amarillo By Morning
Big Boquet of Roses
Rainy Night in Georgia

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 19 May 2009 7:04 pm

Mexicali Rose

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 19 May 2009 9:01 pm

David-There is a lot of good songs listed on all these posts. Plenty to work on.

I like the tunes that Edward Meisse and Billy Tonneson, along with so many others listed. I have played so many solo songs on the Steel over the years that I cant even name my favorites.

I like them all, as they sound so great on the Steel guitar, the greatest musical instrument of them all in my opinion....al.

:)

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 19 May 2009 9:17 pm

David, theres is a song that I have heard in a AT&T comercial, I do not the title of it. But the video shows a woman returning to the States, and she is getting video and text from a man over in Paris and London. I told my wife when I heard it, that there was something missing in it. And she said yes, the steel guitar. While I listened closely, I thought to my self, that the song could be pretty steel guitar song. I wish I knew the name of it and the artist that is singing it.
Tommy Shown

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 20 May 2009 12:32 pm

"I Don't Know How to Love Him" from "Jesus Christ Superstar"

"Along the Navajo Trail" which was a big band tune but I heard it first by Duane Eddy.

"Telstar"

"The Very Thought of You" by Jerome Kern who wrote great chord progressions

This thread is givian a lot of steel players a lot of ideas. Thanks for starting it, David H.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 21 May 2009 8:36 am

As many of you know, I'm exploring the world of Classical music, much of which is extremely well suited to the steel. Here are some suggestions from that world.

Debussy: "Clair du Lune" and "Reverie." B.J. Cole recorded Clair du Lune on his "Transparent Music" CD. as well as "Pavane for a Dead Princess" by Maurice Ravel, and 2 pieces by Eric Satie. I played Reverie at the 2008 SWSGA show.

Brahms: opus 39, no. 15. This piece doesn't have a name.

Dvorak: The 2nd movement from his 9th Symphony, which is often called the "New World Symphony" and is based on American folk music themes, including country music. Don Williams wrote words to one of the Dvorak's melodies from this symphony and had a hit record called "Miracles."

Gabrial Fauré: "Pavane" Jim Hoke recorded a beautiful version of this on his "Otto" CD.

Saint Sans: "The Swan" (from "Carnival of the animals.") Gerry Hogan plays this.

There are thousands of pieces of classical music that lend themselves to interpretation on the steel. I'm finding more and more of them all the time.

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 21 May 2009 8:03 pm

Anything off of the new Green Day album -- if you can hack it...

Larry R · Post by **Larry R** » 26 May 2009 8:57 pm

Ghost Riders in the Sky

Alan Harrison · Post by **Alan Harrison** » 27 May 2009 4:21 am

Two I enjoy playing are "What A Difference A Day Makes" and "There I Said It Again".
Nice big band tunes with big fat chords on C6th...alan

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 27 May 2009 6:51 am

David
You've been missing from this discussion...It would be nice to get some of your thoughts.
Jack

The Steel Guitar Forum

What songs would make good instrumentals?

I've often thought these would sound good . . . ..

Just thought of another one . . . .

Steel Guitar Instrumentals

Instrumentals!!!

Steel Songs!