My First Try/am I getting better

Carl Kilmer · Post by **Carl Kilmer** » 26 Jan 2010 7:52 pm

This is the first time most of you get hear me play.
I want to thank my friend BILLY MCCOMBS for all his help,
and telling me how to get something online for others to hear.
A few of you heard me since my accident 2 years ago.
It's been a hard strugle to learn again, but I do
think I'm improving. I appreciate all the help that
many have sent me, that has helped me relearn many
of songs. If anyone can offer me any suggestions to
help me improve, I'd sure appreciate it.
Any comments, good or bad accepted.
Thanks,
Carl "Lucky" Kilmer

The Song is "She Thinks I Still Care"
http://www.box.net/shared/c11f1ll39x

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 26 Jan 2010 8:07 pm

Carl, I was sorry to read about your accident. I was one of those who did not know.
Your playing is far beyond anything that I could hope to perform. I certainly have no suggestions for improving this one. I sat back and enjoyed every note.
I heard some beautiful playing there. You have a style that is your own, you have a great bar control and a fine vibrato.

Great comeback and keep the nice tunes coming!
Bent

Carl Kilmer · Post by **Carl Kilmer** » 26 Jan 2010 8:39 pm

Hi Bent,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I've got a long
way to go yet, but with the help of God and so many friends
I've found on the forum, I'm starting to see some improvement.
My playing is not as smooth as it should be, due to the loss
of strength in my legs and arms, and as you can hear, because
of such bad eyesight, I don't always pick the strings I want to.
I just do the best with what I have. Heck, at 70 I'm still trying.
If others like it, I'll try a couple more before before too long.
Thanks again, people like you make it worth all the effort.

Carl "Lucky" Kilmer

Billy McCombs · Post by **Billy McCombs** » 26 Jan 2010 8:51 pm

Carl my friend, that was great.You did a fine job on it. Everyone, Carl made the backing track himself with his new BIAB 2010. Good job my friend.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 26 Jan 2010 11:20 pm

Carl,

Great job all the way. I enjoyed.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 26 Jan 2010 11:59 pm

Excellent job, Carl. As someone in the same boat, recovering from an accident myself and dealing with some physical obstacles, I know (perhaps in a different way) the struggles you described. You're playing fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed your playing and delivery of the song.

Recently, someone gave me a track to the same song and I've been shying away from playing it until I build a little more strength and dexterity back up into my hands. You played it very well and it inspires me to sit down and maybe try playing some songs myself (in the last few days I've just been doing some Paul Franklin exercises that seem to be helping me with my right hand dexterity).

Again, I enjoyed your song very much. Keep up the good work. And, good job on the backing track, too.

Georg Sørtun · Post by **Georg Sørtun** » 27 Jan 2010 2:07 am

Carl Kilmer wrote:If others like it, I'll try a couple more before before too long.

Yes, please ... I'd like to hear some more.

Overall this was a most enjoyable performance. Have listened to it half a dozen times now, and like it more each time.

If anything - apart from the few times you apparently hit the wrong string - intonation sounded slightly off here and there. Think practicing PF's left hand exercise will help on that. I can't practice that much at the moment, as the middle finger on my left hand got wounded doing farmwork the other day - temporarily "grounding" me

Eddie Harper · Post by **Eddie Harper** » 27 Jan 2010 8:03 am

Carl, You did a great job on that song. Enjoyed it very much...

Wasn't aware of your accident. Great to hear you're doing better....... Eddie

Carl Kilmer · Post by **Carl Kilmer** » 27 Jan 2010 8:55 am

WOW! What a wonderful bunch you folks are. I didn't think anyone
would even listen to it, or comment on it. You've sure made my day.
I feel so good now, that when I get my chores done and feed my kitties,
I'm going to start working on one my Mom & Dad always wanted me to play.

George: I know my intonation and pickig the right strings is often off,
but if you knew my condition, you would understand why, but I'm trying very
hard to get around that problem.
It took me 3 days to learn how the melody goes, and then be able to play it.
I appreciate all comments whether + or - as I have no one to help me.

Jim: Sorry to to here about your accident too, but with the help of God
and so many friends here, we can turn bad times into some exciting times.
Stay with it my friend, you will make it. I want to hear you play too.

Thank you all so much. I'm happy you listened to it, and even took the time
to comment on it. You folks are really great.

Carl "Lucky" Kilmer

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 27 Jan 2010 9:19 am

Carl, one Hell of a good job! You are on the right track, doing what ever you are doing, to get you chops back. Post another when you can.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 27 Jan 2010 10:23 am

Carl Kilmer wrote:WOW! What a wonderful bunch you folks are. I didn't think anyone
would even listen to it, or comment on it. You've sure made my day.
I feel so good now, that when I get my chores done and feed my kitties,
I'm going to start working on one my Mom & Dad always wanted me to play.

I agree with you, Carl, the folks on here are wonderful and there's a lot of help, support and encouragement.

I've listened to your song several times now and I'm so happy for you that you're playing so well.

Carl Kilmer wrote:Jim: Sorry to to here about your accident too, but with the help of God
and so many friends here, we can turn bad times into some exciting times.
Stay with it my friend, you will make it. I want to hear you play too. Carl "Lucky" Kilmer

Thanks, Carl. I have a few songs that I've posted on YouTube since I started playing again, but the last one was on Dec 30th. Haven't done any recently because with the cold weather my hands aren't exactly cooperating too well.

I'm seeing some improvement in dexterity in the last few days, though, and I'm especially indebted to Mr. Paul Franklin in that regard. He's posted some beautiful bar hand exercises on here that I've been concentrating on and it's really been beneficial, practically therapeutic, in helping me regain some dexterity. If you're interested in checking these exercises out, it's in the Steel Players category under the topic heading The Bar Hand Exercise.

Again, keep up the good work and I sincerely look forward to your next song.

Greg Wisecup · Post by **Greg Wisecup** » 27 Jan 2010 12:13 pm

All of your hard work has paid off Carl! Nice job!

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 27 Jan 2010 3:29 pm

Good job Carl. See I told you so.

Your buddy BD

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 27 Jan 2010 5:45 pm

Carl is a great friend of mine, and I was so glad to see him post a song here. Carl is a great, clean player, and someone I admire. Along with My new friend Jim Lindsey in Texas. There are just a lot of great people here on the Forum. Keep up the good work Carl, and you too Jim L. Thanks, Larry B.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 27 Jan 2010 5:56 pm

Carl,
Very nice job, you are playing well! Music is always good therapy for whatever you are facing. Keep playing and post some more tunes. I hope I can play as well as you are playing now when I reach seventy...
Larry J.

Bill Lowe · Post by **Bill Lowe** » 27 Jan 2010 7:46 pm

Carl, great job. I enjoyed that very much. Which ever one you used (the red or the Blue) it sure sounds great........Bill

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 28 Jan 2010 10:00 am

Great job Carl. I listened real hard several times but I didn't hear any strings or intonation missed. I heard a couple of places where you were "experimenting with new licks". lol I wish I could do that well and I've been picking 16 years.

Keep on playing and post more for us to hear.

Chuck Hall

Carl Kilmer · Post by **Carl Kilmer** » 28 Jan 2010 12:14 pm

Hey Guys, Again I want to thank you all so much for your kind words.
I've the last year and a half trying to learn to play again from scratch.
You all have really made me feel that I'm starting to play decent again.
You even ask me to post more, so I worked on one all afternoon yesterday,
but I couldn't smooth it out enough to be happy with it, so I stopped.
I will work on it more, and try to get it a little better this afternoon.
Played it for Larry Baker and Jean lastnight, and they said it was good.
Bill D: Thanks Bill, you been telling that for a year. I'm getting there.
Larry B: Thanks to you and Jean, enjoyed that long talk with folks last night.
Larry J: Thank you, My doctors keep telling me, that for now it's the best therapy I can have.
Chuck H: Thanks, I keep trying new things. I try to find better ways.
Bill Lowe: Bill I didn't use either the Red or Blue one because I don't
have enough strength in my legs to get the pedals & knees all the way down.
So I'm using the LeGrand II that Jean got me for Chistmas. What a Sweetie she is.
It's lower and shorter, which makes it easier for me to play.
Thanks again guys. This is steel I'm using for now.
Carl

Skip Cole · Post by **Skip Cole** » 28 Jan 2010 9:10 pm

Hey Carl , good job keep um coming on Youtube. Sounds good

Skip

Ron Funk · Post by **Ron Funk** » 28 Jan 2010 9:49 pm

Carl -
It was my pleasure getting to meet you and hearing you play during our "picking and grinning session" shortly after last Thanksgiving. Your playing then was very very good, and you've gotten even better. I'm hoping you'll show me some of your licks next time we see each other !!
Best regards-
Ron

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 29 Jan 2010 10:27 am

Hey Carl,
From listening to your track, I'd say that you're a very good player, with the ability to get a good tone

One thought:
Remix it, with the backing track about 20% lower in the mix, so that your steel is more prominent

Carl Kilmer · Post by **Carl Kilmer** » 29 Jan 2010 3:33 pm

Skip: Thank you. You fellows are sure are making feel good again.
I'm going to try to learn something else that's pretty this weekend.
Ron: Thank you. I was so delighted to be able to play with you guys.
You fellows made me feel so good, and I think I learned a little too.
I don't have anyone here to play with, just a few tracks to practice with.
I hope Gary invites us back again after the winter season gets finished.
Richard: Thank you: You always inspire me to keep going. I didn't use
my recording equipment for these. I just used a 2 channel mic mixer into
a CD recorder and a CD-RW disc, so I could keep erasing all my plays.
I'll lower volume for the tracks next time, so you can hear my mistakes.
Guys I really appreciate all of your inputs, I'm really working hard at it.

Carl "Lucky" Kilmer

The Steel Guitar Forum

My First Try/am I getting better

My First Try/am I getting better

She thinks I Still Care

good job

Great Job