STEELCHALENGE 1 Are you all ready????

Frederic Mabrut · Post by **Frederic Mabrut** » 1 Apr 2011 5:14 am

Johan Jansen wrote: I also hear a lot of players looking for holes in the lead-singertracks to fill it up, in a kind of question-answer approach.
Is this the common role we think is propiate for pedal-steel, filling gaps?
Just a question....
Johan

just my 2 cents:
I'm certainly not alone to think that the steel player should try to enhance the song and of course it begins by not drown the singer under a continuous flow of notes. Fill gaps ? In fact there is what we like to hear and what remains after the editing. A lot of these pieces are a bit over-busy and loud, that's what we like to hear, but considering the kind of modern music proposed in this case , I don't think very much steel would remain after the final mix, if it were for real.
Of course this will be very different if the song proposed was a Buck Owens or a NRPS' one.
And by the way, where are the others Europeans ?

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 1 Apr 2011 6:58 am

Here is my take

I hesitate to say this (since I am no Lloyd Green LOL), but I was trying for a Lloyd Green type of vibe, or at least my perception of it... super melodic, lots of A+F position, a lot of both voices moving together instead of moving notes against a pedal tone.

http://soundcloud.com/scott_s/new-count ... with-steel

The intro line I played can be played with only A+B pedals on strings 3,5, but I thought it sounded better played on strings 8,5 and and jumping to strings 6,4 . I can tab it out if anyone is particularly interested, its fun and useful to figure out how to play things in multiple positions.

Also, I only recorded through the first chorus, ran out of time and wanted to get this much down, not sure when I can get back to it.

Equipment is Williams 700 series D10, HSC preamp, passive volume pedal, Twin Reverb type amp with 6550s, 1x12 cab with Celestion Classic Lead 80, Sennheiser MD421 mic.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 4 Apr 2011 1:28 pm

See page 4

Elizabeth West · Post by **Elizabeth West** » 4 Apr 2011 4:23 pm

Hi Johan,
I'm hoping to get mine back up.

Eddy Scheepers · Post by **Eddy Scheepers** » 5 Apr 2011 1:46 pm

Often felt like Billy, trying to reach the pedals, but I couldn't...

http://soundcloud.com/eddyeddy/times-gonna-fly

Greetings from over the Atlantic,

Eddy

Tom Cerrigione · Post by **Tom Cerrigione** » 6 Apr 2011 11:50 am

I removed the old tracks and replaced them with 192 K mp3.
http://soundcloud.com/tomcerrmusic I hope the quality of this is better.
Sorry, I know not what I do.

Tom

Frederic Mabrut · Post by **Frederic Mabrut** » 6 Apr 2011 11:58 pm

Eddy, this is a very nice cut!!!
Played with taste, it really enhances the song!
Too bad you do not travel to Charlieu this month !

Eddy Scheepers · Post by **Eddy Scheepers** » 7 Apr 2011 3:02 am

Thank you, Fred. Listening back to it, I think it is a little overdone, though... Might vary the V (G)parts before the chorus and not use that crying G7/9 position over and over, nor the A and F position over the C-chord... Maybe even that descending lick over the chorus: guilding the lily?
But I don't have my audio interface right here now. Changed a Focusrite USB for a Firewire version. Will be here in a few days.

This is about my first recording experience ever and I must admit it was quite compromising for myself: being exposed to my sloppy phrasing, inaccurate off key playing, uneven volume, BUT: quite a LEARNING EXPERIENCE and I will certainly do this over till I'm more satisfied with the results.

Keep watching this thread!

Eddy

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 7 Apr 2011 11:10 am

OK Eddy, that's the right attitude!!

see ya,
Johan

Ron Scott · Post by **Ron Scott** » 10 Apr 2011 7:04 am

Hope you enjoy..Ron http://soundcloud.com/rscott169/times-gonna-fly

Billy McCombs · Post by **Billy McCombs** » 10 Apr 2011 7:47 am

http://snd.sc/gLkBR7 This song reminds me of my son Billy Jr that I raised by my self from 2 yrs on. Hes 35 now, where did the time go?

Elizabeth West · Post by **Elizabeth West** » 11 Apr 2011 10:55 pm

http://soundcloud.com/spuzzumkid-1
Here is mine.

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 12 Apr 2011 8:10 am

Here's my crack at it

http://soundcloud.com/bob-grado/times-gonna-fly-take-3

Paul E. Brennan · Post by **Paul E. Brennan** » 13 Apr 2011 5:10 am

What a great thread. Congratulations to all the players who went to the trouble of submitting a recording. I've listened to all of the tracks so far. It's really nice to hear the individual approaches and styles. If I may be permitted to offer some constructive criticism, here goes.
Most people have no shortage of ideas and the intonation in general is pretty good. However, where a lot of the tracks are falling short of sounding really professional is in the timing. This is one of the crucial factors that separates the really good session performers from the not so good. If the timing is off your playing will sound rushed or hesitant. I remember at my first session being absolutely horrified at how bad my timing was for the simplest little licks. I had worked so hard at my intonation but I'd neglected the simple act of playing in time. And it is simple. In fact, it's one of the easiest things to fix in your playing. You've done all the hard work of learning the instrument, learning licks, etc. Why ruin it all with careless timing? You have to be very honest with yourself and be very diligent in fixing any flaws you hear. This is one of the reasons the greats sound so good no matter what instrument or amp they're playing or the sound quality of the recording. Anything they play is "in the groove" and it just sounds good. Sorry if I've offended anybody but it's a very important aspect of playing and I don't think it's mentioned often enough.

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 13 Apr 2011 7:10 am

First off I would like to say that I personally welcome all constructive criticism.

l remember taking a lesson from Marc Muller (Shania's steel player) where he put me in a room, started a sound track for me to record against and came back in 15 minutes to check on the results.

He played back the recording on his laptop and we were able to visually monitor what I played and how it aligned against the beat of the song. I really felt I was "spot on" when I was playing but the playback doesn't lie. I was "spot on" maybe 30% of the time.

The next thing Marc did was adjust where my timing was off by " dragging and dropping" the clip with his mouse. I was then able to listen to what I recorded only this time with perfect timing.

The difference was undeniable, a much more polished sound, no question about it.

It was definately an enlightening experience.

Paul.. Thanks for the feedback. It is appreciated.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 16 Apr 2011 1:07 pm

I only managed to do the first 2 1/2 minutes, due to time constraints.

I've mixed the steel far too loud, because I'm a steel player

http://soundcloud.com/steelie1955/new-c ... es-gonna-1

Jan Oelbrandt · Post by **Jan Oelbrandt** » 22 Apr 2011 12:42 pm

here's my version:
http://soundcloud.com/jan-oelbrandt/times-gonna-fly

equipment:
MSA S-12 (4+4)

fx: Realistic analog delay
Tom Anderson Whisper Compressor

amp: MusicMan sixty-five 2x10"
mic: Stagg MCO-7

recorded on a ProTools LE/Mac

Peter Nylund · Post by **Peter Nylund** » 23 Apr 2011 5:05 am

Here is mine. Take one.
http://soundcloud.com/peter_nylund/timesgonnafly

admin · Post by **b0b** » 23 Apr 2011 8:07 am

Is that a remix of the tracks, Peter? It sounds different. Very nice!!

Peter Nylund · Post by **Peter Nylund** » 23 Apr 2011 8:56 am

Yes mister b0b, it is a remix. I downloaded the individual tracks and fooled around with them adding little of this and a little of that.
Thanks, Peter

admin · Post by **b0b** » 23 Apr 2011 7:40 pm

It sounds less compressed. I like that. Also, the guitar solo at the end sounds better. The piano and acoustic guitar have better definition too. You have magic ears to do a mix like that.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 3 May 2011 1:20 am

OK, this was the first Challenge.
What did you think of it?
Do some more? Some advices?

Thanks for all your playing. For me it was very cool to see that many approaches to one song.
If someone has a song for a next challenge that needs steel, and all rights are permitted, please let me know.
Thanks!!!

Johan

Jan Oelbrandt · Post by **Jan Oelbrandt** » 3 May 2011 2:48 am

I loved it, so let's do another one.

Ray McCarthy · Post by **Ray McCarthy** » 5 May 2011 2:40 am

I'll second that.

Jani Peter Sandvik · Post by **Jani Peter Sandvik** » 17 Jun 2011 9:59 am

ok. its time to start pitching your tomatoes and onions, and time to laugh

http://soundcloud.com/sandwich80/times-gonna-fly

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