So pardon me if I don’t play the “Steel Guitar Rag” perfect
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
So pardon me if I don’t play the “Steel Guitar Rag” perfect
I was sitting there on my steel guitar seat at band practice and I looked around at the rest of the band sitting there like an auto with the gear in “Park” and it struck me that their minds were probably as blank as a computer monitor with the power off?
Well I know these folks and they have great hidden potential to do something worthwhile but we are wasting a couple of hours in an endeavor that would have to be rated pretty low on the scale of things necessary for existence.
I personally have trouble concentrating on whether I should use an Em7 instead of A9 and practice so the Band can be as good or better the Joe Blowhard’s Band when folks in my community are suffering and lives are falling apart all around me in these hard times.
So pardon me if I don’t play the “Steel Guitar Rag” perfect.
Well I know these folks and they have great hidden potential to do something worthwhile but we are wasting a couple of hours in an endeavor that would have to be rated pretty low on the scale of things necessary for existence.
I personally have trouble concentrating on whether I should use an Em7 instead of A9 and practice so the Band can be as good or better the Joe Blowhard’s Band when folks in my community are suffering and lives are falling apart all around me in these hard times.
So pardon me if I don’t play the “Steel Guitar Rag” perfect.
- Sherman Willden
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Bo. There's a perfect way to play Steel Guitar Rag? I thought I could do whatever I wanted within the confines of the chord structure and if playing by myself I could make up the chord structure.
Sherman L. Willden
It is easy to play the steel guitar. Playing so that the audience finds it pleasing is the difficult act.
It is easy to play the steel guitar. Playing so that the audience finds it pleasing is the difficult act.
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- Joe Naylor
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I played that when I was 8
I had the good fortune (now looking back) playing 2 songs for Leon McAuliffe.
I it was my 8th birthday and he was a judge at what they called then the International Steel Guitar Contests. It was at the University of Tulsa. For my 8th birthday I got a double neck Rickenbacher. I had been playing a 6 string Oahu lap steel. The Rickenbacker was a double 8 - but at 8 years ole that did not bother me i just ignored those two bottom strings.
Any way I played Pan Handle Rag and Steel Guitar Rag that day - Leon never said but I ma sure it was not HIS version - I have tried to play at least one of those when I have played on a steel show - I usually relay at least part of that same story.
Had I been old enough to know I would have be nervious but at 8 I did not even know who the judges were - I knew who Leon was because my Mom and Dad loved him but I did not look out in the crowd (except to see Mom) - Dad had to carry out the double neck because it weighed 8 more pounds than I did - and the legs were down to where a man would sit behind it and I stood up.
Memories - but Steel Guitar Rags is one of those song that was intended to be made your own - that is almost a quote of what Leon told me when I was 22 (and Oh by the way he remembered me) - to my surprise - not me but more than likely some kid that did not know better than to play those 2 songs at a contest where he was the judge.
Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
I it was my 8th birthday and he was a judge at what they called then the International Steel Guitar Contests. It was at the University of Tulsa. For my 8th birthday I got a double neck Rickenbacher. I had been playing a 6 string Oahu lap steel. The Rickenbacker was a double 8 - but at 8 years ole that did not bother me i just ignored those two bottom strings.
Any way I played Pan Handle Rag and Steel Guitar Rag that day - Leon never said but I ma sure it was not HIS version - I have tried to play at least one of those when I have played on a steel show - I usually relay at least part of that same story.
Had I been old enough to know I would have be nervious but at 8 I did not even know who the judges were - I knew who Leon was because my Mom and Dad loved him but I did not look out in the crowd (except to see Mom) - Dad had to carry out the double neck because it weighed 8 more pounds than I did - and the legs were down to where a man would sit behind it and I stood up.
Memories - but Steel Guitar Rags is one of those song that was intended to be made your own - that is almost a quote of what Leon told me when I was 22 (and Oh by the way he remembered me) - to my surprise - not me but more than likely some kid that did not know better than to play those 2 songs at a contest where he was the judge.
Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP
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- Les Anderson
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I was working with Bobby White one time in his club and EVERY NIGHT some drunk would want him to play Steel Guitar Rag. He would always tell them, "I already played it where were you?" One night this drunk asks "Can you play Steel Guitar Rag?" Bobby says "YEAH, but why would I want to!" Bobby could play some of the wildest swing and jazz of anyone. Sure miss his style and his wit.
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Bo, These type of guys are out there so beware.
I had a guy tell me once... "You're wearing the wrong hat. Don't you know that you were supposed to change to a dark cowboy hat a couple of weeks ago?"
I rehearsed with a band that took over an hour to get to rehearsal. Every rehearsal, the first song we went over was "Tulsa Time." We spent at least an hour perfecting that before we moved on. Finally I said, "We're wasting too much time going over this easy song."
I think it may be time to "Grab the bull by the tail and face the situation squarely" (W.C. Fields)
Tell these guy that they are being petty and in your professional opinion, more important rehearsal tactics are needed.
Then get a black guitar and always comb your hair perfect.
I had a guy tell me once... "You're wearing the wrong hat. Don't you know that you were supposed to change to a dark cowboy hat a couple of weeks ago?"
I rehearsed with a band that took over an hour to get to rehearsal. Every rehearsal, the first song we went over was "Tulsa Time." We spent at least an hour perfecting that before we moved on. Finally I said, "We're wasting too much time going over this easy song."
I think it may be time to "Grab the bull by the tail and face the situation squarely" (W.C. Fields)
Tell these guy that they are being petty and in your professional opinion, more important rehearsal tactics are needed.
Then get a black guitar and always comb your hair perfect.
- Fred Shannon
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- Mike Perlowin
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My feelings exactly. I never want to play that song again.I don't even want to hear anybody else play it. (Except for Bill Stafford. If you've heard his version on his "Some of my Favorites" recording you'll know why I say that.)Fred Shannon wrote:"So pardon me if I don’t play the “Steel Guitar Rag” ------------------At All!!!
phred
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
Jezz you can't get philosophical and mention the "Steel Guitar Rag" at the same time.
My topic is comparing music practicing to fiddling while Rome is burning as in fiddling away and ignoring that the sht has hit the fan all around us and folks are hurting.
What I'm trying to say is if we in the band would be as concerned and spend the same amount of time on community cares, things would get better.
So we practice less and miss a few chords here and there. It's not like most of us are doing it for a living.
I think the folks will love us more in the long run.
Of course if you are playing steel for a living then all your practice time would be a necessary part of your job.
My topic is comparing music practicing to fiddling while Rome is burning as in fiddling away and ignoring that the sht has hit the fan all around us and folks are hurting.
What I'm trying to say is if we in the band would be as concerned and spend the same amount of time on community cares, things would get better.
So we practice less and miss a few chords here and there. It's not like most of us are doing it for a living.
I think the folks will love us more in the long run.
Of course if you are playing steel for a living then all your practice time would be a necessary part of your job.
- Stuart Legg
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Bo, what I think you're saying is that we should spend less time rehearsing and more time in the "community" as it's more worthwhile.
I'd respectfully disagree. In a recession, when things are darkest, people need entertainment. You'll notice the movie theaters are still busy, TV shows are still made, and (at least here) people still come to gigs. I think as musicians we owe the paying public the best we can do. Also, we are people too - we need our "down time", for me anyway that's playing with my bandmate friends, mucking about with my car, fixing the house, playing with the kids and so on.
I'd respectfully disagree. In a recession, when things are darkest, people need entertainment. You'll notice the movie theaters are still busy, TV shows are still made, and (at least here) people still come to gigs. I think as musicians we owe the paying public the best we can do. Also, we are people too - we need our "down time", for me anyway that's playing with my bandmate friends, mucking about with my car, fixing the house, playing with the kids and so on.
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What is perfection anyway? What is normal? What is abnormal?
My version of the Steel Guitar Rag could best be classified as Perfectly Abnormal.
Now off to my class in abnormal psychology....
Today's lesson, "The differences between deviates and deviants".
My version of the Steel Guitar Rag could best be classified as Perfectly Abnormal.
Now off to my class in abnormal psychology....
Today's lesson, "The differences between deviates and deviants".
Lawyers are done: Emmons SD-10, 3 Dekleys including a D10, NV400, and lots of effects units to cover my clams...
- Alan Brookes
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- Drew Howard
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I'm a musician and an entertainer. Playing standards makes a communication with the audience. I'm not above playing anything on the steel guitar, the instrument is bigger than me and I want to turn people onto it.
Having said that the median age for barfolk is 25 so Steel Guitar Rag is ancient history and anything played well on the steel guitar would appeal.
Having said that the median age for barfolk is 25 so Steel Guitar Rag is ancient history and anything played well on the steel guitar would appeal.