Do you compose steel breaks in advance?

[Lane Gray]

Chris, Bob doesn't like the formulaic sounds that country has evolved into (and, I suspect, he just doesn't like the basic sound), so he plays a lot of blues. To avoid formulae.

(Just kidding, I like Bob, he's pretty cool, but slightly opinionated. Like the rest of us)

[chris ivey]

fine! have him play us some blues. lord knows there's nothing repetitive or uncreative in that genre.

[Lane Gray]

Chris,... so he plays a lot of blues. To avoid formulae.

Chris, your irony detector has apparently shorted out.

[John Billings]

If you have the chops, and have the creativity, it's kinda the same approach as, what';s it called? Jazz?

[chris ivey]

sorry lane. when i read it back right after i posted that , i realized you were right on top of that one. 10 points for you!

it was an...oh....duh....moment for me.

[chas smith R.I.P.]

When I played out, regularly, with the same bands, I liked to pre-compose the solos. That way I had a good idea of what I was going to do and I could concentrate on the delivery.

[Ron Page]

I always loved Norm Hamlet's playing on Merle's Big City; and a 1000 other songs. I once asked Norm what some of his favorites were from songs he'd recorded on. Typical of Norm, he answered by saying he always thought he could have done a little better on Big City. I was floored!

About 2 years later they recorded "Live At Billy Bob's Texas", Motor Cycle Cowboy. The steel (and other instrumentation) on that album of classics is better than the originals. Yes, including Big City; the intro is about the same but the fills are the best!

Imagine if Merle had told the band to play like the originals... oh, and never added horns, fiddles, piano, etc.

[Jim Cohen]

For me, it's a mix. Even within the same solo, it might be a mix. For example, I might tend to start the solo in the same way most times but before long I've drifted off into a different direction with it and it will have a different ending.

There are also some solos I've stolen from other people and I keep playing them because I like the challenge of trying to get it right one of these days! LOL.

[Cal Sharp]

I have pre-composed a couple solos. The first 8 bars of "I've Got Rhythm" fits in "Workin' Man Blues" and the first 6 bars of the Simpson's theme song works in "Emit A Slut". Whoops, having a dyslectic attack. "Tulsa Time".

[Bob Simons]

When I played guitar and fronted a 3-piece original music, power trio, the music was heavily blues inflected, but not "blues" per se. I play a little of whatever I want to on pedal steel including some of the better country tunes,

To whatever degree my abilities are relevant to the conversation (not at all in my opinion) here are two cuts you asked for. I wrote both and I am playing all the parts on both.. The first is a more typical steel tune-:Russty." THe second is more my current approach to rock and roll- "Jamaica, No Problem."

Sharpen your fangs folks!

https://soundcloud.com/blue-tattoo/russty

https://soundcloud.com/blue-tattoo/jamaica-no-problem

PS Thanks Lane...i think.....

[Sean Borton]

When covering songs I always learn the signature lick(s), then I learn the opening lick of the solo (that gives the illusion that I've learned the song ) From there I just listen to the direction the solo takes and keep that in mind while improvising the rest.

[Peter den Hartogh]

Does THIS answer the question?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpkUV1t-aNI

[Lane Gray]

It was a complement, with a smirk.
I like your playing, and it shows a different outlook when playing. Pretty cool. The blues was a bit better than the Jamaica. Or at least more to my liking.