Do you play just like the record?

Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

I do not as I have no memory and besides I would not get to be me, I would be them. I get close but I do not play for a big name who wants it just like the record.

When JD went to work for Vince Gill he told him he was not John and did not play like him. Vince was OK with that, just depends on who and where sometimes.
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I will try to play LIKE it.
I wouldn't want to try to play just like the record; even iconic intros should have room for personality.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Never,,,, well except for "signature" phrases. I'd get bored silly playing songs the same way over and over. Luckily I was in a band that liked to hear ME play.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I know in bluegrass Dobro, many pickers try to play the intro to "Wait A Minute" just like Mike did.
Mike didn't bother; he reinterpreted it every time he played the song.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Malcolm McMaster · From: Beith Ayrshire Scotland

Never, not good enough to play some of these licks, and as Larry said ,have no memory for them.What you hear is me , so tuf luck to everyone who has to listen. Very Happy

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MSA Millenium SD10, GK MB200, Sica 12inch cab, Joyo American Sound Pedal/ Jay Ganz Straight Ahead amp, Telonics 15inch in Peavey cab, Digitech RP150, Peterson tuner.Hilton volume pedal.Scott Dixon seat and guitar flight case.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

I worked for a compulsive/obsessive band leader who got worse and worse about my intros. I do not like to copy someone else, but I will play in the style of the steeler. It finally got to the point where he told me he couldn't sing a song unless I played EXACTLY like the record. I learned the into to Jim Ed Brown's "Pop A Top Again", and played it at a rehearsal. He chewed me out again, and I told him to play the record. When he heard that I did play the intro note for note, he told me that he didn't like it, anyway. So, I said "If you don't like what I'm playing, just fire me". He did. It was one of the smartest things I've ever done. The next day, I was playing non-pedal steel with Ledward Kaapana. I've never looked back. I still play pedal steel when a gig arises. I believe that, if I'm playing what somebody else wrote, it's not me.
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Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

I worked for a compulsive/obsessive band leader who got worse and worse about my intros. I do not like to copy someone else, but I will play in the style of the steeler. It finally got to the point where he told me he couldn't sing a song unless I played EXACTLY like the record. I learned the into to Jim Ed Brown's "Pop A Top Again", and played it at a rehearsal. He chewed me out again, and I told him to play the record. When he heard that I did play the intro note for note, he told me that he didn't like it, anyway. So, I said "If you don't like what I'm playing, just fire me". He did. It was one of the smartest things I've ever done. The next day, I was playing non-pedal steel with Ledward Kaapana. I've never looked back. I still play pedal steel when a gig arises. I believe that, if I'm playing what somebody else wrote, it's not me.
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Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Heh. He posted just like the record...
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mike Neer · From: NJ

For teaching purposes only.
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Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

I could but I don't cuz I'm basically lazy pretty much.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Rick Schacter · From: Portland, Or.

Larry,
You asked:

"Do you play just like the record"?

Probably not, but I try to get it as close as I can.
After I think I've got something figured out, I will then record the track and take a listen to see how close I am.

Then I'll twist it around every way I can possibly think of to try and make it my own.

Attempting to copy what you hear on your favorite recordings is the best way for someone to learn and try to develop their own style, IMO.

However,if you're in a cover band, and the song has a definite "signature" lick, then you need to get that lick exactly like the record.

Rick

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

I play just like a prison record.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 18 Sep 2014 12:11 pm

Fred Justice · From: Mesa, Arizona

No

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John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

I try to play as close as possible to the intro, break and tag at the end, if it's really pertainant to the song. Of course, I'm not the author of the steel part, so, it doesn't always come out perfect. Having said that, if I really like the steel part, I'll make a hard conscientious effort to get it right and play it correctly. Sometimes it's nearly impossible to copy a lick note for note and that's where tab comes in handy, as long as it's tabbed right.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 18 Sep 2014 12:22 pm

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

What Barry said.If I'm going to play a cover song,I'll learn what's on the record as close as I can get it.Here's why:

1)The people paying to hear the band usually aren't musicians,and they want to hear what they've heard on the radio or the jukebox,and it'll sound better to them if they hear what they're used to hearing.

2)The producer didn't call me to do the session.He called the best player he could get.I should substitute my judgement for his?

3)Sitting down with the part that's on the record and my slowdown machine gives me a free lesson with a brilliant and infinitely patient teacher (often a fellow SGF'er) who lets me into his head,and by the time I get the part down,I've usually learned a whole lot of other useful things.

Jim Park · From: Carson City, Nv

I try to learn it as close as I can........then make modifications as necessary. I was in a cover band in the 90's, Alan Jackson released "I don't even know your name" and the band leader quipped "you can play that? right"??? I looked at him and said" If i could play that, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you". He got this funny look on his face......but on the lighter side, we went to see a big name whose tunes we were doing and he told me I played the parts better than the road player did

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

My playing always sounds just like the record.

.

.

(Flat, old, and scratchy. Laughing

)

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Way back when Red Foley used to MC the Prince Albert portion of Nashvilles' WSM's Grand Ole Opry, that was about the only exposure we here on the West Coast had to steel guitar.

Red Foley had Billy Robinson (after JERRY BYRD left); George Morgan had Don Davis, Carl Smith had Johnny Siebert and there were others of lesser familiarity for many of us.

Band leaders in those days 'always' expected to hear the same basic sounds as on the record stars recordings.

In those days PRIOR to pedal steel guitars.....it was a real challenge to learn these intro's, solo's and often unique tags or endings to so many popular country songs of the day.

While playing a BIG Opry Show here in Portland during the mid-1960's and backing up Carl Smith, I learned how important the ability to do just that could be. Asked to kick off one of his first songs, I was able to do so "JUST LIKE THE RECORD" and from that point on throughout the show, he would repeatedly come back to my place on the stage and keep motioning me to keep on playing, often the entire song.

Having learned each of these songs 'just like the record' I suddenly realized I was getting into some deep water........ because I was being encouraged to play parts of these songs that I had never given a second tho't to. It all worked out but it was definitely a learning experience for me.

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

When I was playing with Sugarland, I once got chewed out for not playing my own parts exactly like I had played them on (their first) record.
I just find that to be hilarious.
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Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

When I'm playing with a record, I kinda play what I hear on the record, but at shows, I kinda have to play things differently, like on a video of me in 2010 that's on YouTube when I play and sing "When Did You Stop Lovin' Me", after the chorus, I added a little steel solo to the song that I came up with myself. And when I'd play Brooks & Dunn's "Workin' On My Next Broken Heart", I think I tried to play the solo that Bruce Bouton did on the record, but of course, my fingers got nervous. On a song Danni Leigh sang on her "Masquerade Of A Fool" record, I find myself playing the exact same steel parts Steve Hinson did on the record, and somehow it stays in my memory

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

What John De Maille said. If I can get it, I do it like the record. If I can't get, I get it close as I can after cussing out the guy who did the recording and made it so hard to learn. Mad

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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Rick Schacter · From: Portland, Or.

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