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Post new topic How about the "continuous flow of musical tones" ...........
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Author Topic:  How about the "continuous flow of musical tones" ...........
Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2016 10:42 pm    
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One can't help but observe/listen to many examples of steel guitar playing wherein the musician will be
playing a refrain using a series of 'lower' strings only to then jump up for one or two notes on the thin
or higher strings and then to drop back down to the lower strings.

This does not make for a continuation of balanced tone and flow of the melody.

Do any of you have any comments about this factor?
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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2016 7:50 am    
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it depends on how artistically they do it.
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Christopher Woitach


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2016 8:44 am    
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Octave displacement in an improvised line is a totally legitimate technique. I agree with Chris - it all depends on how artistically they do it, just like anything else. Conversely, a line that consists of nothing but diatonic movement from one note to the next can be boring, if not done artistically.
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Christopher Woitach
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Bob Russell


From:
Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2016 10:35 am    
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Christopher Woitach wrote:
Octave displacement in an improvised line is a totally legitimate technique. I agree with Chris - it all depends on how artistically they do it, just like anything else. Conversely, a line that consists of nothing but diatonic movement from one note to the next can be boring, if not done artistically.


Yes, just as phrasing that is always legato can be boring, making a steel guitar sound like a musical saw. Artistic playing employs well-chosen variety.
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Lots of stringy things, many of them slidey.
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Tim Russell


From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2016 11:21 am    
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John Hughey took this even further;

A lot of folks would miss it as it was a subtle move, but John would pick say, two strings, and then pick a third as a harmonic, usually during a run or slide.

It sounded awesome, and is a bit tricky to do during a live song. I caught it on one of his Gospel CD's, and I thought it was a very sweet sound.
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Sierra Crown D-10
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Stuart Legg


Post  Posted 25 Apr 2016 5:27 pm    
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Sometimes you come up with something good by noodling around with octave surfing and random harmony, but the problem is it’s hard to duplicate because most times it's pure luck.
Unfortunately folks tend not to pursue a better understanding of harmony past luck believing theory to be boring, difficult and confusing.
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