Tom Bradshaw's Chord Construction Updated!

[Daniel Morris]

Tom has just expanded his CHORD CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PEDAL STEEL GUITARIST at his website.
The chapters can be viewed and/or printed out, and there are sound files to boot.
Stop on by, check this out, and see what's new at his site.

My reason for wanting to promote this (and Tom) is that he has been - and continues to be - an invaluable asset to the steel guitar community. Especially for those of us who learned pedal steel well before the internet, he was promoting the instrument, and he hasn't stopped since.
http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/chor ... uction.php

[Mark Eaton]

Thanks for the tip Daniel, I just sent my request to Tom.

[Jeff Garden]

Thanks, Daniel...great reference. Tom gets credit for getting me started on pedal steel - I bought my first steel from him 30+ years ago.

[Tom Bradshaw]

Just saw this post. It should be mentioned that this paper/article is free to view, read and download. Unfortunately, the topic is over 90 pages long. So, have a lot of paper on hand. However, maybe it would be best to read it first, then decide if my effort is worth the paper!!! ...Tom

[Jonah Turner]

Tom, I read a lot of the paper and it seems extremely useful for a beginner like me. Thanks for all of the time and effort you put into it, I can tell it took a lot.

[David Gertschen]

Wow, what a wealth of information! Thanks Tom, for the time and effort to create this.

[Tom Bradshaw]

Hey David and Jonah: Thanks for the compliments. However, I find it interesting that over 1,000 have read this posting, but only about 200 have actually opened and read the paper/article. I know it is over 90 pages long, but still, I can't understand why so few choose to open the web page and read it. Anyone with an idea, let me know since I wrote it for everyone.

Incidentally, it isn't just for beginners. Some hard-nosed pro's and advanced musicians have told me they learned a thing or two from reading it.

[Jack Stoner]

I've looked over several pages of the outstanding article. However, it would be nice to download it.

[Tom Bradshaw]

Downloading and copying the paper is accomplished by following the directions that follow. However, the site was designed to take advantage of linked files. Printing it results in the loss of some of the formatting.

Downloading is the same procedure as is done for any screen or web page you are looking at on any Internet site. Once a section (chapter) of the paper is opened, observe in the upper left portion of your screen the words: "File Edit View Favorites Tools Help". Open the "File" option. A pop-up should provide a list of options. One option is listed as "Save As". Click on it and proceed to save the paper to whatever particular file you prefer (documents, downloads, etc). It will be stored there. I just gave the page a name and downloaded it into one of my "Document" files. Each section of the paper must be downloaded the same. It takes a bit more time than being able to download the whole paper at once, but I chose to break up the 90+ page paper into chapters, so as not to be overwhelming to a reader. Once done, I can access any chapter of the paper any time I want.

If you want to copy all 90+ pages, you do so using the same procedure as you would anything else you've used to copy whatever you're viewing from the Internet. Whatever you’re viewing (whether after you’ve downloaded it or not), observe at the top (left) of your screen a number of words. The first one is "File". The second one is "Edit." If you click on "Edit", a window will open that includes "Select All". Click on it. The whole page will become highlighted. Following that, promptly click on the "File" option, then click "Print". I just did it and the whole topic was printed out for me. You would need to open each chapter of the paper and proceed to copy it in this manner. If you want to eliminate the references to my web site and the listing of items I offer for sale, you will need to highlight (with your mouse) the text of the paper. Once done, proceed to copy it as explained in the first portion of this paragraph.

Unless you have the proper application (App) for downloading the audio files, you can't hear them unless you always open my web site. To provide that option to everyone who doesn’t have the audio app in their computers, I would have had to offer CD's of all the music. I chose to give this paper away, even though it has proven quite expensive to do so. I can't afford to offer that option too, and, I’d need a lot of people telling me they would pay for it in order to justify the expense of having the CD’s manufactured and mailed to them.

[Steven Husting]

Tom, as a new steel player (but an old six-string player with a good solid understanding of chords and theory) I want to thank you for this document as it answers a lot of questions I had. It presents a lot of useful information organized in a way that suits the way I learn easiest.

Steven

[Dave Stankoski]

I just want to extend my thanks as well to Mr Bradshaw for making this available. I'm also a long time (amateur) guitar player just learning PSG and realizing that improving my vague understanding of some of the basics of music theory is the only way to break my tendency to learn by rote.

[Norman Watson]

Great work! Thank you, for sharing.

[Bruce Bjork]

Thanks Tom for a great resource, I've copied all 14 chapters to my iPad for future in depth study, muscian for many years with a pretty good handle on theory, your explanation of slight changes to 3rds and 5ths is an eye opener.

[Bryan Staddon]

Thank you Mr Bradshaw, slowly downloading it all to my Dropbox, all seems to be working well, what a wonderful gift, I'm going to take your advice and finally get this stuff down! Thank you

[steve takacs]

No doubt about it, Tom has been the best for decades now. Stevet

[Jim Reynolds]

I have downloaded it, and printed the entire book. I print on both sides, which most printers do, and it is well worth the cost of the paper, and ink. Thank you Tom, you are one of the greatest.

[Mark Greenway]

Great information. I know that was a lot of work.

Thank you so much for doing that and sharing it with us. That work is a treasure chest of knowledge.

[Tom Whitworth]

Does it take a while for the request to go through or am I missing something? Haven't received the email with the download. I'll check again later, this sounds like something I can use.

[Tom Bradshaw]

Tom: Once you log on as required (typing in your name and email address), you simply point your pointer into the box, and the paper opens up for you. Begin reading the introduction. At the bottom of the introduction pages are the links to all the other chapters of the paper. No one else has had a problem. Let me know if you still do. ...Tom

[Tom Whitworth]

Thanks Tom, I was missing something. I was thinking something would come to me as an email. I get it now, sorry about that. Downloading now. As mentioned by others here I very much appreciate your work on this publication. Extra note - I have also upgraded from the Peterson VS-II to the STROBOPLUS HD. I love it. TW

[Tom Whitworth]

You mentioned a specific app for the audio. Is that something I can purchase or download?

[Tom Bradshaw]

I have checked into an audio app. It appears that adding this feature to the paper would just be too costly. If someone knows (or has figured out) how to do this for the paper, please feel free to tell me about it. I want the whole world of steel players to benefit from learning everything I discuss in the paper. Being able to download the demonstrations would be great. ...Tom

[Tom Whitworth]

I see, it is more than just an app to run the audio it is integral to your publication. If I download each chapter as one of your web pages the audio will work because I am accessing through your site.

[Jim Reynolds]

Tom, would this audio app, make it where you would be reading it, or make it where you could hear the samples. This is so good, I don't know how it could be improved. As I have said, I've printed it and given to several friends. Thanks again for your time in doing this.

[Tom Whitworth]

Hi Jim, Tom Whitworth here - I'm pretty sure the only way to get the audio is to be using the web page version of the document.