Recommend Song for First Try at Playing Melody

Alan Sim · Post by **Alan Sim** » 20 Feb 2006 4:18 am

Hi All

Would someone like to recommend a tune/song I could try to play the melody to.

Nothing too elaborate,maybe just using the A+B Pedals,and 1 knee lever.

Preferably a well known standard,my knowledge of Country Music is limited to the more well known songs.

I did try Your Cheatin Heart,thinkin it was easy,but it ain't!Well not for me!

Thanks

Alan

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Feb 2006 4:27 am

"Silent Night" or "Rock Of Ages" are two good ones! Three chords, nothing faster than a quarter-note, and the fact that just about everyone knows these two melodies, regardless of their musical background, that's the basis of why I picked them.

Rick Nicklas · Post by **Rick Nicklas** » 20 Feb 2006 4:41 am

"Faded Love" was the first song I learned on the steel using A,B and KL lowering my E's. I think it is the perfect song to make the basic positions and changes clear on most 3 chord songs. I played it two weeks and went out and got a job with a crappy band and had a blast ever since.

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Rick
Kline U-12, Session 500, Goodrich L-10k

Bruce W Heffner · Post by **Bruce W Heffner** » 20 Feb 2006 4:59 am

Try a Hank Williams tune.........

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www.pedalsteel.net

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 20 Feb 2006 6:01 am

Im So Lonesome I Could Cry. a great Hank Williams song.
A/B pedals down, strings 4 and 5....oops or is 5 and 6. ?
anyway, a simple song that is incredibly beautiful.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 20 Feb 2006 6:04 am

I like songs like Shenandoah, Wild Mountain Thyme, Black is the Color--Americana.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 20 Feb 2006 6:17 am

nursery rhymes..

pick a song that you know in your head inside and out...

Don't pick a song or tune that your have to learn, pick one you already know...

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

3 Blind Mice...

I've Been working on the Railroad...

If these appear to be too simple..go ahead and play them..then move on to one's that are deemed more challenging...

you may be suprised here....

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite


[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 20 February 2006 at 06:18 AM.]

Post by **Joey Ace** » 20 Feb 2006 8:50 am

Sleepwalk

Leonard G. Robertson · Post by **Leonard G. Robertson** » 20 Feb 2006 8:57 am

Couple easy to begin learning are "Have I told you lately that I love you" and "Today I started loving you again".

William Griffith · Post by **William Griffith** » 20 Feb 2006 12:09 pm

I have sleepwalk that is tabbed with notes above if you would like I can photo copy it and sendit to you if you want it. It only uses the A&b pedals and a couple of phrases with the knee that lowers 4&8 and 4&8 raise. I don't have a track for it but maybe your able to make one and share with me. I also have House of the rising sun and pretty simple also. Bill

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 20 Feb 2006 12:35 pm

Amazing Grace.
DZ

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 20 Feb 2006 1:04 pm

white christmas has a easy melody its nice and slow, very easy to play, even if it is christmas music. ( and it sounds great on a steel)

calvin

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 20 Feb 2006 1:33 pm

Alan, Have a go at Vera Lynn's White Cliffs of Dover. There's only the one basic melody part and you can pick the whole thing out without moving the bar. Sounds great. Should be easy to work out. Any trouble e-mail me and I'll see about tabbing it out.[This message was edited by Pat Kelly on 20 February 2006 at 01:36 PM.]

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 20 Feb 2006 2:17 pm

I second "Silent Night" and "White Christmans" for learning easy melody (with some easy harmony) on one fret.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 Feb 2006 2:36 pm

If you are interested in "giving praises to the Lord on an instrument of 10 strings", I recently tabbed out "One Day At A Time" and it is quite easy.

Erv

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 20 Feb 2006 3:16 pm

Alan....there are a couple good songs to begin with in Winnie Winstons book.It comes with a flexible record(mine did)so you can hear how it should sound.

Ron

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Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 20 Feb 2006 3:32 pm

Red River Valley.

J Hill · Post by **J Hill** » 20 Feb 2006 9:08 pm

Alan,

Give Erv's tabs a try. Go to the "Tablature" section and look for Erv's free tabs...one a month. But first, ask him for one he's done with a pretty melody but that's simple too, like for a beginner. He also has done lots of songs tabbed in a package, for a pittance...or would that be for repittance?

Oh well, all these gospels and hymns should really be pretty familiar. They're perfect to learn on, good "instrumentals" for the steel. You may even want his backing tracks to play with. Good luck!

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 21 Feb 2006 12:46 pm

Go to Bob Hoffnar's website and click on "Danny Boy" I love the song anyway and he has it tabbed on 2 strings with 2 pedals. I have spent hours on it trying to improve my timing (which sucks). Be prepared to put a few miles on your bar. The good thing about moving the bar so far is it helps (me anyway) stop in the correct places. Something I have been having trouble with. Thanks again Bob for posting the tab. It may seem like nothing to you but it means alot to newbies like me.
Best,
Justin
I will try to post the link to bobs website

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Justin Griffith
D-10 Blanton 8X4, D-10 Emmons P/P 8X5,Nashville 400,Matchbox 7-A,Goodrich L-10K,Walker seat.

Richard Gonzales · Post by **Richard Gonzales** » 21 Feb 2006 12:52 pm

A song everyone knows, you will play it many times and easy to learn.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 21 Feb 2006 1:18 pm

I emptied the house on a regular basis with "Red River Valley" from Winnies book when I first started playing!!

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 21 Feb 2006 3:07 pm

"Red River Valley". Just like in Winnie's book.

Ricky...

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Rex Wiseman · Post by **Rex Wiseman** » 21 Feb 2006 8:17 pm

Back when I used to teach Steel, I would start my students out on "Together Again" (Buck Owens) That always seemed to keep their interest. And besides, it's "real purty"

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 22 Feb 2006 8:01 am

Walk On By is a bouncy tune that is easy to play with A+B and the E->Eb knee. Start at the 8th fret by engaging the B pedal then bounce off the A pedal twice then no pedals. Go to the 3rd fret, back to the 8th fret, and try some at the 15th fret.

As usual I don't know what I'm talking about. I was thinking of Pass Me By.

Sherman[This message was edited by Sherman Willden on 22 February 2006 at 08:06 AM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 22 Feb 2006 8:48 am

Before I got Winnie's book, it was Steven Foster tunes...