Playing songs You do not like

About Steel Guitarists and their Music

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Fred Treece
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Joined: 29 Dec 2015 3:15 pm
Location: California, USA

Post by Fred Treece »

Larry Bressington wrote: I had to cover the Mason on Tele ( and I used the boss acoustic simulator pedal for the flat top solo) and I had to cover the Franklin on a D10, ( split the solos up so I could change) it was a lot of work to get to that point
I don’t know anyone who could pull that off. I am not sure I am worthy to even be responding to you.
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Larry Bressington
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Joined: 6 Jul 2006 12:01 am
Location: Nebraska

Post by Larry Bressington »

I had some help Fred, Paul put out a teaching cassette at that time about his solos on that song so that was very indeed a great source, without that I was in severe trouble Fred. As I remember the E9 solo was on the one side and I think the C6 solo was on the B-side of the cassette.

As far as the tele work, that was all done with a slowing down machine and practiced about eight hours a day on my week off to get it up to snuff. This wasn’t a weekend gig, Laughlin Nevada was one of the destinations, you stepped up or went hungry. There are many guys that can do it, but it isn’t without severe dedication, and I didn’t tell the bandleader, ‘nobody can do that’ I sucked it up. Do you know back then when my fingers were so sore, after the superglue wore off my fingertips, I’d dip them in a big glass of scotch to numb the pain, feel the burn then lick em dry! 😂

Also during those days, I would go do a minimum of 2 hours of practice per afternoon, (especially on songs like that) go take nap, shower up, and eat, then go play 5 sets a night. I was homeless for a full decade (10 years) great times, hard work, but I’m all grown up now and...Old! 😊

To answer the Ops question, just play it and put your heart and soul behind it brother! 👍🏻
A.K.A Chappy.
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Fred Treece
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Joined: 29 Dec 2015 3:15 pm
Location: California, USA

Post by Fred Treece »

Larry- Even with the time, dedication, and the technology, I doubt seriously whether I could have pulled off that stunt. Just the guitar solo would have been out of my league, and I used to think of myself as a pretty hot picker. I think my chances are actually better now, oddly enough.

My hat is definitely off to you, and you have reminded me to be a little more respectful toward some of the long time members here whose knowledge and talents are far beyond my own. The road band I was in during the 80’s was more about the partying than the tunes. That might explain how we ended up in places like Tonopah, rather than Laughlin or Vegas!
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Fred Treece
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Joined: 29 Dec 2015 3:15 pm
Location: California, USA

Post by Fred Treece »

Maybe this little topic drift brings up a related issue - songs we actually like but are somewhat difficult for us to play well. I just tend to slop my way through them, like trying to play the Albert solo on My Baby Thinks He’s A Train, or name your Buddy Emmons part that you thought sounded easy until you tried to play it.
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