What song to play for my senior class?

Austin Spendlove · Post by **Austin Spendlove** » 4 Dec 2020 5:05 am

I'm a senior in highschool and an opportunity has come up to play my steel for a project in my English class. The presentation must be 3-7 minute long and will have to include setting up the instrument.

My plan is to show them a few cliche pedal steel licks, but I want to finish with something to wow them. My favorite players are Ralph Mooney, Norm Hamlit, and Paul Franklin. I'm looking for something very popular and recognizable. I was thinkin Don't Rock the Jukebox, but I wanted to know if anyone had any other suggestions.

-Austin

Joe Krumel · Post by **Joe Krumel** » 4 Dec 2020 5:23 am

don't rock the jukebox is a good choice. Another maybe choice?,Linda Rondstat Blue Bayou. enjoy the show!!

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 4 Dec 2020 6:01 am

Emmon's SS Cool would get an immediate diploma and maybe a few chicks.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 4 Dec 2020 6:46 am

Pomp and Circumstance in G.

Andrew Goulet · Post by **Andrew Goulet** » 4 Dec 2020 6:49 am

How about a peppy version of Mama Tried? I don't think Norm is on that song, but I could hear a PSG version working well, especially if you can work out the intro.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 4 Dec 2020 6:55 am

Andrew Goulet wrote:How about a peppy version of Mama Tried? I don't think Norm is on that song, but I could hear a PSG version working well, especially if you can work out the intro.

And the turnaround:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... mama+tried

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 4 Dec 2020 7:27 am

Be True To Your School by Brian Wilson & Mike Love

Andrew Goulet · Post by **Andrew Goulet** » 4 Dec 2020 8:04 am

Right on, Frank.

Jack, my old band played that song years ago at a battle of the bands where the requirement was one Beach Boys song. That was when I played washboard, harmonica, and theremin in the band, before I took on pedal steel. It was so silly and fun.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 4 Dec 2020 10:14 am

You are playing for your English class, not for patrons at a steel guitar convention. Are you going to play along with backing tracks? If not, then the solo from Donâ€™t Rock The Jukebox will lose its context. Maybe play a song with a melody that your classmates might recognize, and you can arrange your own harmony with it. If they know Country music and thatâ€™s what you like to play, then go for one of those classics and see if they can guess what song youâ€™re playing. Good luck!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 4 Dec 2020 11:05 am

If you play a popular Country Song you may lose your audience's attention almost out of the gate as that IS Steel Guitar Cliche 101 !

Its hard for me to recommend a song for today's senior class as I have no way of knowing what songs may be popular and recognized by those in your class.

BUT, in this scenario I would revert to a 50's or 60's classic such as Let It Be Me ( Everly Brothers) as it has an excellent chord progression and can be played soft and smooth with excellent emotion. You can even do this one acapella and really show your stuff !

Or

How about America The Beautiful no cliche there just a great song that everyone knows .

Sounds like a gret opportunity and great fun ! How about video the whole thing and share it with us !

tp

Bill Fisher · Post by **Bill Fisher** » 4 Dec 2020 11:44 am

The Hylo Brown song from the 50's,

It's All Over, Now (But the Cryin')

Bill Fisher

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 4 Dec 2020 3:13 pm

I would try to find a melody from a popular current movie your class can recognize. The theme song is usually well arranged and well regarded.

Bob Bestor · Post by **Bob Bestor** » 4 Dec 2020 4:10 pm

I think this calls for a medley. Start off with something classic country, turn on your overdrive pedal and segue into something rocking/sacred steel-like, and then finish off with a current hip tune that they all know. Break a leg!

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 4 Dec 2020 7:30 pm

Shameless by Garth Brooks. Has a lot of nice chord runs in it. It will knock there socks off. Highway 40 Blues by Ricky Skaggs.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 5 Dec 2020 8:13 am

Kevin Fix wrote:Shameless by Garth Brooks. Has a lot of nice chord runs in it. It will knock there socks off. Highway 40 Blues by Ricky Skaggs.

Bruce Bouton on "Shameless" and Highway Forty Blues"

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 5 Dec 2020 8:36 am

We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee;

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 5 Dec 2020 3:51 pm

So ... waddya think so far, Austin?

Austin Spendlove · Post by **Austin Spendlove** » 5 Dec 2020 7:34 pm

Frank Freniere wrote:So ... waddya think so far, Austin?

I will be using backing tracks. I'll probably do a medley. Start with a country song, probably Your Man, then go to a classic rock, I know an excerpt from Bohemian Rhapsody I'll probably do that, and finishing with something off the hot 100.

Lee Bartram · Post by **Lee Bartram** » 6 Dec 2020 5:47 am

Boy that's a lot going on if you only have 3-7 minutes,it would take me half or more of that just to set my steel up ,of coarse I'm an old guy and have gotten pretty slow! Ha! But seriously good luck ,It's really good to see young people like you interested in steel guitar!! and getting an getting an opportunity to share it.