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Calvin Walley


From:
colorado city colorado, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jun 2006 5:49 pm    
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i play from tabs, some have the words to the song and some don't but to me it helps a lot to have the words , it helps with the timing and phrasing
any thoughts on this?

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Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400
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Andy Sandoval


From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jun 2006 6:35 pm    
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Calvin, I agree. when I have the words I can hear the chord changes better and tab makes more sense to me.
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Calvin Walley


From:
colorado city colorado, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jun 2006 7:28 pm    
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i'm working on the tab Dan McKenna put on the tab section for "blue kentucky girl" he even put a recording of it there , its a beautiful song and he plays it beautifully
but without the words its tough.
but its such a pretty song played on the steel i'm hell bent to get it right

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Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400
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Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 25 Jun 2006 7:32 pm    
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Just print it out and write them in if it helps you.

I usually write tab in 4 measure lines with chord symbols above. That works for me but if you need the words just write them in.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Mike Winter


From:
Portland, OR
Post  Posted 25 Jun 2006 8:16 pm    
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I usually print out the lyrics, then write the chord changes above the word...helps me to learn the song that way. I did this while playing six string for years, so doing this helps me figure out playing the steel, too. Once I get the chord changes down, then I'm more comfortable noodling here and there. I still think "six string" when figuring out chords/chord changes on the steel.

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Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com

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Calvin Walley


From:
colorado city colorado, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jun 2006 8:37 pm    
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Larry ,Mike
that would work if i could remember the words haha
i was just wondering if i was the only one that liked the words on the tab since most don't have them

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Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 2:10 am    
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There is a simple philosophy that can be applied here. And it applies to any instrument or student as they are learning.

PICK songs that you know very well already, not necessarily the words but the structure and the melody.

If you don't, you have to learn two things..

the song..

and how to play it..

both at the same time.

IF you don't know the song, spend some time with the song first, listening over and over until the melody / lyrics is 2nd nature.

When learning how to play the song on the Steel, break it into sections. Learn one section then move on to the next. Do not attempt to play it all at once first time out if you are having trouble.

In school, they didn't teach the whole Math book on the 1st day.

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite


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basilh


From:
United Kingdom
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 3:35 am    
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Chances are that if you don't know the words you'll probably play the wrong melody at some point in the SONG.
It's not always the case that the same number of syllables are in each verse, Sweet Lielani is a good example of that.
Play the wrong verse or wrong melody and the listeners/audience who are probably singing the melody and words subliminally, will become distracted, not know why, and simply "Turn Off".
IMHO
Baz

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Quote:
Steel players do it without fretting







[This message was edited by basilh on 26 June 2006 at 04:39 AM.]

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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 4:34 am    
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What Tony said.

When learning new tunes, my method has always ben to listen to CD's in the car (lots of driving in my world) until it's really "imprinted". With guitar or bass I could then generally play at least a "skeleton" version on the spot. con't do that with steel, so what I prefer is chord charts with words. Tab is good for learning very specific things, but if I just need to be able to play "stuff" behind a song (no tricky hooks) chords/words are what works for me.
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Ricky Davis


From:
Bertram, Texas USA
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 10:11 am    
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A great Man(Musician) once told me: "If you can't SING the song; than you can't PLAY the song".
Ricky

[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 26 June 2006 at 11:12 AM.]

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basilh


From:
United Kingdom
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 10:37 am    
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Amen Ricky..
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Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 10:51 am    
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Hey Ricky
Maybe we can get you to teach us the words to
Four Wheel Drive
Raisin' the Dickens
Bud's Bounce
Remington Ride
B Bowman Hop
Bootheel Drag
. . . and on and on

I agree that learning THE SONG is the first step to learning THE TAB

Having something to listen to that's as close as possible to the tab you're learning is CRITICAL

If you can't say and play chords along with the recording you should practice until you can, BEFORE trying to learn the melody

If you can't hum the melody you shouldn't try to learn the tab until you can

I feel that too many students sit down with a page of tab, try to make a song out of it, become frustrated, and give up. This instrument is hard but it's not THAT HARD. You have to go about it right to avoid shooting yourself in the foot.

I've personally never felt the need to write the words on a sheet of tab, but if that helps, GO FOR IT.

(And, Ricky, you know I's just funnin' ya)


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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 11:16 am    
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I recall listening to Jeff Newman in concert one time when he stopped in the middle of a song, with a bewildered look on his face and apologized to the audience. He explained that he had to stop playing because he forgot the words to the song! Of course, everyone laughed since he was playing an instrumental version, but he was mentally tracking off the lyrics. I believe I do that too at some subliminal level (at least when there are lyrics. (No, Larry, it doesn't work for "Four Wheel Drive" )
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 11:37 am    
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Ricky, now I get it..

I'm a Hack player cuz' I'm a Hack singer !

man "that was easy"

and I don't even have the button from Staples...




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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite


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Ricky Davis


From:
Bertram, Texas USA
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 1:14 pm    
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Larry; I know your funnin' and that's way cool> and you do bring up a good point.
"Sing" to me also implies being able to hum/whistle...whatever; the song to yourself; and to me, really helps the person to learn it better and how it lays in there in time and phrasing.
I rarely sit down and practice my steel anymore(as I play gigs almost every night); but I do progress continuously; as imagery and singing parts to me is so important. I see my fretboard in my mind; and I sing parts I would like to play and I see it on my fretboard in my mind; and that just makes me more prepared when I get to the gig; to have that part worked out before I even attempt it.
Here's how I developed that in my own way and might could be useful by players that are really close to hearing what they see, before actually playing it and would like to progress their steel playing in a different way.
Sing a line to yourself while looking at your fretboard. See the string(s) that you think would make that exact sound/note/phrase....whatever.
Now sit down and see if you are right.
Practice that; try it often; and you will be surprised just how much you actually communicate musically with your steel; before you actually play it.
Have fun.
Ricky
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John McGann

 

From:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
Post  Posted 26 Jun 2006 1:33 pm    
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Ricky, that's the best advice for any instrument. The more we visualize as we hear sounds, the more accessable they become on our horn.

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http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...

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