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Topic: "An emotional instrument" |
Mike Shefrin
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Posted 14 Aug 2006 7:14 am |
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I ran into my friend and fellow jazz guitarist Gene Bertroncini the other day.
We live in the same neighborhood and are always running into each other. He asked
me what I was up to musically , and I told him that I was spending alot more time playing the pedal steel than the guitar.
He was surprised and said "Oh I didn't know
you played pedal steel" and then he paused and said "That can be a very emotional instrument". It sounded somewhat funny to me at first but later upon reflection I realized he was right. The steel is
an emotional instrument. |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 14 Aug 2006 7:46 am
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| The steel is an emotional instrument. |
A profound conclusion Mike!
The versatility of the instrument is such that the musical output must certainly depend greatly upon the emotions of the player.
There are too many examples of this diversity among the members of the SGF to believe otherwise.
------------------
www.genejones.com
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Leroy Riggs
From:
Looney Tunes, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Aug 2006 7:55 am
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People from the audience have told me that they don't like my instrument because "it's too sad to listen to".
I presume it is the steel sound and not my skill level.  |
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Mike Shefrin
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Posted 14 Aug 2006 9:35 am
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| Absolutely Gene. I agree. I think that when any instrument for that matter is in the hands of a good player it can be emotional. There is something special about the steel though what with it's ability to get that "crying" sound(for lack of a better word).The steel is unquestionably diverse. A good steel player can break your heart on one song, and then on the next make you feel happy and get up and start dancing. All great music is like that. |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 14 Aug 2006 12:42 pm
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If you want to learn and/or hear how to put emotion into a steel guitar, listen to Billy Cooper doing his thing.
Many years ago, I met and jammed with a fellow by the name of Dizzy Gillespi and, his interpretation of the steel guitar was a bit different from anything I have heard before.
"Some day, someone is going to take the coveralls off that thing and show the world what emotion from an instrument really sounds like."
Now hearing this from one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of the day, says much about the steel guitar and its sound.[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 14 August 2006 at 01:43 PM.] |
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Mark Lind-Hanson
From:
Menlo Park, California, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2006 12:59 pm
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| And maybe, some about the people grown so used to seeing it in coveralls they'll say "nice, but, whar the hick is its darned britches?" |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 14 Aug 2006 6:21 pm
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| Quote: |
| "That can be a very emotional instrument". |
Yep, that's why I'm on this train, pure and simple.  |
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Shane Reilly
From:
Melbourne, Australia
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Posted 15 Aug 2006 4:36 am
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Wow Les! Jammin' with Diz!I for one would love to hear some more of that story.Sounds like dizzy could hear something untapped in the instrument.It has a vocal quality, the voice being the first instrument(least mechanics between heart and note) and all the great horn players emulated a vocal style.C'mon, tell us about the long lost "Dizzy Gillespie and 20 Strings" album.
Cheers Shane. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 15 Aug 2006 5:09 am
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"Once More, with Feeling"...
Jimmy Day demonstrated it with the Steel & Strings LP from 1961?
Chord Patterns & voicings that can make you feel happy & cheerful, delighted, excited...
Chord Patterns & voicings that can make you feel empathetic, melancholy, sad.
Chord patterns that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Chord patterns & voicings that practically speak words...
If you already have something to be sad about, the steel can definitely exaggerate the emotion. (i.e. Buddy Emmons on Ray Price's "Last Letter").
It can also lift you out of the funk and make life a happier more cheerful place. (TB with his version of "Bud's Bounce").
In the wrong hands (mine for example) the steel can also be used to chase birds from a barn
[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 15 August 2006 at 06:21 AM.] |
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Shane Reilly
From:
Melbourne, Australia
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Posted 15 Aug 2006 6:07 am
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| Amen Ray.If only the PSG could fetch the paper from the front lawn it could be mans best friend.Ha. |
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Mark Edwards
From:
Weatherford,Texas, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2006 7:22 am
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Mike I whole heartedly agree, I've only been playing PSG for a couple of years, and these first few years have been about learning, by trial and error. Then one day, I was attempting to learn an old Ray Price Intro that is played in the upper registry on the neck, and evidently I hit it on target, I mean everything came together, and as I pushed down on my volume pedal and hit it note for note, a chill came over me, and the hairs on my neck stood on end, and for the first time I felt that emotion, that I had never felt on my acoustic guitar or any other insturment, and I heard that loan, emotional moan that comes out in music.
What an experience, and I told myself then and there, if I could get that out of everything I played, what a player I would be. Of course when it comes to the more lively songs such as buds bounce, there is a different kind of emotion that goes on there, and I try my best to hit it at the approprate times. But yes, true, true, true it is an emotional insturment. Thank you for posting. |
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Mike Shefrin
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Posted 15 Aug 2006 8:15 am
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| My pleasure, Mark. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 15 Aug 2006 9:08 am
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I think a single note on steel guitar can be almost as expressive as the human voice.
That, for me, is its unique quality.
RR |
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