Fast playing vs. slow and pretty, what say you?

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 27 Nov 2004 10:06 am

If you have nothing to say, the speed with which you do it matters not.

Of course, the same applies to "slow" playing as well. Or to any kind of playing. Assuming that a player DOES have something musical to say, relentlessly emphasizing how great it is to play "slow", and that "fast" playing is not important, works contrary to the necessity of raising the exposure/profile of the steel. You can not play popular forms of music such as rock, blues, jazz, or whatever without playing "fast", that is to say, without having playing chops that are significantly more advanced than those required to play "Together Again" or "Mansion On A Hill". On the other hand, if the future of the steel in ONLY in country music, then I agree that it is perfectly possible to get by with only "slow playing ability, and do quite well with that.

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Jeff's Jazz

Post by **b0b** » 27 Nov 2004 10:07 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>sdvgibnmwg-092rtu23rn2kvngrggkg-94g9j4
MVpbk9rgmerebafbpodbmvbfbebbbpqmekbie
us,mehe*#^gk,"/?SK#kdobmwe[okbebbeb\er <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I loved the way he used the shift key on the third line. So subtle, so sublime!

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 27 Nov 2004 10:26 am

Fast or slow to me are all the same -- the important thing is that a note -- or notes -- have space and the ability to breathe.[This message was edited by Susan Alcorn on 27 November 2004 at 10:31 AM.]

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 27 Nov 2004 10:50 am

Hey Bill!
If you can't play FAST, and you can't play SLOW, you must play Half-Fast....
...ahem...
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
-andy-

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 27 Nov 2004 11:09 am

Don't you think that.....sometimes...a pedal steel can just play a fast scale/lick in the middle of a (fast) solo, for no particular reason, ...without adding anything "to say" at that moment...and it can still sound good?! (just because it's a pedal steel playing a hot lick!)

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 27 Nov 2004 11:20 am

I have to agree with dan. If you're not saying anything with your playing and it doesn't have any soul, it will not move people whether its fast or slow. Taste rules. Listen to Dr. Seymour's live version of "Precious Jewel". To me the epitome of taste, soul and tone. I don't care if its fast or slow.

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 27 Nov 2004 11:46 am

Hey Bobbe.Burn the socks off the lead player?Doesn't sound as if you have ever worked in a band where the band leader (and the one who paid youY was the lead guitar player.Tracy

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 27 Nov 2004 12:07 pm

Hey Bobbe, great pickin! would you be so kind and tell us mediocors, how you got the fiddle sound on the video "Bobbe Seymore and Gene O neal Live" ? I really enjoyed that video. I bet your gonna say, buy my secrets video and find out right?

Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd
steelin for my Lord

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 27 Nov 2004 12:51 pm

I happened to be listening to Mike Perlowin's "Firebird Suite" CD, and I couldn't help thinking that this was not the sort of question Stravinsky or Debussy were thinking about when they wrote that music. Go on and play as slow as you want! I hope your cat likes it.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 27 Nov 2004 9:13 pm

Tracy, no, lead players won't hire me,

Terry, I got the fiddle sound with the Boss Tone and heavy echo. The way I did so many sessions in the '70's, I stole Stu Basore and Weldons idea and fine tuned, and honed it and made a great living, a good trick, until the synthesizers came out, killed my dominance of the effect. I had to go back to sounding like a steel! More fun, but put a great big dent in my income.

bobbe

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 28 Nov 2004 1:06 am

Dan Tyack said:
"I have come to understand that music is about communication. And if you are just regurgitating somebody else's licks, you might as well just not say anything at all."
Dan, that hits the nail on the head![This message was edited by Bob Watson on 28 November 2004 at 01:15 AM.][This message was edited by Bob Watson on 28 November 2004 at 01:15 AM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 28 Nov 2004 4:19 am

well..

thinking about this some more since Bobbe raised the point( a good one too..) I'm of the opinion that you gotta do both..at some point in time..

in a bandstand situation at some point in time ya gotta play some licks..they don't need to be burnin' like Bobbe or Doug or Buddy or Loyd or Paul etc..but something more than crying AB pedal licks should show up now and then..especially if you are playing with a couple of hot players ,that being a Tele or Fiddle. In my case I play with a very inspiring young Tele dude who at this point in his young life knows he has a gift but doesn't realize his potential yet..so where does that leave me ? good question..

Matt burns on most of the up meter tunes, so when they look at me a say take it..should I burn or fizzle ? ..usually it's fizzle..

but there's hope..

I can play some stuff at meter and sort of get by but thats not what I want to do so I went on a quest..Who better than Loyd on some of the tunes we are all so familiar with..

I went back in time to listen to how Loyd approached some of these "at meter" tunes way back a few decades ago..very hot stuff but not out of the realm of possible..

When I do execute at meter with the band they do turn and look at me and comment that this is the stuff that make Steel Guitars so incredible..and I agree..

I am grateful Bobbe brought this subject to the forefront and for all the insight added by all above..

We live in several worlds on the Steel and this Instrument can do it all..now that being said..a capable player can bring this puppy home for sure...

Me, I'm just a hack workin' on havin' fun..and playing in tune..

Point is..if the band is gonna play Highway 40 Blues, ya gotta play Highway 40 Blues like Bruce..theres no way around it...it's not copying licks..it's playing the song..no different than playing the full melody line of CRAZY..we should play the song..if jamming is appropriate then jam..but at some point the song needs to be played whether it's at METER or a CRYBABY..

happy Sunday

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 28 November 2004 at 02:58 PM.]

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 28 Nov 2004 5:42 am

Bobbie be honest with me, is that you on the fast section. If you told me it was Doug J or Mike J or Terry C that would be OK. If you recorded it at half speed and then doubled the final mix that is OK too.

OK let's say it is really you up to speed, HOW DAMN CLEAN AND FAST ARE YOU. You knocked me out. Give some one another pen and have them tab it as you play it, the steel community needs to have access to that break.

Larry Behm

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 28 Nov 2004 12:40 pm

There are all kinds of licks:
1. scale sequences or theory oriented licks
2. cliche licks which are associated with either the instrument or a particular player
3. licks that are associated with a particular song.

Of course an accomplished player would want to utilize each of these types of licks in his/her playing, but hopefully without sacrificing they're individuality.
Bobbe's version of OBS sounds great and although it utilizes various types of licks, it still has his trademark stamped on it. As far as speed picking vs. melodic playing goes, OBS is all about speed playing, but I am sure that there are some steel players out there who could create an interesting solo that catches the audiences attention without using as many notes.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 28 Nov 2004 1:36 pm

Yes, but is it ET or JI? (Oops, wrong thread.)

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 28 Nov 2004 2:29 pm

Bobbe, In a previous comment they talked about a video with you and Gene O"Neal. I did not know one existed. It is still available and if so where and how much? That is just what I need so my wife and kids can see two more steel players. They know who Buddy Emmons, Hal Rugg, Herby Wallace, Jeff Newman, Lloyd Green, Tommy White and Joe Wright are. I am bringing mine up with a heavy dose of pedal steel guitar. Oh yeah, they get to hear me as well. I hope that does not turn them away from such beautiful music.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 28 Nov 2004 2:39 pm

Thanks Bobbe for sharin that with us.

Paul, that's a great video. Bobbe and Gene do some fantastic stuff! You won't be disappointed if ya get it.
Terry

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Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd
steelin for my Lord

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 28 Nov 2004 3:46 pm

I did a sound gig for Johnny Paycheck in the
80's and Bobbe was playing steel. When he did
the fiddle sound I fell out of my chair. The
best imitation I have ever heard.