| Author |
Topic: Who else sings and plays PSG? |
Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
|
Posted 28 Mar 2005 8:24 pm |
|
I went out to Jubitz the other night and heard my friend and our fellow forumite Mr. Larry Behm easily out-sing every other member of his band, more than once, while playing the steel AND singing, AND DOING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME IN TUNE! And ladies and gentlemens, let me tell you, he's got some pipes to him, too!
I was pretty amazed, he managed to play some real good fills around his own vocals and what a voice! Now on a good day I can sing, and on a really good day I can play, but trying to do both at once just kicks my sore spot no end!
I know that another of our local steelers, Mr. Harley James, does a pretty good job of singing and playing PSG at the same time, so I realize that this is not a fluke.
Just how any steelers can sing lead and play the pedal steel at the same time, what sort of problems do players have to deal with and how do they do it?
I'm mystified.
------------------
 Dave Grafe - email: dg@pdxaudio.com
Production
Pickin', etc.
1978 ShoBud Pro I E9, Randall Steel Man 500, 1960 Les Paul (SG) Deluxe, 1963 Precision Bass, 1954 Gibson LGO, 1897 Washburn Hawaiian Steel Conversion
|
|
|
|
Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
|
Posted 28 Mar 2005 10:50 pm
|
|
| Me. I get to sing the fifth interval harmonies. It ain't easy. I couldn't believe it could be done until I saw Tommy Hannum do it with Ricky Van Shelton years ago. He told me to back off on the steel and really use your ears. I'm a firm believer that playing steel forces you to intonate your voice much more precisely than someone playing a freted instrument or no instrument at all. I didn't want to do it but had to because the bass player was to lazy to learn harmony theory and ear train himself. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 28 March 2005 at 10:50 PM.] |
|
|
|
Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 12:00 am
|
|
Right off hand I can think of Hal Higgins and Joe Wright. Both do an excellent job of it.
------------------
Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com
|
|
|
|
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 4:26 am
|
|
Its one of those things you just decide you are going to do, and then you go do it. IF you can sing, and IF you can play steel,you CAN do both at the same time.
It takes some effort to be certain, but if I can do it so can anyone else. I sang lead and played steel for years,then about 5 or 6 years ago,when I was forced to go back to playing rock music on the 6 string,[country is DEAD around here], I noticed I had a VERY tough time singing and playing steel again.. just not used to doing it any more.
I'll bet I could if I decided to work at it,like I did years ago, but there is little need to unless I get a gig where I actually PLAY my pedal steel. The point I am trying to make is this.. Its really not that hard to do once you get used to it. You have to WANT to do it,work at it, and you WILL develop the knack.... bob |
|
|
|
Bill Cook
From:
Montgomery, Alabama, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 4:27 am
|
|
| Saw Chuck Back do it at the Texas Show. Sang and played well. |
|
|
|
Tom Stolaski
From:
Huntsville, AL, USA
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 5:38 am
|
|
| The hard part is singing into the mic with your head up, while your eyes are trying to look down at the fret markers. Playing fills around your own singing is tough. Some songs are easier than others. |
|
|
|
Jimmy Gibson
From:
Cornwall, England
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 5:45 am
|
|
I have been singing and playing steel at the same time for over 30 years,i don`t regard myself as a clever guy,but i can still do it and i am old age pensioner,what im trying to say is if you can play steel and also sing then with pratice it can IMHO be very possible.You just have to be abble to think ahead on the backup and fills you are going to play,What a wonderfull way to talk to all the great forum members,i have learned so much.Thanks.
JG EXCEL D10 PV SESSION 400LTD AND OTHER ODDS AND SODS[This message was edited by Jimmy Gibson on 29 March 2005 at 05:49 AM.] |
|
|
|
Bob Blair
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 5:56 am
|
|
| I've always done it. I do think it tends to make you a bit cautious about what you try to do on the steel - you have to make sure that whatever you choose to play in terms of fills is something you can handle while you are also thinking about mic proximity and about your singing. I found it easier to sing harmony than lead. |
|
|
|
John Swain
From:
Winchester, Va
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 8:04 am
|
|
| I sing lead on half dozen songs whenever I play out with bands. It's sometimes hard to play all the fills you'd want while your singing,but really the audience is more interested in your singing..jS |
|
|
|
Drew Howard
From:
48854
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 8:47 am
|
|
Vocal: "Craaaaaaazy Aaaarms that reach to hold somebody new"
Steel: Sproink doink
Vocal: "For my yearning heart keeps saying yer not mine"
Steel: Dum dum doo dee dummmmmmm
Etc., etc.
------------------
Drew Howard - website - Fessy D-10 8/8, Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3
|
|
|
|
James Lutz
From:
Wisconsin
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 9:13 am
|
|
| Say Drew, which knee lever do you use to get the doink sound? I can get what my darling wife refers to as the "deedle-de-deet" sound out of the third pedal...and the effect of it is sweetened if I invoke some holy yodeling simultane....sy mul tane ee.....at the same time. [This message was edited by Jim Lutz on 29 March 2005 at 09:14 AM.] |
|
|
|
Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 10:10 am
|
|
| Ahhh Drew, thanks for starting my day out with a good laugh, that IS just what it seems like whenever I try to do it....dg |
|
|
|
Drew Howard
From:
48854
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 11:38 am
|
|
Jim,
Close! But "sproink doink" refers to the A pedal. "Dum dum doo dee dummmmmmm" refers to a B pedal lick.
living in the past,
Drew
------------------
Drew Howard - website - Fessy D-10 8/8, Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3
|
|
|
|
Ken Thompson
From:
Great Falls, Montana, USA
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 11:39 am
|
|
| I do the very same thing Drew. I recognized the "doink". Sing harmony on most all the songs, usually the 5th. Sing lead on a few. I let the lead play when I am singing except for a few riffs and then I play my normal leads. I'm just much more talented than the rest of the band.....just kidding! |
|
|
|
Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 11:48 am
|
|
| I just installed a special new "wee-oink" lever in mine. |
|
|
|
Tim Harr
From:
Dunlap, Illinois
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 12:24 pm
|
|
| Dean Dobbins does a heck of a job at it! |
|
|
|
Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 12:58 pm
|
|
Bill Nauman?
Great singer and steel player.
Where is he these days???
Been a long time ,,no hear.
Roy |
|
|
|
Rick Johnson
From:
Wheelwright, Ky USA
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 1:01 pm
|
|
Mike Sigler is a good singer, I heard
him sing at the Lexington, Ky show
last Fall. Russ Hick backed him up
on steel.
------------------
Rick Johnson
|
|
|
|
Klaus Caprani
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 1:48 pm
|
|
"Doink" is what I associate with SLIPPING on the A pedal 
------------------
Klaus Caprani
MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
|
|
|
|
Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 1:55 pm
|
|
| I've been singing alot with the Derailers since Tony left over a year ago. I love singing. Frankly, if every steel player would practice while singing, it will teach you not to play over the vocals. |
|
|
|
Gene H. Brown
From:
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 4:29 pm
|
|
Well, I have now for about forty years I guess and I have a new CD out with vocals, steel and dobro and it's doing well so far, I am also a composer, keeps me mighty busy these days. By the way Roy Thomson, Bill Nauman is in Pennsyvania and he used to play piano and sing in my group for about 5 years, great friend and artist.
Gene
------------------
If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
;)
|
|
|
|
Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
|
Posted 29 Mar 2005 4:48 pm
|
|
A "special" lick for Doink??
I all ways thought I invented that!! It comes natural to me whether I want it or not..
I do about 1/3 of the lead singing in our group, didn't have a choice in the matter. But I did have a head start, I sang and played lead guitar. Some songs are easyer than others tho, and a good head mic does wonders in being able to see your steel. It just doesn't help my singing any. lol...
Larry
------------------
Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
|
|
|
|
Dean Parks
From:
Sherman Oaks, California, USA
|
|
|
|
Bill Myrick
From:
Pea Ridge, Ar. (deceased)
|
Posted 30 Mar 2005 3:50 am
|
|
There's a man from our area that plays a smooth steel but has an even more impressive singing voice and style in my opinion and I am always happy to catch his set at the shows because of that talent.
I won't embarass him by giving his name but his initials are Ray Qualls. -- |
|
|
|
Arty Passes
From:
Austin, TX
|
Posted 30 Mar 2005 5:51 am
|
|
I sing most of the backup vocals with Kevin Fowler, and I agree with Chris - less filling while singing. That said, once I know the song pretty well, I can hold chords or fill in between lines, but I usually let the guitar and fiddle have it if I'm singing.....
Arty |
|
|
|
