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Post new topic Timeless advice from 1937
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Author Topic:  Timeless advice from 1937
Matt Johnson

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2006 8:56 am    
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It's inspiring to read advice from old books. A lot of the ideas apply themselves today just as much (or even more so) than when they were written! These are from "Gibson System for Hawaiian Guitar" lesson books I found recently in an antique shop.
http://home.earthlink.net/~msjd123/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/gibsonsystem2.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~msjd123/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/gibsonsystem1.jpg

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Larry Phleger

 

From:
DuBois, PA
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2006 9:11 am    
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What tuning was that instructional material written for?
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2006 9:26 am    
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It looks like it was written for the old open A tuning:

1. E
2. C#
3. A
4. E
5. A
6. E

Good advice regardless of what tuning you use.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

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Gerald Ross


From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2006 9:43 am    
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I want to go to an "Italian" party were "everyone is happy".

Italian forumites... Is this true?

------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'



CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 25 July 2006 at 10:44 AM.]

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Bill Creller

 

From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2006 9:48 am    
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I was taught from the Gibson "mastertone system" in the forties. The stuff looked like thirties pictures etc. "A major" course was used, like Oahu tunings for beginners, but Gibson course was notes as opposed to "number" system.
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Gary Anwyl

 

From:
Palo Alto, CA
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2006 10:51 am    
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A minor correction, it was written for the High A tuning: AC#EAC#E, low to high.

For example, the A7 in the 4th measure of the "Wiki Wiki March" is played with strings 2 through 6 open and the 1st string fretted at the 3rd fret.

The "Gibson System for Hawaiian Guitar" series did have some pretty good stuff. Here's an example where it talks about harmonizing notes in a dom7 chord: http://www.planetgaa.com/HawGuitMethod/Gibson138.jpg

[This message was edited by Gary Anwyl on 25 July 2006 at 12:18 PM.]

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Matt Johnson

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2006 11:10 am    
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The book this came from was book 2 in a series of 3. Book one used A major. Book 2 used "high bass" A tuning.

[This message was edited by Matt Johnson on 25 July 2006 at 12:11 PM.]

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Larry Phleger

 

From:
DuBois, PA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2006 6:41 am    
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Question for Brad. Why was that tuning so popular back then.? There are 3 Fifths, and only 2 tonic notes in this 6 string tuning. It appears to me that that making that middle fifth a sixth was a quantum leap forward.
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Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2006 7:13 am    
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That's the tuning I started with in 1963 ( A C# E x 2). (From the Leeds book). It was somewhat "easier" for me than the E tuning I tried later (from the Mel Bay book).
Then came 10 strings and the world changed...

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 26 July 2006 at 09:56 AM.]

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Gary Anwyl

 

From:
Palo Alto, CA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2006 4:58 pm    
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For those of you looking for inspiration, here's some more wisdom from the Gibson lesson book: http://www.planetgaa.com/HawGuitMethod/Gibson0.jpg

These books are interesting on so many different levels.

Matt, do you have books 1 through 3? I only have book 3. I was under the impression that there was a 4th book, but I might be wrong.
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Matt Johnson

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2006 5:29 pm    
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Yes, I have books 1-3, and I'm pretty sure there is a 4th also (though I've never seen it). There's a lot of good stuff in 'em! Songs, techniques, words of wisdom, etc. I'll keep an eye out for books 1 and 2 for you.
Matt
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