The Steel Guitar Forum

Would some one please explain what a DRONE track is.

Thanx for the speedy reply Billy.

If you want to create your own drone track download
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
Its free.
Menu at top > Generate > Analogue Oscillator
then when done go File > Export and choose your format
Voila.

If you want a ready to use drone E track (329.63 Hz) send me an email.
Available as FLAC, MP3 or WAV

For those who may be interested in a "full range" CD, you can get the one Richard Schwartz produced (which is the one I use) for less than $10 and download it online.

This is his site: http://raschwartz.wix.com/the-tuning-cd

or you can get it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tuning-C-D-A- ... B002COP51Q

Dickie, after listening to the CD, I will get the CD.
Forget my home made track.
It may be free but it is not the quality of the CD.

Hans, I hope you will be pleased with it. I've really used mine.

Hans, you might also consider fellow forumite Bob Hoffnar has a great drone CD. He's on the second page of this thread or http://www.bobhoffnar.net/

I'm still too green, I must admit.
Please explain.
At the very start of this thread Paul talks about using an E drone track to play along with.
In both the drone CDs just mentioned everything looks to me to be an A drone track.
What am I not understanding?

I can't speak for other CD's, but Bob's CD has a drone track for several major keys including E, a couple minor tracks and a couple min7 tracks. I'm happy with it.

Hans,
Mine is named "Long Tones and Chords for Ear Training by Bob Hoffnar"

Includes & is labeled as follows:

SINGLE NOTES: 1. E, 2. G, 3. A, 4. C, 5. D, 6. Bb, 7. B

CHORDS: 8. Amin7 9. Amaj7 10. Bmin7 11. B 12. Emin 13. E 14. G#min 15. G

Very useful tool, IMO... Seems I read somewhere that Mr Hoffnar added the Es to make it more useful with Mr Franklins exercises. Don't quote me on that though, might have dreamed it.

Before anybody thinks I'm trying to dis Bob, let me say the first CD I bought was Bob's. However, I wanted a variety of keys to play against and "The Tuning CD" answered the need. It has all 12 major keys, as well as minors, 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, and 7ths.

There are over 30 different entries on this CD worth looking at.

Again, I'm not disrespecting Bob in any way, shape, or form. Just offering a second opinion.

Hans, I apologize for any confusion I may have caused, I'm sure either CD will help you in your "intonation" studies. An "E" drone will help you play in tune with any song or practice in the key of "E" and/or related chords. Then playing against other drone notes in other keys adds the variety. Hope that makes sense.

I've been doing these exercises virtually every day since Paul Franklin so graciously presented them to us in 2010. It takes me less than 10 minutes per day, and it's almost always the first thing I play on the steel each day.

I believe they have really helped my playing, and they are well worth the minimal effort. They are a good way to get your fingers warmed up. These are exercises that every steel player should be doing.

I play the cycle first with palm blocking, and then with pick blocking. Also I play once through with each blocking technique picking ascending (string 8 then string 7), and then descending (string 7, then string . I start out slow and gradually increase the tempo on the metronome.

Re-read Paul Franklin's first couple paragraphs at the beginning of this post. Listen for intonation, no vibrato, keep the bar straight, and don't stop for mistakes. Great advice!!

Thanks again Mr. Franklin.

Bump for a great drill.

I will become proficient at blocking.
I will become proficient at blocking.
I will become proficient at blocking.
I will become proficient at blocking.

45 minutes of E drone made with DM1 drum machine combined with these eerie scales really drives me nuts. But I think I hit the notes better.

Now some quality time with Linda Ronstadt album.

Bump!

Anyone interested in doing a video of this exercise??

I'd like to know if I'm doing it correctly.

Clete posted a link to a video back on page 4....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU2lcEiOwSM

One thing you may note about the video I posted is that I am playing 8 then 7, not 7 then 8 as Paul describes in his initial post. There are many variations on this drill you can come up with on your own though. For instance, you can change the tongue twister so that the picking alternates 7-8, 8-7 etc. Or you can add another string and try 6-7-8. The important things to concentrate on here are tempo and pitch at any rate!

Missed that, thanks Jay and Clete.

Paul, I want to thank you. I have been playing for over years, it just goes to prove, one is never too old learn. Many, many, thanks.
Tommy Shown
SMFTBL

This is great stuff Paul shared over 5yrs ago, But Paul left the building Jan 31, 2010.

Not so Stuart....


http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Thanks for pointing that out I totally missed that. Really great stuff!

This needs to be back to the top! GREAT stuff!
Pat