The Steel Guitar Forum

Dave S., since you're already over in jolly old U.K., look up the folks at Diamond Bottlenecks and have them make you a hand-blown leaded crystal bar, 1" X 3.5". It'll come it at around 4.5 oz, unless you want it hollow - ask for Ian and tell him what you want (I prefer a 1.25" X 3.75" bar, but I'm pervy....) I think excessive bar weight is the main reason that Joaquin sounded like Joaquin, Speedy sounded like Speedy, and everybody else ever since sounds exactly alike.* http://www.diamondbottlenecks.com/p_ult.html

P.S. (Don't throw your glass bar at the concrete floor, duh)

*(JOKE, folks, that was a JOKE....)

P.S.S. (It helps to listen to Dave Easley and Debashish Bhattacharya so you know where the "bar" is set, so to speak - there are some Debashish clips over in "No Peddlers"): http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/010114.html
This is the slow, merciful stuff though.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by David Mason on 15 November 2006 at 02:19 AM.]</p></FONT>

I was listening to Lloyd Maines the other day on the Dixie Chicks album 'Fly.'
What is most impressive is his sound, filling the space not with notes but with tone.

But when it comes time for a pickup, I'd call it clean, not fast. He seems to eliminate a note here or there, making more from less.
You can tell that he can pick faster, but I'm satisfied when the result is clean and concise.

I'd love to be boring and overrated.

"Have you ever noticed that the people who talk the most about "taste" and "touch" and "soul" - most especially, so-oul - HAVEN'T GOT ANY FRIGGIN' CHOPS? "

On "regular" guitar I went though the speed-picking phase, and had chops galore. Then I learned control and taste, and realized the fast stff was for guitar players, not 99% of the audience. So I would call myself an exception to that "rule". I also think the "rule" itself is largely untrue, and that people who talk about soul and feel just "have it", regardless of speed.

I also think it is FAR harder to play well AND with feeling slowly than it is to play fast. Playing fast you can "get away" with all sorts of clams, slurs, and other screwups (I've watched a Joe Wright/Sara Jory tape with so many mistakes on fast tunes it makes me wonder why they even bother...but I guess some people, even at steel shows, either don't notice or don't care). Do that when playing slow and it stands out - "look at me, Mr. bad note!"

Regarding David's bar weight comment - I really agree with that one. Sneaky Pete's bar weighs a hair over a pound and is huge (1 1/8 - 1 1/4" tapered) and it has a direct affect on playing style. He had two bars in his career...I have one of them...and it makes a gigantic difference in your approach. Not slower - just different.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 15 November 2006 at 06:08 AM.]</p></FONT>

I think we are missing something here..

Playing fast requires two things..

the abilty to actually play faster
(speed pick)

and
actually knowing what to play fast...

although the two are related , at the same time they can be totally UN-related independent studies.

You can advance at one or the other, but to be proficient at the execution and delivery you must have spent extended seat time with both.

Someone above mentions the very famous HWY 40 and One Way Rider, both exceptionally fun phrases. I'll go on record as stating that neither are really all that difficult to play but BOTH are difficult to execute well if you have not spent the seat time necessary to execute. Both of those solo's are about the phrasing and execution, both use some very common forward rolls as Doug would term them..and pieces of the Rugg/Myrick excercise from years back, but the seat time to bring them home at meter is the key for success with each of them.

practice, knowing what it is you are practicing ...as well as practicing the right things are they key in my opinion.

As with anything, results come from consistent hard work...

Sometimes players come by my gigs and tell me I'm really getting this stuff down...

well I'm no better than they are, I just practice different things than they do ,over and over and over etc...

I practice stuff that really interests me...I have a goal...and I try to stay focused on that goal...until it's time to eat

t
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 15 November 2006 at 06:24 AM.]</p></FONT>