The Steel Guitar Forum

David Doggett Quote



From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Posted 10 Jan 2007 12:41 pm

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Herbie, "An Ounce Of Theory, And a Pound Of Practice " is not bad advice at all. I guess I'm arguing only for maybe 2 or 3 ounces of theory to help out that pound of practice. The ones who don't even have that 1 ounce could really benefit from it, especially if it is the right ounce. I read music on piano and sax, but have just never found the time to learn much of it on guitar and steel. The theory that really helps on every instrument is the scales, chords, and harmony stuff

DAVID
I think you pegged me with the above reply, Thanks

Quote, The theory that really helps on every instrument is the scales , chords, and harmony stuff,
without realizing what I was doing, I had learned just that, and believe I have been using that formula, since I picked up my first instrument, I never tried an instrument, that was in tune, that I could not pick out a tune, in tempo, after messing with the instrument a few minutes, !! Leave out the reed instruments !! I was never able to play any of them,

I don't know if that ability was inheirited, I know I could not keep my hands off any instrument in my reach, I do not remember, ever not being able to play the Fiddle. but the Guitar, and Steel , has always been my favorite,
I could hear the Scales, Chords, and Harmony, so I just played every thing by ear,

Herbie

DAVID DON
I think the other Dave, just opened up my
Mind Set, a bit,

Herbie - I'm with you on the "ounce of theory, pound of practice" idea. The point of most theories is to explain something in the real world, it doesn't matter whether you're a scientist or a musician. I know people who make a practice of just developing theories - I have done it myself. But I usually find it more satisfying to study something, have the light go on in my head - and voila - I understand why something practical works the way it does, when it was totally foggy before. To me, that's a very practical aspect of learning. I agree there's a tradeoff - it's possible to spend too much time focusing on theory and not enough on "practice" - the application to something practical. But I think certain theoretical and intellectual ideas are critical. The basics of notes and intervals, key and time signatures, basic ideas about melody and harmony, that type of thing.

Don't get me wrong - there have been lots of brilliant musicians who didn't know much theory at all. Guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Tal Farlow come to mind. But I have read interviews with many musicians like this, and when discussing this issue, they usually said something like - "I wish I had learned more theory and how to read music. I don't recommend taking my approach."

One difficulty is that theory-oriented and technical people often have an arcane but precise language to describe things. They may seem to be just sticking their noses up in the air, but there are often good reasons they need to be so precise - in my experience, anyway. Everyday conversational language is often ambiguous. To really get something nailed down, it's sometimes necessary to invent a language to describe it clearly and unambiguously. Sure - this is sometimes overdone, to the point that some theorists get so specialized and arcane that only "their type" of theorists can understand what they're talking about. But I think there are lots of resources available now that put basic music theory in clear nuts and bolts terms. A really interesting music theory site www.musictheory.net came up on this thread yesterday:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 33&start=0

I think it looks like a good resource for someone working alone. It's all flash-video based, and includes "Lessons", as well as flash-card-like "Trainer" flash-videos to drill the basic ideas.

Thanks to another DAVE MUDGETT
I will be checking those pages out

Herbie

Here is the URL to a web page , of a studio experiment I was asked to include My PSG , Just to demonstrait what a Studio can do with mixing different instruments, and processing all through sound effects, and stuff I don't understand,
Anyhow, I did get listed in the credits, although hard to pick out the PSG, my instructions were, " Just pick in tune, and Tempo and we will handle the rest " There is a Ricks Review, if you scroll to bottom of page,
and in upper left corner, you can click on ( Play All Songs)
I posted the Url way back in this Topic, so here it is again for those who missed it, The review pretty much covers all

http://cdbaby.com/cd/randallcousins

Enjoy, The Trip,

Herbie

Bump Still Flying


Herbie

FREE , ALL Downloads from this page if you want and can use them
19 Instrumentals, Most are, Old Style STeel Guitar Tunes

Glad to share, Recorded Here in my Den, nothing to sell

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemus ... dID=261574

Herbie

Back again , Check the URL to my Free Stream, Or Download Page in last reply
Those Steel Guitar Instrumentals on Sound Click, URL are Free for the taking, hoping you will find some old parts you can use
I don't need them any more.

Enjoy
Herbie

When you are considering a post on the Forum: Remember that the bulk of the folks who read it are regular everday pickers. We can all learn something from the least or the best. I am always glad to jam or visit with other pickers and swap our thoughts on the steel guitar.
If I have a pet peeve about the Forum it is the folks who decide that ( Fill in the blank ) is the greatest picker who ever lived. then proceed to compare their favorite to who ever.
There are pickers out there we never heard of and some can sit in with the best. I guess the thing to remember is we were not great at the beginning and some of us will never be great. But, if you quit learning then you are dead in the water.
The fun part is learning and then playing. If you never play or try something new then you are not moving ahead.
When I attend some jams I hear the same songs over again. sometimes three players play the same song.
So don't be intimadated by who you think may read your post.
It might be me and you may give me some info I need.

Old Bud

WILLIS
Well said, I have some Steel players, I consider really good in their own style, and I like any, and all Steel players, that jump in there and play, and I do not judge them by their fast picking abilitys, Leave that to the Lead Guitars, we are all different, and each will develope their own style, playing with Bands, I was never able to copy any Steel players tunes note for note, without tossing in my own chords, and notes from the top of my head, so I quit trying to play the old standard learning tunes on the PSG, Lap Top Steel is a bit easier to copy, from a Classic Hit Song, also the smooth easy going PSG Steel sound that backs up the Vocal, or Band,

Herbie

THANKS and WELCOME , To all you Forumite, Bro's/Sisters
who streamed and downloaded from my !! free page !!
In the hundreds, makes me feel like ,somebody,
Also hope you find some of the simple stuff you can use,
GO FOR IT, Still say, The Steel ain't that hard to learn,
and you can surely improve on the stuff I put in here.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemus ... dID=261574

Herbie

HERE IS ANOTHER, ( FREE STREAM AND DOWNLOAD PAGE)

Clipped Songs from our archived Live Radio Shows, These 14 songs by Kids, all unrehearsed, purposfully , trying to imitate the old Family Radio Shows and music styles of country Radio years ago, nothing fancy, with Kids of today, plenty of Steel , Lead Guitar, Piano,Fiddle, Bass,etc. etc.
Feel Free to download, stream and use as you please.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemus ... dID=220955

Herbie

Hi Herbie
I listened to your songs.
I wish I knew how to post the music like you do.But. I do not hear scales ,or any thing like it.If you used just part of a scale ,when you played a song,it would fill in the gaps between the chords.I guess everyone has there own style.
Without copying anyone,pro or not, the instrument is one of the tuffest to make music on ,that there is.
Your ideas are your's.Being good does not mean ,playing like a pro,or coping one.They are only playing the real way the steel
is designed to be played.Listening to them, trying a little of
what they do.
So. Actually I hate to see anyone run down, how easy the pedal steel is to play.I have never heard anyone tell me the steel is not quite difficult to learn and play.
Studying on the steel for around twenty years,teaching for about ten,It is a darn hard instrument to play.
But,I wish you well, and when you talk like that I still wish you well.
Bill Mayville

Hey BILL
Thinks for the reply, you are right about the scales. I got into a rut trying to back up rockabilly bands when I moved back to Arkansas, a few years ago. I don't remember playing much of that on The West Coast
There was no PSG's when I started playing gigs on the West Coast, around San Jose, Pee Wee Whitewing and I were playing Lap steels,( Pee wee was playing,) I was trying,
We know the PSG evolved from the Lap Steel.

I do think a student should start on a six string Lap Steel, tuned in E maj. learn a couple old classic Lap Steel Hits, note for note, ( The Steel Guitar Rag) being my best bet,

Then switch to the PSG E 9th tuning, He will then understand how the PSG evolved, and how much easier the tunes are to play, On PSG, after He understands the basics of where the PSG came from.

I also got in a rut, just backing up the Vocalist, and Band, Always had a good Lead Guitar Man, to work with, that helped,
also made me lazy , knew he would pull me out of a corner,

Herbie

OK Bill ,or anyone, Been putting off asking ,another dumb question,
What is "Chops?" I did'nt want to show my ignorance, and thought I would finally catch on to the meaning,
I have played Steel for 50 plus years, and mostly isolated from the new Steelers, and never heard this expression until I started reading the Forum posts, All I know was learned on the Band Stands, and listening to the Radio.

Herbie

Herbie,
To me, saying a person has good chops is to say this person plays well.

Larry

THANKS LARRY, enjoy your pickin history very much

AND BILL ,, Here is the URL where you can upload unlimited amount of Tunes, Songs, Videos, (Free ) and easy to set up your own page, and do what ever you want with it,

http://www.soundclick.com/

Herbie