The Steel Guitar Forum

Yeah but boy is it ever ugly if you don't tune straight up.

>>>Ralph Mooney didn't have that lever. I'm not sure how it got to be associated with his style of playing.

Ralph Mooney had the G# to A changes on separate pedals. For the intro to Bottle Let Me Down (for example), he'd raise the low G# a half tone with one pedal, and LOWER the high G# a half tone with another pedal to get the 7th. So on a standard E9th tuning, you have to raise the F# a half tone to get the same note. That's why people associate it with Mooney's sound.

I don't have that change so I just fake it by sliding up a half step. Who's going to know the difference?

Also, I have a 3 & 3 setup. With 7th chord sounds in at least four other positions, I don't see that you necessarily need to have a 7th chord in the pedals down position too.

Bo Legg wrote:The Newbie is supposed to have all those pedals and levers so he can play Jeff Newman’s tablature but from previous posts I was lead to believe he shouldn't use the tablature (paint by numbers) to learn how to play.
So if he is not allowed to use Newman's tab he won't know the difference and b0b's 3&3 will work fine. All the intervals are there and that was what I was lead to believe he should learn instead of tab.
But if he wants to have a double cluster F... wrapped around both legs and spend most of the night tuning call me an idiot and have at it. I'm happy for him.


Disclaimer: Stuart and I are Paul Franklin Fans. The view is just not the same at our level as it is at Paul’s level. But that should leave a lot of open space for interesting debate.

Bo,

I realize this is just flame bait......There is no contradiction......Because I know how the professionals story ends, I would prefer my beginning students start out reading music to gain some theory knowledge, instead of tab, but I can only suggest and advise as a teacher.......Since I don't have the time to teach beginners, I am on record saying that I believe Newman's courses (who teaches through tablature) are the best place to start if you are a complete beginner because of his methodical approach to the instrument.

There is not much difference between my view and yours.....I teach methods that will lead players into the pro level, musically..I traveled a path that was cleared by many others before me and I own a good map....

One thing I am 100% convinced on, "Teachers should not teach past their musical level."

The great thing about Newman's method was his goal. Which was to teach them how to play and to become a professional player realizing that most will get off that train early on.

Paul

When we speak of level we are referring to the quality of the persons music and his or her circle of musicians not the degree of musical knowledge.
I've never equated ability to knowledge nor equated a good player to a good teacher.
I'm sorry that some may interpret our passion for the defense of tab as Flame Baiting.

Nice thread here. It's always interesting to read what other guys are thinking when it comes to copedants.

Well I’m amused that raising the E’s to an F would be akin to finding the Holy Grail.
The PSG is simplistic and mechanically primitive. Nothing you add to the levers and pedals is going to be earth shaking or fly over any ones head.
I think you would more likely increase your star status and income if you added a comedy routine instead of another lever.
However that’s just my advise and if too many of you took it folks would think I know a little something and I don’t know if I could deal with the loss of my Insignificants.