The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi David, I always watch your videos and enjoy them a lot. Your technique is outstanding as well as your tone, intonation and execution. Also, the material you cover is well suited for your style of playing most of the time. But for my money there's something missing.
Some call it "street", Some refer to it as an edge. Some say "funk". Billy Wilson calls it stank. One might call it soul maybe. I've heard Paul Franklin and other musicians talk about creating tension. Whatever.
I love Buddy Emmons' playing mostly because I always hear an undercurrent of blues in almost everything he does and he's always very soulful in his execution. A friend of mine said once, "If the music isn't sexy I don't like it". I think I know what he meant. Another time I heard a woman say the same thing.
Anyway, I don't mean to say you should be another Emmons but he's just the best of many good examples of guys who incorporate a lot of funkiness and surprises into whatever they play. Listeners love that.
I'd really like to hear you step outside of your comfort zone and get down a little. Get kinda trashy and sleazy and raunchy and stanky and bluesy and sexy and jazzy and rock out once in a while. You can do it.
Your biggest fan, Don

dontcha do it David. I'm your biggest fan and I like it just the way it is. Jack

Why tinker with success and great talent? Leave the trash and dropping down to us who are still trying to find it.

Keep up the good work Dave.

If i could play like David...i wouldn't change a thing cause he's one hell of a super good player and what he does it's exactly what people want to hear from a Steel Guitar, i think that some guys in this forum has a different view of how a Steel Guitar should sound and be played and how it fits in a song,in my opinion a Steel Guitar was never meant to play rhythm it is a lead instruments for intros,fills,solo ect...


David! i like your playing..you're super

Pat.

I'd really like to hear you step outside of your comfort zone and get down a little.

David's "comfort zone" is pretty wide, and I think he 'gets down' pretty good! I'm sure that he could play blues and rock as well as anyone out there if he chose to. He has the technique, that's for sure. I'm a little surprised that someone here would criticize David's playing. He's the best we've heard in a long time, and most of us here would love to have his tone and technique. I think what we have here is a clash of styles: i.e. jazz/funk/blues/rock vs. country. IMHO David should continue doing exactly what he's doing.

Dave, I call it just great the way it is. Thanks for all your videos. Its a really good day when a new song comes up on the tube! Ken

I think if David changes his style it would be his choice and not an outside influence and for my sake I hope he just keeps on keepin' on,I love it. David and Mickey Adams are the two guys that keep me going and I listen to them both every chance I get.

I dont think theres any thing missing in Davids playin, Keep up the good work, I for one love it.Chet

I imagine David can get down "dirty" with the best of them, if he wanted to. I think Don has a right to request something he likes if David wants to do it. He's in no way critizing Davids playing. I have 46 of Davids videos download and I'd sure like to hear him crank that "fuzz" on and play "Ode to Billie Joe". And Don, you ain't Davids biggest fan, I am!

David, please don't make any changes. I love your style, intonation, and feeling that you put into each song. You play GREAT classic country the way it ought to be played, and you do it ALL of the time.

Donny

First off I want to say I wish I had the knowledge that David has. BUT.........

I have a taste for styles that I will never be able to duplicate.......With that said....

He sounds way too "WHITE" ... No soul there !!

Don't want to piss others off, but my ear is
better than my right or left hand

Larry Scott wrote:First off I want to say I wish I had the knowledge that David has. BUT.........

I have a taste for styles that I will never be able to duplicate.......With that said....

He sounds way too "WHITE" ... No soul there !!

Don't want to piss others off, but my ear is
better than my right or left hand

How can you judge someones playing style if you only heard him on videos, i'm sure he can play almost anything, you'd be surprise if you'd hear him play live.

It's all in the ear that hears I guess. To say that David needs more soul or funk or whatever sounds to me like so many sour grapes.If one listens with an unbiased ear, one hears that all those ingredients sought by the author really are there if one cares to really listen. To draw parallels to one of the undisputed masters is also a bit of a stretch, because why would you want to sound like Emmons' style? There is only one Emmons, same as there is only one Green. As well, there is only one Hartley. The Hartley style is so very recognizable. Therefor, I believe that David has carved out a niche for himself that is right near the top of the heap.
Let's not tinker with a good thing. Let the man do his job.

He sounds way too "WHITE" ... No soul there !!

In other words... "too COUNTRY"? Not enough blues/rock? This seems to be more about what genre of music we like to hear and play.

To say that David needs more soul or funk or whatever sounds to me like so many sour grapes.

Touche'

If it aint broke...

David........ If I had the money to cross the pond, I sure would just so I could get some lessons from a master. I love the way you play, soooooo "Leave it Alone"

Doug Beaumier wrote:

He sounds way too "WHITE" ... No soul there !!

In other words... "too COUNTRY"? Not enough blues/rock? This seems to be more about what genre of music we like to hear and play.

To say that David needs more soul or funk or whatever sounds to me like so many sour grapes.

Touche'

ONE DAY YOU WILL GET IT....

Jack Mattison wrote:David........ If I had the money to cross the pond, I sure would just so I could get some lessons from a master. I love the way you play, soooooo "Leave it Alone"

David, my wife and I will be visiting England some day in the near future. Be prepared, I would love to look you up and possibly take a few lessons from you.
At the very least go and listen to Amarillo..That would be way more interesting than an audience with the Queen

Whoooooooooooooo !!! I see nothing frindly in this.
This is the best joke I've heard all year. Somebody telling David what he needs to change about his playing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,wow thats funny.
Thanks for sharing with us David
Wayne

This is the best joke I've heard all year. Somebody telling David what he needs to change about his playing...

Yes, it's amazing...

David,
And why the hell aren't you playing your steel while riding one of these, you're really letting the side down, man

Well David, you shoulda known better cause now the bros wants more of this & more of that
i dig you the way you are but heck, get loose as a goose, do the funky chicken & get down on it!

Don I agree with you, a lot of players reach that point where they feel safe and most confident in what they are playing. I beleive thats setteling or selling yourself short. Stepping outside the box forces you to think faster and to utilize the gift of improvisation. It can be as simple as playing a few less notes or mabye one more note. I don't beleive in playing a song or a lick the same way twice, it looses feeling and color and at that point becomes boaring and is usually inturperated just that way. All of us need to take the time to relax and let our hair down now and than. That keeps it fun and the music very real.

I believe that no matter what you do or how good you do it some one is going to pan it. I don't understand what you mean by too white or not funky enough. If you want to hear funk listen to a funk player. Should he let his technique deteriorate a little so it's not so clean and perfect? I hate this because I'm sure that he will worry about it and it may hurt his playing. I hope not.