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Topic: "Here's that rainy day" |
Guy Cundell
From:
More idle ramblings from South Australia
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Posted 19 Dec 2008 1:54 pm |
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http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WNalEeDhCjc
Here is a clip I recorded a couple of days ago with my teaching colleagues. I would value criticism from any of the many experts on this forum. I have been working on steel for almost two years now being turned on to it by some recordings of Joachim Murphy solos which were on Herb Steiner's site. With Andy Volk's book in hand I have been working with the Murphy C6/A9 tuning.
I can see from the video that I seem to have the bar pretty well buried in the palm of my hand. It looks like it requires excessive wrist movement to get the slants. Any comments? Good intonation is difficult in any case on this instrument but I think I might be making it even harder for myself.
The clip was an experiment with a new camera. The bass response from the camera mic isn't good but it deteriorated even further when it was bounced into Youtube. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2008 1:59 pm
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| Your doing pretty good there Guy. That is a great tune. Only thing I would consider if I were you is to speed up the tempo just a bit. On slow ballads like "Rainy Day" there is a tendency to have a lot of space at the end of phrases that you have to fill and do something in or the tune starts to bog down. That is just something to consider. You and your friends make a nice group there. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 19 Dec 2008 3:26 pm
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I thought the tempo suited this great old favorite. You did a neat job considering the fact you have no pedals to obtain some of those interesting chords. My only suggestion, (not a critism), is the manner in which you hold your bar, and also the 'effort' of slanting, both reverse and forward. Try to obtain a left hand technic rather than an arm and wrist motion. It will create a smoother sound for you. You certainly have a great ear for the hummungus chords in that song! Group did well, the drummer had a nice touch.  |
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Guy Cundell
From:
More idle ramblings from South Australia
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Posted 22 Dec 2008 9:38 pm
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Thanks for the feedback, fellas. Bill, I think you are right about the spaces. I was playing it safe and trying not to throw too many clams in there. The pauses are a little uncomfortable at that tempo which may also have caused the extra vibrato. Didn't someone on this board describe it as "shaking the poodle" or something. That really fast vibrato doesn't sound so good.
I can see that you are right about the bar, George. I am twisting my whole shoulder at times. Looking at Bobbe Seymour playing non pedal, it seems as if it is mostly fingers used for the slant. If I can improve this I think it will benefit not only intonation but also speed up the slants to get a bit more smoothness.
thanks again and merry Christmas. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 22 Dec 2008 10:11 pm
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| Yes Guy, your left arm should never extend outwards. Slants are controlled by the fingers and thumb of your left hand. One only has to observe Billy Robinson...a real master at slanting ! |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 22 Dec 2008 10:33 pm
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In addition to what has been stated about holding the bar, I would suggest that you develop a wider oscillation of the bar vs shaking the bar.
You might experiment with oscillating the bar more slowly and then increasing to a faster oscillation of the bar to see what sound you prefer.
Two methods of developing oscillation or tremolo are rolling the bar with a back and forth movement (As many country western artist do) or a back and forth movement of the of the hand at the wrist, but no movement of the arm, sort of like waving the hand back and forth (as many Hawaiian steel players do).
Most of your tone will come from developing your oscillation of the bar. IMHO
Happy picking,
Don |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 22 Dec 2008 11:43 pm
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Your on the right track, Guy. What stands out most to me is your slant technique.
My suggestion is... slant the Bar only, not your hand... do not twist your hand at the wrist. When you do a slant, your left hand should stay in it's normal playing position. Slant the bar Within your hand. As George said "Slants are controlled by the fingers and thumb of your left hand". The thumb pushes the back of the bar, and fingers 1 and 2 control the tip of the bar. That makes for a more fluid slant and it looks a lot less painful and awkward. Keep at it, nice playing!
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Dean Gray
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 12:55 am
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Nice work Guy!
You sounded great, and you have been given some really good advice here already.
I just wanted to say how lucky you are to have such a supportive/sympathetic group to play with! They played their roles perfectly, and helped create the foundation for you to do your thing!
Well done, and congratulations on having the nerve to post something up here. I must get around to that myself one day....
Take the advice regarding slanting on board, it makes it much easier. And DEFINITELY check out Billy Robinson's playing, as Mr Lake suggested. I just got myself 3 of his CD's for Christmas, he is the master of slants!
_________________
If it’s on the ground it can’t fall down. |
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Guy Cundell
From:
More idle ramblings from South Australia
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 3:29 am
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Thank you everyone. This has been a very rewarding exercise, or it will be if I can put the advice into practice. It is pretty remarkable that this process can occur when you think about it. Not only have I been assisted but I am sure that there are other members who may have benefited by thinking about some of the issues raised here.
I'll have some questions abut blocking for another day. Thanks again |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 4:42 am edit
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edit
Last edited by George Piburn on 21 Jun 2012 7:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 24 Dec 2008 2:32 pm
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youtube clip ---> CLICK
If you cannot bring this up...scroll down to the ESTRELITA (FORUM POST down THIS PAGE from Doug Beaumier) being played by JERRY when he was much younger. Too bad the digital counter interferes with his bar technic. However, you will see enough to understand exactly what I was endeavouring to convey re: left hand control of the bar. His arm always remains in place, never lifts it outwards as many are prone to do when playing slants. A picture of Jerry is worth a thousand lessons !  |
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