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Topic: a return to 8 strings (and Melobar) |
Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 9 Jan 2009 8:39 am |
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Working on steel guitar parts for my pal’s recording project has me returning to 8-string C6 (high G). For the past several years, my National D6 console has been my go-to guitar because, well, why wouldn’t it be? It was convenient to have an abbreviated C6 (bottom 2 strings chopped) and open G on one guitar, especially for gigs, and the National pickups sound great.
I started working on my friend’s tunes this week and reached for my Melobar 8-string instead of the National. I’m finding that I’ve been far too comfortable with open G, always playing what’s safe & easy. And I’ve also found that my general tendency is to concentrate on strings 1-4, especially when I’m playing the chopped C6, so I’m making a conscious effort to explore the lower strings and embrace the deeper-sounding triads. It’s a very different texture down there, it’s fuller and darker. Playing the full 8-string C6 has me thinking differently about what I’m doing and pushing me out of the patterns that have become obvious to me.
So I’m loving the Melobar again, getting reacquainted with an old friend. |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2009 12:57 pm
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I keep going back and forth between 6 and 8 myself. The problem I find with going to 8 strings is that for about every tune I want to change those other two strings. I'm thinking that I may have to just give in and buy a double 8 and have done with it. Some version or other of C6 on one neck. And some version of E9/13 on the other. The closest thing to one 8 string tuning that I might be able to stick with is the Murphey C6/A9.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 19 Jan 2009 1:21 pm
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Chris, I have always lived by the rule of .........."If you never push yourself and your comfort envelope, you will never progress even to your own satisfaction"................
In all my years of playing musical instruments, I will say that I can pretty much pick out long time musicians who rarely venture outside of their comfort zone. The first indication of this is their wanting to play most of their music in two or three keys or, sticking with the same arrangement year after year.
Always, always push that envelope and test your abilities to go where you thought it was too difficult to try in the past. |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 22 Jan 2009 9:16 am
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| Les Anderson wrote: |
Chris, I have always lived by the rule of .........."If you never push yourself and your comfort envelope, you will never progress even to your own satisfaction"................
In all my years of playing musical instruments, I will say that I can pretty much pick out long time musicians who rarely venture outside of their comfort zone. The first indication of this is their wanting to play most of their music in two or three keys or, sticking with the same arrangement year after year.
Always, always push that envelope and test your abilities to go where you thought it was too difficult to try in the past. |
Very true, 'tho I forget often. Actually, I often end up thanking the songwriters I work with for writing music that pushes me somewhere I haven't gone before. Not that they're intentional about it. It's just something that happens.
Another thing that happens is I tend to write parts that are just beyond my ability, which makes me have to work harder. But the pitfall there is not getting my act together in time for the session. If I can't get the part within a couple takes, I start feeling really guilty about how much of their studio time I'm taking. |
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