Herb Steiner on Non-Pedal Steel

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 1 Apr 2012 7:55 am

Herb Steiner is back in the saddle and will be playing a NON-PEDAL set at the Austin Steel Guitar Co-op Jam on Sunday, April 8 at 2 p.m. at the 290 West Bar & Grill, Austin, TX.

John Allison is building some beautiful 8-string console steels and will bring some of them to the jam on April 8 so you can try them out.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 1 Apr 2012 8:17 am

Sounds great......wish I could be beamed out for this......

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 1 Apr 2012 8:25 am

Will he be reinventing the wheel on this gig?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 1 Apr 2012 9:38 am

Good to see you'll be back in the saddle already, Herb.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 1 Apr 2012 10:06 am

Yes, it's great to hear that Herb is back to picking again!

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 2 Apr 2012 2:27 pm

There's rumor of a new non-pedal course from the Herbster.... amazing what a broken foot can inspire...!

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 2 Apr 2012 2:47 pm

Let's hope the rumour actually results in a course on STEEL GUITAR by Herb.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 3 Apr 2012 6:48 pm

Way back a long time ago Herb was the one who convinced me I could get along without pedals if I so desired - so I figure right about now he'll be crankin out his usual high quality pickin whatever kind of ax he plays.

John Allison · Post by **John Allison** » 4 Apr 2012 5:17 am

I was just asking to Herb yesterday about progress on the course. It sounds like he's getting close to having having a finished product. He's including some great songs that should give a good range of soloing and chordal possibilities and he's tabbing out solos as well as melodies. I've heard some of the stuff he's doing and (of course)it sounds great.

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 4 Apr 2012 5:49 am

I am very happy to know Herb is creating this Educational Instruction, his contributions to the teaching aspect have been noted for decades.

Please put Mr.Boards on the sale list.

Best Regards.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 4 Apr 2012 6:37 am

John Allison wrote:... He's including some great songs that should give a good range of soloing and chordal possibilities and he's tabbing out solos as well as melodies. I've heard some of the stuff he's doing and (of course)it sounds great.

John A. came by when I was rehearsing for a non-pedal gig the other day and was ripping out some improv in a musical reverie, so he must have misunderstood me when he asked about the course I'm working on. In this course I'll be playing and tabbing out the heads, or melodies, to these songs, but not full-blown multi-chorus solo arrangements or improvisations.

These tunes I've chosen are swing standards that are more harmonically complex than 1-4-5 tunes like Panhandle Rag, Steel Guitar Rag, and the like. So the instruction will demonstrate positions on the fretboard for more advanced progressions like 1-6-2-5, 1-4-4m-6-2-5, some augmented and diminished lines/riffs, etc.

The level of skill required will remain on the experienced beginner to intermediate level of player, and the tunes will be played on, and tabbed out for, an 8-string guitar using this tuning:

(low to high) A C E G A C E D.

The guitar I'll be using is an S-8 Allison console with two Rio Grande pickups in Stringmaster configuration.

There may be some changes/additions, but right now the tentative list is:
I'm An Old Cowhand (D)
Rosetta (C)
I'll See You In My Dreams (F)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Eb)
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (C)
All of Me (A)
Honeysuckle Rose (F)
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (G)

I'm still in production mode, but when the material is finally available, everyone will be made aware.

John Limbach · Post by **John Limbach** » 4 Apr 2012 8:23 am

Can hardly wait!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 4 Apr 2012 8:40 am

I'll apologize for my pun in advance.......

looks like you'll be a "shoe in" for next year's non pedal sessions.......

John Allison · Post by **John Allison** » 4 Apr 2012 9:38 am

My mistake, then. I thought I heard Herb say he was getting ready to record the solos, but he must have said melodies. No matter...it'll be a great course. I guess if you want help with solos, you'll have to arrange some private lessons (maybe it's time for Herb to start doing the Skype thing!)

And, his set at the Austin Steel Guitar get-together this Sunday will be one not to miss. Maybe someone will have a way to record some video and be able to share with the forum community.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 4 Apr 2012 10:32 am

John Allison wrote:...
And, his set at the Austin Steel Guitar get-together this Sunday will be one not to miss. Maybe someone will have a way to record some video and be able to share with the forum community.

I hereby volunteer to do so if it won't offend (perhaps Herb has plans to market his own videos?!). Very much looking forward to next Sunday!

Eric Ebner · Post by **Eric Ebner** » 4 Apr 2012 10:58 am

I plan on being there as well:-) Rose... I hear you're an Austin resident now? Is this true? Austin is just that much more musical if it is.

See you on the strings,
Eric Ebner
Austin, Texas

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 4 Apr 2012 12:23 pm

GREAT list of tunes!
you gonna do the Sonny Rollins version of 'Cowhand

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 4 Apr 2012 1:05 pm

Good news! In addition to Charlie Irwin and Karen Biller, my lead accompanist will be the swinging and impeccable Floyd Domino on piano!

Austin has an embarassment of musical riches, really.

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 4 Apr 2012 1:27 pm

Can't wait to hear this swinging combo!

@Eric Ebner--Yes, I'm here in Austin now. Glad you are coming to the steel jam--bring some of your excellent Tribotone bars!! I love my "Reece" model! Perfect for 8 and 10 strings!

John Allison · Post by **John Allison** » 4 Apr 2012 4:46 pm

Herb Steiner wrote:Good news! In addition to Charlie Irwin and Karen Biller, my lead accompanist will be the swinging and impeccable Floyd Domino on piano!

Austin has an embarassment of musical riches, really.

It just keeps getting better!

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 7 Apr 2012 11:04 pm

2 p.m. - Herb Steiner (steel), Floyd Domino (piano), Charlie Irwin (bass), Karen Biller (drums). This is gonna be good! Jamming afterwards with Charlie and Karen holding down the rhythm section. Sunday, April 8, 290 West Bar & Grill, Austin, TX. Let's go!!

Eric Ebner · Post by **Eric Ebner** » 8 Apr 2012 5:08 pm

What a fantastic show and only 15 minutes from my house:-) Herb Steiner's set on the Allison non-pedal was beyond words! Musical riches on full display by all. This was a high quality show. Thank you Ken Metcalf for being the progenitor of these events (Ken holds the keys to the Austin Steel Guitar Coop). I can't express how much I enjoyed the music. Great people all around. We are so lucky to be in Austin (welcome Rose!). Hopefully some images or video will get posted in this thread. Hat's off to all the musicians;-) I can't say enough... just wonderful.

Eric Ebner

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 8 Apr 2012 6:04 pm

Thanks for the comps and everything, Eric! Always great to see you.

Yes, I had a wonderful time. The secret whatever success in performing I may have is being the weakest musician on the bandstand. Floyd Domino, who's been my friend for going-on 40 years and has graced my albums with his music, was once again superb. Karen Biller, another monster with whom I've known, worked, and recorded with for 16 years, held the beat rock steady and contributed some wonderful drum solos. And Charlie Irwin on bass is simply another of Austin's premier rhythm section constituents. Talented and educated players all.

Since the show was video'd, there's prob'ly gonna be some YouTube stuff happening on it. We'll see.

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 8 Apr 2012 6:14 pm

Herb kicked ass -- period.

John Allison · Post by **John Allison** » 8 Apr 2012 7:29 pm

It's always a treat to hear Herb play and he definitely had a worthy and talented crew with him today.

The Steel Guitar Forum