The Steel Guitar Forum

I was practicing slants the other day when I came up with that little study : http://youtu.be/8wK_QQi8Q3E

At first, I played it on two strings only but then, I realized that I could play it on three strings to have more complete chords.

I'm in C6, if I do a forward slant starting on the 5th string and fret 15, I have approximately a A7 (G, C#, E). Because I'm slanting, the C# is not exactly on the pitch if I slant correctly so I have to "cheat" each note so they all sound OK.

Do you have example of people "cheating" like this? Is this a big no-no?

JFC!, that video was pathetic, both painful to watch and listen to, a total exercise in what NOT to do. Whatever you're trying to do, cheating or not, can't be worse than that, unless that's your video. If so, STOP, and learn proper basics and fundamentals, and take that video down.

Right on RON ! Pathetic.

Wow... you guys are harsh! Dan is learning and is trying to improve. I've heard a lot worse playing than his.

Anyway... when slanting, swivel the bar within your hand. Do not grasp the bar and twist your wrist. Also... try using a round bar instead of the Stevens bar. If you do use the Stevens bar, don't keep your finger pressed into the slot when you slant. Just use the fingertip in the slot. The point is, don't twist your wrist when you slant. The hand should stay in the same basic position and the fingers (or thumb) swivel the bar within the hand. Keep at it, you'll get it!

Ron and George,

I think your unkind comments are uncalled for. This forum is a place for us all to learn , regardless of what stage we are at. Why not share some of your knowledge like Doug has done instead of condemning the attempts of a sincere learner? You disappoint me!

tbhenry wrote:Why not share some of your knowledge like Doug has done instead of condemning the attempts of a sincere learner? You disappoint me!

Like we're done?
The first and most important piece to share was to STOP, then get on the right track with the basics, like throw that bar away and get a bullet.
Meanwhile I had to flush my eyes and ears with DRAINO to recover from the video.
I've got a whole farmload off my website focusing on the first baby steps to impart to our newbie that I'll email and he can use to whatever degree he wishes. So disappoint down and don't assume too much from just one post, k?

Perhaps it would have been wiser to have initially referred Dan to your teaching website instead of condemning him first.

when slanting, swivel the bar within your hand. Do not grasp the bar and twist your wrist. Also... try using a round bar instead of the Stevens bar.

I try so hard not to and I know the bar is not appropriated, it's just isn't available around here. I'm still looking for the best steel bar and procrastinating on buying it.

I hate the bar I have because it's "falling" when slanting and it's hard to manipulate.

The point is, don't twist your wrist when you slant. The hand should stay in the same basic position and the fingers (or thumb) swivel the bar within the hand. Keep at it, you'll get it!

I tried... but it's so hard. When I saw the video, I realized how much of the wrong technique I have that I didn't realize that much when I'm playing.

I know it sounds horrible, I just wanted to know if it was possible to do it correctly... even hoping someone would post a video of the correct techniques... I see a lot of people that post video of great songs they play but that's just not the goal of this one.

I really appreciate your comment!

I think your unkind comments are uncalled for. This forum is a place for us all to learn , regardless of what stage we are at. Why not share some of your knowledge like Doug has done instead of condemning the attempts of a sincere learner? You disappoint me!

I saw some comments here in another post that were in the style of the first ones. That leaves me with sour taste, are we here to learn or to try to impress others?

This makes me sick. To misquote Woody Allen, I wouldn't want to join a club in which Ron is a member. Unconscionably rude, non-supportive arrogance.

Don, you've got to understand that something that bad can't be glossed over, and might not believe how often bad playing/technique is ignored or even applauded here. With all the varied info/tools available on the net and elsewhere it would seem virtually impossible not to learn proper technique and have whatever you need, but I guess anything is possible.
You really have to start over and forget what you've learned so far. Doing it all correctly is no harder than what you've already done, but good taste may be more difficult for some to acquire. Tone is one important point that many somehow are oblivious of.

And Donald, you know what they say about the door, right?

Dang!...seems like somebody living in Paradise shouldn't be that mean and cranky.

Did you wake up on the wrong side of the hammock on the beach?...Late for the luau?... Parrot pooped in your poi?...Too long since you got lei'd?...

It's okay to be the keeper of the flame, but do you have to keep it just incinerate the noobs?

Now where's the "shaka braddah" emoticon when you need it?...

i havent watched the video, i'm scared to....

but look - everyone that has attempted slants has to go through a painful phase, (still am actually). what i often see are players using natural reasoning / trial and error to figure out how to do it....seems so basic, you just twist the bar, right... - but guess what - someone has already figured it out to perfection and you dont need to reinvent the wheel here. maybe thats what Ron is referring to - ie the correct info is easily available, its no "pro secret".

Ron's site has some excellent tips and you need to realize that Jerry Byrd (& many other golden era steelers) figured this out many many years ago. years ago, slants were taught beginning on the 3-4th lesson as soon as the student could hold the bar - as they were so critical.

i would also concentrate on getting 2 slant notes first. 3 note slant chords are nice, but the deeper i get into steel, i realize that neither you nor the listener need to be force-fed 3 note chords, we can often "hear" the underlying harmony just fine.
i mainly use slant 3 note chords for dominant chords that only last a beat or 2, they are already dissonant so a little bit off doesnt effect the intonation. in other words, the ear quickly picks up a major triad slant as out where the dominant is passable.

Dan, email me your address and I will send you a nice Clayton bullet bar. I don't use it anymore as I have gone to 6 string steel and the Jerry Byrd Dunlop works for me. It looks like you are playing an 8 string so this bar will work for you.

Bill

Dan, follow Doug's advice above. Many of us, me especially, have been in the same boat. I guarantee I sounded much worse than your video not only when I started, but even after I'd been playing for a while. It is not easy to learn on your own.

Don't let the rude comments get in your head or stop you from posting. We were all beginners at one time--not all of us had the luxury of a teacher. Playing steel guitar well takes a lot of work. But the more work you put into learning and getting your technique together, the more rapid your advances will be.

i havent watched the video, i'm scared to....

Be scared... be really scared... that's the worst thing I ever heard

but guess what - someone has already figured it out to perfection and you dont need to reinvent the wheel here

I agree. I read somewhere that the worst thing to do is to "break" the wrist but even if I'm aware of it, I do it. That's what technique is about, practising... and it will be long before I get it.

i would also concentrate on getting 2 slant notes first. 3 note slant chords are nice, but the deeper i get into steel, i realize that neither you nor the listener need to be force-fed 3 note chords, we can often "hear" the underlying harmony just fine.

I don't think I would use 3 notes slant in a song with other musicians. As you say, the others will do the notes that I can't do. But, I'm often playing alone without backing tracks and I stumbled on the 3 notes slant and wondered if it was possible to make it sound good. That's what this thread was all about.

i mainly use slant 3 note chords for dominant chords that only last a beat or 2

Where can I find a video or a song or anything related to this? I'm just being curious...

email me your address and I will send you a nice Clayton bullet bar

I'm amazed of how much some people can be supportive of newbies. Thanks a lot, I will never be grateful enough for this!

I guarantee I sounded much worse than your video not only when I started, but even after I'd been playing for a while.

I would like to see that

Don't let the rude comments get in your head or stop you from posting.

I came that close to ask for a refund and leave this place but the positive comments made me change my mind.

Playing steel guitar well takes a lot of work. But the more work you put into learning and getting your technique together, the more rapid your advances will be.

I realize that I will have to have a computer near me when I'm playing. Because now, I read a lot but when I'm playing, I try to remember what I read. I avoided having a computer because I want to play, not procrastinating in front of a computer screen but there must be a good way of doing it.

Thanks everyone for the positive comments, I learned a lot out of them.

I don't feel my comments were rude, they were said to make the proper impact, just as I was taught. Facts and instruction don't always come with a pretty bow on them, and I appreciated the hard knocks I took because I recognized how right the words were. There's no room for BS when learning steel, get it right or do something else, and most pertinent, don't perpetuate bad playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLxIU8u2gko is probably one of the better videos for slants. Georgeboards has one too. The technique for forward slants with a bullet bar or a Stevens bar is the same. Reverse slants with most Stevens bars are a little different.
Carry your bar with you, when you have a moment in the day hold it in your hand, practice the slanting movements, get used to the feel of it in your hand. That sounds weird, but it works.
Teachers are hard to come by in Canada, so if you can find one ,in person or on Skype, that is the best investment. Skype isn't the same as being there but it has the advantage of being recordable.
Keep at it and you will do fine.

Just keep at it Dan and don't sweat it. Take Doug and Mikes advice. I actually think your video is pretty typical for a newb starting out on those slants- they are tough, but once you get the right technique down, things will come easier. You're actually making it tougher than it needs to be.

The bullet will help. There are a few folks who can make a stevens work for slants(Kayton Roberts)...but it's the last thing i'd recommend for someone starting out.

I use those same slants when I play C6th. They are hard to play in tune, but very effective when done properly. It's impressive that you figured them out.

Dan has asked that this topic be closed, so I'm closing it. Also, I suggest that people could be gentler and more constructive in their criticism. The written word is a cold, harsh medium. Imagine you are the other person, reading what you just wrote. It can sting.

Unfortunately the written word is unable to provide the same context that actual physical communication can provide. We have probably all written things that have been taken the wrong way - I'm certainly guilty of that.
However, Ron, the way you provided feedback would certainly be discouraging to a new player. Rather than just asking him to stop and take the video down, why not offer suggestions on how to play better? What positive feedback could you offer him?
Without having seen the video, your comments read to me as insulting and very negative.
I don't often comment on videos even by experienced players such as Kay Das (to name one). That doesn't mean I don't appreciate the effort it takes to put such videos out there.
Think before you post. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?