The Steel Guitar Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3A0TFhKbZ0
nice solo

and Tommy gave that right bluesy feeling for other soloists:)

Do you think he made that up as he went? Or did he have a plan?

Tommy is great on this one too.

Bartender Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBE1f23LEg4

Thank you fellas.
Rick,
Paul Franklin is so kind and generous to have me sub for him with the Time Jumpers maybe 3 times a year. I really don't know any of the arrangements, as you can tell!
That's also the first time I'd heard "Six Pack to Go" performed in that fashion by Vince. So yes, I was wingin' it.

That was awesome. But, seeing as how Tommy is one of the best to ever sit down at a PSG, it's no wonder.

Of course we could tell: you were out of tune, off key, playing to the wrong beat, missing strings...I don't even think your shoes matched! I could barely listen to it the 16th time.

I recall reading a comment by Buddy Emmons that he didn't always have a plan, but always had a few stock runs to get him "out of a corner" as he described it. Of course just like in your rendition here I don't think anyone, even other steel players, would have known the difference. We only know when someone like me is gauche enough to ask.

So I'm curious (if you're still tuned into this thread) would you replicate that again or would you do something different next time? I sometimes find I rarely do the same song the same way from one gig to the next (that's because I find new mistakes all the time). And, if I may, how far ahead were you thinking--one note, three notes--do you even know or is it relatively subconscious for you at this point? Once you started did you know where you wanted to end up, or did you get there by thinking it thru, note by note, until you got to the end of a bar? I'm always curious how professional steel players approach the neck and chose, on a split second notice, what to play next while improvising in a live setting.

Of course, there is no contractual obligation to entertain any of my questions, but I recall meeting you in the Mullen room last year in St. Louis when they were working on my D lever (turns out I had the ball end of a broke string jammed in the changer, and we didn't technically meet because we weren't introduced, but you stood close enough I thought I might pick up some talent by mere proximity...didn't happen) and you seemed like such a genuinely nice guy.

Hi again Rick,
I do remember you and your guitar with it's snafu! That had all of us scratching our heads for a minute.
After listening to the Time Jumpers Vid, It seems to me, I really had no plan on how my solo would go. I think one idea just led to the next. More intuition than calculation. Also, knowing Vince as I think I do, I try to stay in context and perimeters of what I think he and the band might deem tasteful and worthy, my gosh, they're used to hearing Paul Franklin!
Richard,
That's a mighty nice compliment. Thank you!

Rick Myrland wrote:...would you replicate that again or would you do something different next time? ...

Woody Guthrie once said that he never sang the same song the same way twice, and I think most people are like that. If you improvise, some great combinations come out that you could never replicate.

I enjoyed that video, particularly because of the improvisation.

Alan,
I agree, it's better now knowing he was making it up as he went.

Tommy, You are such a humble player there in Nashville..... But out here on the west coast, your are just badass! Thank you from all of us west coast players.....

Tommy is just WOW...WOW...WOW...

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.