The Steel Guitar Forum

Other than good ole Paul Neihaus with Calexico, does anyone else play steel in the genre, and is it done traditionally? Seems to me the two sounds are a natural fit. CH

I've had the same thought, because one of the great things about steel is that it allows you think a little bit like a horn section - all those great inversions available... But having some experience south of the border, I would guess that the tradtion involved in mariachi would pretty much shun anything electric or really modern.

Hey Nathan,
I live in Austin too, guess I need to up date my thingy. CH

Maybe not strictly Mariachi, but I've been called upon to play Mexican trumpet parts quite a few times, my first time being on "Ring Of Fire". Some years back, I used to play fairly often with a band in Terlingua, Texas (right on the Rio Grande) that played several Mexican songs and I played the horn parts, sometimes on dobro; again when I was with Gary P. Nunn on several Mexico-flavored songs he performs; and now, living in Spain, I often find myself the designated horn section on certain traditional Spanish songs.

So I guess that could be described as a semi-regular basis, anyway.

------------------
___________________
GFI S-12 extended E9

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Emmett Roch on 14 July 2003 at 03:36 PM.]</p></FONT>

el Senor Emmett toquar muy bueno
suave y caliente
Benga Benga

That's awesome, Emmett. It's the style I really want to learn. Do you usually play/harmonize the horn parts, or do you ever try the violin parts? I've played "ring of fire" a bunch on steel, and those simple lines are such a joy to play. I might be in spain Novemberish with Preston School of Industry, no dates yet, though. CH

Thanks CB---I got the wife to translate your post for me and she told me you said something nice :b

Chris--I always like to play harmonies on horn parts, since most of the songs of this type that I usually play have multiple horns, seemingly most often two trumpets.

------------------
___________________
GFI S-12 extended E9

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Emmett Roch on 17 July 2003 at 07:29 PM.]</p></FONT>

Do any of you know what type of modal scales sound good in spanish type songs. I use to play Caravan on the 5 string and if played in the right key a Gmajor scale worked great. Its been so long ago, I don't remember what key! Its hell gettin old ain't it.

W, I too picked Caravan on the old five and as far as modal scales are concerned, don't sweat it. They are all under your hand, right next to a magnum of Phillips to assist the aging process. C YA at the ISGC!

Gary LeeeeeeeEeeeee