The Art Of Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Stacy Phillips - opinion?

[Paul Seager]

Hi, somewhat chronologically backward in my development, I am currently researching the early styles of Hawaiian guitar players, particularly Sam Ku West and Sol Hoopii.

Many years ago, when I started on steel, I bought the Bob Brozman video course on this style and found it too advanced. I returned to it recently and yes its useful but somehow not for me.

I am considering ordering "The Art Of Hawaiian Steel Guitar" books from Stacy Phillips but I'd like to hear experiences of using these books and their value, what I am likely to get out of the investment (considering the EURO price and postage will add about 50% to the $ list price)?

The description reads: "This book is an excellent study of the history and unique musical stylings of the Hawaiian Guitar." So is that statement fairly accurate?

\ paul

[Glenn Wilde]

Its a great, easy to use book imo, well worth the money.
I've had volume one for a long time, so long that it came with a cassette tape!
I need to re-visit it actually, maybe order vol 2. Its centered around high bass G tuning iirc.

[Veit Doehler]

It seemms that you can order the book from German or European Distributors. Saves the hilarious postage.

[Paul Seager]

It seemms that you can order the book from German or European Distributors. Saves the hilarious postage.

Yes, I've just found the books on "alle-noten", which are priced correctly (but take 3-4 weeks to deliver) but that is better than Amazon Germany which seemed to thing €141 was the price for book 1!

But still it is the opinions of the books that I am looking for.

[Francisco Castillo]

HI.
i know it's not what you asked, but how about Jerry Byrd's course?

The course covers from early Open E tuning, A, B11th, C6th and a quick view in others, all by the Master himself.

i'm into it for the second time, and can't seem to stop.
it clearly explains how evolved early tunings, and why...


PS, i live in Easter Island and pay high postages too, it's incredible.... i know what you're talking about. something as simple as a book is an investment.

[Paul Seager]

i know it's not what you asked, but how about Jerry Byrd's course?

Thanks Francisco. I have often thought about Byrd's course but I know it is a lot of material to work through. (Actually I didn't know it was still in available!)

But my focus is clear - it is the style and techniques used by the players who brought Hawaiian music to America.

Thanks again

\ paul

[Jack Hanson]

I have the two Phillips Hawaiian books and his original Dobro book as well. I learned a lot from each or them. Highly recommended.

[Brian Rung]

Are the Phillips Hawaiian books dobro/resonator or lap steel?

[David Matzenik]

The Hawaiian books are primarily transcriptions from the acoustic guitar era, but there are a couple electric guitar pieces at the end of volume 2.

[Miles Lang]

I've got the Stacy Phillips book volume 1 open in my lap (no pun intended) as I type this.

The much of this book seems to be in dobro high G (GBDGBD), which works great on acoustic steels, although Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe use the same tuning on her Rick panda electric steel.

Following page 75, the books deals with other tunings such as open D (DADF#AD), B minor (GBDF#BD), Bm7 (F#ADF#BD), G6 (GBDEGB), Low G/Taropatch (DGDGBD). From pages 120-149, they don't tell you what tuning the transcription is in. The book is in TAB only, no standard notation with which to figure the tuning out.

There's a lot of history and information in this book, but if I wanted to learn C6 electric steel, this would not be the place to start. I'd recommend books by Andy Volk or Doug Beaumier for that. You'll probably know more of the tunes, unless you have a deep knowledge of traditional Hawaiian tunes.

[Paul Seager]

Thanks David & Miles. Your comments are of great help. Transcriptions of Acoustic lap steel era tunes is what I am after and I found a local online dealer with prices only a little higher than US list so I clicked the "buy" button for both books!

It's a pity they are tab-only. I'm a lousy sight reader but I find tab on its own often more confusing. But apparently there are links to audio examples which are helpful.

Thanks again

\paul

[David Matzenik]

Stacy Phillips was a multi-instrumentalist, and prolific writer of course books for a number of instruments. I have used his fiddle, dobro, and Hawaiian steel books. His work is extremely accurate and easy to follow, and in my view, some of the the best available. He had a talent for teaching.

[Glenn Wilde]

Thanks David & Miles. Your comments are of great help. Transcriptions of Acoustic lap steel era tunes is what I am after and I found a local online dealer with prices only a little higher than US list so I clicked the "buy" button for both books!

It's a pity they are tab-only. I'm a lousy sight reader but I find tab on its own often more confusing. But apparently there are links to audio examples which are helpful.

Thanks again

\paul

Have fun with it, i have. Vol 1 has a CD or tape (mine did). It is very easy to learn from for me and that says alot.

[Mark Helm]

You can sometimes find a copy on eBay or Jerrys 1st and 2nd books (that's where I got both of mine). But they're basically for guys who read music pretty well (although I did glean a lot even with my rudimentary reading). There's some good stuff on palm blocking and bar technique.