Pedal steel in place of keyboard

[Ian Rae]

There are various sections I could have posted this in, but this one's the winner.

In my current band, which does a lot of soul type stuff, I often find myself occupying territory which would normally be inhabited by a Fender Rhodes. The steel has even more sustain obviously, and it can unexpectedly bend the odd note too!

I now record all our rehearsals so we can appraise ourselves. Here's an excerpt illustrating the above.

https://soundcloud.com/user-917146569/j ... WcJAFiIYv1

16-channel Tascam interface
Steel, guitar and bass all direct, 6 mics on the kit
Mixed in Reaper

[Bill Hatcher]

Sounds more like an organ to me. I would think of a B3 rather than a Rhodes. Get a good Leslie simulator. Cool sound.

[Andrew Frost]

I like that approach to comping, Ian. Your tone and voicings really suit the style.
A rotary simulator would indeed work well here!

[Ian Rae]

I can achieve a more out-and-out rotary sound, but the hybrid of chorusey piano with organ sustain does suit a lot of our music. It is telling that the rest of the band have passed no comment - if they didn't like it they would tell me!

When we do some reggae I'll post an example of the Hammondish noise I make.

[Fred Treece]

What you’re doing there fits the song perfectly, to my ears. The part fits your sound very well.
What a joy it must be to play over a rhythm section like that, especially the bass player.

[David Mitchell]

I like it better than an organ or electric piano. It has that Hammond organ bark but can bend notes within chords which a conventional organ/piano cannot do. Cool sound. Go with it.