The Steel Guitar Forum

I am close to finished with this arrangement, just one more final D section to add on. Takes a lot of negotiations to find ways to play some of the parts. I hope it sounds fun because it sure is! Difficult, yes, but fun.

https://youtu.be/-ClR80t15Ak

Update: Here is a link to the completed demo of the arrangement:
https://soundcloud.com/mdneer/maple-lea ... -mike-neer

Tuba, marching band drums and cymbalom!

I did not think that was possible. Goddam!

Amazing Mike. Some “bar gymnastics” on display.

Keith.

Better each time I hear a new update. You have a vision for tunes and you're able to realize what you hear in your head. I admire and envy that quality, Mike. What fun music to hear on steel and what a technical bear yet you keep up the spirit of the music!

That's superb! Can't wait to hear the rest of what you've got planned.

I really am amazed, Mike! Can't wait to hear more.

Great effort there Mike. Look forward to the final rendition.

Wow.....some stellar playing there. Thanks for the listen.

Andy Volk wrote:Better each time I hear a new update. You have a vision for tunes and you're able to realize what you hear in your head. I admire and envy that quality, Mike. What fun music to hear on steel and what a technical bear yet you keep up the spirit of the music!

Andy, I’ve always been a very good listener, but now I am listening more internally. Another thing is, most of my life I have just been an improviser, not really interested in playing pieces and more likely to play head/solos/head type music. But things are changing for me and I’m wanting to explore more compositions and arrange them in ways that uses the steel guitar without losing the character of the piece. I also want to tackle some classical music but I am very selective. It’s not enough to simply play the music, it’s has to be enhanced by the steel guitar in some way.

In a piece like this where there are 4 different sections, you run into varying degrees of difficulty making things work. For the first two sections, I achieved what I wanted with the addition of a trombone-esque line. However, getting to the “trio” section as they called it in ragtime, it was really challenging and that little chordal turnaround that I play took me a whole day to figure out how to play and 3 days to get it down. I love the way everything unfolds during the process.

This time I am going to do things right by charting out the bass part. I am learning how to read scores now in a deeper way, which has always been a goal of mine. These piano scores have so much in them. I think pianists are the most amazing musicians to do what they do.

Very cool, Mike!

Just dang! I swear you must a a pedal somewhere we can't see!

BTW, what is your tuning on the Clinesmith?

Mike Neer wrote:However, getting to the “trio” section as they called it in ragtime, it was really challenging and that little chordal turnaround that I play took me a whole day to figure out how to play and 3 days to get it down. I love the way everything unfolds during the process.

It may have taken you three days to learn a turnaround, but it took you a lifetimes to meet that challenge. Your articulation makes it musical. Congratulations.

I recognize the ragtime/stride roots of Monk's music in this piece.

Finally finished the arrangement and this is what it sounds like:
https://soundcloud.com/mdneer/maple-lea ... -mike-neer

Wow, Mike. Kudos!

That is the bomb! Well done!

When is Joplin's The Entertainer coming ?

That was primo Mike! I felt like a was marching along in a New Orleans jazz band. I don't think I have ever heard all the parts. Really amazing arrangement, thanks for letting us see a bit of the creative process! That's why I love this forum.

Tim Toberer wrote:That was primo Mike! I felt like a was marching along in a New Orleans jazz band. I don't think I have ever heard all the parts. Really amazing arrangement, thanks for letting us see a bit of the creative process! That's why I love this forum.

Thanks for listening and commenting. The process is never really complete because now I am listening to it more critically and trying to decide on the approach to tone that I think would be best. Right now, the way I played it and the tone of it is more in the direction of a Danny Gatton kind of thing because I'm just hearing it like that. But now I'm wondering if it stands up to prolonged listening. Might try to channel something else.