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Topic: An experiment with an unusal Lap Steel Guitar |
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 17 Apr 2008 2:00 am |
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An unusual Steel Guitar So Deep the Night
Can you say what it is ?
I did the sequence originally for my stage vocals, but I thought it an appropriate number for this "TEST" instrumental.
I sort of copied the arrangement from the Tony Christie version.(Although I never could manage the key he did it in.... 'Eb')
I'll get the pictures posted tomorrow. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 17 Apr 2008 12:35 pm
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| quite an orchestrated production. |
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 3:24 am
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Denny, thanks for the links to their performances? most enlightening, but I'm much too old..and RETIRED
Chris, yes it's quite orchestrated
As for the tune, I'm sure it WAS lifted from a classical piece, (based on Chopin's Tristesse) it was one of my forte's before my retirement that I could copy almost anything and write the score.. the backing is a midifile I made using Logic Audio and taken from Tony Christie's version.
There are around the world a group of midi programmers that specialize in writing (for GM midi devices) ACCURATE midifiles that duplicate the original performance. It has developed into an artform, not in anyway related to the average Backing-Trax that are churned out by the million on pre-programed keyboards.
It requires a deep knowledge of the protocol of GM (General Midi) and the correct implementation and positioning within the file. Trust me it's deep, there are specific positions for all the control information, think the fact that no two midi signals can occupy the same space in time on a single cable and you then have to know how far apart you can space them without data loss.
If you put this file into your sequencer and analyze the control data you'll see what I mean, or you can just click it an let the computer play it and see can you recognize the version..Quando |
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 7:01 am
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Yessir Baz, MIDI is a very enjoyable black hole that requires a phoenominal amount of in-depth knowledge and practice to get it beyond sounding like a computerized calliope. I really got into it around 1995 for about 5 years ...although more horizontal than vertical / depth ...laying down and layering compositions over canned auto-arrangers, and then going back and de-quantitizing the canned parts into real musical time; Saved them to disc and played single, duo and trio gigs with that canned "orchestra". But most of my MIDI interests was getting different instrument sounds out of a guitar and learning enough about those instruments voicing techniques to make it sound convincing; A good learning experience in itself. Programming backup did my Steel studies and practicing allot of good, ...easy to plop out simple backing tracks ...but certainly not production quality. I had a pretty strong passive interest / wonder to rig up a midi Steel ...as I found that string orchestration could get pretty convincing played on slide guitar; But the technical brain and equipment investment to push the technology completely beyond callipe just became more than I enjoyed anymore. Then like someone flipped a light switch off, I walked away from MIDI, booze and gigging bars all about the same time, kinda like getting spit out of a big black hole; And a simpler mind and life seems to have done me better since; I guess I just ran out of steam. I respect folks that can get MIDI right ...and can only imagine what tools must be available nowadays. I've seen guys mention on the forum that they were experimenting with Steel Guitar triggering MIDI ...but never heard any results. Might be interesting.
My previous posting was a bit of ribbing ...and a good place to insert The Linengrad Cowboys someone had just turned me onto.
Best of Luck and enjoyment.
_________________
Aloha,
Denny T~
http://www.dennysguitars.com/
Please help support humanity:
http://www.redcross.org/en/aboutus |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 7:40 am
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...so, back to the original question. What steel is being played ?  |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 8:06 am
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On the other thread I was trying to tease some info and find out if it indeed was done on an instrument with doubled strings. Baz left info that it was not "per se" a double coursed instrument. I was thinking of either a restrung 12 string guitar or one of the bass guitars that has doubled strings being used with the string raised off the board.
I really can't tell, but I like the sound of it. Very unique |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 9:05 am
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| Alan, post a couple of pictures and elucidate somewhat !! |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 9:14 am
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
Baz left info that it was not "per se" a double coursed instrument. |
Never mentioned the word double coursed..
what I said was "but not actually octave string groups per se." in answer to the question "Playing octave string groups, huh? "
we ARE down to semantics now, but it's still not been defined as to what it is !
16 is the clue.. |
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Nic du Toit
From:
Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 11:50 am
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Sounds like this one. Double coursed.
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 11:54 am
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| That's too obvious Nick,, but that guitar is absolutely great.. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 12:07 pm
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| basilh wrote: |
| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
Baz left info that it was not "per se" a double coursed instrument. |
Never mentioned the word double coursed..
what I said was "but not actually octave string groups per se." in answer to the question "Playing octave string groups, huh? "
we ARE down to semantics now, but it's still not been defined as to what it is !
16 is the clue.. |
I equated "doubled coursed" as the same as an octave string group. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 18 Apr 2008 2:10 pm
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| basilh wrote: |
| Alan, post a couple of pictures and elucidate somewhat !! |
Okay, as some of you realised, it's a lap steel with octave courses. I custom-built it for Basil and took it over to him last month.
For more photos and an explanation of construction see this...
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=132431&highlight= |
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Nic du Toit
From:
Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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Posted 19 Apr 2008 1:01 am
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Great stuff!
Baz, what exactly did you do when you "processed" the backing track? |
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Craig Stenseth
From:
Naperville, Illinois, USA
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Apr 2008 7:30 am
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| Great work Alan! I'm somewhat nonplussed by the banjo part, but, it looks really good there! |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 19 Apr 2008 8:40 am
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| John Billings wrote: |
| Great work Alan! I'm somewhat nonplussed by the banjo part, but, it looks really good there! |
It's only a banjo part if you think of it as a banjo part. I put arm rests on most of my instruments... dobros, mandolines, guitars, etc. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 19 Apr 2008 8:44 am
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| Craig Stenseth wrote: |
| ...It vaguely reminds me of Tom Petersson's 12 string bass... |
Actually, I have a 12-string bass...
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 19 Apr 2008 12:17 pm
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Baz,
You really nailed that 
The music is Chopin. I play it also
on E9th. and I recognize it without any doubt.
Your playing and Alan's guitar with set-up really
project dramatically.
What happens when you play two of the "doubles"
at the same time?
That's simple and it's new to me and I
congratulate both you and Alan.
I plan to download your trac and will work with
it soon.
Many thanks for your contributions you guys. You
are a great pair.
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 22 Apr 2008 4:26 am
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Chopin's Tristesse Opus 10 No.3 on the Brooksaphone or is it a "Lapolin" (K.Ufton's name)
CLICK HERE
If you want the Rhythm Track it's here rythmn Track, but only for "Non Commercial Use" It is all my own work but feel free to use it on your projects etc..gigs even, limited run PRIVATE Cd's. No Problem you all have my permission, Chopin can't be contacted at this point in time but take it as a "Given" that he doesn't mind. If he does then we'll acknowledge his post..
Last edited by basilh on 26 Dec 2009 2:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 22 Apr 2008 7:09 am
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It's somehow much more impressive watching you play it live on the video than hearing it as an MP3 file. Thanks for sharing, and congratulations to both you and Alan for furthering the sound of the steel guitar.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 22 Apr 2008 3:54 pm
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| basilh wrote: |
| ...Chopin can't be contacted at this point in time but take it as a "Given" that he doesn't mind. If he does then we'll acknowledge his post.. |
| Fryderyk Chopin wrote: |
No problem Basil, I loved it. A shame they haven't discovered my "Opus for Pedal Steel Guitar and Harpsichord" yet. When they do, you'll love it. It's right up your alley.
Keep up the great playing. 
....Fryderyk. |
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