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Topic: Non-Pedal Steel in all kinds of settings |
Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 21 Aug 2016 7:52 am |
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Last Thursday was a fun day, filled with steel guitar music- I can't stop thinking about it!
First I played an afternoon "LUAU" then quickly packed up and drove to a "formal" Dinner time gig.(exchanging my Hawaiian garb for a nice shirt and tie)
And after that another 30 minute scramble to a Jazz club where I had been asked to "sit in" with a piano trio.
I play dozens of Luau's this time of year. (Being one of the only Hawaiian guitarists in the Portland area)the money is great, and it is always fun.
The fancy gig was an event where local chef's show off their special dishes, I played instrumentals until the food was served and the people stopped talking. Then I played and sang my "crowd pleasers"
(Top hits from the last 50 years-songs everyone knows)another good paying gig!
But what I really loved the most was playing steel in a Jazz setting. Some may have been skeptical of a lap steel guitar... after all it's "so limited chord wise"
But My 13 string A6th extended tuning, is very capable, and I knew most of the songs very well.
I don't mean to boast but honestly I could do no wrong that night! The trio was impressed, as were the guitarist, trombonist and singers that came up to jam. The steel guitar added so much to the sound (like adding a horn section with syncopated chord stabs and fills) I was sitting next to the drummer and we started playing off of each other, driving the groove with pushed downbeats and trading riffs. He was grinning from ear to ear.
Those of you familiar with Jazz tradition know that each player takes a solo on most tunes. The guitarist was amazingly fast (but more of a Carlos Santana style player) and the Trombone was good too, but each time I took my solo I received the loudest applause from the audience and musicians.
Now Lord have mercy forgive me if I sound prideful, I only have talent on loan from God.
But I wanted to share this experience with you my peers on the forum, because my family and friends just don't get it! The jam was a freebie, but gave me more joy than the paying gigs.
I want to encourage all of you to get out there with your steel guitars and push the envelope... Jazz, Rock, whatever...
Thanks for letting me ramble.
Dom
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Frank Agliata
From:
Jersey Shore, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2016 7:56 am
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That sounds really cool Dom, wonder if anyone took video? 
_________________
GFI Expo X1, Melbert 8, Rukavina 6
always learning |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 21 Aug 2016 8:04 pm
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I'm playing in a trio that does old standards, Tin-Pan alley tunes and vintage western swing. Lots of room to stretch out. A blast.
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
Last edited by Tom Wolverton on 23 Aug 2016 8:17 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Posted 22 Aug 2016 4:47 am
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| That is awesome to hear Dom. And Tom, that pic is incredible. Keep inspiring us young new steelers. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 22 Aug 2016 7:25 am
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To me, a musical instrument is simply an instrument for making music. To have someone tell me that an instrument should only be used in a certain way is an open invitation for me to do something else with it.
Make the music your heart desires, just work hard at being the best you can possibly be at it. Also, know what your limitations are, for the good of the listeners! 
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http://www.steelinstruction.com/
http://mikeneer.com |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 22 Aug 2016 8:41 am
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I am learning in Jazz a neat trick of play one bad note in a phrase repeat that 4 bars ending on the bad note for emphasis until it sounds good. Lol
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Joe Elk
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2016 9:05 am
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Dom You always good I admit that I like some songs better than others
Joe Elk |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 22 Aug 2016 11:09 am
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You sound like you're having fun!
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Brian McGaughey
From:
Orcas Island, WA USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2016 5:02 pm
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| Those are the days we work toward, Dom! Good for you! |
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Brian McGaughey
From:
Orcas Island, WA USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2016 5:06 pm Re: Non-Pedal Steel in all kinds of settings
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| Dom Franco wrote: |
| ...what I really loved the most was playing steel in a Jazz setting. Some may have been skeptical of a lap steel guitar... after all it's "so limited chord wise"... |
So is a trumpet, a sax, a trombone.... |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 26 Aug 2016 1:38 am
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I disagree chord wise its not limited if you have 10+ strings. And Dom you have 13 strings so seriously there should be no genre you can't play.
Side note: for players who always think pedals for steel guitar is necessary
listen to Tom Morrell and then listen to Buddy Emmons. Then ask yourself if Tom did that without pedals why use pedals at all.
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 26 Aug 2016 7:01 am
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Stefan: I was trying to say that the 13 string A6 tuning is NOT limited, that's why I used "quotation marks"
The steel guitar is very capable even with only 6 strings and can be used in all styles of music.
However as a rhythm instrument in a jazz setting there are many chords and inversions that are not possible. Even a standard guitar can only play partial chords at times. For that matter I guess a piano or keyboard is the only instrument that can play all the chords in any inversion.
So we all learn to work around the missing notes or intervals, by implying chords with a single harmony note or leaving out a root, fifth etc.
What's more important is that the music is conveyed, simple and excellent is better than complicated and sloppy to my ears.
Just my opinion,
Dom
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Don Barnhardt
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 26 Aug 2016 12:15 pm
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| Dom you play my kind of stuff. You just do it better. |
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