The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic How to sound like Ralph Mooney?
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  How to sound like Ralph Mooney?
Curt Trisko


From:
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Post  Posted 24 Jul 2019 6:14 pm    
Reply with quote

Is there a certain musical mindset you can get into to play his style more intuitively? I feel like if you don't play his style convincingly and with full investment, it flops.

I don't think I've ever tried to learn his parts note for note. They've always run so against my grain from the get-go that I just make my own parts for his songs instead. His style sounds both rudimentary and tricky at the same time. To me, much of his stuff sounds like he's shoehorning his style and sound into songs regardless of what else is going on in them. But it works and people love it, so I want to figure it out. In fact, I'd love to be able to do his kind of shoehorning so that it's easier to sit in on pretty much and Waylon song and similar stuff.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Kevin Fix

 

From:
Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 24 Jul 2019 6:23 pm    
Reply with quote

I do know for tone wise I pick close to the PUP. I also tend to pick a little more aggressively at the same time. I always enjoyed playing Waylon tunes back 30 some odd years ago. I loved playing the "Moon" licks. Listening to the "Moon" got me into right hand aggressive style picking.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 24 Jul 2019 8:12 pm    
Reply with quote

Al Brisco's DVD teaches the style very well.

www.steelguitarscanada.com/online-store/products-page-2/al-brisco-dvd-instruction/al-brisco-ralph-mooney-style-e9th-tab-in-pdf-dvd/
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website

Michael Johnstone


From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2019 8:01 pm    
Reply with quote

If you really want to absorb and internalize a player's style, you actually DO have to learn his licks note for note. The enterprise of doing that forces you to dig deep to discover his positions, their connective tissue, bar vibrato, syncopation, timing and picking details. That doesn't mean you'll ever sound exactly like the players you've stidied and dissected. It just means you've done your homework, done it well and the tools in your toolbox are sharp.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Rick Abbott

 

From:
Indiana, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 5:02 am    
Reply with quote

If I remember correctly, Jeff Newman was into Mooney and did a series of articles detailing his years-long search for Moon licks. He had figured out lots of stuff on standard E9. I forget where I read them, some newsletter years ago?

You might take that clue and discover a way forward?
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Wakarusa 5e3 clone
1953 Stromberg-Carlson AU-35
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Curt Trisko


From:
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 5:59 am    
Reply with quote

Michael Johnstone wrote:
If you really want to absorb and internalize a player's style, you actually DO have to learn his licks note for note. The enterprise of doing that forces you to dig deep to discover his positions, their connective tissue, bar vibrato, syncopation, timing and picking details. That doesn't mean you'll ever sound exactly like the players you've stidied and dissected. It just means you've done your homework, done it well and the tools in your toolbox are sharp.


I appreciate the response. My first hurdle is that I'm pushing against my musical grain with Mooney. Sure, I could suck it up, put all my other projects aside, and learn his stuff note-for-note until it re-wires my brain, but then what use would the Steel Guitar Forum be? Very Happy I think if someone could impart some musical philosophy on me that it'll give me a head start.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 6:14 am    
Reply with quote

IMHO, playing like Moon is more of a mindset than it is just playing those simple licks. You have to get into the nuance and his way of thinking, the note combinations, the tone settings, that unique syncopation he often used, the way he picked, and lastly, the volume pedal phrasing. I've heard dozens of players try to get it right, but few can. The fluidity and smoothness we hear from the other great players, probably the bulk of what we've heard, kinda runs against what Moon and a few other players did. So in the end, learning to play like Moon becomes more like "unlearning" all we've picked up from others.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 6:30 am    
Reply with quote

Donny, that is a great answer to Curt’s question. I’m no expert on anybody’s playing style, but your comment seems to encompass the general philosophy and some very helpful specific insight on an iconic player’s approach. I have experienced the futility of trying to copy or imitate, and I wish all those “Star Licks” videos I watched way back when had started off with a disclaimer like the one you just wrote.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Curt Trisko


From:
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 6:37 am    
Reply with quote

Donny Hinson wrote:
The fluidity and smoothness we hear from the other great players, probably the bulk of what we've heard, kinda runs against what Moon and a few other players did. So in the end, learning to play like Moon becomes more like "unlearning" all we've picked up from others.


That resonates with me. My default mindset for pedal steel is to use it to either build and resolve tension in a song, or add interesting little ornamentals to it. And it took me so long to make myself sound smooth on the instrument that going full-out Mooney on it causes my brain to short circuit.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Richard Sinkler


From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 7:23 am    
Reply with quote

You DON't have to go "full-out" Mooney. It's just another tool in your toolbox. If it will "short circuit" your brain, well, that's another issue.

I don't know what kind of philosophy you are wanting. That's probably a tall order. No one is going to be able to tell or teach you how to think like Mooney, or any other player for that matter. If you feel a need (or want) to learn Mooney, then do it, and Michael's suggestion of learning note for nor note is a good one. Obviously you have an interest in it. It shouldn't replace or negate anything you have already learned.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 7:47 am    
Reply with quote

Can someone post some links to quintessential "moon" licks for context?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Gary Watkins


From:
Bristol, VA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 8:17 am    
Reply with quote

To sound like "MOON", can it be done on any steel or only one one like he had? Does it make it easier to have a GFI?
_________________
If you succeed in cheating someone, don't think that the person is a fool. It's just that the person trusted you far more than you deserved.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Curt Trisko


From:
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 8:41 am    
Reply with quote

Richard Sinkler wrote:
I don't know what kind of philosophy you are wanting. That's probably a tall order. No one is going to be able to tell or teach you how to think like Mooney, or any other player for that matter.


For example, my flippant impression is that his philosophy is simply to take a mental note of the time signature and chord progression - and then put his head down, go on auto-pilot, and power his way through songs with sharp, rolling licks.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Gertschen

 

From:
Phoenix, Arizona
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 8:42 am    
Reply with quote

He did have a rather strange copedent, however I suspect he could have sat down at any guitar and sounded exactly the same.

To my ear, he sounds more like a dobro player on a pedal steel, with the hard picking, open string and hammer-on usage, and somewhat limited pedal/lever movements.

I have been meaning to get the Al Brisco dvd as well...
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 10:05 am    
Reply with quote

James Mayer wrote:
Can someone post some links to quintessential "moon" licks for context?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lxaTNh_OcgI
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Joseph Carlson


From:
Grass Valley, California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 10:15 am    
Reply with quote

Here's Al Brisco doing a sort of tribute to Ralph as part of his Ralph Mooney DVD instruction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y14CKpmv3qU

Pretty good distillation of his basic style.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

scott murray


From:
Asheville, NC
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 12:13 pm    
Reply with quote

for me, Buck Owens' 1961 self-titled album on Capitol is the most quintessential of Ralph's session work. key tracks include Above & Beyond, Excuse Me, and Under Your Spell Again.


_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Billy McCombs


From:
Bakersfield California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 1:31 pm     Rainy day woman
Reply with quote

Here's Mr. Emmons Playing the Intro to "Rainy day woman" Sounds great but not exactly like Mr. Moons. Just play it the way you feel it.https://app.box.com/s/8zl8k0idn9a6udipg3cbaxz5h4f3xkqu Check out "WAILIN" featuring the steel guitar sounds of Mike Headrick and Ralph Mooney. Its all instrumental Waylon songs with Mr. Moon playing in your face on half the songs.
_________________
78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56


Last edited by Billy McCombs on 26 Jul 2019 1:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

J R Rose

 

From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 1:32 pm    
Reply with quote

It should be noted that the great Moon played a Sho-Bud for a very long time. And the early day recording's with Buck was I think on a Fender cable pull. And then the GFI. I never thought it sounded like either one of the others. It was Moon but just not quite the sound. Check out Wynn Stewart with Moon on his Fender. That was around the same time as with Buck. Most were recorded at the old round Capitol studio in North LA. I got to see him with Wynn when I was young and then with Buck in my early 20's and then with Waylon around 1980's. Then saw him many times in St.Lewis. He was quite a character, R.I.P. Moon. Thanks, J.R.
_________________
NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 1:36 pm    
Reply with quote

Fred Treece wrote:
James Mayer wrote:
Can someone post some links to quintessential "moon" licks for context?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lxaTNh_OcgI


Nice...
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Billy McCombs


From:
Bakersfield California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 2:13 pm    
Reply with quote

Mooney and Mike Headrick playing "Rainy day woman" featuring Ralph Mooney (:00-14 :53-1:08 1:32-1:58 https://app.box.com/s/y7yonw9nnf5qvquhziqhuppmdtv3acwr
_________________
78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Billy McCombs


From:
Bakersfield California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 2:23 pm    
Reply with quote

What songs did Mooney play his homemade steel on? Was it early Wynn or Buck any one know? You can see the coat hanger in this picture.

_________________
78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jack Aldrich

 

From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 3:35 pm    
Reply with quote

I spoke with Mooney at the 1977 NAM show. I asked him how he got that tone. He said "I used a Fender Twin Reverb with everything set to 10. I said, "Man, that would be too loud!" and he said "I had to be very careful with my volume pedal".
_________________
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 6:30 pm    
Reply with quote

Billy McCombs wrote:
What songs did Mooney play his homemade steel on? Was it early Wynn or Buck any one know? You can see the coat hanger in this picture.

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2019 7:51 pm    
Reply with quote

He meant Wynn Stewart, Fred. Rolling Eyes Laughing
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP