"Caroline No" in memory of Brian Wilson

[Andy Volk]

In memory of Brian Wilson, here's my C6th lap steel arrangement of "Caroline No" from the "Pet Sounds" LP. The audio is computer generated. I've tried to record this several times but never got it just right. Hope you like the arrangement. RIP Brian.

https://soundcloud.com/aev/lap-steel-caroline-no-c6th

Caroline No#1.png

Caroline No#2.png

[Jim Fogarty]

Thanks so much, Andy. One of the most beautiful songs, ever.

[Andy Volk]

You're very welcome, Jim! It's often crickets when I post arrangements so good to know someone is at least trying it out.

[Andy Volk]

Another arrangement of a Beach Boys classic from me about 16 years ago ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNBuQ2J19g0

[Michael Kiese]

Aloha Andy,

What a lovely arrangement. Also what a very well written chart. Kudos!

What software did you use to write the chart, Finale? That's what Alan Akaka uses, and he has similar charts.

I'm a Sibelius user, personally.

[Andy Volk]

Thanks, Mike!
Finale and Sibelius are great pieces of software and very powerful. However, I use Guitar Pro 8 as it does everything I need to do. Its only drawback (and it may well be the same for all software without dedicated expansion packs ) is the midi output sounds very far from a steel guitar. I'm a Beta tester for them and have brought this to their attention so maybe they'll be a lap steel patch eventually?

[Michael Kiese]

Thanks, Mike!
Finale and Sibelius are great pieces of software and very powerful. However, I use Guitar Pro 8 as it does everything I need to do. Its only drawback (and it may well be the same for all software without dedicated expansion packs ) is the midi output sounds very far from a steel guitar. I'm a Beta tester for them and have brought this to their attention so maybe they'll be a lap steel patch eventually?

Hey Andy,

Ahhh, cool! I never considered using Guitar Pro 8 as notation software. If you just input the tabs, does the notation auto-populate? Man, if it did, that's SUPER convenient!

[Andy Volk]

If you just input the tabs, does the notation auto-populate?

Not 100% sure what you mean. Do you mean bringing in a completed tab and have the notation follow it? If so, I don't believe so but could be wrong.

[Michael Kiese]

If you just input the tabs, does the notation auto-populate?

Not 100% sure what you mean. Do you mean bringing in a completed tab and have the notation follow it? If so, I don't believe so but could be wrong.

Hi Andy,

Do you fill in the music notation first, or do you fill in the TAB first? Once that first step is completed, does the other one automatically generate?

Also, does Guitar Pro 8 limit you to 6 string steel, or can you also do 8 and 10 string steel?

Thanks in advance.

[Andy Volk]

You fill in the tab and the notation tracks automatically. You often have to clean up the accidentals but it is a surprisingly robust program.

[John Larson]

Thanks, Mike!
Finale and Sibelius are great pieces of software and very powerful. However, I use Guitar Pro 8 as it does everything I need to do. Its only drawback (and it may well be the same for all software without dedicated expansion packs ) is the midi output sounds very far from a steel guitar. I'm a Beta tester for them and have brought this to their attention so maybe they'll be a lap steel patch eventually?

If you could ever convince them to add Pedal Steel friendly functionality that would be really cool. I've been using Guitar Pro since like version 4 or 5 and it's been my go to for making tabs/notation. There is a mode where you can make it so it's all tab and the note part indicates the string and fret number while the flag is the rhythm.

An expansion that lets you define a copedent and then you can add the peal changes to the tab would be very useful. I've tried to make tabs for PSG and in addition to the problems with it not sounding like a steel at all, adding the string bends is near impossible without making a mess of it.

[Andy Volk]

You can do several kinds of bends and pre-bend/release moves in GP but it can get pretty kludgy and it needs some extra explanation to fully communicate what's going on for multiple or sequential bends. An add-on steel guitar pack would be most welcome but maybe our world is too small compared to the standard guitar to be worth the investment?