Playing in school Friday

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 8 Jun 2005 3:24 pm

My school is having a fundraiser concert Friday night and they asked if I'd like to play. I've been dying to try out my new BIAB background tracks. The school has a new cd player that hooks right into the system in a jif. This thing is cool, you can change the speed of the cd w/o any distortion. I played all 12 songs. What a difference it sounds having a band behind you. It was hot up there, lots of sweat. Is it possible for a steel player to get shocked, LOL. They were so impressed that I am opening with a set and doing a second set later. Of course Sleepwalk is slotted in later. I made a plywood pull w/casters for the amp, makes it so much easier. I'll do a follow-up post after the show.
Ron

P.S. I got my transfer to the high school I requested.[This message was edited by Ron Victoria on 08 June 2005 at 07:21 PM.]

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 8 Jun 2005 4:27 pm

Very cool, Ron. I'll bet you'll have a blast, as will your audience.

Let us know how it goes!

TJW

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 8 Jun 2005 5:01 pm

Is there not perhaps a single guitar player around that could provide you with live accompaniment? It's great that you are getting music to the schools, but I feel you are also blurring the line between us and the little electronic box.

Of course, I'm just a square old man.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 8 Jun 2005 5:10 pm

<marquee>Well Jeff, how about you and I fly to Jersey and back him up? I'll play rhythm guitar and you can play uke. Or I could play bass and you could play guitar. <blink>It'd be fun!</blink>

</marquee>

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 8 Jun 2005 5:54 pm

That's awesome, Ron! I wish I could be there to cheer you on!

Is there not perhaps a single guitar player around that could provide you with live accompaniment? It's great that you are getting music to the schools, but I feel you are also blurring the line between us and the little electronic box.

But what do you do Jeff when you have no rhythm guitar player to provide live accompaniment...sit at home and wait for one to fly in from Hawaii? People can complain and point fingers about canned music, BIAB, and back ground tracks, but we all don't have the luxury of having rhythm players all around us who specialize in Hawaiian music. Perhaps if more guitar players would cross over the blurred line and embrace our music, we wouldn't need our little electronic boxes. But until then, don't you think they serve a valuable purpose? They fill the holes when no one else does or will. Kudos to all those who are out there spreading the steel guitar gospel with their bands in a box!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Of course, I'm just a square old man.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, Jeff, you're not old, just square.

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 8 Jun 2005 6:18 pm

Jeff, you should capitalize all the "you"s for maximum rhetorical effect.

I didn't stipulate a guitar player who specializes in Hawaiian music or one who even embraces "our music" (not really certain what that is).

Get the church organist to back you up, that works too.

My point is that a live audience gets confused as to what is coming from the live musician and what is coming from the computer recorded track... and I feel performing like that reinforces the public's being okay with it.

[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 08 June 2005 at 07:21 PM.]

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 8 Jun 2005 7:41 pm

So you're implying that the public should not be "okay with it"? As if there's something wrong with BIAB and the like? Perhaps the public should boycott all performances that aren't 100% live?

I agree that live music is better. But I certainly wouldn't be critical of any person or group that chooses to use artifical backup, because I understand and relate to why they are most likely using it in the first place.

"Our" music refers to the type of music we like and enjoy...Hawaiian, steel guitar, the golden era of song, 4-5 chord swing style, etc, etc, etc...It's the music that gathers us all together on this forum. But, you know what I mean. You're just being facetious and sarcastic, as usual.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 9 Jun 2005 3:39 am

P.S. I got my transfer to the high school I requested

That's great news. I hope you graduate this time around. <pre>Remember, the War of 1812 was fought in 1812.
Also, Grant is buried in his own tomb.</pre>

Let us know how your concert turns out. Too cool for school!

[This message was edited by HowardR on 09 June 2005 at 04:42 AM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 9 Jun 2005 4:25 am

Y'all must be tired of hearing this from me ...

But I'm tickled 12 shades of pink to have Mike Neer's rhythm guitar backing tracks to play along with ...

Home alone ... on the back porch torturing my wifes friends ... heck, I might even play a few parties now ...

Getting anyone to play the stuff I like ... here in the Shenandoah Valley ... is next to impossible.

I had a church organist lined up ... but the ole' biddy threw her back out puttin' that 12 ton pipe organ in her pickup truck.

One guy recently ... a pro mandolin player ... listened to Mike's stuff he recorded for me and said ...

I can't play that ... too slow

Granted ... I don't like the faster marches, etc ... which he would play ...

But I play what I like ...

So for me ... well ... keep 'em comin' Mike

PS: Mike ... Good luck with the Broadway Show ... what do those drama folks say ... "Break a Leg"

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 09 June 2005 at 05:35 AM.]

Danny James · Post by **Danny James** » 9 Jun 2005 4:41 am

I'll probably get flamed on this, but I'm with Rick. We use a drum machine in our little band and I use it at home for practice. No one yet has had a problem telling the drum machine from the guys on their instruments.

It has helped me tremendously with my timing at home practicing alone as well.
Music is much too important to be left entirely in the hands of professionals.
My best to you Ron in your playing and during the school year.
Danny

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 9 Jun 2005 4:48 am

Arrggh... BIAB is a fantastic learning tool. It is the 100% customizable Jamey Aebersold record. My point was aimed at pubic performance. I made the disclaimer that what Ron is doing is great... "but on the flip side..."

And I am not an absolutist. I was stating (grumbling?) an opposing point of view. Perhaps it's some sort of transference that stems from my opinion of karaoke vs. live music?

Jeff, I wasn't being sarcastic in questioning the term "our music"... I hold the belief that our tastes, while sharing similarities, can't possibly be identical... but according to the criteria you listed: we're cool.

Ron, best wishes from me as well.[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 09 June 2005 at 05:51 AM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 9 Jun 2005 5:22 am

I'm talking about public performances too ...

Whether it be for a bunch of "Mommies" at my little girls 5th birthday party ... small "luau" theme parties ... or a corporate weekend retreat with a bunch of boring MD's ...

Live steel with recorded rhythm ... is better than no steel at all.

Joel Newman · Post by **Joel Newman** » 9 Jun 2005 6:04 am

ok, ok this is a little off topic but in relation to making your own back up tracks or even accompaning some other steeler live . . . Is tenor uke tuned the same as the 1st four strings on spanish guitar?

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 9 Jun 2005 6:21 am

Joel,

A tenor uke is tuned (lo-hi) GCEA.

Your big decision is whether or not to use a low G or a high G. What I mean by this is the G string can either be gauged lower than the C for more of a guitar like feel and sound, or it can gauged higher than the C for more of traditional ukulele feel and sound.

You can easily find sets of strings for either configuration.

I prefer the higher gauged G.

------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 09 June 2005 at 07:22 AM.][This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 09 June 2005 at 08:29 AM.]

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 9 Jun 2005 6:23 am

I have never tried BIAB,but could probably get along with it. My old buddy who played rythm for me years ago gave his guitar and equipment to his kid, who will never use it. It's tough to find somebody to beat out the chords around here, so whatever works is what you use.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 9 Jun 2005 6:29 am

My Groupies ...

Thats big Dust "shootin' the moon" ... Emmie's green hat is hiddin' Ellie ... and her new wood flute/recorder/whatever.

Oh ... and that's da boss in the pink Aloha shirt ... sippin' the non-alcoholic beverage

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 09 June 2005 at 04:01 PM.]

Joel Newman · Post by **Joel Newman** » 9 Jun 2005 7:23 am

Tanx Gerald!
Doh! I was really hopeing against hope that it was tuned,(low-high),DGBE so as not to have to learn yet another instrument . . . Has anyone tried tuning it that way?

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 9 Jun 2005 7:31 am

Joel,

You don't have to learn another instrument. If you compare GCEA and DGBE you will notice that the intervals between that strings are the same... so are the fingerings.

Placing your finger on the 1st string, 3rd Fret in DGBE tuning will give you a G chord. In GCEA tuning it's a C chord.

BTW - in my initial post I mispelled the tuning, I wrote GCAE - the correct tuning is GCEA

------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 9 Jun 2005 7:35 am

If you buy Martin brand "tenor uke" strings, they are gauges for the G-D-B-E tuning.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 9 Jun 2005 9:02 am

so whatever works is what you use.

Bill's common sense approach pretty well sums up the topic at hand.

Hey Rick,....I see the smoker in the background.....smoked birthday cake?

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 10 Jun 2005 12:55 pm

Joel -- one CAN, as Mr. Au Hoy pointed out, use tenor strings gauged DGBE for your tenor, but you lose volume with the floppier strings. The tension is too loose, IMO. As Gerald said, the intervalic relationship is the same. Think of it as a guitar capoed at the 5th fret.

Regarding the BAIB, et al question, Jeff Au Hoy said:

Perhaps it's some sort of transference that stems from my opinion of karaoke vs. live music?

I think that's a big complaint from a lot musicians, but most particularly those of us who play music as our vocation. The fact is, karaoke, BAIB, sequences, etc., eat into our way of making a living. If someone's using BAIB to back them up (on a gig, that is), they're not employing ME to do that. Local musicians still make about the same money as they did in the late 70's, thanks mostly to DJ's and karaoke machines.

BUT (and as Pee Wee Herman said, "Oh Simone, everybody has a big but."

), on the other hand -- there are times when I use my own uke/URB tracks to play my steel live with, because the gig in question isn't paying worth a crap. That is, it's a gig where I can't use my trio, because after our fuel/food/drink costs, we'd all go home with less money than we started with!

I don't feel too bad about doing this, since they're real ukulele and URB, and I'm the one who recorded them. Yeah, I guess I am rationalizing it, but I've had people ask me where I 'got' the tracks, and that they really sounded 'real.' I feel OK telling them it's all me playing it -- just that I played some of the parts earlier!

Some others here do make a valid point in that it sometimes is not practical or possible to find an accompanist, let alone a competent one, or one who's even willing to play this style. As someone mentioned, at least people are being exposed to the steel, which most have never SEEN (I get the "what kind of keyboard is THAT!?" questions way too often). I feel very lucky I found a few cats who can get into it as much as I do!

Anyway, that's my .02 Your milage may vary!

TJW

------------------
Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)
[This message was edited by Todd Weger on 10 June 2005 at 01:56 PM.]

Mike Ruffin · Post by **Mike Ruffin** » 10 Jun 2005 3:30 pm

Ron
Have a blast tonight. You deserve it!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 10 Jun 2005 8:53 pm

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 10 June 2005 at 09:55 PM.]

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 11 Jun 2005 5:58 am

I played 2 sets. Everything was good. I used BIAB for all but one song. My wife saw the picture and said I'm too serious and need to smile. Hey, those slants require concentration. Funny that some of my co-workers never knew I played. I need to learn more about all the knobs on the amp. When I was young we had vol, treble, bass!!!Rick, Thanks for the picture.

Ron

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 11 Jun 2005 6:17 am

Congratulations Ron. You've graduated Suma Cum Finally!