A Solo Not Meant For The Steel Guitar

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 25 Oct 2008 4:10 pm

A very strange situation has cropped up in our band in regards to a steel guitar solo. Our band leader wants me to play “The Last Cheaters Waltz” as a steel guitar solo; however, I just can’t get the signature sound of that tune out of my mind as I practice the piece.

As far as I am concerned this tune’s signature sound is the fiddle. The band leader and I have tried to work around it but I am just plain not happy with doing this song as a steel guitar solo. I have tried every variation I can think of and I don’t think the steel guitar can bring across the sound that this tune needs to make it work.

Do any of you guys ever get hung up on not accepting the sound of your own steel to play a solo that you feel has another instrument as its signature sound?

I forgot to add, we don't have a fiddle player in our band)

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 25 Oct 2008 4:42 pm

Yeah. I had a bandleader once that insisted I take the solo on "If you wanna play in Texas, (you gotta have a fiddle in the band.") I thought the idea was ridiculously stupid and told him so, but he reminded me that although he wasn't always right, he was always the boss....

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 25 Oct 2008 5:14 pm

Do any of you guys ever get hung up on not accepting the sound of your own steel to play a solo that you feel has another instrument as its signature sound?

(I forgot to add, we don't have a fiddle player in our band)

No. In fact, I've played that solo on steel, I think it lays nicely. I think it would have been better if I could've gotten the guitar player to twin it, but c'est la vie.

Especially if there's no fiddle player, what's the problem? In a situation like that, I just play the solo as close as I can to what I think it should sound like in my mind. Or maybe they could just toss it to the guitar player with the Les Paul into the 100-watt Marshall stack. That oughta sound great.

The "If you wanna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band" scenario is kinda funny though. But I presume you weren't in Tejas, so all bets are off.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 25 Oct 2008 5:44 pm

Right you are, Dave. I was in San Jose, CA at the time.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 25 Oct 2008 5:55 pm

I have to sympathize with you. All instruments are not created equal. There are some things that just sound better (or at least very different) on one instrument than another, and there are some things that some instruments just can't play. A trombone cannot play a sax run, but a sax cannot do a 'bone slide. And a horn cannot play a piano part. Fiddles have their own pattern of notes and bowing, and it can be pretty much impossible to duplicate that with a bar. Yeah, you can do banjo rolls on a steel or Dobro. But it's not quite the same (thank God).

Steve Gorman · Post by **Steve Gorman** » 25 Oct 2008 6:00 pm

I've been in that situation before too- thought that a particular song just wasn't right for the steel guitar. But just as sure as you say the solo isn't made for steel, there is somebody out there who will own that song on the steel. The notes to make it sound right are out there, it's your job to find em.

Ray Leroux · Post by **Ray Leroux** » 25 Oct 2008 6:31 pm

I sang and played this tune for years with no fiddle sad to say however I'm with Dave on this one. The song lays up beautifuly on steel. Oh ya I was also the band leader.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 25 Oct 2008 9:08 pm

I've had the same thoughts about Faded Love. Somehow it doesn't sound the same without Bob Wills's fiddle introduction.

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 26 Oct 2008 1:36 am

"Last Cheaters Waltz" is a beautiful steel number. I have used it for years and everyone seems to enjoy it, of course I am a solo and maybe that makes some difference.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 26 Oct 2008 2:53 am

Robert, have you got a recording of your version, I would love to hear it.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 26 Oct 2008 2:53 am

Robert, have you got a recording of your version, I would love to hear it.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 26 Oct 2008 2:53 am

sorry about that

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 26 Oct 2008 5:28 am

Mike Sigler has a beautiful version on a CD. Usually I have to play all the fiddle parts on steel, but there are limits. If you wanna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band is one for sure.

Bob Simons · Post by **Bob Simons** » 26 Oct 2008 8:22 am

OF COURSE it doesn't sound the same without blah blah blah! If you want it to sound the same get a juke box. Show mw what you've got, please...

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 26 Oct 2008 8:54 am

Isn't that tune just so many measures, bars, count, and/or notes? It's just like any other.......

Tune that other 'noise' out of your mind and sit down and dig into this rich new song.

I can't imagine Buddy Emmons or Lloyd Green or any of the MANY OTHERS using that as an alibie (sp?).

Just play it and be happy!

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 26 Oct 2008 9:56 am

The first time I heard "Last Cheaters Waltz" It reminded me of passages from the old "Westfahlia Waltz" {not sure of the spelling). This was a great old waltz recorded by Hank Thompson and many others. I think both songs are great for playing on the steel Guitar.

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 26 Oct 2008 12:37 pm

I agree that Westphalia Waltz has similarities to Last Cheaters Waltz or vice versa and I use both of them in my entertainment efforts.
John Roche in answer to your question, I don't have a recording of "Last Cheaters Waltz", but I could put it on a cassette tape and send it to you if you are willing to wait.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 26 Oct 2008 1:14 pm

Wsstphalia Waltz was decades before Last Chheaters Waltz and IMHO probably had an influence on the Last Cheater Waltz unless the writer never heard it and it was a coincedence there were similiarities.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 26 Oct 2008 1:49 pm

Robert can you not make a mp3 from it , if not I would like a copy, thank you

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Oct 2008 3:02 pm

I agree with Billy, "Last Cheater's Waltz" has some similarity to the old "Westphalia Waltz" popularized by Hank Thompson's band. But, it has even more similarity to the old '60s song "With Pen In Hand", popularized by Vicki Carr (and just about everyone else).

I've done it instrumentally a few times, and it's a great E9th song, with a good, flowing melody line.

It's perfect for pedal steel, Les!

Try and find some other pedal steel interpretation of the song, like Mike's, to get you started in the right direction.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 26 Oct 2008 5:18 pm

I think we all have those problems on songs that have been pounded in our heads with radio waves.
What i do is; Lay down a backing track, stop listening to the original version, Learn the melody notes as single notes,then develop your colours, and develop your own sound for the song.
Shortly, the song will come together all in its own, with your touch and style, Beleive me, people will love it at your next gig.
The hardest request i ever had to play was 'Honydonk pa-donkey donk on the steel.

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 27 Oct 2008 7:38 am

Les,

That has been one of my favorite songs to play for several years. Here is my rendition:

Last Cheater's Waltz

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 27 Oct 2008 7:54 am

Beautiful rendition, as always, Roy
Love dem chords.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 27 Oct 2008 9:42 am

At least he didn't ask you to play Buddy Rich's part in Channel One Suite.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 27 Oct 2008 10:13 am

I didn't know any solo, song wasn't meant for steel guitar?

The Steel Guitar Forum

A Solo Not Meant For The Steel Guitar

A Solo Not Meant For The Steel Guitar

Sounds more like a psychological problem.................