Various Japanese steel

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Ron Whitfield
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Various Japanese steel

Post by Ron Whitfield »

norm mcdaniel
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Post by norm mcdaniel »

Ron

Thanks for the u-tube pics of these Hawaiian steel pickers. Ive loved this stuff for a very long time. I know tunings are always talked about on this forum But----Is there a standard tuning that is used for these songs or do most use C-6 or A-6 or just a combination of tunings. I just put together a couple of steel guitars and am trying to get on the right track. Any help you can offer would be great.

Thanks in advance
Norm McDaniel
Waco Tx
nmcdaniel001@hot.rr.com
Ron Whitfield
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Post by Ron Whitfield »

As you seem to know, C6 is the overall standard today and for a long time now, A6 is still popular as well and was a country standard decades back and finding favor again today. You can't go wrong with them. Just try a few different tunings until one 'speaks' to you, and then play the crap out of it every way possible before you mess with another.
I'll offer up my web sight and it's tutorial page (pg. 4) to help get you going in the correct manner, ala Jerry Byrd - www.hwnsge.5u.com
I havn't taken the time to figure out what tuning these Japanese guy's are using, but you can do most anything on any tuning, so just find the one you dig and works for the style/s you prefer.
I use a glorified E Maj - G# E C# B G# E B E which gives you a majority of the old Hawaiian, and most of the Don Helms/country style. You get a nice full strum and partials, and allows for lot's of slanting options.
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Ray Montee (RIP)
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Hey Ron.......................................!!!

Post by Ray Montee (RIP) »

Love YOUR web site. Lot's of colour and LIFE!

Alot of tho't has obviously gone into this little gem. Congratulations!

The Hawaiian rhythm on Setsuo Ohashi's song, #3, on the list you provided, is my very most favorite. Those three rhythm guitars are just beautiful when accented with the Uke. WOW! Enjoyed that one immensley.
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Steve Norman
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Post by Steve Norman »

those clips are awesome! thanks for sharing those..
GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS
Ron Whitfield
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Post by Ron Whitfield »

Thanx, Ray
That web site is butt simple but hopefully effective.
The hardest part is that it's frustratingly slow to update, one mistake and there goes 30 mins.

The rhythm sections on these clips were actually my favorite parts, and the tipping reason to post. The steel tone on Analani E was pretty good, while most of the rest are like annoying mosquitos.