Playing Instrumentals

[Gary Steele]

Sad to say I'm one of the people that never took lessons. IM looking for the the best method for learning. I know tab has been around forever. I want to learn several of the old gospel songs note for note. I want to do a recording later and I want it to be right. Any ideas. Make it easy for me, LOL TY.

[Erv Niehaus]

Gary,
My tabs are written from sheet music and are note for note.
I have many, many gospel tabs.
If you send me your email address I'll send you a list of what I have.
Erv

[William Kendrick]

Get Erv's tabs. Then practice 'til you can play it by heart. 'Til you know that song backwards and forwards. You will be great!

[Erv Niehaus]

William,
Thanks for the kind words!
You've got the right idea.
Erv

[Tom Campbell]

I have a number of Erv's tabs.
Excellent way to learn to read and learn chord structure.

[Doug Taylor]

Another vote for Ervs tabs!

[Erv Niehaus]

Bless your hearts.
Erv

[Ron Funk]

DeWitt Scott issued a great (basic) Gospel steel course many years ago. Tab book and corresponding audio that can be downloaded from the Web.

I'm sure DeWitt Scott's Gospel Course for E9th pedal steel is available on Amazon....

[Jay Coover]

Bless your hearts.
Erv

You know that in the south "Bless Your Heart" means kind of the opposite of its face-value definition right? Hehe

[Erv Niehaus]

Jay,
I know it can be taken two different ways.
Erv

[Michael Lester]

Erv's arrangements are unique because he develops accurate melodies in chord form.

His take allows you to find "notes" in chord form that you probably would never consider on your own. I use his chord structures over and over to develop on the fly fills, breaks and tags.

Every tab is an encyclopedia of E9 chords. Worth every penny.

(I have tried unsuccessfully to get Erv to dig into the C6 pedal neck )

[Erv Niehaus]

Michael,
Thanks!
Erv

[James Taylor]

Hi ERV, can you supply me with the" Wild Mountain Thyme"

Thanking you for your proud service to the Pedal Steel Guitar.

James

musician40@hotmail.co.uk

[Erv Niehaus]

James,
I'm sorry but I don't have that one.
erv

[William Kendrick]

James. Buddy Emmons' version has been available on the forum. Do a search. If you can't find it, I have it and will send it to you. Bill.

[Fred Treece]

In order to read tab and play the music it represents, you need a basic understanding of standard notation. Teoría still is a great primer, but the lessons are riddled with ads now so you have to be careful what you click on.

https://www.teoria.com/en/tutorials/reading/

If you are going to focus on reading and playing from tab, then all you really need to study is note duration, since tab doesn’t bother with note names associated with pitch. I suggest not skipping the note name business though, if you want to understand the difference between A minor and C major chords in Musician’s English.

Once you begin to get a grip on all that, start out reading and playing back something very simple. If you can’t read and play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, any attempts to decipher and play How Great Thou Art might result in you getting so flubstergated you’ll end up doing something you might have to go to confession about.

Good luck!

[William Kendrick]

While I agree with Fred on one hand, I was presented the other hand from a friend of mine when I asked if he understood music notation. His response was, "Not enough to hurt my playing." Some people are naturally gifted with a music ears.

[Fred Treece]

While I agree with Fred on one hand, I was presented the other hand from a friend of mine when I asked if he understood music notation. His response was, "Not enough to hurt my playing." Some people are naturally gifted with a music ears.

William, I learned to play guitar 90% by ear. I’m the guy that “the guitar player can’t read music” jokes were made about. But I learned to read somewhere along the line and it improved my playing and gave me an appreciation for learning that way.

Tab is nearly useless without rhythmic notation, unless you know the music and have the gift of playing by ear. And since the OP expressed an interest in learning how to read tab, I offered my 2c. I believe Erv’s tabs include rhythmic notation, so knowing what all the dots and lines and beams mean should help a beginning reader navigate his arrangements.

[William Kendrick]

I agree with you.

[Fred Treece]

I agree with you.

I am an Ohio native. Buckeyes are mostly agreeable folks.
Mostly

[Erv Niehaus]

Fred,
Yes, you are correct.
My tabs include the notation, lyrics and chords in addition to the tab.
I was lucky when I was taking guitar lessons as a youth, my instructor taught me "music" in addition to the guitar.
My tabs are written "chordal" style, a lot of harmony added to the melody note.
I have played a lot of sole gigs and it helps fill out the sound.

[James Taylor]

I have a large selection of Erv's music.

I live in a remote area of Scotland and am distant from any Steel Player. I loved the instrument's sound but no tuition, so I tried Erv's music and it proved to be a tremendous course of instruction.

I have never looked back. Therefore, I strongly recommend his course of simple instructions.

William, thank you for the offer of the Tab, and that would be very welcome. The melody comes from an ancient Scottish song called the Braes of Balquidder- Rob Roy Country. James

[Erv Niehaus]

James,
Thanks for the kind words.
Erv

[James Taylor]

Hi ERV,
Thank you so much for all your excellent material. I am sorry you do not have the copy I requested. It does go by another title too, " Go Lassie go. "

I do like your style of composing the works but perhaps I will have to try elsewhere.

Best wishes James

[Erv Niehaus]

James,
Sorry I couldn't help you out.
Erv