If there were one song ....

john lemay · Post by **john lemay** » 20 Oct 2006 7:51 pm

that could teach you the most about playing steel (as a beginner), motivate you to continue because it was rewarding to learn, what would that song (or songs) be? In other words it would have you learn scales and harmonies that would be useful in other songs and yet it would be fun to learn.

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 20 Oct 2006 8:04 pm

As a beginner, I would suggest the. Steel Guitar Rag. easy to learn, and a lot of single string picking, and you can toss in the chords in parts of the tune.

Herbie

------------------

Bill Mayville · Post by **Bill Mayville** » 21 Oct 2006 4:59 am

There is one song,hands down.Called chord country,by Jeff Newman.It has the plus's,the two minors,and I could go on and on.The cd's I send out do not have it ,because it is Jeffs song.But.
It is no amazing grace either.
At first it is really hard.It brings out the steel in you though.The way it is written is nice also.Written in C,here's an example.C Dm Gsus G C
8th 6D 3b 3 AB
Then as you start,you realize you should have added a short scale on the way to a chord.It makes you think.You may start using 86&5.Then realize it's too low,and switch to 6,5&4.No regular tab to read on this one.
Bill A happy Jackson owner

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 21 Oct 2006 7:15 am

for me, it was probably bud's bounce!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 21 Oct 2006 7:55 am

For me it was 'Wichita Lineman' (!) - that was the song that drew me to steel guitar (Buddy's solo on the Ray Charles recording), so that's what I (with Gerry Hogan's help, admittedly) tackled first...

It was a challenge, but I learned a lot about relative positions on E9th pretty quickly.

RR[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 21 October 2006 at 08:57 AM.]

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 21 Oct 2006 9:01 am

Flying in the fog, If the melody of a complete song,is not first in my mind, No way can I put it on the strings of the Steel. ( can't read music )

Having worked bands just picking intro's, back up, turn arounds, back ground fill, for years. I can, usually hear the song one time, and do the necessary. lead and turn arounds,,also tags, But need to have a good Lead Guitar buddy, working together, As we recognize when one of us is getting into a corner, and can usually pull it back together, I learnt more from. Lap Steel players, and Lead Guitar players, than I ever did from any of the boys with a hit steel tune, never could immitate a steel players style, although I do play a few standard Steel Hits. my own way.
Playing like this,I find now, I can play the melody of any song, I have learnt, as the Steel E9'th has all the notes handy , like a Keyboard, it is now a complete instrument,I grew up with the steel as they were adding strings, and pedals to make it a complete instrument.

Herbie

------------------

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 21 Oct 2006 9:11 am

not a song, but ice cream changes. I teach my students ti make them, and then as a way iof keeping things light, I sing "A Teenager In love" to demonstrate.

------------------
Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
-----------
My web site

john lemay · Post by **john lemay** » 21 Oct 2006 10:20 am

Mike,
What are "Ice Cream" changes?

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 21 Oct 2006 10:22 am

I would vote for the "Rag"; there are different ways to play it on either neck. I would start off doing it in "E", E9th, no pedals; then once you get it down try pedal action. Lots of fun!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 21 Oct 2006 10:42 am

In the 1940's I was initially intrigued by those long, slow, steel guitar slides on those early Gene Autrey movies and recordings, and then I was really hooked by the sound of those 1940's Eddy Arnold songs with Roy Wiggins playing steel.

.....and then on to the 1950's, it would probably be Jerry Byrd's "Steeling the Blues" as the song that inspired me and so many other steel guitar players.

....in truth, there is no answer to the question...it depends upon the exposure of each steel guitarist.

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 21 Oct 2006 4:23 pm

Charles, you have my vote on the method you explained. I found The "Rag" one of the most requested, and fun tunes to play.

And Gene has a way of telling my story.Those old songs with Roy Wiggins,playing lap steel, on the Juke Boxes is why I built my first Lap Steel, using an old , De Armon electric pick up, built for a Standard Guitar. hey it worked fine, with my little
Amp. really small , I forgot the name of the Amp, might have been an early Sears Catalog Amp.

Herbie

------------------

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 21 Oct 2006 4:36 pm

John, by "ice cream" changes, I think Mike meant using the 1 6m 4 5 chords in a progression for the verses to a song like many had in the late 1950s and early 1960s. "Stay" by Maurcie Williams and the Zodiacs would be sch an example. In the key of C the verses would use C Am F G. At least that's what comes to my mind. steve t[This message was edited by steve takacs on 21 October 2006 at 05:37 PM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 21 Oct 2006 4:50 pm

John, Steve is correct. 1, 6 minor, 4, 5 or C, Am, F, G or G, Em, C, D, Half the rock and roll tunes in the late 50s used this progression. I chose "A Teenager In Love" partially as a joke, but it actually works very well as an example of this kind of music.

G- pedals up, 3rd fret
Em- A pedal down, 3rd fret.
C- A and B pedals down, 3rd fret
D- A and B pedals down, 5th fret OR A pedal and E-F knee lever, 1st fret.

------------------
Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
-----------
My web site

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 21 October 2006 at 11:13 PM.]

john lemay · Post by **john lemay** » 22 Oct 2006 2:48 pm

Thanks Guys!

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 22 Oct 2006 7:34 pm

Hey Gene....you got it right..... Geo

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Oct 2006 7:42 pm

Why are they called "Ice Cream Changes"? Cuz they're 'plain vanilla'?

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 22 Oct 2006 8:40 pm

nowwwwwww Jim

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 22 Oct 2006 9:16 pm

Why are they called "Ice Cream Changes"? Cuz they're 'plain vanilla'?

Maybe because I wanna scream when I hear them?
(Don't tell me you didn't see that one coming.)

------------------
Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
-----------
My web site

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 23 Oct 2006 3:27 am

After a "basic" steel guitar rag start, there is another one called steel guitar stomp that is similar and incorporates the numbers 6 and 2 chords as well.[This message was edited by Bill Myrick on 23 October 2006 at 04:28 AM.]

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 23 Oct 2006 7:27 am

John, learn the above mentioned old standard tunes, on the ,Lap Steel,and other tunes you might like, ( Lap Steel tuned in "E" That is the basic, easiest starting point,) also that practice will help you learn to use the bar,
Then when you tackle the E9'th standard pedal Steel set up, You will understand using the Pedals,

Herbie

------------------

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 23 Oct 2006 9:41 am

Hay Gene J. Did you like that looong slide in the Looney Toons intro as well?

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 23 Oct 2006 10:11 am

I think the first tune I did on steel was Steel Guitar Rag. Of course, it was a 6-string lap steel but it was my first recording of my steel playing. It sounded decent after only a little work. I think that's a good starting tune.

------------------
Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 23 Oct 2006 10:15 am

And after about 2 weeks of trying, it sounded like this...
http://www.16tracks.com/songs/SteelGuitarRag.mp3

------------------
Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 23 Oct 2006 4:52 pm

Gary, really a good job
I enjoyed listening, can't beat that.

Herbie

------------------