| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| fred d |
Posted - 01/05/2011 : 12:58:02 PM
Aloha learning slack key as well as trying to learn lap slide ( they are tuned the same) slack key has helped learn notes and lap the chords and I sometimes take both to jams this music both and excites me the lap helps due to the sitting position and my health problems Has anyone else used this combantions also is it best when playing back up to play notes or chords thanks for any help fred |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| fred d |
Posted - 12/13/2011 : 7:48:19 PM
 Well Friends it's been nearly a year since I started this post! I have been taking weekly hour lessons with Bob Diedrtch a former Pro and in the hall of music fame in Colorada. Wonderful player at 87, I bought one of his twin neck 8 string consol guitars and have been learning to play in C6 and E9 I now can play about 6 songs note for note and know most of my major, minor, and seventh chords I have played for the red hat ladys and several other retirement groups as back up. We teach ukulele at the local retirement center weekly and jam with several other local groups as well as one that we try to sing in Hawiian. This culture seem to be additive and I seem to be experence my second, third?? child hood Thanks for all the help from the Bog |
| Mike Anderson |
Posted - 06/22/2011 : 07:34:16 AM
hey all, just wondering if anyone besides slipry1 and this fella: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSE2p1GUr9k is using B11 on a Weissenborn? Or C6 for that matter?
slipry1, would you be able to tell me what string gauges you're using for these (I'm assuming a 25" scale)? - would be most grateful. |
| Mike Anderson |
Posted - 06/13/2011 : 06:53:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by slipry1
Well, Gabby was a really good steel player himself; played steel for Andy Cummings and Don Ho, and, remember, he played with Feet in the Sons of Hawaii. You can hear Gabby playing steel on the "Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band" cds. He overdubs himself twice on "Blue Hawaiian Moonlight" on V1, and plays steel on "How'd Ya Do" on V2. I've played with Led here in Seattle and when I was in Hawaii. It's true, he doesn't use a steel guitar often, and I've never heard a steel player on his records.
There is a rich history of Hawaiian steel for its beginning in the 1880's until today. For most of that time, the sound of a steel guitar meant "Hawaiian" to most people. I recommend "Legends of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" and "History of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" on Cort International records. The liner notes are very good on both albums, and the tracks are gorgeous.
Hiya slipry1 - yes, I have all those disks as a matter of fact, they are some of my main inspiration. I think I first heard Gabby back in the late 70s on Ry Cooder's "Chicken Skin Music". Right now I am listening again to "Blue Hawaiian Moonlight" from Hawaiian Band, and yes that really is a sweet steel track! :)
Further to my remark on Bob B with slack key, I was thinking about the debate yesterday while listening to "Four Hands Sweet and Hot" - which I believe is mostly Bob's Kona and Weissenborn rather than National - and I didn't hear a whole lot of that 1920s chops-heavy playing. I thought Mr. B's playing harmonized very nicely with Cyril's in fact.
Thanks for the good thoughts and info slipry1!
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| thumbstruck |
Posted - 06/13/2011 : 04:15:59 AM
Eh, Jack, we heard Led play his Jones resophonic a couple years ago and he tried your 8-string Dobro a couple times. |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 06/12/2011 : 6:45:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Anderson
"Feet" Rogers is also, BIG time, my guy for electric, Sol Ho'opi'i (discovered through Mr. Brozman) for acoustic. It's ALL good!
And I like this debate about 1928 style with slack key - but it seems Mr. Pahinui and Mr. Kaapana also didn't mind one bit. ;)
Would love to hear any of them play with a good electric lap steel guy though, that's for sure.
Well, Gabby was a really good steel player himself; played steel for Andy Cummings and Don Ho, and, remember, he played with Feet in the Sons of Hawaii. You can hear Gabby playing steel on the "Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band" cds. He overdubs himself twice on "Blue Hawaiian Moonlight" on V1, and plays steel on "How'd Ya Do" on V2. I've played with Led here in Seattle and when I was in Hawaii. It's true, he doesn't use a steel guitar often, and I've never heard a steel player on his records.
There is a rich history of Hawaiian steel for its beginning in the 1880's until today. For most of that time, the sound of a steel guitar meant "Hawaiian" to most people. I recommend "Legends of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" and "History of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" on Cort International records. The liner notes are very good on both albums, and the tracks are gorgeous. |
| Mike Anderson |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 07:31:01 AM
"Feet" Rogers is also, BIG time, my guy for electric, Sol Ho'opi'i (discovered through Mr. Brozman) for acoustic. It's ALL good!
And I like this debate about 1928 style with slack key - but it seems Mr. Pahinui and Mr. Kaapana also didn't mind one bit. ;)
Would love to hear any of them play with a good electric lap steel guy though, that's for sure. |
| Mike Anderson |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 07:25:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Lawrence
quote:
(My newbie advice for Fred is to check out the stuff Bob Brozman does with Led Kaapana and Cyril Pahinui- amazing guitar by true masters!!)Aloha, Matthew in Orygun
Also worth mentioning is the newer release of Bob Brozman and George Kahumoku: Kani Wai , which was nominated last year for two Na Hoku Hanohano awards. On this disc (and partly because of the influence of George) Bob shows that he can actually slow down and get those nice smooth almost pedal steel type sounds when he wants to, but there is plenty of energetic stuff on there as well.
P.S: When Bob is playing he will often pick up the instrument, park the steel and play in regular fingerstyle form with alternating bass and the usual Hawaiian riffs. Then he will put in back on his lap and resume with the steel.
This is exactly the kind of great thread I joined this forum for! Awesome guys - and thanks for the note about "Kani Wai", which I hadn't heard about before. Went over to iTunes and got it right away as I couldn't stand the thought of waiting for shipment. :) |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 08:08:21 AM
Nope. I use variations of the C6 tuning, the B11 tuning and. for my 6 string resonator guitar, the "high G" tuning (from low string, G B D G B D). From your post, I believe that you are using TaroPatch, the oldest Hawaiian steel tuning - D G D G B D, which I mentioned in an earlier post. btw, any chance you are the Larry miller who's a great Cajun steeler? |
| Larry Miller |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 04:28:36 AM
In response to one of the questions, I got a Gold Star Weissenborn and find it to be quite playable. I prefer it to the resonator guitars as it has a softer less brassy sound.
I agree about Brozman- he has a very impressive technique, but after listening to "Feet" Rogers, I'm afraid that I'm spoiled for that Ho'opi'i style.
AS I mentioned on another thread, I drop the low D and add a high G on the 1st string. Has anyone else tried that tuning? |
| Karl Monetti |
Posted - 01/10/2011 : 08:49:27 AM
Slipry1
COuld not find a way to contact Alan Akaka on the web site that came up. Do you have more specific info on how to contact him for skype lessons? I am a very visual learner, and since you won't come to Alaska to teach me (imagine!!! he goes to Hawai'i instead; what's wrong with this guy?) I need someone via the magic of the ethereal internet.
Mahalo |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 10:20:37 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Mark
Want nahenahe? Listen to Barny Isaacs and George Kuo's Dancing Cat CD. Yep, you can play sweet on a dobro.
Hey, Mark - How about MY 8 string Dobro? I have it tuned to C6/Bb like Barney, and I use it a lot at parties and acoustic jams, playing as sweetly or as swingy as I can.
For Fred d - I'm older than you, so there are still a lot of chances to learn and have fun for us old guys, too! Go to Mele.com and, from the "Music" menu, select "Steel Guitar". It'll blow your mind! Greg Sardinha has put out 6 excellent CD's with cuts by contemporay steelers, and there are 2 great CD's - "The History of Hawaiian Steel Guitar" and "Legends of Hawaiian Steel" that are very educational, especially the liner notes. btw, Every album in this thread is still available. I just checked. We need all the steelers we can get! Every time I come to Oahu, I take lessons from Alan Akaka, who is helping me sound more and more Hawaiian. Also, Alan has a lot of kids taking lessons on steel. Check his website. He will give you lessons over the Net via Skype. Go for it! |
| fred d |
Posted - 01/08/2011 : 6:02:16 PM
Right on Mark I'm am old southern boy did't learn to spell or wright well and sure don't talk good I did learn to fight but all that did was bring on more trouble after my operations and strok. I feel it's time to mellow I tryed Uke nothing mandolin, 4-5-6 string banjo, guitar blues, country, bluegrass, nothing. Was given a old (1923) OHAU square neck, found tuning on the net and fell in love. The music is both mellow an stimulating at the sametime since acuring this instrument 2yr. ago I have bought a Gold Tone wessenborn and a Pieve Lap steel bought severals books and would realy like any help I can get I even started to read about about Hana the Hawiian way at 69 my life is just starting again thanks for any help fred |
| Mark |
Posted - 01/08/2011 : 10:13:58 AM
Well said, Yogi.
There is room for it all.
Dig around on youtube for some great vids of Jerry Byrd playing acoustic. Sweet. And by all means pick up on Feet Rogers. He is kind of the touchstone for contemporary players.
So where in Oregon are you?
I'm way down south (where the sugercane grows... ooops, wrong genre) but I'll be up in Portland for the Old Time Festival.
See, I told you I like music from the 20s. |
| guitar yogi |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 4:41:35 PM
Thank you for all the info folks! I know so very little about Hawaiian music that each post here has valuable information for me. (My main expertise is acoustic and electric Blues , so I hope you all will forgive me for my ignorance.) I had no idea, for example,that Bob Brozman would become a controversial topic! I definately want to check out his instructional videos though, as well as his newer album with George Kohumoku. But I also like Barney Isaacs with George Kuo, too, as well as the newer, electric lap steel stuff- although I don't know anything about it yet! I've got a lot of listening to do, but this is a lot of fun to learn about a new kind of music. I really enjoy this website. OK, now I'll get back to practicing "Radio Hula" again! |
| Mark |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 2:33:48 PM
Hi -
I've been kinda tryin' to stay out of this, but hey....
Bob B and Stacy Phillips are fine musicians. I know both of 'em-- Bob since the 80s when we were both on Kicking Mule, Stacy via PSGW where we both have taught.
Slip's 100% right: they play like it is 1928. Nothing wrong with that.... or is there? (Hee, hee, here we go...  )
Here's my take: If you are playing in a situation where you are faithfully recreating an earlier era, great. I love that stuff... I play stuff from the 20s, even.
But... IT AIN'T 1928. He said, loudly.
And that's my beef---and I ain't alone:
Why play flashy, 20's style doo-dah hacky-doodle in a contemporary idiom? (And you'd better believe that the way slack key is played now is a contemporary idiom.) Would you blast 20's style New Orleans tailgate trombone licks all over a straight ahead jazz arrangement?
Or, to take it from the other direction: try to sit in on with old time fiddle and banjo band with an electric guitar and drum machine.
Yep, what our lad does on those CDs is that jarring to me. Taste, as you said.
When I asked him recently, Stacy had never heard of a single contemporary Hawaiian steel player. Not one. He was actually quite surprised that anyone was playing in Hawaii, let alone that the style had progressed in the last, oh, gee, 90 YEARS!!!!
Ditto Bob. He once told me -- actually, he's told me a dozen times.. that he is completely not interested in any music recorded after 1928. I guess that means he doesn't listen to his own records?
OK. So, yeah, it is a matter of taste. I happen to like both Stacy & Bob as people, as musicians, as scholars. I respect the heck out of their chops and their knowledge and their teaching skills. I own some of Bob's recordings, some of Stacy's books & recordings. Yadda yadda.
In fact, I think Brozman is one of the finest solo performers working today. Yep, every bit as good as Roy Smeck. Too bad Vaudeville's dead, cuz the boy would kill on that circuit.
But I'd rather not hold either of 'em up as models for what the steel is supposed to sound like in this century.
Want nahenahe? Listen to Barny Isaacs and George Kuo's Dancing Cat CD. Yep, you can play sweet on a dobro.
And Bob's been really developing a great touch on that acoustic. Don't know about banjo-steel, tho. 
End of rant.
(Gee, maybe this is my Bose moment???)
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