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Cthulhu
Aloha
USA
6 Posts |
 Posted - 07/15/2005 : 04:12:08 AM
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I have my lap steel (an Artisan knock-about), a steel (Broz-o-phonic) and... now how do I learn how to play the thing? I've looked at a number of books/DVDs, including:
- Basic C6th Nonpedal Lap Steel Method
- Complete Steel Guitar Method
- GeorgeBoards DVDs
Short of having an instructor, any suggestions on the best books and/or DVDs to learn a few tunes, how to hold the steel, slant, etc.?
Thanks!
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Gary A
Lokahi
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2005 : 12:20:48 PM
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Based on your lap steel and the method books you mention I assume you're interested in learning C6 tuning for electric lap steel. I wrote a summary of the available C6 instructional material here: C6 Resources
Unfortunately I don't know of a really good book or DVD for learning Hawaiian C6 lap steel.
The "Basic C6th Nonpedal Lap Steel Method" is not a bad book for a beginner. It has some nice tunes and progresses from the basics to more advanced stuff. It has some Hawaiian tunes. The "Complete Steel Guitar Method" is probably not a good choice since it covers the E7 tuning which is more appropriate for bluesy rather than Hawaiian stuff. The Cindy Cashdollar DVDs are Western Swing oriented, but they contains some good information on technique.
The Bob Brozman "Traditional Hawaiian Guitar" is for old-style acoustic lap steel in the Taropatch tuning. It's probably not what you're looking for. However, it does a very good job covering some important things such as vibrato and playing with a Hawaiian feel.
EDIT: Fixed bad link.
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Gary |
Edited by - Gary A on 04/12/2006 4:37:00 PM |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2005 : 1:51:45 PM
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I just started a "Taro Patch" steel guitar class here in Kona. We are tuned to Taro Patch G. There are 3 people in it - 2 are ukulele players, and the third is a slack key guitarist who frequents this fine web site. Yesterday was our first class. I started them out just learning how to hold the bar so that their fingers are relaxed and the ring finger and pinkie are actually laying on the strings. This is important, and I caught the uke players curling their fingers under their hands a number of times. I had them open their ukulele book and we played Pua Mana about 6 times - just working on playing the bar chords. That was about all they could handle in a one hour class. (Of course the slack key player was way ahead of everyone, and she was doing slants ... she played "Walking with my baby down by the San Fransisco Bay" for me. I was very pleased!) While we were playing several other ukulele players stopped by and one has decided that they also want to learn to play taro patch steel.
I will try to keep a record here of what we do in class. I am hoping to see a lot more steel players here in Hawaii in the next 5 years.
I have always found that just putting on a CD and trying to play along is a great way to learn. It may not be 'organized' but it teaches
you to find your chords by ear quickly. It is a very fast way to learn if you are hoping to be good at kanikapila.
Aloha,
-Konabob |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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Gary A
Lokahi
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2005 : 9:04:57 PM
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| I agree that playing along with a CD is good for your playing. It helps if you're using the same tuning as the recording you're trying to copy. But even if you aren't, I think it's good to try to copy another player's vibrato or the way the notes are articulated (e.g do they slide into a note quickly or slowly, do they pick before or after the slide, how is a melodic line phrased, etc). |
Gary |
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seldomfed
Aloha
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 11:22:36 AM
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Since you live in the midwest, come to the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association's (HSGA) Joliet, Illinois. The convention is set for October 13-15, 2005 at the newly remodeled Joliet Holiday Inn.
See Gerald's post in this forum. or go to www.hsga.org
What better way to learn than to hang out with world class steel players for a few days and watch what they do, and ask questions, hear classic Hawaiian steel like it is supposed to be played.
It's really amazing and fun. Come on down!
Chris Kennison
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Gary
Aloha
USA
43 Posts |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2006 : 8:42:43 PM
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Aloha KonaBob, I also have my steel in TaroPatch, but since trying the "Rogers tuning" (As in Feets and ohana) at Aloha Music Camp with Fred Lunt, I'm beginning to think that I can't get those clear high notes in G. Any thoughts on this?
As for being new to steel, it's so important to get a real live human being there to show you how to hold that steel bar without dropping it on your open-toe slippered feet.  Ow, oe, eek !!
Julie
(KB: Why don't you come up and try my steel sometime?)  |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2006 : 07:44:12 AM
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HI Julie!
Shirley and I will be in San Jose on the 22 and 23rd of April. Any chance we could meet somewhere?
In answer to your question; if you want to sound like Rogers, you should try his tuning. I am a Ken
Emerson and Bob Brozman fan, so I like the Taro Patch tuning. I find the G tuning to be very versatile.
I can play all kinds of music (even slack key) whereas the C6th tuning is kind of specialized. Granted,
it is specialized to a kind of music that I really love...
You might be able to get nice high ringing tones even in Taro Patch tuning if you have the right
set of strings, (measure the distance from the nut to the saddle, and let me know. Maybe I can
calculate a good string set for you.) If you or Larry can cut a short piece of 3/16" stainless steel rod to replace the
bone or plastic saddle on your guitar it will also help. Since I made these two changes, my guitar can ring plenty!
Aloha,
-Konabob |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2006 : 11:00:10 AM
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Konabob,
If you don;t mind me horning in on this offer, my Weissonetti guitar has a scale length of 25 inches. what strings would you suggest? the SS rod replacement for the bone bridege i had originally installed sure has helped a lot, and so has actually learning how to play the darned thing a litltle better. I was at a bl;uegrass jam mlast night, and the players all liked the sound wshen they played it, but none said anything when i was playing......what is the message there?????
Oh, i also increased the tone, or at least made it sound more like the dobro being played last night, by dragging out some old finger picks i used to use on the 12 string. Sure takes a lot of geting used to, but the sound is a world apart from bare fingers. |
Karl
Frozen North |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2006 : 07:07:48 AM
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Ok, my favorite string calculator gives me the following information.
The first set is the John Pearse Set #7300 that I use on my guitars. Both guitars have a 25.5 inch nut to saddle distance.
The second set is the nearest I could work up for a guitar with a 25.0 inch distance.
PL = plain steel string
PB = phosphor bronze wound string
length from nut to saddle 25.5"
Note - String - - - Tension
D - - .016" PL == 32.95#
B, - - .018" PL == 29.49#
G, - - .022" PL == 27.75#
D, - - .032" PB == 30.53#
G,, - - .046" PB == 28.16#
D,, - - .054" PB == 21.47#
total == 170.35#
length from nut to saddle 25.0"
Note - String - - - Tension
D - - .016" PL == 31.67#
B, - - .018" PL == 28.34#
G, - - .024" PB == 29.06#
D, - - .032" PB == 29.34#
G,, - - .048" PB == 29.37#
D,, - - .056" PB == 22.16#
total == 169.94# |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2006 : 10:00:01 AM
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| Geez, thanks, but....who figures this stuff out anyway? |
Karl
Frozen North |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2182 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2006 : 2:34:06 PM
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| Karl, playing Dobro was the reason I use fingerpicks. It took a couple of years to make the jump to guitar. Again, t'ree weeks and I had it down. I used to hang out with a good banjar picker who showed me how to mash the picks down so that they are close on top of the fingers for a more immediate feel, plus there's less pick to become entangled in the strings. For steel, picks are a must--'specially 'coustic pickin'. |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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Peatzroy
Aloha
Australia
2 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2006 : 5:35:57 PM
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Aloha, just wondering what the best site is to get hawaiian music tabs. I need to learn at least one song by this friday for my school assesment. Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers, Peatzroy. |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2006 : 9:22:08 PM
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geez, ive been on this site almost three years now and i still cant remember how to use them smiley things (dont bother to tell me again, i will only forget) and Peatzroy has it down after just 2 posts.
good on you,mate
oh, sorry, no idea about the web site yo asked about either
signed
clueless in Alaska |
Karl
Frozen North |
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