Loch Lomond C6th lap steel revised

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 Mar 2023 2:35 am

Loch Lomond - my revised C6 arrangement. Added an intro in harmonics, changed some of the drone strings, and made a few more tweaks. I was practising it on electric steel but controlling all the ringing strings was challenging. So, I pulled out the Weissenborn, tuned down from Open D to G6th (from the bottom GBDEGB) same interval relationships as C6th tuning) and on acoustic, it sounds Bonnie!

MIDI: http://sndup.net/qkmg/?fbclid=IwAR38gcK ... kL_T_ZkAkI

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 26 Mar 2023 2:51 am

Sounds great, Andy!

I think it’s Loch Lomond.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 Mar 2023 5:09 am

Thanks. Fixing typo.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 26 Mar 2023 2:24 pm

I like that low G6 tuning, and use it alot.

Greg Forsyth · Post by **Greg Forsyth** » 26 Mar 2023 4:27 pm

Wonderful arrangement and playing, Andy.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 27 Mar 2023 2:45 am

Thanks, Greg. The example above was computer-generated audio that doesn't make mistakes but isn't human. So here's the human version. Solo lap steel feels very exposed, every flub is magnified (bagpipe imitations sound quacky) so I'm still working on playing this better but here's where it is today on my 1952 Magnatone with no picks ...

https://soundcloud.com/aev/loch-lomand- ... nngh6t0YJg

Joe A. Roberts · Post by **Joe A. Roberts** » 28 Mar 2023 2:36 am

Thanks for this Andy, I bought your traditional music for C6th pdf book earlier this week and have been enjoying it, so this is a nice addition to staple to the back of that.

I know what you mean about feeling exposed, especially recording direct, its certainly frustrating translating what your ears are hearing in real life to a digital medium!

I think those drones are really cool, reminds me of this version of Amazing Grace by Roy Thomson on I guess E9th pedal steel, really pretty when it pickups up in the middle:
https://soundcloud.com/roy-thomson/amaz ... scottish-3
,
I've been playing the the C Diatonic tuning a lot, and I was playing through your arrangements trying to find places to use the extra strings for a harp effect. In a lot of places a re-entrant D string would be great! argh

In this ringing Celtic style, a really underrated guitarist (a least on youtube

) Keith Hinchliffe is really inspiring to me. He is an incredible guitarist, in many styles but particularly in his Celtic arrangements full of drones and ringing strings.
I have transcription book put out by Mel Bay of a Celtic CD of his called "Islands" and there are like 20+ tunes and literally almost every one is in a different tuning!

He's definitely worth checking out:
Celtic stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e4erKq3U5M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWB-K7D61so

A pretty off-the-wall blues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YlhVw2PvQ

Round Midnight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AQ5B0gN_N8

Anyway, I always appreciate your tab posts Andy and always look forward to them.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 28 Mar 2023 10:46 am

You're welcome, Joe, and thanks for buying the book. This kind of traditional music is largely untapped on lap steel. Buddy Emmons did a great version of "Indian Killed a Woodcock" but few other examples come to mind. I have heard Roy's cool version of AG.

Hinchliffe is excellent on both the Celtic tunes and wow! - that blues tune.

I loved the way Nick Jones played this style as well ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DkF1hr4-L8

It's a lot easier to control all those ringing, clanging strings on guitar than on a lap steel but it's a cool effect when you factor-in the steel's pipe-like ability to sustain drones, notes and full chords.

Thanks for the links and hope you enjoy the Traditional tunes! They are always a work in progress in terms of finding the best places on the neck to play the notes.

I'd love to hear some of your "work in progress." I'm working on Cattle in the Cane - a real workout for my rusty pick blocking!