Semi truck sounds

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » 28 Jan 2003 1:43 pm

Several people have described how they make train horn/whistle sounds on steel. Any ideas on 18-wheeler truck horn sounds?

JV

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 28 Jan 2003 2:11 pm

Here's one I do a lot. String 8 open and string 10 at the fourth fret. Hit them both together with the volume pedal off, then work the pedal to get the effect.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 28 Jan 2003 4:22 pm

How about just getting an 18 wheeler? Is there more money in "sounds" these days than in playing music? (on a steel) I always liked Jimmy Day's line about playing the song
in a manner so that if your Mom walked in, in the middle of your solo, she'd know what song it was you were playing!

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 28 Jan 2003 7:32 pm

Jim, if you have a phase shifter in your fx, add a slow phase to the notes your play. I use this technique for Diesel Trains also. And with a slow phase if I am not too busy with other things in the song when I blow the whistle.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 28 Jan 2003 9:55 pm

Two bass notes 1/2 tone apart such as 8th string open and bar 9th string 3rd fret or
7th string open and bar 8th string on 3rd fret (E9th), strike strings with volume pedal up and give horn blasts with the volume pedal. This makes pretty good dissitant horn sound. On occasions where I need a train sound I use this technique along with a Jerry Bird type slant with A and B pedals down to get a slightly out of tune 1,3,6 chord sliding in and out of it while working the volume pedal. I use the same bass strings for a big truck horn. If I need an Isuzu or Datsun truck horn I use 3rd open and bar on 3rd fret of 4th string with the same volume pedal action.

Jerry