recording of my playing

Niklas Widen · Post by **Niklas Widen** » 31 Mar 2003 8:44 am

Hello there!

I've been playing for about one and a half years now, and I recorded a litte mp3 file of my playing. Can anyone comment on it and tell me how I'm doing? I know there are some mistakes but it's the first take and I didn't bother doing another

the address of the file is http://user.tninet.se/~rmz810g/steel/steel.mp3

I'd sure appreciate if someone gave me some critics! What I should work on and so forth...

/Nicke Widén, Sweden

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 31 Mar 2003 8:58 am

It is very well done, Niklas. I am impressed at your accuracy, tone, and overall sound. Honestly, for that tune, I couldn't have done much better myself. It is a relatively simple little tune -- which is a GOOD THING -- but not particularly demanding.

My recommendations:
For that style tune, listen to Lloyd Green. He's the master of unison/split notes, stuff to give a bit more excitement without sounding too busy. Think a bit more about chromatic tension -- use more half-steps in your solo composition. Stuff like that can take you to another level. JayDee Maness is another excellent player to study for that style (and others).

There are many other styles. What do you play when the tempo is double that? Are there patterns and (I hate the word but it's the best one I have) LICKS that you can play at 180-200 bpm -- e.g., bluegrass tempo. Listen to some of the really cool stuff Bruce Bouton did with Ricky Skaggs -- e.g., Country Boy, Hwy 40 Blues. Also, start thinking about how to get from the NP position to the A+B position (or vice versa) by connecting notes in between (often called 'speedpicking').

I have no idea what your musical aspirations are, but there is a wide variety of music that can be played on pedal steel. Do you like Western Swing? Do you play C6? You may be ready to look into some of these other tunings or styles. Rock and jazz are also great fun on the pedal steel.

Congratulations on a job well done. You have an excellent foundation to build upon.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 31 March 2003 at 09:07 AM.]

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 31 Mar 2003 9:00 am

For only been playing for about one and a half years, I'd say you're doing great! I'd say just keep it up and you've got no worries. You've really got a great start. If you really want some criticism, I did hear a couple places where I thought the sustain seemed a little short, you might have used a little volume pedal technique to squeeze the chord to sustain a little longer, but this is probably more just my personal taste talking. Actually, it's good that you don't overwork and "pump" on the volume pedal. A little in the right places, though, is a good technique. Just keep up the good work, I'd say you have a fantastic start.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 31 Mar 2003 9:06 am

Niklas, very well done! I am listening to it for the 4th time now! Very refreshing! Very good tone. You are certainly going in the right direction! I have heard folks that have played for 30 years and don't sound as good. Tell us about your equipment, please. Now, for #5......

Anders Brundell · Post by **Anders Brundell** » 31 Mar 2003 11:47 am

Jättebra efter bara 1½ års spelande!
Very well done after just 1½ yrs of practice!

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 31 Mar 2003 12:02 pm

Jo jag tackar! (Swedish for Holy Smoke!)
Good playing and good tone. I've been at it for about three years and i still don't have that sound. However, i blame that entirely on my gear

Hör av dig vettja.

-Uffe

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 31 Mar 2003 12:59 pm

Niklas:

Sounds great. Whatever you did in 1-1/2 years to get to this point, keep on doing it.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 31 Mar 2003 1:22 pm

Awesome..

thnaks for sharing it..

tp

Buck Grantham R.I.P. · Post by **Buck Grantham R.I.P.** » 31 Mar 2003 3:18 pm

Sounds like you been playing at least 5 years. I suspect that you were a lead guitar player first. If you were that would account for your fast progress. Your tone was very good and your picking is very clean.Stay with it because you're going to be a great steel player in a few more years.

Jerry Horner · Post by **Jerry Horner** » 31 Mar 2003 5:29 pm

After playing for 54 years, it takes a lot to impress me. But for only playing for 1 1/2 years I am damm sure impressed with your grasp of the steel guitar. Keep it up.

Jerry

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 31 Mar 2003 5:33 pm

I love Lloyd Green ,and this is right up his alley.Great,keep on pickin`.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 31 Mar 2003 6:36 pm

you're doin' real good there Niklas
i wish i sounded that good after a year and a half.
Pray tell, you have been playin' Musik for more than that tho have'nt you ?
Keep up the good work

------------------
Steel what?

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 31 Mar 2003 7:35 pm

Niklas, you makin' me want to sell my steel. I don't think I'll be where you are after ten years.

------------------
Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 31 Mar 2003 9:16 pm

I have heard folks that have played for 30 years and don't sound as good.

Gee...see if I let you hear me play again, Reggie!!!

Very good indeed, Niklas, especially given the fact you've only been playing a year and a half!

[This message was edited by Lem Smith on 31 March 2003 at 10:20 PM.]

Niklas Widen · Post by **Niklas Widen** » 1 Apr 2003 4:55 am

Thanks for all your replies and kind words! This little tune was recorded with my swedish made AWH steel through a volume pedal and preamp into my computer's sound card. Then I used IK Multimedia's AmpliTube software for amp simulation. I used a modification of the "crystal clean" patch, with added digital reverb and a little delay. Btw, does anyone else use amplitube and got some good settings for it?

The drums and bass are Band-in-a-box-generated and then I recorded some guitar and my brother laid down a fiddle track...Ok, as you can hear, all notes played on the 3:d string have very bad sustain...I think i've played with that 3:d for a couple of months now...

Well, I'll put on a new set of strings and record something more! Thanks once again!

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 1 Apr 2003 6:24 am

There are a couple threads here that tell you how to get more mileage out of that 3rd string.

Lem, you know better than that! You are one fine steel guitarist, too!

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 1 Apr 2003 8:03 am

Niklas, have you been a regular guitar player for a while? If so, how long? Have you ever played slide 6-string, or dobro, or anything like that? You certainly have taken to the pedal steel like a fish to water!

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 1 Apr 2003 8:09 am

very nice.

Niklas Widen · Post by **Niklas Widen** » 1 Apr 2003 9:35 am

Yeah, I started taking classical guitar lessons when I was 10 (I'm soon 19). I got kinda bored and then really started playing music seriously when I picked up...er..banjo!

Then I also started flatpicking bluegrass, electric lead guitar, and yeah, I've played a little slide as well. But I always loved the sound of the steel, and then finally found one that wasn't too expensive (a student's budget, you know

)

I got surprised the steel wasn't as difficult to play as I thought (all right, it IS very difficult, but I thought I'd NEVER be able to work up my coordination!). I also listened to a lot of steel guitar music before I started playing and I guessed that has helped. I just had to figure out how to make those sounds I had in my head!

Today I started working out a steel arrengement of 6-string lead monster Eric Johnson's "Cliffs of Dover". I think the refrain section sounds like it could have been a pedal steel idea! I'll try to record that one too when I'm finished...Thanks again!