The British Steelies Society

A while ago I was asking what sort of scales Tom Morrell uses in his music. Didn't get the answer but Ken did say that I would need an E13 tuning - so bought myself a twin eight lap steel and tuned one neck to Leon Mcauliffes E13. Didn't have enough strings for Toms tuning. Then the learning started. Tom plays Blue Steel Blues in E so thought 12th fret would be my starting point. How wrong could I be. Most of this is done around the 5th to 7th fret with a move to 12th and also open strings on the odd occasion. He goes really wild towards the end of the second solo and I just could not figure it out so did my own thing.

Also played with finger nails as a had damaged by index finger doing gardening and wearing a pick was murder.

Any tips or ideas would be welcome.



Cheers

That was very nice Mick....nice bright tone from them fingertips

Thanks for the comments folks.
Ken - You don't know how it feels when such a respected player comes out with a comment like that - thanks. It is true what you say - it is difficult to get into the mind of any player and whilst I can possibly play some of the notes, I won't find his soul. That's the same with any player. I can get a good Hank Marvin impersonation on guitar but I will never play like him. It's all down to technique, the hands, the mind and the soul which at the end of the day makes us all different.

With regard to this song - Once I had heard it I knew I had to play it. Some of those passages were difficult and a couple of bar slants but it was a good learning curve. And Tom's version is so different to all the others. I think I was up to take 32 by the time I had finished, and it still isn't finished. Have got to polish it up but I'm getting there I hope.

Now why the hell don't I try something simple for a change

I know what you mean Ken. Birthday coming up and as I have never bought any Tom Morrell recordings it's about time someone got me some for my birthday. Looking at the collection "How the west was swung" series sounds good.

Talking about challenge I remember Albert Lee's "Country Boy". Leant it on guitar, can play it but never done it live. It was the challenge of could I actually do it. And similarly Weldon Myricks 1 pedal, 2 finger, 3 string thingy. I kept at it until it sounded like an Albert Lee lick but never used it. Now I achieve this and yet listen to my pedal steel there is a lot left to be desired in my technique. I cringe sometimes listening to my recordings. Still must practice. I left it alone for so many years I had to pick up on it again.

A question for you Ken - What size bar do you think Tom is using? It looks massive on video and he is constantly using the tip prodding at the notes except where he needs to cover several strings.

Great sounds there Mick, everything Ken said and more mate you have cracked it ...

I know what you mean Ken. I have been murdering "Phoolawka" and as you say the musicianship throughout the whole band is fantastic. Oh to able to play like that and have a similar band around you. It would make my retirement years very happy ones.

One thing I did notice about his technique is that he uses quick successive thumb plucks for some of the chromatic runs whereas I have alternated between thumb and first finger. I went and tried it and it works - a different sound altogether. I don't know if any of our American friends look at this site - if so can they shed any light on this fact. Would be interesting.