New YouTube Videos

[Gary James Peters]

Hi All (anyone)

I back again (but then if you’re reading this hopefully you won’t mind).

On this occasion I would like to share a series of YouTube videos I’ve just recorded. Two are different live takes of an electronica piece (‘Norfolk’) already posted on the forum and on Soundcloud. The sound quality leaves something to be desired, but that’s not the focus here. Also there are three videos that kind of catalogue my daily practise routine, exploring chords, riffs etc. all geared to getting on top of all the E9/B6 combos I’m struggling to master on my U12. I hope there’s something for some of you here on the forum.











That’s it…enjoy!

Gary

[Uncle Roy]

[*]Nice package of videos Gary. Nice tone on the guitar.
Thanks for posting.
Keep safe.

[Gary James Peters]

Thanks Roy

A man of impeccable taste (and ears) as always!

But seriously....

Thanks for listening.

Gary

[Danny Mitchell]

Number 4, 'B6 chords', has some really interesting chords in there, and the best choreography, nice one Gary. I like that full tone.

[Gary James Peters]

Yes, that'll be the augmented 5th/6th add 9th you're referring to (or partly so)...but that's not the one that requires Twizzle legs. (Does anyone remember Twizzle?)

I never could dance, unfortunately.

The tone: all in the right hand mate!!

Cheers Danny.

G

[Haddock]

Interesting to see how someone else practices and some nice things in there. Number 3 occasionally remained me of something Bob Adams might play with notes in harmony heading off in as many directions as knees. I do like the description ‘waiting for something to happen’. That’s what I do too as I have little interest in learning what anyone else does. Sometimes I think I should listen to some steel music but instrumental cover albums, no matter what the instrument, always sound a bit nAff after a few tunes. Unless, of course, its by one of the pan pipe guys or Aker Bilk. They have me in stitches.....
Good job keeping the forum alive Gary!
Cheers
Calum

[Gary James Peters]

Thanks Calum.

Yes, I've always enjoyed watching people practising/rehearsing as much as if not more than the final polished performance. For my part, practising is not primarily about mastering existing tunes, riffs, phrases, chord changes...etc, but confronting what you don't know or didn't expect. As far as I'm concerned, when practising every possibility is there ready and waiting, but only years of diligence offers the chance (and it often is chance) of opening them up and allowing them to become part of what you are as a player. But you have to accept perhaps months and years of feeling lost before you find them. Incidentally, I was watching a video interview with Emmons at an event celebrating the life of Ray Price. What stuck with me was when he said that what he loved about playing in that band was that he always found himself playing things that he didn't know he could play. This was then followed by a performance by the much-lauded, multiple award-winning (and rightly so) steel player Mike Johnson who to my ears never sounds like he's playing what he doesn't know inside out and outside in. In another interview, Buddy describes how he loves to 'get lost' when he's playing, and then trying to find his way back...how many players do that I wonder? Not many that I hear...just compare him playing alongside Hal Rugg on YouTube. It's not that one is better (technically) than the other, but that Buddy simply confronts the unknown at every opportunity. That's because, and you can see this in the way he practised, he doesn't see music as a body of knowledge but, rather, a form of exploration. Knowledge is always about what is already there--the past--exploration is about what has yet to be found--the future--, and that, in a nutshell is where the 'future of the pedal steel' (a topic of wide discussion, I know) can be found. Right?...but don't get me started!!

G

[Haddock]

Getting lost and then finding your way back. That pretty much nails it Buddy! Or to the lesser talented, making an arse of it and trying to get away with it! I’ve always thought of the purpose of practice is to make the mechanics of whatever instrument you’re playing as close to the way your mouth, tongue etc handles talking. Doesn’t mean you won’t still talk rubbish from time to time but at least there’s half a chance of talking yourself out of it. Quite different from ‘learning the break’ which is not really an improvised solo, more a pre written section. Interesting topic! Future of steel? Well there’s another thing all together for the young team to think about...
Cheers
Calum

[Gary James Peters]

Yes...what you said.

As for the future, I believe there has been a not altogether harmonious thread on this subject before (certainly before my time, thankfully). I think the upshot was probably something along the lines that, yes the steel guitar does have a future, but it's best not to talk about it. The truth is, there are lots of possible futures, some better than others, and I guess we'll get the one we deserve.

In the meantime, I'm going to get on with the only future (with or without the PSG) that really concerns me: my own!!

G