Sleep Walk

[dessa]

Absolutely priceless!

[Will C]

The "piss take" angle was something I considered, Basil - there are some deliberate errors there that require skill to execute. He unerringly hits the wrong notes. I think it's a sophisticated way of poking fun at all those who heap praise on lame performances, which is a common sight. (There are REASONS why I don't post any videos... say no more )

[Ahmad Hasan]

Hi everybody!
I'm the guy who made the video and first of all, i just need to say that i had no intention of making fun of the track as i love that track so no, it was not a "piss take"
second of all, i'm a complete beginner who knows nothing about chords, tabs, music theory, anything!
i've had this lap steel for about 3 weeks and i was just trying to play the track by ear without getting back to any tabs (which is a mistake but as you now know i can't read them yet) so i just wanted to give it a go and see where i'm at and work my way up from there with the help of the steel guitar community.
anyways, sorry again if my video pissed anybody off, i was just experimenting and of course any help is most appreciated as i need all the help i can get right now

[Basil Henriques]

Hello Ahmad, welcome to the BSS.
Firstly I would like to say that because of the scant information on your Farcebook page one was obliged to draw conclusions. Maybe a more 'open' profile would be beneficial.
That said, It's utter amazing that you've mastered one of the most difficult parts of steel guitar playing in just three weeks:I refer to the harmonics, utterly amazing ! you didn't miss one, most of us here would hit a 'clunker' maybe one in four or so !! What a head-start you have in that respect..

It's patently obvious that you need guidance, and on analysing your now deleted video, (You really should repost it) I can remember that you were not only using the positions that Santo used, but were picking in the same way:Your pick position on the word 'Walk" is so much like his as to not be a coincidence. So what went wrong was that you were using the wrong tuning but playing in the approximately right places (The Morecambe & Wise Syndrome)

As a young person one can assume you listen to music, and although you have no formal music training you MUST have been indoctrinated to some extent with the sounds and ethos of popular music. One can presume you have favourites in the musical world which would mean that you're discerning and not 'tone deaf'.
The phrase "Tone Deaf" is oft used but is in fact a fallacy. From before birth, even in the womb we had selective hearing. I stray somewhat, but for a reason, it being that if one tries hard enough one can educate one's ear to be selective. Well at least as selective as the norm.. And that norm being to differentiate betwixt music and cacophony, and tuneful and rhythmic music as opposed to out of time and out of tune music.

So you have started a path that will need guidance, BUT you have an advantage, more so than most here, you have a university education so are capable of learning at a much deeper level than a lot of us.

Where to start ?
1/. You have proven that you can master one of the hardest things on the steel guitar, Harmonics, and you have proven that you have a good memory, also essential to become a proficient player.
2/. You copied the positions from the Santo & Johnny YouTube clip quite closely, so the starting point for you would be to go back to that video and learn it again using the correct tuning.

Here is the tablature for the way they played it. To someone of university graduate level Tablature must be self explanatory, BUT just to prevent any mistakes and avoid possible ambiguities, I will explain.
The horizontal lines represent the strings, the vertical lines represent the bars (Each one 4 beats or crotchets long) the numbers in the lines represent the fret that you play that particular string, the numbers below (1, 2+T) represent the fingers to use and the MUSICAL notation is a guide to the actual timing of each note.
There is a slight mistake and also an omission in the tablature that I'll point out later..

[Will C]

Oh well, bang goes another theory. I know so little about the steel guitar, less about the lap steel, and Basil is our undoubted expert here in the UK. Welcome aboard, Ahmad, I'm sorry if I gave any offence, but for a while there I thought the ghost of Les Dawson had returned and taken up the lap steel. I guess that's just a matter of time, and educating your ear. This instrument has to be one of the hardest to master, and we have all been beguiled and seduced by the beauty of its sound. I think you have chosen a long and difficult road, but a rewarding one.

[Shaun]

Welcome to the Forum Ahmed, I'm certain nobody on here intended any offence, they're a great bunch of lads and a mine of very usefull information.
Incedently, I've been playing steel now for about 5 years and still can't master harmonics. Well done my freind. Keep up the good work.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

My hat`s off to Baz H. as he has said before "He takes no prisoners" but ask for help and you get it!! Chapter and verse and verse What a credit to our forum Thanks Baz for the time and trouble you take for all us lesser mortals ....

Welcome aboard Ahmad, please don`t take offence at what any of them have said there are some that lack the balls to put anything on there and we need people like you that will "have a go" to encourage the rest of us...... As Baz pointed out the harmonics are one of the hardest things to perfect ...and you seem to have cracked that

[Ahmad Hasan]

Thanks everyone for having me and i know that you all didn't mean to offend me in any way, i didn't take it to heart.
and thanks "Basil" for your help, although it's a little weird to find you here so helpful while you blocked me on facebook because i was discussing with you how finishing business school has nothing to do with steel guitar in my opinion and that you have no right to question my intelligence level or make fun of me on your wall, calling me an insult to the steel guitar community and that you could play better than that when you were 12! i wish you were honest from the start, instead of commenting sarcastically on my video saying its "unique" and then trying to roast me on your wall with offensive words! that's just not very nice of you, it kinda makes you come off as a bully, an arrogant man who thinks that he's better than everyone and that you mean no guidance whatsoever (which is not the case).
so why did you start with the bad words ? why not be constructive from the start ? (of course if you want to) and why blocking me instead of having a conversation like 2 adults? but you don't see me questioning your intelligence level.
i didn't expect that attitude from the steel guitar community, especially from you, you need to reflect on that. but thanks again for your help, i truly appreciate it.

[Arcada]

This is obviously a disagreement that started on Facebook and has spilled over to here...

If you don't mind, keep the mudslinging to Facebook, guys. We like to all get along here.

Altogether now....

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