Melodica-Electronica meets the Steel Guitar

[Gary James Peters]

Hi All

I've always been a fan of the melodic end of electronica music, and my son (Francis) is a master of such things. I've also always thought that much of this type of music (e.g. Boards of Canada) is crying out for steel guitar. Sadly, he rarely lets me near any of his music files ('too country'!!), however, there are a couple of exceptions. This track was something he did about 3 or 4 years when only 19. I've done an earlier version, which I've always liked, but thought to do a new version today as my steel playing has come on a bit since the last attempt. See what you think...it also fades out on quite a nice 6-string guitar solo (at least I think so). Not a bad day's work anyway!

https://soundcloud.com/user-581188416/r ... cis-peters

Thanks for listening.

Gary

[Danny Mitchell]

I think these two worlds gel very nicely. And, I concur, steel guitar definitely compliments the Electronica/Ambient side of the tracks. The 6 str electric works a treat, too.
How good is it to work on music with your kids.

[Gary James Peters]

Yes, it is great to work with your young 'uns, he has so much talent, and so much material, I just wish he would let me get my hands on it! He did ask me to put some acoustic guitar and steel on a recent track (that might become a single) but didn't use it in the end, shame 'cos it sounded terrific. Anyway, when he's moved on to other things I'll sneak it onto Soundcloud.

Thanks again Danny for your feedback etc...

G

[Haddock]

Your best yet Gary to my taste! Makes me wonder why the steel got stuck in 'that style', as Danny called it in another thread. It’s as if all the guitar players in the world only played like Status Quo. Imagine Cavatina played by Francis Rossi......
Cheers
Calum

[Gary James Peters]

Thanks Claum...yes, I was quite pleased with this one. And you're obviously preaching to the converted when it comes to where the steel might play a role in virtually any genre of music. As I said to Danny in another thread, the main thing for me is to make sure that the steel playing stands up to scrutiny (which it doesn't quite often...which is why I'm constantly deleting my files and revising them), just as I would if I was playing regular guitar, banjo, mandolin...etc. You might also notice that, although my approach might be considered 'unconventional' (although I'm certainly not going back there!!), I use the steel in a very straightforward way, a tiny bit of reverb, a tiny bit of delay, a classic steel amp, no distortion, no other effects, just a clean 'traditional' if you like, sound. And yet, rarely do I get any feedback where HOW I play (i.e. how good or bad) or the sound I get is mentioned: just WHAT I play. Imagine a regular guitarist being listened to in that manner: quite odd really. When I listen to steel players, whether on this forum, or 'known' players, from Emmons to Susan Alcorn, Greg Leisz to Russ Pahl, all I care about is the quality of the playing, the feel, the taste, the sensitivity, the sound...and so on. The style of music is secondary, if irrelevant.

Thanks again Calum

[Haddock]

Hi Gary
Yes I don’t think your sound can be faulted from a trad sense and I know what you mean about ‘standing up to scrutiny’. I see a few similarities between what you’re up to and my own experiments except you go one stage further and make them public. What I do is almost like a musical ‘kata’ where I improvise over a loop or a drone exploring shapes and sounds but I see it very much as practice rather than a finished piece. Preparing for a battle that never comes perhaps! I have loads of FX but almost never use them apart from my EQ and compressor which are always on. And my looper is used constantly to create the loops to play over. I don’t often save them but just the other day I emptied the memory which had various things that I quite liked so I pressed save. I wonder if you would fancy trying some of your noodles over the top of a couple. Might be a bit more repetitive than you’re used to...
Cheers
Calum

[Gary James Peters]

Send some over. mp3s or (even better) WAVS..by 'We Transfer.'...Either way, be my guest.

[Haddock]

Will do Gary. I’ve got the email now so you’d best delete it from the forum unless you want lots of Nigerian banker friends.....
Cheers
Calum