Struggling to transpose

[WineRider]

Hi all,

Newbie to lap steel...built two see http://www.winerider.com/guitars, they look good and sound OK, but I am really struggling in the transposition stakes. I'm tuned in open G (GBDGBD low to high) and tune up to G6th (GBEGBD low to high) for a couple of tunes. I have plenty of tabs in C6th but am tying myself up in knots trying to transpose into G. Can anyone set me straight? Make it simple cos I am beginning to think I am.

WineRider

[SHAKEY]

I would think the best person to help you there would be BasilH. He is the master when it comes to the technical stuff.

[WineRider]

Thanks for the reply SHAKEY, I'll try and put the problem I'm having into better english and contact BasilH

WineRider

[Will C]

Maurice, I see you have some trouble with your left hand. Me too, and I discovered pedal steel, and now lap steel, just as I realised my time with a 6-string was over. I just can't hack the pain in my left hand any more. I count the time with a 6-string as an apprenticeship for steel.

This transposition lark is interesting. You can of course always just play it in G instead of C, using the tab as written. The notes will then come out 7 frets high - or 5 low! If you want to transpose from "C tab" to G, you need to add 5 frets, or subtract 7.

Good luck!

Will Cowell

[WineRider]

Hi Will,
By the sound of it you have been visiting!! Thanks for the info. I will explain myself a bit better...if I can.
I have quite a few tabs in 'G' 'G6th' and a lot in 'C6th' E13th etc. What I am struggling to do is transpose these latter tunings into 'G' or 'G6th'
Example Your Cheatin Heart by Don Helms. tabs in E13th and in the key of 'C' so I tried dropping 4 frets which sounds OK until I suddenly run out of frets and or open strings. Then I am in a mess. Does this make sense?

WineRider (AKA Maurice°

[WineRider]

Thanks to WillC and Shakey for responding to my plea.

WillC thank you for your advice it opened the door in this old brain to realise I was approaching the problem from the wrong direction and making a mountain out of a mole hill. I have followed some of your advice not all, and found the idea of trying to transpose from one tuning to another was not needed all I had to do was look at the chord notation and work it out from there and play in the noted key or change key as I would on a normal guitar. It works!! Without your input I would still be in the dark and getting even more frustrated.

I have read many articles on Lap Steel / Pedal Steels and have come to this conclusion:

Many players delight in making things seem far more complicated than they really are.
Too many variations in tuning muddies the water for beginners.
Too many experts who are not what they seem.
Many 'teachers' are out to prove how good they are at playing instruments and not too interested in teaching the pupil.
Living in France has its benefits as well as its down side especially where seeking information is concerned.

Thanks to BSS for giving me the opportunity through the site to ask my question and get answers. I will continue to pose questions and ideas in the future, but fore the present I am just trying to get my slide red-hot and to play in tune.

WineRider (AKA Maurice)

[Will C]

Maurice, you're on the money there. Start with the chord symbols and you are in the ball park. But there's no substitute for thinking about what note you really need. It's usually in the chord there somewhere, but not always in the "plain vanilla" chord.

Example: I'm learning "One day I'll fly away" from Moulin Rouge. Randy Newman had a hit with it. It's such a beautiful song for many reasons. Anyhow, in the opening lines the song book says play a D, then a Gm. But what is really needed is a Gm6. Wow, that really sits up and talks. So you need to do a bit of thinking and experimenting once you're "in the ball park".

There's no substitute for knowing how a scale works, and how a chord is built. I'm pretty sure you do! Some good players don't, they play by ear and don't know why a certain flavour of chord works, it's "hit and miss". I learned the rudiments of music theory over 40 years messing with a 6-string. I'm glad I did. It's a big help.

My new steel is coming from France. I like France - we should compare notes some time. No pun intended!

All the best

Will C

[WineRider]

Good morning Will,

I've lived in France for over 18 years and love it. If you look at http://www.winedrive.com it might be of interest to you. Especially if you like wine!

I expect you have realised that I came back to guitar after 35 years and am having to revive all my dark memories of the past as my guitar teacher was a Jazz fanatic called Ted Palmer who was an ex. Squadronaire. He lived in Cornwall, but he was a brilliant teacher. Played nearly every instrument you could name. His son still plays drums or he did the last I heard. Another friend lives in Bournemouth he was one of the best drummers I have ever heard play 'Paul Brodie' he was with the BBC Big Band for years until a back op. caused him to retire...he continued teaching.

If your over in France ant time I live in the mid southwest not far from Poitiers / Niort...somewhere in between. I can always give you my number etc. in a private e_mail. As you say we can compare notes!

WineRider (AKA Maurice)