Anita Bonghit - General Tiki

T Tiki_Bong Member Huntington Beach, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: -16	T Tiki_Bong Posted posted on Wed, Nov 12, 2003 5:08 PM Pablus! Welcome to the steel braddah-hood! I'm at work now, but when I get home I'll get you some instructional book titles. But first, a little info. Are you a standard guitar player? You'll need a bit of rudimentary guitar theory under your belt, such as: a major chord is a major third, minor third stack; a minor chord is a minor third, major third stack. The reason this is important is because steel guitars are tuned in major tunings such as open E (1,5,1,3,5,1 intervals), open G (1,3,5,1,3,5 intervals) and the Hawaiian sounding C6th tuning (1,3,5,6,3,5 intervals). Obviously, if you lay the steel bar straight across the frets, you're playing a major chord, because you're strumming the 1, major 3rd and 5th interval; in order to play a minor chord, you must angle the steel so you're flatting the 3rd interval a half step (a minor chord is a 1, flat 3, 5 intervalic deal). Most chords played on a steel are only 2 intervals - the root or 1, and the 3rd (either major 3rd or minor 3rd). We also play alot of single note stuff in Hawaiian music. One of the hardest aspects of playing steel guitar is control of the steel bar; it must be DEAD ON the fret; it must have the correct amount of pressure applied. The right hand is also important. There is a lot of blocking or dampening done with the right hand. This prevents unwanted strings from ringing. I found the best way to learn steel is simply to get a bunch of old recordings and learn it by ear. It DOES get discouraging, but do not quit. Also, do picking exercises. You should get finger picks for your thumb, first finger and middle finger; practice hitting all the stings in order; practive picking adjacent strings and strings separated by a string. It's hard, but it can be done. I honestly practice 7 days a week for anywhere from a minimum of 1 hour to 3 plus. Check the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association website at http://www.hsga.org Good luck and I'll post the book titles tomorrow. "I'm ashamed to be here, but not too ashamed to leave..." Celebrate 'International Tiki Day' the second Saturday in August - Hau'oli La Tiki! [ Edited by: Tiki_Bong on 2003-11-12 17:10 ]

Pablus!

Welcome to the steel braddah-hood!

I'm at work now, but when I get home I'll get you some instructional book titles. But first, a little info.

Are you a standard guitar player? You'll need a bit of rudimentary guitar theory under your belt, such as: a major chord is a major third, minor third stack; a minor chord is a minor third, major third stack.

The reason this is important is because steel guitars are tuned in major tunings such as open E (1,5,1,3,5,1 intervals), open G (1,3,5,1,3,5 intervals) and the Hawaiian sounding C6th tuning (1,3,5,6,3,5 intervals).

Obviously, if you lay the steel bar straight across the frets, you're playing a major chord, because you're strumming the 1, major 3rd and 5th interval; in order to play a minor chord, you must angle the steel so you're flatting the 3rd interval a half step (a minor chord is a 1, flat 3, 5 intervalic deal).

Most chords played on a steel are only 2 intervals - the root or 1, and the 3rd (either major 3rd or minor 3rd). We also play alot of single note stuff in Hawaiian music. One of the hardest aspects of playing steel guitar is control of the steel bar; it must be DEAD ON the fret; it must have the correct amount of pressure applied.

The right hand is also important. There is a lot of blocking or dampening done with the right hand. This prevents unwanted strings from ringing.

I found the best way to learn steel is simply to get a bunch of old recordings and learn it by ear. It DOES get discouraging, but do not quit.

Also, do picking exercises. You should get finger picks for your thumb, first finger and middle finger; practice hitting all the stings in order; practive picking adjacent strings and strings separated by a string.

It's hard, but it can be done. I honestly practice 7 days a week for anywhere from a minimum of 1 hour to 3 plus.

Check the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association website at http://www.hsga.org

Good luck and I'll post the book titles tomorrow.

"I'm ashamed to be here, but not too ashamed to leave..."

Celebrate 'International Tiki Day' the second Saturday in August - Hau'oli La Tiki!

[ Edited by: Tiki_Bong on 2003-11-12 17:10 ]

Post #59654 by Tiki_Bong on Wed, Nov 12, 2003 5:08 PM