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Author
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Topic: Recommend Song for First Try at Playing Melody
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Alan Simm
Member From: Lancashire, U.K.
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posted 20 February 2006 04:18 AM
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Hi AllWould someone like to recommend a tune/song I could try to play the melody to. Nothing too elaborate,maybe just using the A+B Pedals,and 1 knee lever. Preferably a well known standard,my knowledge of Country Music is limited to the more well known songs. I did try Your Cheatin Heart,thinkin it was easy,but it ain't!Well not for me! Thanks Alan
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Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 20 February 2006 04:27 AM
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"Silent Night" or "Rock Of Ages" are two good ones! Three chords, nothing faster than a quarter-note, and the fact that just about everyone knows these two melodies, regardless of their musical background, that's the basis of why I picked them. |
Rick Nicklas
Member From: Pleasant Ridge, Mo
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posted 20 February 2006 04:41 AM
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"Faded Love" was the first song I learned on the steel using A,B and KL lowering my E's. I think it is the perfect song to make the basic positions and changes clear on most 3 chord songs. I played it two weeks and went out and got a job with a crappy band and had a blast ever since.------------------
Rick
Kline U-12, Session 500, Goodrich L-10k
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Bruce W Heffner
Member From: Hamburg, Pa.
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posted 20 February 2006 04:59 AM
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Try a Hank Williams tune.........------------------
www.pedalsteel.net |
Randy Reeves
Member From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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posted 20 February 2006 06:01 AM
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Im So Lonesome I Could Cry. a great Hank Williams song.
A/B pedals down, strings 4 and 5....oops or is 5 and 6. ?
anyway, a simple song that is incredibly beautiful. |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 20 February 2006 06:04 AM
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I like songs like Shenandoah, Wild Mountain Thyme, Black is the Color--Americana. |
Tony Prior
Member From: Charlotte NC
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posted 20 February 2006 06:17 AM
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nursery rhymes..pick a song that you know in your head inside and out... Don't pick a song or tune that your have to learn, pick one you already know... Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 3 Blind Mice... I've Been working on the Railroad... If these appear to be too simple..go ahead and play them..then move on to one's that are deemed more challenging... you may be suprised here.... ------------------
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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite
[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 20 February 2006 at 06:18 AM.]
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Joey Ace
Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada
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posted 20 February 2006 08:50 AM
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Sleepwalk |
Leonard G. Robertson
Member From: Sparta, Mo. USA
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posted 20 February 2006 08:57 AM
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Couple easy to begin learning are "Have I told you lately that I love you" and "Today I started loving you again". |
William Griffith
Member From: Loxahatchee, FL, USA
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posted 20 February 2006 12:09 PM
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I have sleepwalk that is tabbed with notes above if you would like I can photo copy it and sendit to you if you want it. It only uses the A&b pedals and a couple of phrases with the knee that lowers 4&8 and 4&8 raise. I don't have a track for it but maybe your able to make one and share with me. I also have House of the rising sun and pretty simple also. Bill |
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 20 February 2006 12:35 PM
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Amazing Grace.
DZ |
Calvin Walley
Member From: colorado city colorado, USA
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posted 20 February 2006 01:04 PM
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white christmas has a easy melody its nice and slow, very easy to play, even if it is christmas music. ( and it sounds great on a steel) calvin |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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posted 20 February 2006 01:33 PM
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Alan, Have a go at Vera Lynn's White Cliffs of Dover. There's only the one basic melody part and you can pick the whole thing out without moving the bar. Sounds great. Should be easy to work out. Any trouble e-mail me and I'll see about tabbing it out.[This message was edited by Pat Kelly on 20 February 2006 at 01:36 PM.] |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 20 February 2006 02:17 PM
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I second "Silent Night" and "White Christmans" for learning easy melody (with some easy harmony) on one fret. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 20 February 2006 02:36 PM
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If you are interested in "giving praises to the Lord on an instrument of 10 strings", I recently tabbed out "One Day At A Time" and it is quite easy. 
Erv |
Ron Steenwijk
Member From: Greensburg,PA
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posted 20 February 2006 03:16 PM
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Alan....there are a couple good songs to begin with in Winnie Winstons book.It comes with a flexible record(mine did)so you can hear how it should sound.Ron ------------------
Click here to E-mail us.Karen Kaylee Records
KRS D-10 8x7, KRS SD10 4x6 EMMONS P/P S10 3x5 Peavey Session 400 LTD, Peavey Ultra 15" Peavey All Tube 15"
Fender Twin Reverb Hilton Volumepedal Hilton Sustain
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Bob Blair
Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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posted 20 February 2006 03:32 PM
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Red River Valley. |
Leila Tuttle
Member From: Wheat Ridge, Colorado, USA
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posted 20 February 2006 09:08 PM
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Alan,Give Erv's tabs a try. Go to the "Tablature" section and look for Erv's free tabs...one a month. But first, ask him for one he's done with a pretty melody but that's simple too, like for a beginner. He also has done lots of songs tabbed in a package, for a pittance...or would that be for repittance?  Oh well, all these gospels and hymns should really be pretty familiar. They're perfect to learn on, good "instrumentals" for the steel. You may even want his backing tracks to play with. Good luck! |
Justin Griffith
Member From: Taylor, Texas, USA
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posted 21 February 2006 12:46 PM
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Go to Bob Hoffnar's website and click on "Danny Boy" I love the song anyway and he has it tabbed on 2 strings with 2 pedals. I have spent hours on it trying to improve my timing (which sucks). Be prepared to put a few miles on your bar. The good thing about moving the bar so far is it helps (me anyway) stop in the correct places. Something I have been having trouble with. Thanks again Bob for posting the tab. It may seem like nothing to you but it means alot to newbies like me.
Best,
Justin
I will try to post the link to bobs website------------------
Justin Griffith
D-10 Blanton 8X4, D-10 Emmons P/P 8X5,Nashville 400,Matchbox 7-A,Goodrich L-10K,Walker seat.
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Richard Gonzales
Member From: FITCHBURG,MA USA
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posted 21 February 2006 12:52 PM
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A song everyone knows, you will play it many times and easy to learn. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 21 February 2006 01:18 PM
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I emptied the house on a regular basis with "Red River Valley" from Winnies book when I first started playing!! |
Ricky Littleton
Member From: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Orlando, Florida USA
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posted 21 February 2006 03:07 PM
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"Red River Valley". Just like in Winnie's book.Ricky... ------------------
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Nashville 112,Hilton Volume pedal, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Bo-Bro, Ibanez Auto-Wah, Regal Dobro |
Rex Wiseman
Member From: Cottontown, TN
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posted 21 February 2006 08:17 PM
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Back when I used to teach Steel, I would start my students out on "Together Again" (Buck Owens) That always seemed to keep their interest. And besides, it's "real purty" |
Sherman Willden
Member From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
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posted 22 February 2006 08:01 AM
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Walk On By is a bouncy tune that is easy to play with A+B and the E->Eb knee. Start at the 8th fret by engaging the B pedal then bounce off the A pedal twice then no pedals. Go to the 3rd fret, back to the 8th fret, and try some at the 15th fret.As usual I don't know what I'm talking about. I was thinking of Pass Me By. Sherman[This message was edited by Sherman Willden on 22 February 2006 at 08:06 AM.] |
Ray Minich
Member From: Limestone, New York, USA
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posted 22 February 2006 08:48 AM
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Before I got Winnie's book, it was Steven Foster tunes... |
Jim Ives
Member From: Los Angeles, California, USA
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posted 22 February 2006 10:21 AM
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What song do you want to play? That's the one. |
David Wren
Member From: Placerville, California, USA
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posted 22 February 2006 04:09 PM
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I always liked Last Date, and it's a nice meledy with moves that will make you familar using A&B changes. Good one for tone and sustain practice as well.------------------
Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com
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Dave Baldwin
Member From: Saskatchewan, Canada
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posted 23 February 2006 05:06 PM
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alan i have danny boy tabed 2 strings 5&6 also the RT from biab i can email it to you just drop me a email dave |
Wilburn Meeks
Member From: California, USA
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posted 23 February 2006 05:22 PM
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Mansion On The Hill. Played in C at the third fret, 5 & 6 strings. Is a beautiful melody and simple to play. |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 26 February 2006 04:13 PM
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"Green green grass of home" is simple and happens to be the only one my wife asks me to play. |
John Bechtel
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.A.
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posted 08 March 2006 07:32 PM
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The Bud Isaacs version of “The Waltz You Saved For Me” was probably the first one I learned. Of course, that was decades ago, but; it's still good choice today! ------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
n.t.s.g.a. #90
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment
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Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
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posted 09 March 2006 08:57 PM
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Somehow, my students and I always end up playing "Dream, Dream, Dream" by the Everly Bros. Easy 1-6m-4-5- progression, all on one fret. |
Sidney Ralph Penton
Member From: Moberly, Missouri, USA
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posted 09 March 2006 09:05 PM
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alen a easy song to start with would be a closer walk with thee. it is a realy easy song to do easy to memorize and sounds excellent on psg. it is one that i usually do in churches where i provide special music. i also do old rugged cross and in the garden and a few more. send me a e mail and i will send you a tab sheet. thanks doc
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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400 steelseats they are great at sales@steelseats.com
if its not a zum steel it isn't real
just trying to steel for the Lord>
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John Jeffries
Member From: New Brunswick, Canada
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posted 09 March 2006 09:11 PM
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I've had good luck with "Waltz Across Texas", it's only got 2 chords - I play it out of C at the 3rd fret! Also "Mansion on the Hill" seems to work ok. |
Al Marcus
Member From: Cedar Springs,MI USA
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posted 10 March 2006 10:37 AM
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The FIRST song I ever played on a 6 string hawaiian guitar in 1936 was......."Nearer my God to thee"...You can do it now with just A and B Pedals...good luck...al ------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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Jack Francis
Member From: Mesa, Arizona, USA
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posted 10 March 2006 01:46 PM
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How about "THE HAIR ON HER CHEST WAS HIS"The best part is you can make up your own melody..who's to know?  [This message was edited by Jack Francis on 10 March 2006 at 09:28 PM.] |
J D Sauser
Member From: Traveling, currently in Switzerland, soon to be either back in the States or on the Eastern part of Hispaniola Island
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posted 10 March 2006 11:48 PM
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The first verse of One Note Samba, maybe... On a more serious note: Why don't you try to achieve two things at once... hum yourself a little melody together and try to play it. Start with something short and that feels simple to you. Play it on one string first... then on an other and so on.
Assuming you are playing a 10string E9th guitar, then try it as a harmonised melody on strings 5&6 (A&B pedals), then the same voicings on string 4&5 (A-pedal & E-to-Eb-lever), on strings 3&5 (A&B pedals) and then on strings 4&6 (B&C peadals which work on that string group like "reverse" A&B-pedals).
Then move on to the wider grips, playing strings 5&8 (A-pedal & E-to-Eb-lever) and so forth...
Change melodies every more often and get creative as you get comfortable with your guitar.
That will help you get a good feel for your instrument and tuning AND at the same time help you develop a link between what you hear in your head and your guitar's neck. ... J-D.
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Richard Durrer
Member From: Alberta, Canada
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posted 11 March 2006 07:33 PM
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My first songs came from Linkon Guitar Company in Winnipeg Manitoba. They have an E9th Course (Part 1) that is superb. It includes songs such as Faded Love, Secret Love, Wayward Wind etc. It comes with tab and rythm tracks on cassette for about $40.00. The tab is the best I have seen. It includes what I call the missing link. Each bar also has notes that show the Phrasing or timing of the tablature. I have always struggled with associating the tab with the correct timing in the bars. Their address is linkon@mts.net. |
james sluder
Member From: Tennessee, USA
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posted 11 March 2006 09:08 PM
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Blue eyes crying in the rain..is a nice easy tune. a & b pedals only..worked good as my first one. |
Joseph Meditz
Member From: San Diego, California USA
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posted 11 March 2006 09:24 PM
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Hi James,Me too! The first song I attempted when I brought home my steel was Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain. I used the B + C pedals and the RKR half step. Joe |
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