Filling the holes, or NOT

[Jim Palenscar]

While this may be a myth, I still like the message. It has been said that Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was hired to play on a "record" and got to the session and decided that his contribution to the project was to leave his part as the hole - and got paid for it. I must admit that I want to play all the time but when, in the middle of the song when I thought the guitar player was gonna take it and he thought that I was gonna take it and we both laid out, the silence was absolutely golden.
Leave them wanting more, not less.

[Fred Treece]

Great point, Jim.

Quote found in Rolling Stone magazine from some obscure introvert named Keith, or Richard something:
“Why don't you just shut up and let the (flocking) thing groove? That's the problem with most guitar players. They can't shut up. They’re playing fantastic stuff but if you don't give it some room, you're not going to appreciate it. It becomes a 'me-me' ego."

[Donny Hinson]

The following is a satirical and fictional discussion. This is the track that goes along with said discussion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM11nQZHacU

(Fud and Spud are discussing Ray price's "Touch My Heart" recording.)

Fud: Did you hear that new Price song, "Touch My Heart"?

Spud: Yeah, I did. Ain't it great! That Emmons is something' else, ain't he!

Fud: Yeah, he is fine. But that lead player on the session playin' that acoustic guitar don't know nothin'. Man, he's terrible.

Spud: You can say that again! Boy he's trompin' all over Ray's vocals.

Fud: Yep, that'a a sign of a true amateur. Don't know how to play with a singer, does he?

Spud: Nope, an' he'll never work for Ray again, that's for sure.

Fud: Yep, you can tell that guy shore ain't no pro-fessional.

Spud: I couldn't agree more. He'll prob-ly never work again in Nashville. I doubt he'll ever do another session.




(apologies to Grady)

[Larry Behm]

This is exactly the follow up I expected, great great great. Lee, yes on examples.

[Dale Hampton]

Well,I have to admit that I am guilty of over playing on top of the singer, especially when the song is good and the singer is kicking you know what. I have to fight that. I am posting a song that I played over the vocals and I really don't know if I was over playing or not. This was recorded over 20 years ago. I may be worse now, I don't know. These days I try to play in the holes, but I have to keep reminding my self. Dale
http://hamptonswebsite.com/files/stand_by.wav

[Dan Robinson]

Well,I have to admit that I am guilty of over playing on top of the singer, especially when the song is good and the singer is kicking you know what. I have to fight that. I am posting a song that I played over the vocals and I really don't know if I was over playing or not. This was recorded over 20 years ago. I may be worse now, I don't know. These days I try to play in the holes, but I have to keep reminding my self. Dale
http://hamptonswebsite.com/files/stand_by.wav

Dale,

Here ya go:

http://hamptonswebsite.com/stand_by.wav

Nicely played!

[manny escobar]

Back in the seventies I visited a local bar where the steel player, Johnny who passed away around 1980, was cranking loud all over the singer. Being the only lead instrument in the band resulted in sound that droned on and on. I couldn`t understand why the singer would announce his name whenever he played a solo. Johnny was already playing. Jeff Newman would "roll over in his grave". Unfortunately, there is a small minority of steel players/fans who crave this wall to wall type of sound.

[Skip Edwards]

As long as we’re talking about where we shouldn’t be playing, here’s another thing to think about…
It kinda irks me when I hear someone (and not just steel players… gtrs, keys & bass also) feel they have to play every transition there is.
I’m talking about transitions from 1 to 4, 4 to 1, 1 to 5, 5 to 1, etc. Sure, as steel players we can do cool things in all those spots, but that doesn’t mean we have to play every single one of them. And if more than one instrument does it, it’s rarely done the same way as the other guy, and, well… you get the idea.
Sometimes it’s nice to hear a change happen without someone boldy announcing it.
That’s MHO, and I’m sticking to it…

[Lee Baucum]

Let's not forget...Larry was listening to Texas dance hall music being played in Texas dance halls!

While in Texas (live music events) I noticed that the steel and fiddle just played right along with the singer, almost all of the time.

I thought this strange because I was taught to FILL THE HOLES.

So I listened and listened. A lot of times in the songs they sang there were NO holes, except at the end of the line.

Even on an old country shuffle with lots of holes they played on.


(These were dance halls and those Texas two steppers were wearing out the hard wood.)

Darrell McCall told me it was to make the song more musical, lots going on, not just a voice and 4-5 background instruments.

They never played louder than the singer, they never played in unison or harmony with the singer, just played around the progression.

So today I might give it a shot, will see if I have a job next week. Hee Hee.

Perhaps it really is a Texas thing.

We have some outstanding musicians who play this style of music and play it well.

There certainly aren't any complaints from the singers who hired them and the crowds of people who come out to listen and dance to their music.