Secrets of the Masters revisited

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 9 May 2002 12:18 pm

Thought I'd resurect this one for those who may have missed it. This info is timeless ...
http://steelguitarforum.com/Archives/Archive-000003/HTML/20011227-1-014013.html

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 9 May 2002 12:32 pm

Beautiful. Thanks, Andy. I had missed it the first time around.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 10 May 2002 7:39 am

Yeah, many many thanks from a newbie! Emmon's thoughts about seeing intervals really hits hard. Seems like this would work for reading music, as well---look for, and learn to recognize the intervals on the staff. So why can't I read music?

Pete Grant · Post by **Pete Grant** » 10 May 2002 9:10 am

Nice post, Andy. I was pleased to see my advice on practice there.

The best way to accelerate being able to hear intervals is to sing what you play, and sing scale steps often. ("Steel Guitar Rag" starts out 5 5-6 1 2-3.) When you can sing by numbers, then you can look at sheet music, identify where 1 is, and go from there. (Oversimplified, yes, but that's the basic concept.)

A good drill is to play and sing 1 3, 2 4, 3 5, 4 6, 5 7, 6 1, 7 2, 1 3. You might start in the key of C at the G fret, pedals down, strings 6 & 5. Play it up and down. Then sing it without the steel.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 10 May 2002 9:26 am

I just picked up a new student. An older women who took lessons from a nice older gentleman for two years. She still can't play steel guitar after all that money spent. Why? Because she was just taught licks! Interval theory is the secret to all music. I play six instruments. I am teaching myself honky tonk and gospel piano right now because I already know what intervals to look for from what I'm hearing in my head. Buddy is right. Once you understand intervals you can really play any instrument. Its just a matter of finding out what button, key, or knee lever to push on whatever instrument. Technique is another matter altogether. I get so angry when I hear of half baked steel players charging money to teach people licks. They are just doing damage and ripping people off.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 10 May 2002 at 10:27 AM.][This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 10 May 2002 at 02:23 PM.]