A Miles Davis tune

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

Moderator: Brad Bechtel

Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

A Miles Davis tune

Post by Rich Arnold »

I once thought of Miles Davis album "Kinda Blue" as dinner music but lately I've sorta been digging it.
And I even feel the need cover it some.

https://youtu.be/LpFzCxTv2y8?si=BJc3cOvjwdsD91fR
User avatar
Kirk Francis
Posts: 198
Joined: 17 Jul 2008 4:14 pm
Location: Laupahoehoe

miles davis tune

Post by Kirk Francis »

VERY cool, bro!
The mainland is intimidating, bewildering, and uncomfortable. And you have to wear shoes. -- Theroux.
User avatar
Mike Neer
Posts: 11460
Joined: 9 Dec 2002 1:01 am
Location: NJ

Post by Mike Neer »

That’s nice, Rich. I really like those Magnatones.
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
Jim Mckay
Posts: 396
Joined: 25 Aug 2013 7:10 pm
Location: New Zealand

Post by Jim Mckay »

Some fine picking there. Nice, Rich. :)
Canopus d-8
Excel Jerry Byrd frypan
T-8 Stringmaster
Sam Conomo
Posts: 323
Joined: 31 Dec 2010 4:13 pm
Location: Queensland, Australia

Miles of miles

Post by Sam Conomo »

Thanks for posting,
Really nice.
Sam.
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Rich Arnold »

Thanks everybody who listened and commented.
User avatar
Fred Treece
Posts: 4740
Joined: 29 Dec 2015 3:15 pm
Location: California, USA

Post by Fred Treece »

Great playing as always, Rich. A very tasty dinner😎

With this video, I paid closer attention to your right hand technique. You are a “let your fingers do the walking” style picker on the single note stuff, especially on the higher strings, while the thumb plays more of a supportive role in the lower register. This seems to keep your hand mostly in position throughout an entire solo. Alternating T-M and T-I pickers tend to move their hand across the strings. Both approaches are obviously effective, but I don’t see many single-note guys doing what you do. Are you also a classical guitarist?
User avatar
Doug Beaumier
Posts: 16058
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Northampton, MA

Post by Doug Beaumier »

Nice playing, Rich. Very smooth, good tone, and nice phrasing on the improv.
John Sluszny
Posts: 2305
Joined: 9 Apr 2001 12:01 am
Location: Brussels, Belgium

Post by John Sluszny »

Super indeed !
User avatar
BJ Burbach
Posts: 99
Joined: 13 Dec 2023 5:27 am
Location: New York, USA

Post by BJ Burbach »

STRING MASTER,
IMHO
BJ
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Rich Arnold »

Fred Treece wrote:Great playing as always, Rich. A very tasty dinner😎

With this video, I paid closer attention to your right hand technique. You are a “let your fingers do the walking” style picker on the single note stuff, especially on the higher strings, while the thumb plays more of a supportive role in the lower register. This seems to keep your hand mostly in position throughout an entire solo. Alternating T-M and T-I pickers tend to move their hand across the strings. Both approaches are obviously effective, but I don’t see many single-note guys doing what you do. Are you also a classical guitarist?
I've never been a classical guitar player but when I was a young kid I used to play the armpit and try to mimic Chet Adkins.
Technique is not something I spend a lot of time thinking about or analyzing. I hear what I want to play, then the technique that allows me to play it is formed.
I always say "I don't have a technique"
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Rich Arnold »

Doug Beaumier wrote:Nice playing, Rich. Very smooth, good tone, and nice phrasing on the improv.
Thanks Doug.
I think I'm finally getting around to playing what I want to hear, the way I want to hear it with less thought as to what an audience might want. Or what will get me lots of his on the internet.
Not that I don't care about people, I do, but it's a tough guessing game as to what people will like, and I've sorta thrown in the towel.
I've been accused of having some sort of " imposter syndrome complex" or something.
I guess I do feel like an imposter when I'm trying to play music that requires a costume.
That's show business and I've been in and around it for most of my life and breaking free of that thinking is not easy.
Btw. When I'm playing what I want to hear, I'm more relaxed and hit a lot less clams. For what that's worth.
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Rich Arnold »

John Sluszny wrote:Super indeed !
Thanks.
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Rich Arnold »

BJ Burbach wrote:STRING MASTER,
IMHO
BJ
I wouldn't go quite that far. I've spent quite a bit of time slumped over my guitar, but not mastered it yet.
Maybe by next year. 😄
User avatar
Tim Toberer
Posts: 1190
Joined: 23 Oct 2021 11:58 am
Location: Nebraska, USA

Post by Tim Toberer »

Like a lot of people, that is the album that really got me hooked on jazz. This will never be topped and I think I will spend the rest of my life learning from it. This is probably the most approachable tune on the album. I think I relate to all music in terms of the the blues and can really learn a lot from how different people approach this form. Really great to hear it on steel! I have to remember to check your channel frequently, you have got some great stuff going.
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Rich Arnold »

Tim Toberer wrote:Like a lot of people, that is the album that really got me hooked on jazz. This will never be topped and I think I will spend the rest of my life learning from it. This is probably the most approachable tune on the album. I think I relate to all music in terms of the the blues and can really learn a lot from how different people approach this form. Really great to hear it on steel! I have to remember to check your channel frequently, you have got some great stuff going.
I like the record a lot too.
At first, it didn't hit me very hard.
At the time I discovered it I was listening to Stephen Grappelli and Joe Pass.
But it grew on me over time and I still listen to it after almost 40 years.
Music has always produced images in my imagination as I listen.
Nowadays this younger generation has music videos where the imagery is already suggested but back in the day, a person had to create their own pictures that go with the song.
Kinda Blue works great for that.
I find I reach for that record when I'm driving long distance or on a late night flight.
I guess everyone has their own way of listening.
That record gives me lots of unidentifiable feelings and images of places I have been.
It's taken me many decades to get around to trying to play any of it. Maybe because it's such a complete work as it is
How do I add to or improve perfection?
Rather than reinterpret it, all Im left with is to try to step inside it and try not to change anything too much.
User avatar
David Mason
Posts: 6079
Joined: 6 Oct 2001 12:01 am
Location: Cambridge, MD, USA

Post by David Mason »

Dinner is IMPORTANT. :) Music evokes moods and Miles touched a lot of people with his playing, arrangement concepts and DRASTIC hiring practices. Imagine hiring Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane and NOT worrying that you were going to get cut soloing - he had something so different he could play ABOVE the obvious head-cutting he designed. That flow... The late 50's, late 60's and mid-80's bands were all ridiculous - just hiring John Scofield to scare Mike Stern into playing better took some kind of whammy!