Unbelievably gorgeous -- I've wanted to hear Baroque on a pedal steel for some time now. It seems uniquely suited for it, and I'm thrilled to see that it is indeed! Beautiful playing!
Dear DwayneKong, your playing is quite impressive, but I have to say your responses to Jabberwockistan seem a bit... condescending. Sometimes people ask questions because they actually don't know the answer, and don't expect a technical response to the degree that you posted. Don't get me wrong, it's great to inform people, but do so with a thankful approach. The tone you have in this clip is similar to that of a clavichord, I'm sure he wasn't referring to your meantone tuning.
@goblesqb7 Gee, you seem a little if not an order of magnitude more condescending to tell someone who is not condenscending that they are condescending. I assume you are joking and this is all some kind of inside joke?
For my money, YouTube coverage of an instrument isn't "complete" until someone posts a clip playing Bach on the instrument. Awesome work arranging this piece for the pedal steel!
I think this sounds especially cool since it has a vaguely clavichord-y sound, but then even cooler with the sliding bits that most instruments just can't pull off.
Any plans for any future Bach clips? Was this just a nightmare to arrange, or did it come together pretty smoothly once you got going?
@Jabberwockistan "nightmare to arrange"? No, because old Bach took care of all that. This is a movement from a suite for unaccompanied violin. Bach wrote 12 suites BWV 1001..1012 simple enough to be playable on a 4-string fiddle (BWV 1012 is 5 string ), and they all work on steel guitar just the way he wrote them. All I added was to let some chords ring out that could not be sustained on the fiddle. Guitar players play all these suites too, and they usually add a few bass notes.
"Any plans for any future Bach clips?" Yes, all of them if I live long enough.
"vaguely clavichord-y sound" I use a meantone tuning, about 1/6 comma, similar to what some period instrument players would use, so maybe that's why it reminds you of a clavichord. I believe that it is non-equal temperament, even more than string bending and sliding, that gives steel guitar its special character and appeal.
Another fine performance by Dwane Kong. Is this his own personal interpretation? I would like to hear more than his 4 selections featured here.. Are they available?
@gamac1 In front neck is 8 string fretted neck. Gene Fields made it that way; this was his personal guitar back in the 1990s. Gene is a good player on the fretted neck but I can hardly play it at all. Gene tunes to a big G triad, like standard Dobro tuning plus high G and low D. I have a standard guitar tuning in the middle 6, low D instead of low E, plus high G and low G. The cool part of the fretted neck is the pedals.
Excellent! Do you have any plans to do Scarlatti's 6 Concerti Grossi?
malcolmcolemann 1 month ago
Unbelievably gorgeous -- I've wanted to hear Baroque on a pedal steel for some time now. It seems uniquely suited for it, and I'm thrilled to see that it is indeed! Beautiful playing!
janiscortese 2 months ago
I have to love this as it is what I've been preaching for fror years, GREAT in my humble opinion.
Bobbe Seymour
bobbeseymour 10 months ago
Dear DwayneKong, your playing is quite impressive, but I have to say your responses to Jabberwockistan seem a bit... condescending. Sometimes people ask questions because they actually don't know the answer, and don't expect a technical response to the degree that you posted. Don't get me wrong, it's great to inform people, but do so with a thankful approach. The tone you have in this clip is similar to that of a clavichord, I'm sure he wasn't referring to your meantone tuning.
goblesqb7 1 year ago
@goblesqb7 Gee, you seem a little if not an order of magnitude more condescending to tell someone who is not condenscending that they are condescending. I assume you are joking and this is all some kind of inside joke?
kcsteeler 11 months ago
Absolutely fantastic stuff - thank you!
doucette 1 year ago
For my money, YouTube coverage of an instrument isn't "complete" until someone posts a clip playing Bach on the instrument. Awesome work arranging this piece for the pedal steel!
I think this sounds especially cool since it has a vaguely clavichord-y sound, but then even cooler with the sliding bits that most instruments just can't pull off.
Any plans for any future Bach clips? Was this just a nightmare to arrange, or did it come together pretty smoothly once you got going?
Jabberwockistan 1 year ago
@Jabberwockistan "nightmare to arrange"? No, because old Bach took care of all that. This is a movement from a suite for unaccompanied violin. Bach wrote 12 suites BWV 1001..1012 simple enough to be playable on a 4-string fiddle (BWV 1012 is 5 string ), and they all work on steel guitar just the way he wrote them. All I added was to let some chords ring out that could not be sustained on the fiddle. Guitar players play all these suites too, and they usually add a few bass notes.
DwayneKong 1 year ago
@Jabberwockistan
"Any plans for any future Bach clips?" Yes, all of them if I live long enough.
"vaguely clavichord-y sound" I use a meantone tuning, about 1/6 comma, similar to what some period instrument players would use, so maybe that's why it reminds you of a clavichord. I believe that it is non-equal temperament, even more than string bending and sliding, that gives steel guitar its special character and appeal.
DwayneKong 1 year ago
Bach himself would surely dig this.
Congratulations!
brazilgrass 1 year ago
This sounds like old video game music. I meant that in a very good way:)
Maxpound 1 year ago
"J S Bach's B minor partita for unaccompanied pedal steel guitar" :)))
I love the pedal steel and I love Bach, so this combination is really appreciated! :)
The other classical arrangements too.
toronydaru 1 year ago
Excellent !!
liveeviltrypios 1 year ago
Great job! I also installed an Alumitone on my lap steel and it made a world of difference. I think my ZB Custom is going to get one too.
BoiDetroit 1 year ago
Wonderful!
povonodo 1 year ago
Another fine performance by Dwane Kong. Is this his own personal interpretation? I would like to hear more than his 4 selections featured here.. Are they available?
Bonnydel 1 year ago
Bravo, who would have thought of this on pedal steel, it's brilliant.
bulbheadmyass 1 year ago
wow great job!! I just think this is really cool.
oxdpt99 1 year ago
Excellent! Thanks for posting
RC
eightstring 1 year ago
That is a magnificient job, I wish I could play an arrangement like that.
d10msaclassic 1 year ago
What is the setup on the front neck?
Was this done by GFI or self?
Would like to hear a performance on it.
gamac1 1 year ago
@gamac1 In front neck is 8 string fretted neck. Gene Fields made it that way; this was his personal guitar back in the 1990s. Gene is a good player on the fretted neck but I can hardly play it at all. Gene tunes to a big G triad, like standard Dobro tuning plus high G and low D. I have a standard guitar tuning in the middle 6, low D instead of low E, plus high G and low G. The cool part of the fretted neck is the pedals.
DwayneKong 1 year ago