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MICHAEL MESSER :: MICHAEL MESSER FORUM :: MAIN STREET :: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
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Michael Messer
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #15 on Oct 18, 2010, 12:13am »
Hi Mel,

Thank you very much for such a detailed and positive set of comments about the DVD.

It is as you say, very well filmed and recorded. It is so important to get the camera angles right so that everything can be seen. I looked at lots of lap steel & Dobro DVDs to see what camera angles were being used, and on the first day of the shoot we spent a long time getting a good camera view of the fretboard & left hand. The right hand is easier to film. I did the same thing with the bottleneck slide film and that was my reason for using the player's-eye view for the left hand on that one. It is crucial to the success of the whole thing that the student can see and understand what is going on.

Working with Michael Roach on both of my tuition DVDs has been excellent. We work well together and from our combined experience of more than a decade of Blues Weeks, I think we both now have a clear understanding of what the student requires and how to get that across. All through the shoot Michael was watching and listening to the content and making sure that what I had just explained and demonstrated makes sense and is easy to follow. Although I did not write a script, a lot of thought went into this project, it is something I have wanted to do for a long time.

In the world of tuition products for learning to play an instrument, I still consider Bert Weedon's 'Play In a Day' book and video (especially the book) to be the benchmark. It is so simple and clear and although it does contain a few 1950s folk songs, it is not teaching a particular style, Bert just teaches the basics of how to play the guitar. In the world of lap steel tuition DVDs, most that I have seen are partisan and teach a particular genre of music, rather than just how to play a lap steel guitar..

Thanks Mel. Your comments are really very much appreciated.

Shine On
Michael
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #16 on Oct 18, 2010, 10:46am »
Michael,

do you reckon one could get a feel for Lap Steel with this DVD and a Lightning flipped on it's side, but without a nut riser?

Cheers
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #17 on Oct 18, 2010, 5:27pm »
Hi Greedyostrich,

I learnt to play lap steel on regular round-neck National & Dobro guitars without nut raisers. I played that way for quite a few years before I got a raised action square-neck guitar. I believe that it helped me develop the light touch & tone that I have today.

Also when I travel by air to concerts, most times I am only able to take one guitar. So it is very useful for me to be fluent at playing lap steel on low action round-neck guitars.

I hope that helps,

Shine On,
Michael

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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #18 on Oct 22, 2010, 3:11pm »
are there any video samples of the DVD?
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #19 on Oct 22, 2010, 4:17pm »
Hi Kluson,

There will be an online sample clip of the DVD. We are waiting for the editor to let us know that it is done. I had hoped to see it this week.

As soon as it exists I will post it on here.

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Michael.
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #20 on Oct 22, 2010, 4:31pm »
many thanks
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #21 on Oct 27, 2010, 7:30pm »
Hi Michael
Couldn't wait for a clip so ordered the DVD, amazed it arrived yesterday , ordered late on Monday and arrived first thing Tuesday..... great service, haven't had a chance to play it yet as we had a power cut yesterday for 10 hours.... looking forward to having a look tonight
cheers
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #22 on Oct 27, 2010, 10:54pm »
Hi Kluson,

Thanks. I am pleased the DVD arrived quickly. I look forward to hearing how you get with it.

Shine On
Michael.
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #23 on Oct 28, 2010, 6:09pm »
Hi Michael :)
The Lap Steel Dvd arrived today and i must say that you have done a superb job, its very clear and it's worth its weight in gold ;) , I have only just got through the first half and from what i have seen it will benefit anyone who learning and also any experienced players i feel that this dvd really will help my playing.
All the best Marc :)
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #24 on Nov 2, 2010, 2:51pm »
Hi Marc,

Apologies for the late reply.

Thank you very much. I am pleased that you like the DVD and that you feel it will help you develop your lap steel playing. Great stuff!

Much appreciated.

Shine On
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #25 on Nov 6, 2010, 8:55pm »
Hi Michael,
Just started working through your lap steel DVD. I'm particularly taken with the slant bar section - wow, this is a whole new world of exploration opening up in front of me! I had dabbled a bit with slants, but having it all explained so logically is a great help; I am now completely addicted and will be driving everyone mad playing harmony slants til the cows come home.

I noticed in your 'intro to the hardware' section you mention that Stevens-type bars are not easy to use for playing slants; I can definitely vouch for this. I'm using a Shubb SP2 on my dobro (on Robin's advice). Forward slants aren't too bad but back slants are pretty tricky - it's hard to get my thumb round the back and the fingers in position to quickly swivel it, although I'm getting better at it. I know that most dobro players use a railroad bar, so what do they do about slants? Is it the case that most bluegrass dobro players don't bother with slants, or what?

Steve
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #26 on Nov 7, 2010, 12:10am »
Hi Steverb,
The stereotypical Dobro players do bother with backward slants, it just looks like a bit of a contortion when they do as though they've got a double jointed wrist which to me looks a bit unnatural. A bar is much easier and more comfortable to get the hang of. The best and quietest being the Tribotone (IMO).

I've seem a video somewhere of a lady who advocates practising the forward and backward slants (with a tone bar) on your left (or right) thigh whilst watching TV or whatever until it becomes an unconscious fluid movement.
Anyway, I don't pretend to be any kind of Instructor so take my advice with a pinch of salt. Some of it may work for you.

Chris W
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #27 on Nov 7, 2010, 9:42am »
HI Michael ,
Just sent off for your lap steel DVD, after about a year of playing the weissborn, I feel I need to look at the basics again, especially damping techniques etc, otherwise your just carry on with your bad habits uncorrected.
Also it should coincide nicely with the new weissenborn.

Regards

Growler
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Michael Messer
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #28 on Nov 7, 2010, 10:01am »
Hi Steverb,

Chris is correct about the weird contortions when Dobro players do backwards slants, but not many modern players use this technique as in Dobro circles it tends to be considered a bit old fashioned.

The Tribotone is a wonderful bar and I use it most of the time these days, but I would advise you to learn the basics using a steel bar, because if you learn with a Tribotone and then switch to steel, you will get a shock! Owning both is the right way to go. Probably the best steel bullet available (unless you can get a King Slide steel bullet from Ron at Wunjo's in Denmark Street) is the Brozophonic.
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Hi Growler,

Thanks - much appreciated. I look forward to hearing how you get on with the DVD. The Weissenborn copy looks very nice and should sound beautiful 8-)

Shine On
Michael.
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Re: MM LAP STEEL TUITION DVD >OUT NOW
« Reply #29 on Nov 7, 2010, 7:40pm »
On the subject of bars and slants. The best bar for getting the most out of a dobro is one of the shorter bullet bars like the Brozophonic. Takes a couple of days/weeks to get used to it and then you wonder why you bothered with any of the clunky things like a Stevens.

Slants, whether forward, reverse or split, work best with the bullet bar. Hammering is a bit harder but you soon get used to it. Twisting your wrist to get a reverse slant is bad technique. Use a bullet bar and twist it around in your hand keeping your wrist straight.

Cheers, Colin
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