Country Steel Bends & Swells - My simple triad based system (Guitar Lesson)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
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My first effort at a teaching video! Thought a good place to start would be with some country guitar steel bends and volume swells. We’ll take a look at my simple, triad-based approach to these faux pedal-steel sounds.
On-screen TAB included for the initial play through of the etude, and then a thorough guided breakdown of the concepts outlined.
I intend to do many more teaching videos and will endeavour to make them better, tidier and more succinct each time. Please comment below with any questions, suggestions or editing advice!
Also, if you could subscribe and share this channel with your guitar playing friends, it would be greatly appreciated. I really want to build a community of like-minded musicians here where we can get some interesting discussions going and really advance our playing together!
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#guitarlesson #countryguitar #telecaster #fender #musician #steelguitar #pedalsteel #guitartechniques #guitarteacher #guitarpractice #learning #tuition #guide #howto #music #blues #jazz #contentcreator #klon #countrylesson #stringbend #blues #jazz #guitar #guitarra #jimcampilongo #dukelevine #roybuchanan #buddyemmons #dannygatton #triads
You asked for suggestions on how to improve on this first teaching video. My suggestion is: don’t change anything! This is the clearest, most comprehensive lesson on steel bending that I have ever seen, and one of the best over-all guitar lessons on RUclips.
What a lovely comment!.. thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me! I’m so glad you enjoyed the lesson! Thanks again my friend 🙏🏻❤️
How about a nice Alexized version of “Last Date,” with explanation. Great stuff, thanks.
Totally agree!!
Agreed! In addition to absolutely beautiful and haunting guitar playing, this video is one of the best instructional videos I've seen. Been woodshedding with it for days and shared it with a few friends.
I like how you explain the why. It’s helpful and starting to make sense❤
@@jaj6688 I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson! Thanks for commenting 🙏🏻
All the cats come runnin when Alex starts to bend
Haha, perfect t-shirt slogan! ;)
Probably in top five lessons I've ever seen on the internet. Thank you
Wow, seriously?! Thank you so much man, that’s made my day! 🙏🏻🍻
Fantastic information. Thank you
Glad it was helpful buddy, thanks for commenting 🙏🏻
Really good lesson - thanks!
Thanks for the comment. Really glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
Remarkable. Thank you. You're a great teacher. Jaw dropping digital dexterity! Simply swell, as it were.
Ah thank you so much Mike, that really means a lot! Glad to have you here with us! 🙏🏻🧡
This is exactly the kind of video I was looking for
Really glad you found it useful buddy 🙏🏻
That is unreal. Got Bryan Sutton for bluegrass. Sign up tomorrow on Patreon with you for electric. Great stuff. You are some player and teacher.
Thank you Ian, that’s so nice to hear! Glad you enjoy me lessons buddy 🙏🏻🧡
Outstanding video. Your a natural teacher. Best country bend lesson ive seen.
Wow, thanks so much!.. that honestly means the world to me. I plan to do more country lessons very soon 🙏🏻
I can help but think of Roy Buchanan 🔥
That’s no bad thing!.. I need to do a deep dive on his playing. Only ever really heard Sleepwalk and Lonesome Fugitive, will give him a serious listen very soon 👌🏻
great tricks thank you
My pleasure! 🙏🏻
Being able to teach effectively is more difficult than one would think. You do it very well. Extremely well. Very natural. You explain what, why, when and where. Instead of playing the lick and say there ya go!!
Ah thanks mate, that's super kind of you to say. I genuinely enjoy teaching and love the challenge of trying to make things easier to understand and digest 🙏🏻
I have to say, this lesson would be great for pedal steel players as well.
ah thanks Mike, I really appreciate the comment mate :)
This cracked the code on steel bends for me.
Lot’s of stuff to digest 👍🏻
That’s amazing to hear!.. thank you for the feedback my friend 🙏🏻❤️
Awesome, man!
Cheers James! 🙏🏻
Great video Alex. I toured many years ago with country bands, and later on adapted many of those country licks into my blues and R&B playing. I teach now, and still love learning new things to share with my students. You showed me some licks I remember hearing from the great country pickers, but never quite got around to learning. Looking forward to more. Total quality. Many thanks. Steve in Santa Cruz CA.
Thanks Steven!.. I really appreciate your comment. So glad you enjoyed the video! 🙏🏻
The whole time watching I'm thinking to myself how much I dig your tone, then you mentioned the decibelics klon and it all made sense! I've got one in purple that I run through a 1965 vibrolux and its a damn hard sound to beat. Excellent video 10/10 no notes
Amazing! Glad to meet another Decibelics fan! It’s by far the best Klon(e) I’ve ever tried. Doesn’t completely attenuate the top and like most do! 👌🏻
Great playing, thanks for sharing these ideas!
My pleasure man, thanks for taking the time to comment 🙏🏻
Man you are so generous and honest..
This is has to be one of the best lessons on this subject..
Congratulations..
Please don’t change a lick !
Subed indeed..🎉
Amazing tutorial! I actually learned so much today… Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that, thanks for the comment! 🙏🏻
Top level teaching, and well received, well done, and a huge thank you..
Thank you kindly! Really glad you enjoyed the lesson 🙏🏻❤️
@@AlexFarranGuitar Ill be listening , thanks again.. very hard to get good teachers.
I appreciate that, thank you again my friend and welcome aboard! 🙏🏻
@@AlexFarranGuitar My pleasure...
Made my day. Thanks Alex, as always on top of my favorites ❤
Ah thank you so much, really glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻
Excellent lesson, can't wait for the next one!
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it! ✌🏻
Alex, this is an excellent instructional video. I agree; don't change anything. Please post more lessons. Love what you did on Honeysuckle Rose.
Thank you so much John, such a kind comment and very encouraging! I will film more lessons very soon, perhaps I could break down some ideas for Honeysuckle Rose!
Impressive.
Thanks buddy, glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
Cool stuff - thanks for taking the time to put that out there.
Thanks for the comment, really glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
wonderful stuff, added to my guit file on Utube. Many thanx...EH! ;0) M
Nice one, thanks mate! 🙏🏻
Top lesson! Just discovered today. Just awesome!😊
Thank you so much! Glad you found it! 🙏🏻
Excellent lesson, loving it, subscribed. Would buy you a coffee but I think you'd prefer Yorkshire tea so bought a lesson instead. For those new to this 9-42 strings make this bending quite a bit easier even if you do lose a little tone. My 2 cents.
Ah man, thank you so much! I appreciate that! How did you know I like Yorkshire tea?! 😉
Ah yes, a lower string gauge can certainly help with these kind of bends 👌🏻
@@AlexFarranGuitar Django's Improvisation #2 above the fridge!
Very objective! Thanks!!! Great lesson
Thanks man! 🙏🏻
Great lesson. You're a great teacher and thank you for this awesome lesson!
Wow, thank you man, that’s very kind of you! 🙏🏻
usefull stuff👍
That was fantastic, thank you very much!
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
THANKS, you're amazing!!!
Ah thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻🧡
Because the theory is invaluable
A single 25k pot could bring you the option of keeping mids in the DR.
It's a great video lesson, only thing I'd add, is that some bends only work on the IV of V chord.
Thanks for watching! Indeed.. this is just a basic starting point. I plan to do a more advanced follow up soon where we get onto applying these things in context with all of those chord functions considered. Keep your eyes peeled for part 2! ✌🏻
@AlexFarranGuitar thanks man, keep it coming 💯 👌
What a great lesson. Could you please tell us your tone setup for this video? Thank you.
Thanks buddy! For this one I believe it was the tele, into a Decibel's Golden Horse "Klon(e)" type of pedal set for very low overdrive.. more just to compress the signal a bit.. then into my vintage 69' Deluxe Reverb. I record my amps though the Universal Audio Ox Box.
wow, don't know how I haven't come across any of your videos. such smooth clear playing and explanations at the correct speed! Would you mind explaining what you are playing through and what are your settings? Or point me to the location if you have already done that! Again, thank you and beautiful playing all around!
Hi Paul, thanks so much for the kind words.. really glad you enjoyed this video. This was my first lesson on RUclips and is around a year old, so do check out the more recent ones as the quality has improved somewhat! As for the tone/gear used, at around the 13 minute mark of the video, I go into a little detail on the gear used so don't miss that! Cheers buddy! 🍻
Seriously nice volume swells there. And someone mentioning Roy Buchanan always warms my heart.
Thank you so much! Really glad you enjoyed the video 🙏🏻🧡
I'm a long-term subscriber, who really admires your fine playing in a variety of stylistic settings. My focus for the last few decades has been jazz -- as a player, particularly chord melody on acoustic archtop -- but I come from a rock background and also love western swing and country guitar. You have extremely impressive facility in this faux steel sound that I love, and I have only great praise for your premier teaching video. Your point about practicing toward a very clear concept of the sound you want resonates with me -- I have a short pep talk for myself, "Play it how you want to hear it!" Congratulations on a first-rate start and best wishes for continued success. -- Elizabeth
Wow Elizabeth!.. what an amazing comment!.. thank you so much! I remember you very well from my earliest days on RUclips and I often see you appearing in the comment sections of videos I enjoy.. always sharing some fantastic insight! If I see you in the comments I know for sure it’s going to be a video I’ll enjoy!.. we have such similar tastes! I really appreciate your feedback and your kind words, honestly they mean a lot to me. Thanks so much for the support Elizabeth 🙏🏻
Great lesson
Ah thanks Zac, this was my first ever RUclips lesson! 🧡
Great video
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻
I agree completely
Thank you very much for this great lesión (…from a great player) CONGRATULATIONS MR. FARRAN. I would like to try your guitar, with the action of this instrument so sweet because l think lt must require strong fingers and very thin strings dificult for a jazz player… Can you suggest me some comment? Best regards from Spain Alex 🎸
Thank you so much for the comment my friend! 🙏🏻 I use regular 10 gauge strings with a medium action.. a low action actually makes bending much harder. Also, as a jazz and bluegrass player I like heavy picks and solid picking technique so really thin strings and low action wouldn’t work out well for me.
You can build hand and finger strength over time to get the bends nice and controlled.. just takes a lot of practice, time and patience as does everything 👌🏻🍻
Absolutely phenomenal video, I play in a country/folk band and had been wanting to improve my steel style bending and this helped a lot! The volume swells really made it for me, no easy mode with a volume pedal, just pure perfection! Really really beautiful stuff! So I'm actually really struggling with those swells, I feel like my pinkie is too short, do you have any tips on how to do those more effectively?
Thanks for the comment!.. really glad you found the lesson useful.
It is tough to reach the pinkie out to start with for everyone.. took me a long while to get a proper solid feel for it. It’s more about flexibility and stretching than about finger length I reckon. Just keep it going and it’ll gradually start to work out 👌🏻
This is easily the most effective video I've ever seen for mimicking pedal steel bends on 6 string guitar and there are a lot of good videos out there. Thanks
Wow thank you so much buddy! It was actually the very first lesson I uploaded so I’m very pleasantly surprised to hear that it has done the trick for you! Thanks again for the encouraging comment 🙏🏻🍻
I -> 1:30 2:56 4:05
IV -> 6:23
V -> 6:52 8:56 9:37 11:11
I to IV -> 11:53
combinin triads -> 5:22 6:33
Thanks mate 🙏🏻
How come the triads at the 1.00min mark sounds so damn chimey and country like even before you bend anything? What you got going on with the tone there?
Haha it's just the bridge pickup into a clean Fender Deluxe reverb. You get some extra twangy tone when you hybrid pick these things so maybe that's the ticket 👌🏻
What do you mean by triads being "one of your five a day"? Is that some sort of recommended practice routine type of thing? Thanks by the way, this is an AWESOME lesson. Super inspiring!
Yeah exactly that.. a daily routine. Here in the UK they talk about getting your “five-a-day” in regards to fruit and vegetables (healthy eating).. so it was a play on that theme really 😉
Nice sound .surprise for Englisman I thought You were Nashvillian.jeje
Haha thanks man 🍻
What are you string gauges. I used .009-.042w, but went to a .010 for the first. The .009 was too small to get a decent note.
I use 10-46 on my teles and 11’s or 12’s on my Gibson scale lengths. I’m with you, a 9 just doesn’t work for me.. I like to be able to dig in hard with rest strokes and the like and 9’s just fizzle out.
Fantastic lesson loved. Can I ask what gauge strings are you using on that telecaster. Thnx heaps
Thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed it. Sure, I'm using 10-46 on my telecasters
Really enjoyed this tutorial. Never realized all the possibilities on stretching triad shapes. I use an .011 high E set, so I might change to .010 or .009 on another guitar to facilitate these bends. I use a glass slide a lot in between riffs. The thinner strings do not allow me to slide. Thank you. I'll be back!
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed the lesson! I have another steel bends lesson coming soon so stay tuned! I find 10's to be a perfect compromise so have stuck with them for quite some time now.
You see I have a problem with this lesson. I mainly play Gibsons. I always say you can do everything on a LP. Now I see the first 30 seconds of this and I am now GASing for a CS Telecaster. Argh! Fantastic lesson.
Haha thanks man! I also love a good Les Paul, but the tele is my Swiss Army knife guitar for sure 👌🏻
Hello Alex, I love the sound you get!!! Please share your setup info: what amp and its settings, what petals and their settings and what Klon clone pedal and its settings, etc.
Thank you Van! I will do a tone video soon for sure. For this one it wasn’t anything particularly unique.. just the deluxe reverb set clean and with a nice helping of reverb, then the Klon set to gain and volume about 11 o’clock and the tone at noon.. just helps compress and push the amp a little. Gives you a bit of breakup in the midrange 👌🏻
String gauge? Love your sound!
Looking forward to your tone video:)
@@steveprager7862 thank you Steve, I appreciate the comment 🙏🏻 I use 10-46 roundwound pure nickel strings. Either the pyramid ones or the DR Pure Blues ones 👌🏻
great stuff. i spent the whole first year of covid studying jason loughlin’s country connection course on truefire.
i had to play everything slower but it was really fun…is that a “real” bg??
excellent lesson, thanks! and I agree, Tone is in the Ear. If you can't hear it, you can't play it.
Thanks Chuck, I appreciate that 🙏🏻 Yep, 100% about what and how we hear things 🙌🏻
Love your video! Would a linear taper pot be best for volume swells?
Thanks so much! 🙏🏻 Yeah, linear is my preference usually, but logarithmic is fine too! 👍🏻
I like the mood the lamps set. I had a guitar teacher years ago that had a lamp lit room that was just relaxing and cozy. We would do an hour lesson and then just sit and talk music for two more. He would introduce me all kinds of music. Put on an album, talk about it and demonstrate. He taught me how to listen to music as well as play. Your videos have that mood. 👍
Ah man, that’s great!.. sounds very much like my approach to teaching too. Nothing better than sharing these sounds with people and seeing the inspiration strike 🙏🏻🧡
That was a great lesson! You have a nice teaching style. I’d love to see more country guitar lessons if you plan on doing more in the future.
Thank you so much Dylan! 🙏🏻 Yes will certainly be doing more in the (very near) future! I’ll probably alternate between country and jazz a little bit ✌🏻
Fantastic lesson, thank you!
My pleasure! Thanks for commenting 🙏🏻
Fantastic playing my friend, being able to make a guitar sound that much like a pedal steel is phenomenal especially without those B- Bender gadgets.
Thanks a lot mate, that's very kind of you to say! And thanks for stopping by :)
Hey Alex, I really like your playing and I absolutely love that you take up jazz and country. Over here in Denmark I feel that a lot of guitar players only care for one genre f.ex jazz. If you go back to melting pot of American music in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s you’ll notice how closely related theese genres are. Western Swing of course being a great example of this. Thanks for the inspiration mate🎶🎶🤙
Thank you so much for the kind words! Yes you’re exactly right!.. back in the day it was all just good music!.. genres were invented by the marketing guys in suits and I find it very sad that some people like to live their musical lives within those arbitrary boundaries!
Thanks for stopping by my Danish friend!
Awesome lesson about triads/bending, really love it, you make us easy and clear to know how to use the theory/intervals to make beautiful melodic embellishments. Your channel is full of really quality content. Thanks a lot Alex!
Thank you buddy! I’m so glad you enjoy the lessons so much! 🙏🏻
When bending do you have some type of distortion going on to get that sound.
No, not any distortion. Just a clean tone with a slight mid boost, and a touch of reverb from the amp 👍🏻
I understand and am thrilled with the discussion of intervals & target tones within the triads.
That’s awesome! Nice to be able to have a legitimate musical dialogue ☺️
Wow…this is a huge step forward and commitment Alex. Your clear demo and explanation of the bending techniques using triads is brilliant. I think you’ll get a big following. Keep it up!
Thanks so much Martin! I really appreciate the kind words of encouragement! ❤️
Great Video Thankyou ❤❤❤
You’re welcome my friend 🙏🏻
Fine playing! Do you have #9's on your Tele?
Thanks buddy, no I use 10’s or sometimes 11’s on telecasters 👍🏻
Excellent video Alex- thanks so much :)
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻
Great lesson - thank you for this!
My pleasure buddy!
What gadge and what kind of strings u use
I use 10-46 on my teles, and prefer pure nickel roundwound strings like the Pyramids or the DR Pure Blues.. but, I also really like the D’addario NYXL’s too 👌🏻
That's beutyful💕☺️
Thank you! 😊
Excellent lesson 👍👍 love this stuff
Glad you enjoyed it buddy! 🙏🏻
Great lesson. Appreciate it
My pleasure mate, thanks for the comment 🙏🏻
Great video. Love the guitar.
Cheers buddy! 🙏🏻
Just discovered your channel and absolutely love it. A RB or Hellecasters Sweet Dreams lesson would great using these concepts.
Thanks buddy, glad you like it! 🙏🏻 Ah yes, that’s a good shout.. I shall ad Sweet Dreams to the list 🍻
@@AlexFarranGuitar❤
Very nice Sir! Subscribed👍
Thanks mate, I appreciate that 🙏🏻
Fantastico. Grazie!!! Good Years...
Thanks my friend! 🙏🏻🧡
Fab
Thanks buddy!
Dude. Amazing. ❤️
Thank you Jason, I appreciate the comment 🙏🏻🧡
There are lots of guitar "bending" videos on YT, but this one really teaches your how to do it. Nice work! And thank you!
Ah thanks mate, I really appreciate the comment 🙏🏻
I just found your channel! Actually, I think it found me! Either way, I love the stuff you put on, very clear and grounded. Thanks!
Thank you so much my friend! I appreciate the comment 🙏🏻🍻
Really enjoyed this! Thanks mate! 🎸
Awesome! Thanks for watching buddy and for leaving a comment 🙏🏻
What are the other 4 a day?
Patreon will given you the answer 😉
love those G7 bending ideas.
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback 🙏🏻
Cool❤
Thank you! 🙏🏻
ace
Glad you dig it! 🙏🏻
Really great lesson! I never thought about it this way. Thanks!
My pleasure mate, glad you found it to be helpful 🙏🏻
Sweet. So very tasteful. I will definitely try to incorporate this into my playing. I know several steel bends but these are great ideas. Thank you.
My pleasure mate, thanks for the comment! 🙏🏻
You are amazingly good for your age... You have a very good concept of the "Twangy Telecaster". (The best I've seen Youtubing)
Ah thank you!.. you’ve made my day calling me young! Haha.. I’m almost 40 😬😄 Thanks for listening and for the comment 🙏🏻🍻
Your an excellent teacher Alex...loved watching this
Aw thanks Carol, super kind of you to say that! So glad you enjoyed it! :)
Amazing tone- and as always excellent quality teaching....! Best on this platform!
Thanks so much my friend, I really appreciate that! 🙏🏻
Excellent video. Very clear, well explained and to the point. No waffle, which makes it a major plus for me. Thanks👍🏻👍🏻
Glad it was helpful buddy, thanks for commenting! 🙏🏻
I just love this sound ❤️🔥
Thank you Adrian, really glad you like it 🙏🏻
@@AlexFarranGuitar You're welcome :)
One of the best guitar instructional videos I have found on RUclips. Excellent.
Thank you so much Kirk! 🙏🏻
Some 3 years ago I decided to actually try to learn a bit of theory after 30+ years of playing. That has been a very interesting journey with quite a lot of frustration. Have bought many books and watched endless you tube videos. Most has not been helpfull at all. Maybe I am at a point now where Im more open/ready for this kind of theory/practice, but I can honestly say that this is he best and most usefull I have ever watched. I know there a lots to practice and work on, but for the first time I dont feel frustrated, actually pretty calm on optimistic. Thank you Alex 😀
What an amazing comment!.. it made my day to read this. Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad this video was helpful for you 🙏🏻🧡
Fabulous teaching clip, Alex, thank you! ☺️🎸
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
Regarding the use of a klone to add mid-range - why not just use a Boss GE-7 or some other EQ pedal? Probably a fair bit less expensive, and allows for more control and specificity to the frequencies used. Just a thought.
Pedal steel players. I know it's along list, but Tom Brumley, Red Rhodes and those west coast guys have a different approach than most of the Nashville guys. A lot of the playing on Buck Owen's 60s material was often a bit easier to get to on a guitar than say, Buddy Emmons.
Hey dude, thanks for watching 🙏🏻 An EQ pedal can certainly do a decent job, but I like what the Klon circuit does gain wise too.. definitely reacts quite differently to a GE-7. And by the way, I don’t own a real Klon, it’s just a “Klone” so it’s not expensive by any means but it’s an incredible overdrive into my old deluxe reverb and I use it for many other sounds too 👌🏻 I do have a GE7 but it just doesn’t feel the same or compress in the same way as the Klon(e) 👍🏻