O/T Hey! Can you folks stand a tune this morning?

Hi All,

When I was a boy, I liked to go to the barn dances and chase the girls.

Always seemed like sometime before it was all over, the fiddle player or the accordian would drag out this old waltz and give 'er a spin.

Second tune is a polka that I heard a piano player doing somewhere in a honky tonk one night. Memorized it even while I was 'bout half tanked up at the time. :>)

Thanks fer the listen,

Allan

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20osIINPcN0">Blue Skirt Waltz</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQmJk9l6Tqc">Pennsylvania Polka</a>

just turned on the coputer at lunchtime and got to listen to some great music! that was really , really great!!!!!

Thanks for puttin' those up Allen. Blue Skirt Waltz has been rattlin around in my head for years. I have searched for it many times on you tube, But I never thought to use the word skirt. I have been wondering if I was the only one alive that remembered it. I think my mother must have played it when I was a kid. Thanks, Colin

It sounds great as always. I never heard the Pennsylvania Polka before. Do you have to program the drum machine ahead of time or do you somehow control it while you play?
Zach

Both were well done, but I really liked the blue skirt waltz. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Zach,

I don't use a drum machine.

I just think that they are just too darned "repetitive" sounding in that they always run the same pattern over and over and over again; really gets annoying to my ear. I’m of the opinion that drum machines just do not sound "real" by any stretch of the imagination. :>)

Yes, I use "midi sequencing" to trip a sound module to play the proper note, of the proper instrument or the proper drum kick, etc., etc., at the proper time within the song.

All my equipment is daisy-chained together so that we're all on the same page so to speak. You might be able to see that little red light at the back of my guitar. It's always "talking" with my equipment rack.

Allan

Thanks ol' Pard.

I really tried to "stay on melody". Every once in awhile I'd stray out to the edges (sheer habit), but I tried. :>)

Allan

Thanks ol' Pard.

I really tried to "stay on melody". Every once in awhile I'd stray out to the edges (sheer habit), but I tried. :>)

Allan

Lemme see "strayin out on the edges" I believe that means adding your own color.

I think ya did dad burn well on both of em.

Sure Glad I found your link.

Thanks Allan, that Blue Skirt Waltz is my favorite. Ron MN

Hey Allen Really good music. I enjoy watching almost as much as I enjoy listening. I must say you're a cool dude. I play a little myself just for my own amusement. I just turn on a country station and play along with whatever they're playing, but I'm not near as good as you. Thank you for some great entertainment.

Good job, I'd love to meet up at a tractor show someplace sometime and go set n pick n grin, you do the pickin n me the grinnin cuz I cant pick my 5 string banjo good enough to play with you ......


Frankie Y eat your heart out (Blue Skirt Waltz) and so can Jimmy Sturr lol

Ol John T

People tell me that I'm "too serious", and that I should smile more.

Heck, that is my "smiley face". :>)

Thanks Pard,

Allan

Hey ALAN. Tuned into your renditions.1st I ever knew that BARNS DANCED!! Bet that shook the ground. lol.I sure like it when Musicians play a well known tune and as Old Roy pointed out, Skirting the edges is letting the listener know a couple of things. 1st. So familiar with the instrument his ability lets him produce his feelings ,or what he feels emotionally about the music. 2nd.The music selected is a lock down of his saleability of only certain tunes.I"ve played in joints (polish Clubs,PHC LODGES, where that"s the only sound they wanted to hear. That was one of the reasons I gave up the clubs was that type of patrons who was only interested in drinking, picking up a pardner,and showing off his dancing shoes for the night. Their claim to fame. Different life styles I guess.Like I explained a long time ago. Music holds Great emotional feelings when it consists of more then 3 chords. Players take the easy way out musically when they ONLY want to play it safe and won"t learn to expand beyond the 3 cords. I can assume there isn"t any feeling left that I"m going to hear. Now I"m NOT TRYING TO UPSET ANY ONE< BUT WHAT I"M SAYING IS THE TRUTH.!If I was wanting to play an instrument, then by gosh,I"d take the time to learn it ,and know I could bring out all the feeling I have in me. . NOW if I wanted to be a back up player, (regardless of instrumentation selection) that scenario still holds true,learn all I could.BE THE BEST THAT I COULD BE ,(not the U.s Army MOTO lol). ANY way ALAN,when you pick up the guitar,then "I" want to hear your innermost feelings, complete and resourceful. Chet ATKINS had command of the instrument so when he picked up the guitar. one was assured of a great listening experience.There were other guitar players as well but Chet"s name came to mind.What it all boils down to is "SELF COMPARISON",nothing more.When I would say"I"d love to hear more, that would mean EMOTIONAL INPUT. Well ALAN, I would LOVE TO HEAR MORE.
Regards, LOU .

Hey John T. If Ya Know 3 chords well then you can play along with ALAN. No Sweat. lol The 3 chords and keeping time is all that's required .Would like to hear that 5 string. Regards LOU.

Hey ALAN Tell em Smilin don't make me play better then ask em YA didn't come to see me smile did ya?lol
LOU.

Blue Skirt Waltz was a cousin"s favorite, so much so that it was his request (and it was granted) that it be played at his funeral, last song, going out of the church.

I'll be darned.

Thanks for passing that story along. Ya just don't hear those things everyday.

Allan

Where's Lawrence Welk when we need him?

Thanks for the explanation. I'm sorry I don't know my terminology. I didn't know that your machine could react to you in real time, it must be quite a complex system. When you play 'out' how much stuff do you have to tote to take it all with you? Thanks again for the music.
Zach

That sure sounds good.

Allan,

Very nice playing. I think Lawrence Welk"s band did the Pennsylvania Polka. Our group does Blue Skirt Waltz when we entertain in nursing homes. The old folks love it - probably reminds them of their younger days and courtin", etc.

I see the You Tube window says you have 11 videos up. I seem to remember that you played banjo on a video some time back or am I dreamin".

Ron

I was wonderin what may be in those cases standin by the stack of amps ????

If he got a banjo in there he'd better git his paw on it and claw a couple out.

Hi Allan, Mighty Fine! Thanks.

Especially when he was a VERY conservative Catholic Church member. Pretty hard to get away from "How Great Thou Art"!

That's just about enough.

Allan

Alan.Enough of what? When I explained that in order to play with you musically and your tune selections then all that is required is being able to lay down 3 chords. In all Keys of course.I haven't heard you play any tune with more then the 3 chords required to complete the piece. Sure would be interesting to listen to .If you took offense to my posting on your selections , then I must have hit the nail on the head so to speak and the truth must have hurt.
I'm not known to speak out of turn (in this subject)as I have participated in music since age THREE and I also have participated in all styles of music. I was what was considered as a gifted child ,and really my musical career started when I played the pianos at an AUCTION where folks pitched coins down on the floor and the owners paid me $1,00 per tune. Made the pianos sell better I was told. Maybe this is not Germain to my post ,then again it may be of interest as to my credibility as a musician.I took the time to learn all I could about my choice of instrument (which spans some 72 years) of effort so my emotional response to any score I selected to play ,would in deed include the emotion I felt.
Now if the listener walks away with no feeling then I consider that his loss not mine. The feeling was there to begin with. RARELY have I ever thought of playing music for others with out being proficient with the instrument.If I did, it would show that I had the audacity to display my lack of proficiency just to show off or to brag. Proficiency is a relative term when it comes to time invested in learning any instrument. That's WHY I APPRECIATE the efforts of learners /beginners,and all who HONESTLY give of themselves with out the brag and hoop la.
Again ALAN, My post was NOT MEANT to offend. but only to bring truth to what is there all ready ,in the video. LOU.

Yes Sir,

I shouldn't let this kind of thing get to me I guess, but it really does. And especially so, when it comes from a seasoned player.

Granted, I'm very strong on the bass and I'm heavy on the drums, as my dancers need to hear that basic beat foundation first and foremost. That, coupled with my cheap little video reproduction, does make it sound "less than optimal".

However, don't let the cow sh!t on my boots, the grey hair and my torn old saddle horn cloud your perception.

I score and sequence every blessed tone, nuisance and rim shot from scratch. Out of my head. It comes from inside me alone and not some cheap little drug store pre-recorded backing track like many of the lazy "One-Man-Band" types use.

I understand that there is no way the listener could possibly know that it takes me up to three weeks to get it to sound exactly the way I want it/the way I want it to come across and that I've used as many as 14 different and distinct chord structures on those underlying rhythm instrument(s) to get it that way. One just cannot get that from a cheap little 3 minute video.

I've tried the "lounge" stuff; I play it here at home all the time. I like the complexity of the progressions and I like the way those tunes stretch the horizon.

However, it simply does not work for my crowds.

First song comes off as, "That is absolutely amazing". Second is "Yes, that's really nice". By the third tune, folks are either nodding off, heading to the bar to get a stiff drink or looking for their car keys to go find a band with a beat.

Point being, please don't sit there and repeatedly judge me as a country hick, corn-pone, three chord, inbred player. I score the arrangements and I know full-well what they consist of. Further, it irks me just a little to have to sit here "defending" myself against that sort of denigration.

Of course, that's always the way it works. Give something away for nothing, it will come back to bite you every damned time. It's human nature/it's what we do. :>)

Allan

Well ALAN. Talking about you endeavors with the sequencing of rhythm using musical instruments to re produce that sound. I do know how it's done. I do have a MRC 300 Real time composer. However If I want to produce a particular drum rhythm,the keyboard has a drum sequence I can alter to make what ever licks I desire.I am capable of producing a whole symphony orchestration.Now if what you say is true about you being able to do more then any 3 chord selection, I certainly wouldn't FALL ASLEEP as you claim most folks do , so now your telling me ,unless it's a rompon stompom chit kicken beer guzzling music you claim ,that will only holds the crowd you play for, then I wouldn't want to tell the world I can only play that music to please these kind of folks. Now if your lively hood came to music, I would agree that there is enough of that music to go around,but I'm guessing that's not the case.
What we have here ,is a failure to communicate.
I will indeed try again to make the subject clear. I would ask you to perform any piece of music, using multi instruments,that takes a chorus of the tune so we all can hear the marvelous ideas you hold in your mind. I can pal! The sequencer holds all the instruments I play (via midi selections)so the listener can feel what I am Thinking musically. I can tell you that is not a boring,repetitive, redundant, sound. I am offering you a CHALLENGE ( I rarely do this)for you to play any other musical selection void of country sound. Guitar,drums,bass. ! Lets hear some strings,Organ,flute,harp,trombone,brass section,clarinet,tuba, and any or all of these instruments used in your selection as lead and support parts.I promise you I can and would be delighted to prove the point. If I were you ALAN, I wouldn't make the assumption that unless I played cheap 3 chord tunes, the folks would make a hasty retreat to the nearest exit. People who like music,would embrace your artistry whole heartedly,that is if you could produce all kinds of music that you seem to claim. I will tell ya this,If what you claim you can do is true(play other musical selections) then lets ALL HEAR IT.!!DO ANOTHER Y.T.VIDEO. Now I made a C.D for my friends(not for resale) that doesn't pass muster for non note errors but does show the mind being used to produce the instrumental feelings being played.Heck, I even sent one to Dave2 so he could use it to clear gophers out of his horse pasture. Guess it works. Haven't heard other wise. Must be good for something huh? Now he told me "He didn't understand it" and I can appreciate his honesty. Were not on the same page musically, and I hold no malice it this regard .Different strokes for different folks.I.m not going to keep on using space on Y.T forum to argue the point I made. Lets SEE ANOTHER VIDEO DOING WHAT I CHALLENGED YOU TO DO. Then If you can,well I've been proven wrong more then once. Try a dixieland version of WAITING for the ROBERT E. LEE. That's a Lively rompin ,stompin chit kicken selection if there ever was one. .LOU

Oh sure, I can do that.

I'm assuming that you mean in addition to these two "gaggers" that I already put up last spring?

As I recall, that was the first time you inferred that I was nothing but a 3-chord babe............or I dunno, maybe it was over a later upload, don't remember.

Anyway, the first <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G73JYoDHcNE">click here</a> has 15 totally/completely different chord voicings changing pretty much every two beats and the other <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9YCMiNAWbY">click again</a>was no grand picnic to put together either. :>)

Yeah, I can sure do that. Just give me few days to get over my mad. :>)

Allan

WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ALAN. The Litchenstiner(sp) was OUTSTANDING. You KNOW crow doesn't seem quite as palatable .Sounds like you were at the top of your game when that was made. I still would like to hear your rendition of ROBERT E.LEE.Now not to beat a dead horse,what else in selections do you have that ISN"T POLKA or COUNTRY???? I'm gonna be absent from here (posting) for a spell. Need the rest. So you will have plenty of time to prepare for multi leading voices(instruments) KEEP WORKING ON IT.lol.

LOU.