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About The Project
Ralph Mooney is the Steel Guitarist credited with creating the "Bakersfield Sound", also known as "California Style" or "West Coast Style" Steel Guitar.
It's a bright, bouncy style that is hard to describe, but easy to identify when you hear it.
Ralph's recordings with Buck Owens, Wynn Stewart, Waylon Jennings, and many others, brought this style to public attention.
Countless bands and players have embraced his stylings.
Al Brisco is a famous Canadian Steel Guitarist. Al was deeply influenced by Mooney's recordings with Buck and others, when they were first released in the early 1960s.
Al studied that style, even purchasing a Fender Steel Guitar similar to Ralphs. Over the years Al has developed his own style, but freely admits it is greatly influenced by the great Mooney recordings.
Joey Ace, also a Steel Guitarist, had the idea of Al doing an instructional DVD, for intermediate to advanced Steel Guitarists, teaching and demonstrating the Mooney Style.
Joey presented the idea to Al, and offered to produce it.
This project is now a reality, and planned for a Summer 2006 release.
On the DVD, Al plays and describes many classic intros and solos from Moon's recordings. All are played up to speed, then slow with camera close ups as Al talks you thru the licks.
Al also includes some blocking exersizes and tips to get that "Bakersfield Sound".
The early songs are played on Al's Classic Fender 400 Steel Guitar. The guitar's inner workings are shown and described.
Al then changes to his current modern guitar, and demonstrates the techniques he uses to capture the sound of the classics.
Everything on this DVD is played using the Standard E9 "Nashville Setup". Ralph uses his own unique tuning, which is briefly mentioned, as Al explains how to get the same licks on a standard setup.
As a bonus, Al performs his previously unreleased original composition "Ralph's Reel".
This is a song Al wrote in tribute to Ralph Mooney, which incorporates many of Ralph's signature licks, and definately captures the feel of the "Bakersfield Sound". Al then describes how to play this song while the camera close-ups show you every move.
Video Clips from the DVD
Advance Clip. Al performs "Above And Beyond" on his vintage Fender 400 and "Ralph's Reel" on his modern Carter
(Video Tip: Click on lower left button to stop movie, wait for it to load, then press same button to Play)
If it doesn't work, Try Again Later.Sometimes the host becomes overloaded.
Screen Shots from the DVD
The size and quality of these images are greatly reduced for Internet viewing.
The DVD is full screen and recorded with high quality digital video.
"Under the Influence of Love" - Buck Owens - Intro Explained, Break Explained
Fender 400 Underside Shown - Switch to modern Carter Guitar
"Rainy Day Woman" - Waylon - Intro Explained, Solo Explained
Knee Levers uesed for Mooney Style - Es Lower, F# first string raise
"Rainy Day Woman" - Solo Part 2 Explained
"Swingin Doors" - Merle Haggard - Intro and Break Explained
"Its Such A Pretty World Today" - Wynn Stewart - Intro and Break Explained
"Ralphs Reel" - Al Brisco - Entire song played full speed, then explained in sections.
Closing Remarks
Extras - Backing Tracks for "Ralph's Reel" Slow and Regular Tempo
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cost? How Can I order it? When can I get it?
A: The DVD will first be avalaible from "Steel Guitars of Canada". The retail price is $39.95 US. Planned release: before June 1, 2006
What tuning setup is needed? What's used on the old Fender?
A: This entire DVD was designed to be used on a standard E9 setup.
The Fender 400 is an eight string, just like a standard 10 string E9, but missing the two high strings.
Low to High: B D E F# G# B E G# (.011) - No Knee Levers
Standard E9 setup for A, B, C pedals, with one exception on the C pedal. The A pedal raises the B strings to C#. The B pedal raises the G# strings to A. The C pedal only raises the E to an F#. It does not do the B string.
Al explains that you have to be careful not to pick the B string in
some C pedal licks, if you have the standard setup. There is a fourth pedal that is not used.
Two KLs are used when he switches to his Carter. One raises the first string F# to G.
The other lowers the Es. His C pedal on the Carter is standard, two strings raise.
Will the DVD have a label? I hope not. They can get stuck in my slot-loading player.
A: There is no label. The lettering is written onto the CD using laser technology.
Are any Effects Used?
There are no effects, other than amp reverb used by Al. The DVD scenes have video fade in and out effects between chapters.
I loved Al's playing. Does he have any CDs available?
Al has a CD titled "Pickin The Dust", which is a great. It's all instrumental. He also has tracks and Tab for that CD. Al is also on many other recordings. Contact him directly for info. You can purchase his CD and/or get in touch with him at www.SteelGuitarCanada.com
Will the DVD work in Europe?
The video format is NTSC. The DVD is "Region Free", actually set to "Region 0" which is playable in all areas of the world.Hope this info helps.
Are you single?
No, Sally and I are nearing our 20th anniversary. Your email address has been added to my Spam filter.
Is TAB included? No.*We discussed this and came to the conclusion that the extra time and cost involved in preparing and delivering a tab book was just too great. The Mooney licks are so syncopated that properly documenting the timing would be very difficult. Many of these licks would be hard to understand in tab, but are actually easy and make sense when they are shown and explained to you. We have made sure that closeups and verbal explainations give you all the info you need.
*Update-An 18 page Tab Booklet is Now Shipping with every DVD.
Past buyers can download it free. Send me an email if you are entitled to it, and I'll provide info on where to get it. Contact joey.ace@gmail.com
What is the running time?
54 minutes
Will this play on all DVD players?
I don't know "all DVD players", so I can't say for sure. This DVD will work is MOST players. It is a Single Layer DVD +R .
Recordable DVDs were used because the the cost and minimum order of Glass Master DVDs would make this low-volume project financially impossible.
Is this a copy from tape or direct digital?
The recording was done direct to Digital Video (miniDV) using a single camera. The recording was then transfered to computer hard drive for editing and DVD duplication.
Are Play Along Tracks included?
There are two backing tracks included for "Ralph's Reel", one slow, one regular tempo. They feature Bass, Guitar, and Drum Machine.
I can't get the sample video to play. What's going on? A: The video is hosted by www.youtube.com , a free service. I have no control over it. You need to have Flash Player installed. Info can be found at their site. Sometimes it doesn't work for me either. The next day it's fine. I suspect it an overload problem at YouTube.
I see the level is "Intermediate to Advanced". What does that mean? You don't have to a great Steel Player to benifit from this DVD. However, it's not for beginners. It's assumed you know what the strings and three pedals are on a standard E9 setup. You have to know how to tune your instrument and have mastered basic picking technique and bar control. Al sometimes refers to frets, not by number, but by thier musical name (with pedals up). He might say, "We now goto the A Fret..." . You should understand this means the fifth fret. Likewise the "D Fret" is the tenth fret. Camera close-ups could help those unsure of these terms, but you should really know these basics.
