Slow Airs - Electric Guitar

Subject: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: GUEST,Joe Moran
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 10:39 AM

It seems to me that playing slow airs on the electric guitar using swell pedals and various "effects" would work rather well. Can anyone out there point me in the direction of any recordings in this vein, and/or does anyone out there have any personal advice on playing in such a way.

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:15 PM

On his album "Who Else", Jeff Beck recorded a slow air composed by Donal Lunny called "Declan". This air first appeared on "Donal Lunny Live", played on the uillean pipes. Beck did a great job recreating it on the electric guitar.

I myself recorded an electric guitar solo on my band's version of "My Lagan Love". Although the folk police will surely come after you, by all means follow your bliss. It can be done to great effect when done with taste.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: van lingle
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:46 PM

I do some of that with a Tele through and old Fender Princeton with a bit of a Ibanez Tube screamer. I play Hector the Hero, Ashokhan Farewell and a few others. Richard Thompson can be heard playing "Dargai" solo on electric on some recording legitimate or otherwise, Dick Gaughan plays a slow electric solo on Both Sides the Tweed from Handful of Earth and does a bit of electric on Parallel Lines w/ Andy Irvine and I think you can find some of that stuff done by The Tannahill Weavers. I love that high keening sound on electric although it mysteriously sends some others to the restroom or off to get a drink when I turn it up.vl

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:43 PM

I think slow airs work better on electric guitar than jigs and reels.
On Parallel Lines, Gaughan accompanies "Floo'ers o'the Forest" electricly. Also look out for 5 Hand Reel stuff.
There is a real nice one by Neil Browning "Ar Lan y Mor".
Although not traditional, be sure to listen to Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms".

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:52 PM

How could I forget Thin Lizzy's "Roisin Dubh".

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:52 PM

Thompson played 'Dargai' on Pour Down Like Silver; but on acoustic, not electric, guitar.

John Martyn made a very decent job of 'Eibhli Ghail Chiuin ni Chearbhaill' (sic) on Inside Out back in '73, I recall.

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 06:52 PM

Yup, nice treatment with some high gain. Sometimes use the Ebow effect too. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 11:07 PM

I agree with Malcolm Douglas on how good John Martyn's work was on Inside Out. It actually is the same air that Dick Gaughan is playing on the break of "Floo'ers O' the Forest" though Gaughan isn't using the same distortion that Martyn was. I think Karl Dallas had mentioned on the four LP set of "The Electric Muse" that John Martyn was playing the guitar through Leslie speakers.

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: van lingle
Date: 16 Oct 05 - 08:02 AM

Actually, Malcolm I've got what must be a bootleg tape of RT playing Dargai on electric.

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 17 Oct 05 - 05:44 AM

Richard Thompson makes a beautiful job of a slow air on electric guitar, on "Strict Tempo". I can't remember the name of it, but it was written by Scott Skinner.

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 17 Oct 05 - 07:05 AM

The Scott Skinner tune on "Strict Tempo" is called "Glencoe".

And yes, it is beautiful.

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: GUEST,Patrick Hutchinson (not the piper)
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 04:44 PM

I just stumbled across this googling Eibhli Ghail Chiuin ni Chearbhaill; I was listening to John Martyn's version, and it was driving me nuts 'cause I know I've heard it with words (whether in English of in Gaelic, I can't remember)
As both a practitioner & a listener, I'm all in favour of slow airs on electric guit, and many fine examples are quoted above. To those I would add a recommendation of Cape Bretoner Dave MacIsaac's Nimble Fingers album: on it he plays acoustic guit, high-bass fiddle, and a Telecaster that sounds exactly like Roy Buchanan was raised in Glencoe, equally good on strathspeys, reels, and slow airs!
Myself, I use slide a lot in slow airs (generally in open D) whether playing acoustic or electric: there's an example at http://www.swiftyears.com/ecds/e4.htm (Neil Gow's Lament for his Second Wife) If I could do it again I'd have taken it more slowly, but the coffee was real rocket fuel in that studio. There are no pedals on it, just an old red fibreglass Supro through a big Marshall (Van Lingle, I'm with you on the Tube Screamer, though: I use that with my own less muscular amp)
Ashokan Farewell is also just made for open-D slide (you can do it in 2 octaves even) as is For All Ireland I'd Not Tell Her Name.
Van Lingle, I'm with you on the Tube Screamer!

Subject: RE: Slow Airs - Electric Guitar
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 06:42 PM

We have another thread at the moment about the Shetland tune Da Day Dawn - that should work brilliantly on electric guitar.