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How many new steel players? (Page 1)
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The Steel Guitar Forum
Bar Chatter Archive
How many new steel players? (Page 1)
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| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: How many new steel players? |
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Bill Bailey Member Posts: 681 |
posted 04 January 2001 09:53 PM
I've noticed a few posts lately from people who are new to steel. How many of you here on the forum have taken up the steel guitar in the last five years? Who are you and how are you progressing in view of the available teaching material and teachers? How many females are out there trying to learn steel?I have an idea the new generation steel players are here a plenty. Let us know. Bill Bailey Kingman,AZ ------------------ [This message was edited by Bill Bailey on 04 January 2001 at 09:55 PM.] |
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Steve Feldman Member Posts: 2983 |
posted 04 January 2001 10:29 PM
This is a good one. I've been at it 3 years now, and I live basically in West Bum...., ahem..., so there is no steel player - let alone teacher - for at least a 5 hour drive (that I'm aware of). I had 2-3 lessons when I got my first PSG and have been relying on a pretty decent collection of mail-order course material. I did attend a week long Newman seminar year and a half ago and that, of course, was teriffic. But it's been frustrating because when you really want to be going straight down the railroad track, you often find yourself in a rowboat with only one oar. It really helps to have the hands-on guidance. Not really too many like-minded folks to play tunes with around here either, so that's been stifling. I think if I have a regular jam going with some folks, I would also have progressed faster. HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I think that I did, in fact, progress tremendously in the last year, and I finally feel like some things are coming together nicely. It's like the more you learn, the more you become ABLE TO LEARN. I will also mention a few things that have really kept me motivated and really on fire about this whole thing: 1) Buying some really nice sh!t. I've said several times that I probably would win the prize, hands down, for "Best Equipment in the Hands of a Useless Incompetent"! But the truth is that when you don't have a lot of expenses and you live out in the boonies, you can get the nice toys that please you. And it NEVER ceases to be pure enjoyment to sit down and play with this nice stuff that I have. It is a real pleasure. 2) Going to some shows, meeting some good folks, and getting totally blown away by the amazing diversity and artistry of the music. 3) Of course the Forum. Aside from being a fun 'outlet' and providing much needed technical information, it has largely given me constant input and kept me enthused and interested. I am quite sure that my motivation to play would have slipped considerably over time if left to my own devices out here. One last thing. It appears that I will be moving to southern Michigan in the near future. Joe Wright doesn't know it yet, but he's about to have a new buddy.... Well...Hells Bells. Glad you brought that up. Glad I got it off my chest! |
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Tim Rowley Member Posts: 957 |
posted 04 January 2001 10:46 PM
Bill, there are lots of decent pedal steel players in lower Michigan. I mean LOTS. Get here as quickly as you can. We have a big steel show here in the early spring, it is held in Grand Rapids and you will be able to hear some of the top players in the country. Tim R. |
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Tyler Macy Member Posts: 96 |
posted 04 January 2001 11:35 PM
A newbie here- I started a few months ago with the purchase of a proIII. I got a long way to go... I'm loving every minute of it! Ty |
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Jim Walker Member Posts: 654 |
posted 05 January 2001 01:15 AM
Yup I'm new in town. I been playing steel for about 3 months or so. I had a Sho~Bud Pro 1 3+2 last year for a few weeks but I couldn't aford to hang on to it. Then my buddy Stevie Preston gave me his Emmons S10 student model he bought new in 71'. So after a tune up on the Emmons by Larry Petree, I started realy trying to learn a lick or two back in October. Then in December I was able to mess around on a Show~Bud D10 at a jam session and realized what I was missing. About 4 Knee levers! Well I should be busy for quite a long time now with the MCI I just bought. My wife gave me a set of headphones for Xmas. I asked her, are you trying to tell me something? So I gave her earplugs!  ------------------ Jimmy The Kid MCI D10 8+5 / Sessions 400 [This message was edited by Jim Walker on 05 January 2001 at 09:43 PM.] [This message was edited by Jim Walker on 05 January 2001 at 09:44 PM.] [This message was edited by Jim Walker on 05 January 2001 at 09:46 PM.] |
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MUSICO Member Posts: 328 |
posted 05 January 2001 06:06 AM
I MUST be the newest. I havent even got a steel yet reminds me of the old joke...." I have a numerous family, the youngest of my relations is 3 months old, and the oldest is dead" Jeremy Williams |
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Mike Perlowin Member Posts: 6731 |
posted 05 January 2001 07:04 AM
quote: [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 05 January 2001 at 07:06 AM.] |
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Bill Fulbright Member Posts: 434 |
posted 05 January 2001 07:08 AM
Me too! New-BIE. I just bought a new-to-me 1998 Sierra Session U-12. It is a new challenge, and I have a long way to go to get up to speed. I am excited about it, though, because I have wanted to do this for years. I have many decades of practice and performance discipline, which I hope will help me. Determination is the best fuel!!!! Newbies --- Strive ON!! The Forum is a very supportive and helpful resource that I enjoy every time I am on it! Thanks to Bob for having the foresight to make this available to bring steelers and like minded players together. ------------------ |
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clive swindell Member Posts: 618 |
posted 05 January 2001 07:13 AM
I started exactly a year ago and it was entirely as a result of finding this Forum and related sites. Also, if it wasnt for the quality of the Jeff Newman (and others) tuition material and the backing tracks that are available then I wouldnt have stood a chance. |
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Jeff Lampert Member Posts: 2636 |
posted 05 January 2001 07:16 AM
All the new folks should know that while most players who have played awhile feel that there is more that they can learn, it is also true that there are players who have not been playing very long at all who play wonderful stuff and have even done session work, so there are certainly no hard and fast rules on how long any of this takes. [This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 05 January 2001 at 07:18 AM.] |
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Aaron Schiff Member Posts: 182 |
posted 05 January 2001 07:18 AM
I'm new Bill. I play dobro, not DOBRO(R). I hope Gibson sues me and not Bobby for my stubborness. I hope to get a lap steel in the next few months and then maybe a console. I don't know that I want to go to pedal steel because I am not very mechanical and understanding amps, tubes and circuits is not my strong suit either. Changing the clutch and starter on my truck is as far as I go! By the way Steve, you live in a metropolis! I live outside a town of 1800 and the largest in the county is 4000. So appreciate Elko while you still can. I would be dreading a move to anywhere in Michigan other than the UP;-) |
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boppa unregistered Posts: 182 |
posted 05 January 2001 07:41 AM
I guess i am not a newbie but every time i sit down and play my steel i learn some-thing. I started playing steel in 1948 (6 string Harmony)and am still learning. steel pickin==jim harper |
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Bob Carlson Member Posts: 1063 |
posted 05 January 2001 07:58 AM
Mike Perlowin... I know where you're coming from. I've only been playing for three years and I'm playing things I just dreamed of playing when I started, but there's days when I feel like I'm just starting again. Bob Carlson Uff Da! |
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Bob Hayes Member Posts: 951 |
posted 05 January 2001 08:08 AM
Boppa, You'r right. I've been playing a while..and as I mentioned in other forums..I learned from a few of the best. I've been a Musician since mid '50s and started on steel around'73. I met Paul Franklin at a jam (along with other TOP pickers) in '78 ain Nashville. I couldn't even carry his tote bag back then And I can't even get CLOSE to it now. But I persevere. I've come to the conclusion that what I am ..is what I am. I still learn or pick up SOMETHING new every time I sit down and pick... gosh..it was there all along!. I consider my self adequate. I enjoy playing and have fun! That's what it's all about. You can learn from everybody..and your self. THANKS BOBBY for this forum. IT IS GREAT!!! Bob Hayes the GrouchyVet |
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Joe Alterio Member Posts: 851 |
posted 05 January 2001 10:20 AM
This month marks my one-year anniversary of playing steel. In that time I have moved from a 2/2 Maverick to a 12-string extended E9 Dekley 4/5. I have played with a few people in the area that have shown me some good tricks, and hope to continue learning from them. I think I have learned quite a bit in just one year (though I played guitar for 15 years, so chord theory was already covered....as well as picking technique and what not). The best way for me to learn is to just sit down with the record/CD and try to replicate what I am hearing. Sometimes it works...sometimes not....but either way, I come away with a bit more knowledge of the instrument. I never enjoyed playing guitar even 10% as much as I enjoy playing the steel. Hopefully I'll find a band somewhere nearby in the next year where I can try to elevate my playing skills. Joe |
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Jerry Gleason Member Posts: 539 |
posted 05 January 2001 10:28 AM
I've only been playing steel since 1995 (although I did have a brief fling with it about 25 years ago), so I'm fairly new at it. It seemed like I made rapid progress the first year or two, but after that, the learning curve, while not as steep, seemed to keep getting longer and longer... Maybe that's one of the problems with being self-taught- I've already shown myself everything I know.... |
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Glenn Austin Member Posts: 626 |
posted 05 January 2001 10:39 AM
I'm 34 and have been playing for about 3 years. It's an uphill battle trying to learn, because there's not too many players around here.There are a few good players,but I have the impression that these guys know they have market cornered, so they don't give away too many secrets.Al Brisco has been a great help to me, and a great inspiration. It's tough finding time to practice with a 50 hour/week job and 2 kids but I'm getting there. I have been fortunate enough to get lots of calls from bands, and have found myself really out of my league on a few occasions. Now if I could only get the chairman of the board to approve that $5000 Emmons,If you know what I mean. |
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David Pennybaker Member Posts: 1203 |
posted 05 January 2001 10:56 AM
quote: Thanks for that inspiration, Mike. I've had mine for only a few months. Fortunately, I've only learned to butcher a FEW songs on it so far. It's just SO much easier to go back to the piano (as long as I don't try to mash the A and B pedals at the same time on it -- LOL) ------------------ |
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Mike Perlowin Member Posts: 6731 |
posted 05 January 2001 12:30 PM
I was only half serious before, but in truth, the more you know, the more there is to learn. The steel has so many endless possibilities, that as you gain more and more insight in to it, you see more and more of them. Paul Franklin once wrote on this forum that music dwarfed him. That even as knowledgable as he is, he sees how much more there is for him to learn. I of course am not fit to scrape the dog-doo of soles of his shoes, but I do understand what he meant. The possibilities of what can be done are truly endless. One of my biggest regrets in life is that I didn't start playing the steel when I was a kid. I think that if I live to be a hundred, I still won't have enough time to learn more than a small fraction of this instrument's potential. quote: Ditto Jim. |
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John Steele Member Posts: 2469 |
posted 05 January 2001 12:43 PM
Count me in. 3 and a half years, and struggling. I got a copy of a tape live from the board, of a gig last weekend. I suck. If it's possible for a steel to sound amenic, I've managed. *sigh* -John |
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Allen Member Posts: 273 |
posted 05 January 2001 02:34 PM
Real newbie. First lesson, Oct 27, 2000. First inspired by Speedy West, 1952. I am new to the steel, but not of the "new" generation. At that first lesson I was just past my 62nd b'day. My Mullens is a 1986 vintage, my amp is new. Even using old picks. I have always wanted to learn the steel, so I guess I'm trying to prove the point "your never too old to learn" :-)) ------------------ |
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Jeff Coffell Member Posts: 1094 |
posted 05 January 2001 06:31 PM
I've just been playin a few months. I went to Newmans TOP GUN SCHOOL and boy did he give me a jump start. I'm really enjoying the steel, I get digusted at time with myself knowing what I should do and my hands,fett, and knees just won't do it. I know all of you guys and gals know what I'm saying. I'm really glad to see so many new steelers out there. I've been playing country music for 40 years and the steel has always been my favorite instrument. I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAITED SO LONG TO LEARN TO PLAY IT. Jeff |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick Member Posts: 1234 |
posted 05 January 2001 06:47 PM
I think the longer you play, the more you have to learn. IMO that's why the greats of any instrument are almost always very humble, and willing to show you anything you ask. (doesn't mean you'll be able to do it though ). Chet Atkins was once asked what he had been doing lately. His Answer: I'm still trying to learn to play the guitar. Everybody has a lick or a trick that someone else could use. Ain't it great, you'll never get bored. |
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Mr. Breeze Member Posts: 32 |
posted 05 January 2001 09:18 PM
I got my first steel guiter a year and a half ago. Before that I had never even seen one. The first six months I didn't really progress much. Then I found this forum and got lots of pointers where to find instructional material and other related stuff. Since then I've invested a small fortune on CDs, courses, books and magazines. I've taken some lessons from Blackie Taylor and participated Jeff Newman seminar in St Louis. I usually spend at least an hour a night to play music. Last year I was using that hour almost exclusively on steel guitar, while negleting my piano and guitar. I got a double neck 6 months ago, and I'm beginning to get a grasp on the basic chords. As a keyboard player I'm really fond of the rich chords of C6. I'm using four picks and I prefer pick blocking over palm blocking. My goal for this year is to leave the beginner level and move to the intermediate level. The key is to practise! Fortunately, since I love music, it never feels like work. I hope to be able to do a nice little set at my 40th birthday party at the end of this year. |
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Mario Cuppetelli Member Posts: 141 |
posted 05 January 2001 09:40 PM
I am another NEWBIE of 2 months and it has been a blast. I brought home a Sho-Bud Pro III 8+4 and love playing it. I have been fortunate and not have had to move to the garage yet. Of course tht would be hard in this 20 degree whith out heat. The wife even recognizes the melody of the songs I TRY to play. Of course with help from Jim Eller, Robert Wright, Skip Tannery and Wayne Smith and encouragement from the forum family how could anybody go wrong. ------------------ |
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Bill Llewellyn Member Posts: 1882 |
posted 05 January 2001 09:51 PM
I've been at steel since August of '99, trying to attend to it along with my Silicon Valley engineering job, wife, preschool daughter, house, church, MIDI music, and all that. It's soooo hard to find the time! But I just love the instrument. I'm a keyboardist to begin with (piano, organ, synths) which helps with grasping melody and chord structure. But there's such a unique soul to the steel, it enraptures it's poor marks and it just won't let go. My '73 MSA U12 has put up with my awkward fumblings (what a tank!) nicely and I've had one lesson so far with the extremely accomplished Mr. David Wright (did a lot of good for me) but it's clear that I haven't gone half a block yet and I need to get to Alpha Centauri (nearest star) before I feel good about my playing. Enough rambling. There's more about my steel adventure at www.rahul.net/thinker/pedalsteel.html . ------------------ |
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Graham Member Posts: 1270 |
posted 05 January 2001 10:38 PM
I've been playing since spring of 1999. Was very fortunate to have a good friend and fine steel player (Paul Evans) give me some lessons to get me started. Spent about the first month just working on chords in their different inversions. Once I had that down to a point, I started just playing along with songs (chords only)which I think is a great help in remembering the inversions , especially in different keys. I recently bought the Jeff Newman "Up From The Top" video instruction series and have found it to be excellent, but I am glad I spent so much time on chord inversions, as Jeff makes extensive use of them in this course. I can now even pick out some song melodies, but not too quickly, and I often get hung up in finding where I should be going for the next note. Practice and patience is what is required from here on in, oh, and perserverence! ------------------ |
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FIONA TOMANY Member Posts: 138 |
posted 06 January 2001 03:41 AM
after hearing about you guys I don't feel as bad. like me a lof of you are on your own with not much help from folk. Ive been playing since 1986 and boy did I sound dreadful. I wne to a week course by Jeff Newman in 92 in Newbury England. Had a Ball gained a lot of friends and my playing chnaged for the better. I put the work in and gave Newman one hell of a surprize 2 years later at how much I had improved. Been on 4 weekly courses worth every penny Im now in frustrated mode and not playing at all I can't get inspired (not helped much by my siter giving me a computer which takes up a lot of my time). |
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John Sims Member Posts: 342 |
posted 06 January 2001 06:16 AM
I'm a newbie since November 2000 and love it! I especially want to thank b0b and all of you here on the forum for making this FUN, EASIER than it would normally be, and the tremendous amount of insight, experience and hospitality... ------------------ John Steelin' is a way of life! My PSG website-Carter SD-12-U, 8p/5k, Nashville 1000 |
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Will Sevy Member Posts: 103 |
posted 06 January 2001 08:14 AM
I bought a Sierra about a year and a half ago. I haven't used any store-bought instructional material. Mostly I try to play along with my buddies while they play guitars. I can follow along pretty well, But I need to learn the licks and fills. I'm also learning what to do with the volume pedal. I have survived thanks to the help and patience of the fine people on this forum. |
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abraham Member Posts: 479 |
posted 06 January 2001 11:39 AM
Hey! I'm 13 years old! I'm a newbie to the Pedal Steel, but I've been playing music all my life! I play guitar, piano, and sax. In fact I got a CD for sale on my website (Click Below)! ------------------ |
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Jonathan Cullifer Member Posts: 287 |
posted 06 January 2001 04:59 PM
I have been playing nearly 3 years (wow, time flies!), and enjoying every minute of it. Every time I sit down behind it I learn something new. There is plenty of great teaching material out there, plus steel players are very heplful to newbies. Best of luck to anyone who decides to take up this fun instrument! Jonathan ------------------ [This message was edited by Jonathan Cullifer on 06 January 2001 at 05:01 PM.] |
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Bill Bailey Member Posts: 681 |
posted 10 January 2001 08:48 PM
Thanks to all who posted on this subject. As I suspected the future of Pedal Steel guitar is in good hands. When I first got started in 1966 I aked Don Edwards of Guitar City in Denver if he thought that I was too old to be trying to learn steel in my early 20's and his reply was there will never be enough steel players and I should go for it. I am not sorry I decided to stick with it. The steel has given me many pleasures and some pain, but this instrument and music were always there to pull me out of whatever hole I had buried myself in. Long live steel guitar and its players. Bill Bailey Kingman,AZ ------------------ |
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b0b Sysop Posts: 8084 |
posted 10 January 2001 11:29 PM
Why is this page prompting me for a Delphi password? Whoever did that, please edit your post and fix it. |
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Ole Dantoft Member Posts: 322 |
posted 11 January 2001 12:49 AM
I don't know how I've managed to overlook this thread, but here goes: I'm new too, having played now since November -99. I live in a small country with few steel-players, but I'm fortunate enough to live close to one of the more experienced of them, so I'm taking weekly one-hour lessons from him, and progressing very fast, according to him ! I have 25 years experience on electric 6-string, and I've played a lot of slide-guitar, which probably helps somewhat. Unfortunately that doesn't meen that I'm any good at the steel yet, but I hope to be one day, and I'm certainly not going to give up, as I simply enjoy playing the steel more than anything else I've ever used my spare-time at. Like so many others have already stated, this Forum has been a tremendous help and inspiration, and I too would like to thank B0b for his amazing work with this site !! Best regards Ole |
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Tele Member Posts: 965 |
posted 11 January 2001 01:11 AM
I picked up the PSG 3 years ago, played non-pedal a bit longer. I have to admit that I'm addicted to it now. When I'm not at I still have to think about it all the time. Plus earlier in my live the collecting bug bit me  which means that I now own more steels than I will be able to play in my whole live.But I still have a loving and understanding wife...still... Now I'm 31 and I regret that I didn't discover this beautiful instrument much earlier. Andy |
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Paul C Member Posts: 968 |
posted 11 January 2001 12:45 PM
Has really only been 3 1/2 years? Some ways it's been ages, other ways just yesterday. Doug Stock has been my teacher, my inspiration, and my friend. Everyday I rediscover something I should be doing that Doug told me about 2 years ago. It's scary to thing the ground we've already covered and even worse to know I've barely begun. I can't begin to say how much playing an instrument again has meant to me and my family. I feel like I'm 20 again, (and some nights sound like I'm 5.) Do I regret that I waited 30 years too long to start to learn? NO! Back then I couldn't really appreciate the wonder of the instrument nor the wonder of the music. I started at just the right time to enjoy it the rest of my life. It's been in no small measure that Bobby Lee and this Forum has helped me appreciate the gift I have been given. Thanks for being here. |
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HOWaiian Member Posts: 77 |
posted 11 January 2001 05:19 PM
I bought my Fender Stringmaster 8 back in about '92, after having played slide gtr for a number of years (I still consider myself a beginner). I immediately fell in love with Hawaiian gtr (how could you not?), Sol Hoopii in particular. He remains an inspiration to me, as do so many others in the Hawaiian & C&W/Western Swing genres. I try to explain my joy in playing & listening to this magical instrument to nonplayers, and their eyes just kind of glaze over. I don't care! I love it! I'm a fair-to-middling player! I don't care! I still love it! The entire time I've been playing, I've never strung up my axe with the full complement of 8 strings--I'm too scared! 6 strings is bad enough! Just what the heck would I do with 2 additional low strings, anyway? Let's face it: the steel in its many forms is an awesome instrument, all of you guys & gals on the forum are terrific, and my heartfelt thanks go out to bOb for providing us with this valuable resource (and for maintaining it so well!) how [This message was edited by HOWaiian on 11 January 2001 at 05:24 PM.] |
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gene brown Member Posts: 136 |
posted 11 January 2001 06:13 PM
I'm new also.I got my first pedal steel about a year ago. A Dekley D-10.I bought about every video Jeff Newman put out. I now have a new Mullen D-10,and Gary Carpenter is teaching me. I have played fiddle for a long time,and am now playing fiddle for Joe Paul Nichols. Ihave learned a lot in the past year,but it is a long road to be able to play steel in a band.I practice every day. |
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Heather unregistered Posts: 136 |
posted 12 January 2001 02:32 AM
Hi Everyone, I am a female steel player, I am 22 years old, and I have been playing for 6 months with the help of a great teacher, John Mc Clung.(and Scotty) I often wonder how many female players exist. I am loving this instrument more and more every day, and I am so excited that I found it. I play 10 string Mullen, with 5 knee levers and 3 floor pedals and although I still can't quite reach the knee levers as well as I want to, I am loving my PSG, and all of the people that I have met because of the instrument. This summer I am planning to go to Jeff Newman's cabin in the hills of TN to get very serious. I can't wait! *heather |
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