I have found that my better practice sessions are here at the house alone. Dog goes into kennel (she's only a puppy), wife is gone, phone is turned off. Then and only then do I get to really focus/concentrate on a specific goal/song/whatever.

Also I may get some really great lessons in when my instructor can come over, and we send the wives out on some misson of sorts, so that there are no further interuptions. I know that in todays world there are so many distractions, and Lord knows I need all the practice I can get (I suck when it comes to playing the steel). But I find that I learn more when I can just focus on playing/learning something new.

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Now - what was I just trying to learn?

quote:

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A drifting and wandering mind can raise havoc with an avowal to maintain regular practice sessions

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[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 01 December 2006 at 02:39 AM.]

The last time that I heard "The Willow Creek Band", they were playing a benefit gig in Adams, MA. I was there playing pedal steel in the "Easy Livin' Band". About 5 bands participated in the event. I'll ask Doug B. if there were two "Willow Creek Bands". Who would think?

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 01 December 2006 at 12:11 PM.]

Jim Armenti is still playing in the area with a couple of bands. He teaches guitar with me at Downtown Sounds. Mark E. "retired" from music at a young age, and got into sales. He never played again. I was surprised at that.

Bill, was I playing at that gig in Adams? I don't remember it... the memory's the first thing to go. You don't wanna know what's next!

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Doug,
What's that painting?

The picture is on this site

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[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 03 December 2006 at 08:35 PM.]

I've been curious about your level of playing the steel guitar. Would you satisfy my curiosity by making reference to specific knee lever changes on your steel? I'd be very interested to learn which songs you prefer to play as a practice routine. Not to downgrade the banjo, mandolin, or fiddle, but to hone in on the specifics of playing steel guitar. There would undoubtedly be endless discussions relating to technique and approaches, should you and others open up, by expressing concepts in detail. I don't think anyone can accuse me of not banging on a few doors here on the forum. I hope to find ways to liberate the thoughts of others who share a similar interest in our favorite musical instrument.

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 04 December 2006 at 03:12 AM.]

Same fabulous stuff there. Do you know what some of less expensive prints go for?

Bill,

Unfortunately, I'm only a beginner on steel. I started in the 50s on banjo, mando, and guitar. I transferred a lot of techniques from one instrument to the other, so my playing is kind of gimmicky--Scruggs mando, frailed guitar, etc. Since I was never any good, I don't really play instruments to make music. Instead, I play them to appreciate them for the miracles that they are.

I didn't try steel until about a decade ago, and as soon as I did I broke my back, so I have to admit that I probably won't learn pedals and knees. But I keep a psg in the hope that I can eventually do something. I don't want to sell the psg because I don't want it in the back of my mind that I gave up. But in the meantime, I'm thinking about getting a lap or reso.

BTW I saw some of your postings on the Guild Guitar Forum. Do you own an X-350?

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The Guild forum is very different because it's so small. We have a lot of fun joking with each other and wandering off topic. There's a nutty New Zealander on there named Coastie who ought to be doing stand-up.

Hans Moust, the guy who wrote The Guild Book, posts whenever there is a factual question about Guilds, and there are several other frequent posters who are technically proficient.

I have an X550 with two P90s, and a Duane Eddy with two D'Armonds.I don't have an X 350 or any other 3-pickup guitars because I'm used to having a lot of space between pickups. I'm not good enough to keep my fingerpicks from hitting the middle pickup. But those old three-pickup Guild and Gibson archtops have the world's highest CGF (cool guy factor).

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How are the tweener tones on that? Are they lower volume like on a strat?

Stan,

Sometimes Bill has a lot of fun with his posts, and sometimes he is straightforward (maybe because he doesn't always have a lot of time). But either way, he has a lot of good topics and points. Bill has quite a following. A lot of us nuts look forward to his posts no matter how he writes them.