The Steel Guitar Forum

Darrell Birtcher---I plan on attending the SW Steel Guitar Jam at Phoenix this week. If you plan to attend, perhaps we can meet and chat.

I thought I would provoke a LOGICAL discussion but maybe that is not possible.I only used the word JERK after a couple of you guys called ME names. If that is offensive, I apologize. I feel that ANYTHING our heroes, like Emmons, Hughey, Myrick, Green do is memorable and appealing. Regarding "Lo...

I was stating a PERSONAL preference. You guys can play what you want. I've been playing steel for over 66 years. I'm also a vocalist and I feel it is always nice to have fellow band members play the same song I'm singing. As one of you mentioned, when you don't know the melody or are NOT CAPABLE of ...

When I previously brought up this subject, someone quoted Chet Atkins. "If you are playing a song and your Mother walks into the room, she should be able to recognize it". What I am hearing more and more is that NO ONE could recognize the song from the instrumental break. The worst thing I...

I feel it is harder to play the original melody and add feeling and expression--ala Jerry Byrd--than to play your own "learned" licks. There seems to be a lot of you guys who would rather take the easy way. Like I said before, if you don't want to play the writers melody, make up your own ...

I brought this subject a couple of years ago and it evoked a lot of discussion. I'm bringing it up again because it is getting much worse. When it come to the instrument break in a song---especially the recordings coming out of Nashville---the instrument, whatever it might be, plays every new "...

Bud, I have already expressed my sympathy via e-mail but I want to endorse your feeling about our corporate owned government. They make people believe that our military is fighting for freedom and democracy. NOT!! They are dieing so the globalist corporation can steal what they want in the world and...

Bud, Dottie and Bill once came up to Muskegon to go snowmobiling with my sister Jan and her husband Bob.

Mike, I have a Danelectro which looks quite similar. I saw your you-tube posting of Jerry Byrds slippery elm. He used a straight C6 tuning. I noticed you use different positions than I do. He demonstrated that song for me before he recorded it. It was in June 1956 in his front yard in Nashville (whi...

Dave, I use C Girl for Farewell Party with finger picked bass, acoustic piano and violins (49). Try it, you'll like it.

Ransom, you nailed it. Stick with what works. I agree with the concern about the sound. I have heard more concerts destroyed by 'sound men' than anything. I believe most of them are deaf. The people at the Phoenix show got so many complaint from the audience that they vowed not to have those sound p...

I totally agree with Bobbe's comments about Scotty. I recently had the pleasure of a conversation with him at the Phoenix, Az. Steel Jam. At the St.Louis jam I attended, I noticed the same thing Scotty did about the room emptying when the performers started throwing in the Pop and Jazz stuff. I thin...

Danny,brother Todd, and Wally used to come up to our home in Manton, MI. occasionally, (when we were in our late teens)and we would pick all night long.

I have the same problem. I have windows home vista and it will not download winamp.

John, Love the tone of your steel. What are you using for effects and amp? Jer

I totally agree with you Dave. I guess I have a hard time understanding the guys who say playing the tune is boring. There are enough variety of songs and melodies that you could easily play a four hour gig, and never have to repeat the same melody. One of the worst experiences of my life was suffer...

Reference Pete Finney's post about Ricky Skaggs. Ricky plays both bluegrass and country excepionally well and I enjoy both. Escpecially Boutons steel work. But I was referring only to him doing Monroes songs--NOT his 'country' songs.

JJ

Started with no talent--still have most of it.

Thanx guys, I've enjoyed all the comments, specially your kind words Buddy (Willis Vanderberg). We'll have to get together for a jam when I get back to Mich. I didn't mean to tell anyone how to play. I just expressed what I like to hear and how I like to play. I think about Ricky Scaggs who plays al...

Thanx guys, You've offered some pretty neat commentary. Playing fills was mentioned and I think that is a good place to exhibit your creativity. Also when I,m playing 'backgound', I try to blend in a full harmony chord so as not to clash with the vocalist. Less is better was also mentioned. I have a...

There is a trend in country music I do not agree with. It seems that when an instrumentalist takes a part in a song, (whether it is steel, lead, fiddle--whatever) they try to cram every hot lick they've ever heard into a four bar intro or eight bar break, regardless of the tune. I feel the composer ...

Jim, I've fought the volume pot problem for years. It seems they start getting noisy after about 2 years--sometimes less. The 'dirt' that accumulates inside is from the carbon pile contact that rides on the rheostat. As it wears the debris builds. When you remove the cover, if you still have some of...

Steve,

Contact Don Dixon in Sebring, FL at 863 471 1073.
I'm sure Don has Joes latest e-mail address.

Jerry Johnston

Ray, I started flying in 1957---Have owned 3 cubs, two Stinsons, a Cherokee, a Mooney M20c, a Mooney M18C, and a C337. Have accumulated 18,000 plus hours. I still have a Cub and my M20C. As you may know, I gave my M18C (Mite) to my son Joel. My certificate says Aircfraft: SMEL, SES. Rotorcraft: Heli...

This is allowed by the Government for the same reason they allow Spyware to operate. The government itself is using it to compile info on anyone who does not agree with their neo-con agenda.

Jerry Johnston

Started with no talent---still have most of it

This is allowed by the Government for the same reason they allow Spyware to operate. The government itself is using it to compile info on anyone who does not agree with their neo-con agenda.

Jerry Johnston

Started with no talent---still have most of it