2 Steel Lessons from D. Beaumier...

Brian Straub · Post by **Brian Straub** » 11 May 2008 1:08 pm

Yesterday my wife and I took our bi-weekly trip to Northampton Mass from our home in Mystic. I took a Pedal Steel Lesson with Doug Beaumier..my wife checked out the town. I've been taking lessons for about 6 months now. Anyway, after about a dozen lessons I've gotten comfortable with chords and have learned several songs and Doug is a great teacher. Also, I've been working on songs for a band I may rehearse with...Yesterday's lesson consisted of playing songs that don't have steel guitar in them and blending in new steel parts. After lesson we got some dinner and hit the road back to CT to the Winchester Cafe in Portland, CT to see the band Queen of Hearts which Doug plays Pedal Steel in. This small bar/restaurant is smaller than the local diner and Dougs playing area was about the size of his Emmons and Bench only (i.e. shoebox size). Too funny to see so much stuff crammed into such a small area.

The 8 piece band was very good and Dougs steel was sounding pretty nice too. In our area of Connecticut there are only about 2 or 3 steel players who don't play alot of solos so it was nice to see some hot playing. So, Lesson #2 for the day..

Watching Doug play from the side of the stage...We watched 2 sets and I think I learned quite a bit about playing steel live. When to come in...fills, solos, etc...Doug is a great picker and the band sounded great...even danced a bit...
Would have liked to hear "Look at Us" but had to leave after a long day and night.......Overall a great experience for a beginning steel player..Thanks Doug.

Brian Straub

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 11 May 2008 7:46 pm

Hi Brian, thanks for coming up for the lesson, and for coming to my gig Saturday night! You're right about the cramped stage. I had about 3' X 3' for my pedal steel, amp, seat, effects, and me!

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 12 May 2008 7:26 am

Doug,

3X3 must have had you using your Amp for a seat.

Hope you did not use too much vibrato ;-)6 piece band eh? any room for customers?

Michael Pierce · Post by **Michael Pierce** » 12 May 2008 1:28 pm

Brian, I took lessons from Doug for several years and I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. Doug is an excellent teacher and a good friend.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 12 May 2008 2:53 pm

Brian...As a former resident of Mystic, I am pleased to see that there is an up and coming steel player in the area. You are absolutely correct about the "Queen of Hearts Band", I had the pleasure of subbing for Doug with the band a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed myself, excellent group...Funny story about the Winchester Cafe. I have worked there many times over the years with different groups but the first time I was booked there I was driving along looking for it when I spotted the sign out of the corner of my eye. I parked and walked in to check out the stage area etc. and passed straight through into the kitchen thinking the club was just the bar area. From the front it is hard to judge the size of the building....BTW, at that time the club was HALF that size if you can believe it, it was expanded a few years ago.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 12 May 2008 6:22 pm

Thanks Joe, Mike, and David. BTW, my 3 x 3 area was half-hidden behind a post, and I was jammed next to a wood stove on my left side. Thankfully the stove was not in use. The joys of playing music!