Okay, how do you keep motivated?

Tom Quinn · Posted 22 Jun 2009 4:52 am

What do you do to keep getting better on your guitar? Do you buy study material? Do you go see live music and especially steel players? Are you gigging?

Do you truly practice or just noodle the same old stuff for 15 minutes?

I was so excited to have a steel in my life again, but after meeting some of the local bands and checking out the few venues remaining, the steel is getting less attention as is the Fender Strat. Seems a whole lot easier to just pick up the Martin D-18 and picking a few fiddle tunes.

I need to get motivated!!! Any suggestions?
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I need an Emmons!

Robin Archer · From: Califon, , USA

Years ago a friend of mine locked his strat in the closet and threw away the key so he wouldn't play it instead of his steel. A year later after he gained some proficiency on the steel he took it back out but now the desire to play was on the steel.
I just keep my flat top locked in the case.
->R
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That's a Gibson Electra Harp; four pedals, 8 string, C6th

James Kerr · From: Scotland, UK

I went back to where I started, on Lap Steel with no pedals or levers and I love it so much I'm making my own Replicas just for my own use.

James.

Jerome Hawkes · From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

many times, its the small things that keep us motivated
right now, everytime i sit down at the steel i am SURE that i will uncover some secret mystery of the steel or something new i never knew about. this almost is a "game", a little hide and seek thing i will do during the course of practicing and sure enough, it almost always happens that i will find yet another "hidden" gem, many time right there in front of me and i say "duh" - but its those small things added up that really make a difference. i use to keep a jar full of pennies that we all accumulate and i would have a "ah-ha" jar and put a penny in there for every "ah-ha" moment. its just cool to look at the jar slowly fill up, knowing you are making progress.
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'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II

Tom Stolaski · From: Huntsville, AL, USA

Whenever I need some motivation, I break out my Hal Rugg & Buddy Emmons live video and watch it all the way through. Every time I watch it I pick up some little phrase that I did not notice before. Going to the St Louis Convention and seeing Buddy Emmons and/or Paul Franklin is the ultimate motivation experience for me.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Tom Quinn · Posted 25 Jun 2009 8:20 pm

Me too Larry... -L-
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I need an Emmons!

Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

The Grand Ole Opry does it for me. Whoa!

Tom Quinn · Posted 25 Jun 2009 8:27 pm

Are there steel players on that rock show?
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I need an Emmons!

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Bill Hankey's posts do it for me. Razz

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Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

I turn off or stay away from all these household items that reproduce what some call "music". Total silence only interrupted by natural sounds helps, so a walk in the woods usually regenerates my sense of sound, and motivates me to make some.

If the noise has done too much damage, I talk to the cows - on a distance. They cover the entire "range" and always keep the tone in perfect pitch with just the right "growl" on the lows when they "talk back". After a while I feel like emulating those sounds, and what better "machine" to do so on than a steel Smile

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

It's really easy - put your amplifier and steel in the living room, and put your television in the garage. If your family like the television, they'll know where to go. TV = brain death.

Tom Quinn · Posted 26 Jun 2009 4:24 am

Wow Dave-san you speak the truth. I watched very little teevee in Tokyo, but here even Judge Judy gets my attention... :- 0
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I need an Emmons!

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

For motivation, if not at the steel, I always try to listen to songs and decide what songs I want to learn on steel. When I'm at the steel, I like to try different songs. I'm not the guy who plays the same songs every time. I usually experiment with different songs-especially with songs that don't feature steel, so I add the steel-an example is my friend Katie Cook's version of "Time After Time", which was a popular song in the 1980s. I also learn songs that ain't playin' on radio that are on CD and haven't been released as singles yet.

Brett

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I go to see Paul Franklin play live sometimes. Then I go to the lake and throw my steel guitar in. Its okay though, I usually fish it out within two weeks.

Tom Stolaski · From: Huntsville, AL, USA

I disagree with David. The TV can be a great motivational tool if you keep your steel parked in front of it. Gary Burton,the vibraphone player used to practice in front of the TV for days, picking out jingles, themes and melodies. I heard a story about Paul Franklin being forced to practice his steel while watching TV. Could be one of those crazy stories people make up.

John DeBoalt · From: Harrisville New York USA

Most of the time I don't seem to need any external motivation. Other times it may be something I read in the forum that makes me slide in behind it. Many times a song from the past will come to mind, and I just have to sit down, and play it. Not copy anyone's ride, but just play the tune. I've never kept it in the case or locked it in the closet. John
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Equipment: Carter D10, Zum Stage1,
Wechter Scheernhorn Reso, Deneve Reso, Fender Jazzmaster, Martin D16, Walker Stereo Steel amp, TC Electronics M One effects unit, JBL 15" speaker cabs,Peavey Nashville 1000,Peavey Revoloution 112, Morrell Lap Steel, Boss DD3 delay,others

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