Playing Steel Guitar and Chess

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 26 Nov 2009 8:06 am

I believe that most steel guitarists are pretty smart people in general, and I wonder how many of you also play chess.
The game of chess requires abstract thinking, memory, focus and creativity.

Dom Franco

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Nov 2009 9:02 am

It also requires a certain competitive spitit. Me, I'm a lover, not a fighter.

I suck at chess, even worse than I suck at banjo. (Did I ever mention on the forum that I suck at banjo?)

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 26 Nov 2009 9:43 am

Well, Mike, I wouldn't worry too much about how the banjo is going ...

... a friend of mine brought a guitar over to my house and decided to show me a few chords ... after I tried playing a bit, he took his guitar back and said "Don't give up your steel guitar job!"

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 26 Nov 2009 10:06 am

I play against the computer several times a day and after 1200 games I still only manage to beat the computer 50% of the time.

I have had several 7 game wining streaks but the computer manages to catch up quickly.

Kenneth Farrow · Post by **Kenneth Farrow** » 26 Nov 2009 11:00 am

ok @ SG: lousy @ chess

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 26 Nov 2009 12:28 pm

I love chess! Bobby Flores is a master, and taught me how to play back in the 90s when we were both touring in the same band. I still love to play, but don't get the chance very often now. We had as many as four chess boards on the bus back then, all going at once! We passed countless hours from one end of the country to the other playing chess! The good ole days, haha.

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 26 Nov 2009 12:42 pm

I don't like to brag but i can now make two movws before losing the queen.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 26 Nov 2009 2:34 pm

When I was a kid, everybody told me I was a chess phenom. I bought into it for awhile and was unbeatable....until that dark day when I was checkmated by an even younger kid...and a girl no less!

That was the end of my chess career, and the beginning of my life trying to figure out girls.

I still think harmonically there's alot of similarities between music and the chessboard. Patterns and strategy.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 26 Nov 2009 6:00 pm

Long before computer chess, we had magnetic travel chess sets, me and my bandmates on tour always had a game going in the van between gigs. The miles and hours just flew by.

Dom

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 26 Nov 2009 7:02 pm

Chess hmmmm .

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 26 Nov 2009 10:35 pm

I've got a rabbit tail mind.[SHORT] could'nt handle chess. YOU BETCHA, DYK?BC.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 26 Nov 2009 11:47 pm

I've been playing chess for 50 years. I learned from my father and older brother who cut me no slack. When I beat them I really had to work for it. I'm not a master at that or anything else but I understand the game pretty well.I used to think I was a pretty ok player and use to beat most of the guys I ran across on the road until I played a black jazz trumpet player named Joe Banks I met in a bar in Seoul in 1976 who beat me in 8 totally unorthodox jujitsu-like moves and I realized how deep that game really was. Nowadays I enjoy playing with my 9 year old daughter and she recently kicked my ass for the first time and I got a thrill out of that. I can't think of a better game to instill logic,strategy,patience and critical thinking into a young mind. Like steel guitar and billiards - it's best learned when long hours of practice and study are sanctioned by the realities of youth.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 27 Nov 2009 1:26 am

been playin' chess ever since i learned from them guys at the chess tables in washington square park nyc
a most enriching game

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 27 Nov 2009 3:59 am

I didn't see a column for "Play checker and plunk on steel"!

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 27 Nov 2009 1:34 pm

I play Chess ever time I play my Steel....fret markers ya know

I was playing chess the other night and got my hand slapped

turns out , she didn't play..

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 27 Nov 2009 9:00 pm

I've played both. Don't ask me if I'm good at either one.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 27 Nov 2009 11:52 pm

Mike Perlowin wrote:It also requires a certain competitive spitit. Me, I'm a lover, not a fighter.

I suck at chess, even worse than I suck at banjo. (Did I ever mention on the forum that I suck at banjo?)

I suck at chess too Mike,and I ain't that great of a fiddle player either.
Tommy Shown
SMFTBL
STEEL MAN FROM THE BAYOU LAMD

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 28 Nov 2009 6:49 am

Does anyone know why MSA pedal steels have chess pieces as fret markers?
Sounds like a joke question, but seriously is there some reason?
Dom

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 28 Nov 2009 7:59 am

Damm Dom, so you can play chess and play steel guitar, If I remember right, the markers may have come from a ol T.V. series called Half~Gun~will travel...remember his business card, ???

Colm Chomicky · Post by **Colm Chomicky** » 29 Nov 2009 7:34 am

The Steel Guitar Forum

Playing Steel Guitar and Chess

Do you play Chess?

Playing Steel Guitar and Chess

SG and chess