Best Advice You Ever Received

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 20 Jun 2010 7:24 am

Two things. Keep your mouth shut, the backup band pickers are not the "star" and the old "KISS" philosophy - keep it simple and don't try to overplay.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 20 Jun 2010 7:34 am

Steve Gorman wrote:Rick, I agree that playing only melodies would make for a pretty boring steel player - what I think Lloyd meant, or at least the way I take it, is to practice melodies, not so much to play only melodies in performance. I've found that for me, choosing songs to practice and then staying with them until I can play the entire melody, in several different octaves/positions/combinations is opening new doors and leading to a much better understanding of the instrument.

Steve - You and I could work well together. That makes a lot of sense to me. Especially the part about teaching youself all the different variations of the songs. To me, that's what makes a tasteful player vs. one who only plays what they copied from someone else, probably in one key.

Cal # - I've with you. I've been watching Tater all along too. He's one of my favorites. I think we could agree that being a Country Boy brings on a whole different meaning and reason to watch him than that of a fan. You know what I mean.

On my web site, under links, I've got the link to a video of Tater doing Another Bridge To Burn on the Opry. Pee Wee was playing steel on that one. I use it as an example when some of my co-workers, etc... ask me what I mean when I tell them that what they hear of the radio is not what I consider country music. Of course they're our generation and grew up on the Eagles, CCR, etc... and they're attracted to that sound, so that's why they listen to today's country and don't understand the difference. Me thinks anyway.

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 20 Jun 2010 7:36 am

"Play it like you don't need the money"

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 20 Jun 2010 8:38 am

REMOVED

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 20 Jun 2010 6:34 pm

A great (but largely unknown) country singer from Bennington, Vermont named Chris Harrington always used to say, "Don't ever sell the friggin' farm." Besides the obvious literal meaning, what he really meant is don't get too bent out of shape. Keep your sense of humor. Don't panic and sell the whole farm the first time you can't pay a bill. Take short-term circumstances (like a rough gig or a rude audience) with a long-term perspective. That helped me a lot, because I've seen a lot of rough gigs over the years...

David Griffin · Post by **David Griffin** » 20 Jun 2010 7:09 pm

Johnny Gimble once told me:"If you can hum it,you can play it!" Try it sometime.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 20 Jun 2010 7:40 pm

I actually do remember Bud C telling me that if it doesn't sound right to you, it isn't, and you shouldn't let it "get by". Well, I can say I've tried..

Also that a person should play as if his life depended on it. It certainly did a couple times. Once in a biker bar.

I'm thinking that somebody told me never to tell somebody during an argument "I've paid my dues".

Similarly during an argument refering to yourself in the "third person".

I think nowadays I might counsel against writing your own "Bio" in the third person and making it look like "he's" the man that rode the mule around the world...

Oh well.

I'd still go with not playing something you know doesn't sound right.

Thanks Mr C.

EJL

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 20 Jun 2010 8:35 pm

Play every note as if it was the last note you were ever going to play.

Larry Behm

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 21 Jun 2010 4:09 am

DON"T !!!

Jim Hoke · Post by **Jim Hoke** » 21 Jun 2010 4:54 am

LLoyd's quote about playing the melody can be taken to mean "play a melody" - not just licks and tricks. You can play the melody of the song, or, when it's solo time, make up something that sounds like a song - something you could sing lyrics to. I hear Lloyd do this alot on records. Remember the intro to "You Ain't Going Nowhere" on Sweetheart Of The Rodeo? Everybody can sing it because it's a melody - that's what makes it great.

Jim Hoke · Post by **Jim Hoke** » 21 Jun 2010 5:01 am

Maybe Lloyd meant to play melodic-ly - not necessarily the exact melody of the song. When it's solo time, instead of playing a bunch of licks and tricks, try to make up a song-like melody. A tune. Something you could sing lyrics to. Remember the steel intro to "You Ain't Going Nowhere" on Sweetheart Of The Rodeo? Everybody can sing it 'cause it's a melody and that's what makes it great.

Jim Hoke · Post by **Jim Hoke** » 21 Jun 2010 5:02 am

Sorry about the double deal. I thought the first one didn't go thru.

Graeme Jaye · Post by **Graeme Jaye** » 21 Jun 2010 8:30 am

Ray Montee wrote:I was told early on to "LISTEN to the SONG".......

and then play TO THAT SONG.

Take turns with the other lead players and don't step on anyone else's playing.

[/b]

That's the best advice of all - no matter what instrument you play.

I regularly get invited to a local jam (guitar, not steel - I'm not ready for that yet) but I rarely go because everyone is playing and nobody is listening - drives me up the wall!

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 21 Jun 2010 8:41 am

A music teacher I had in high school used to talk about "performance practice." Normally when people practice, they use practice rules -- if you make a mistake, stop and do it again. But some of the time it is good to practice using performance rules -- don't stop until the end of the tune no matter what! Many players fail to practice what (and how) they are actually going to perform, and then pay the price when the performance happens...

Terry Kinnear · Post by **Terry Kinnear** » 21 Jun 2010 4:02 pm

play to express,not impress..... from my steel guitar instructor. you should have come back for your other 28 lessons. steel wondering

Paul Crawford · Post by **Paul Crawford** » 21 Jun 2010 5:59 pm

The words of the immortal Bob Wills. "Never let them see what you can't do."

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 21 Jun 2010 11:05 pm

Nashville's famous guitar repairman and builder, Joe Glaser, (who also plays steel, shhhh, or used to,) told me something to the effect... "play what you know and play it well," and similar to the Bob Wills quote above, don't show what you don't know!!!"

He also said that "when you find out about a potential gig in Nashville, keep it to yourself, don't tell anybody!!!"

Let's see, he also told me to build a collection of instruments to cover the sounds that a producer might ask for on a recording. Of course this applies to more than steel players only. I have probably over 50 instruments total, plus amps and effects. Hopefully I can cover anything that is needed when that ship comes in, hahaha!!!

Ellis Miller · Post by **Ellis Miller** » 22 Jun 2010 5:02 am

"Always try to play with people better than you"... For me, that was not really a problem.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Jun 2010 6:46 am

Best advice? Marry someone who has a good income!

John Ummel · Post by **John Ummel** » 22 Jun 2010 11:08 am

I can echo what David Griffin said above about Johnny Gimble's advice. The lead guitarist in the first band I played steel in heard me getting lost during solos and told me to "hum" the song in my head while picking my lead.

Bob Kagy · Post by **Bob Kagy** » 22 Jun 2010 1:11 pm

"Don't quit your day job."

Geoff Barnes · Post by **Geoff Barnes** » 22 Jun 2010 1:23 pm

Never show the punters how you got the rabbit out of the hat.

If you blow a line repeat it a couple more times... they'll think it's jazz.

Adam Goodale · Post by **Adam Goodale** » 22 Jun 2010 1:36 pm

1.Quit thinking so much, use your ears and your hands.
2. Stop holding back, and drop your Volume pedal.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 22 Jun 2010 1:54 pm

Prince Charles once told me:

"Never name-drop!!!"

(This one's for Fish - remember it, Steve?)

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 22 Jun 2010 2:14 pm

From my drummer buddy;
"JB, I know someone selling a Kline Uni. You should get it!"
The guitar fit me like a glove! Let me do stuff that my brain wanted to do, but couldn't on my old Shobud.

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