When are you an 'official' Steel Guitarist

Kenneth Caine · Post by **Kenneth Caine** » 22 Dec 2011 10:11 am

I have been playing the lap steel for a few years and just stared on the pedal steel. When does one consider oneself a Steel Guitarist? At this point I consider myself a lap steel guitarist and working towards being a pedal steel guitarist.

Fred Thompson · Post by **Fred Thompson** » 22 Dec 2011 10:15 am

When they post your obituary? $:\$

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 22 Dec 2011 11:20 am

When you get a call and someone offers to pay you to play steel with them.YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 22 Dec 2011 11:29 am

When you're on a gig and your 3rd string breaks the middle of a tune.

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 22 Dec 2011 11:32 am

I've been paid to play lap steel quite a few times with a band that I was in. But I don't consider myself a "steel guitarist". I consider myself a musician who wrote single-line melodies on other instruments and decided to play them on steel guitar.

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 22 Dec 2011 11:43 am

Several years ago while looking at lots of real steel guitar players business cards I printed mine.

"Steel Guitar Owner" and I stand by that to this day - since I AM AN OWNER

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Dec 2011 11:58 am

How about "none of the above" on your choices.

Each individual will have to decide when they are or when they want to call themselves a steel guitar or pedal steel guitar player.

I've been working on playing pedal steel guitar for 42 years.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 22 Dec 2011 12:58 pm

To me, you become a steel guitarist when you first start playin'. I've been a steel guitarist for almost twelve years now. You can be a steel guitarist even if you play steel guitar and you're not a band member-I'm not in a band, but I am a steel guitarist. I play steel guitar shows and conventions with their bands, but I don't have a band I play in, but I'm still a steel guitarist. I'm Steel Guitarist Brett Day.

Brett

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 22 Dec 2011 1:04 pm

i consider myslef official when i get paid to steel on a gig or on someones musik
& get called to do more
otherwise, i'm just workin' on my chops & scufflin'

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 22 Dec 2011 1:57 pm

How about when when somebody comes up to you and says "I love the way you play that TABLE TOP THINGY."?

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 22 Dec 2011 3:45 pm

When another steel guitarist introduces you as such

Bob Vantine · Post by **Bob Vantine** » 22 Dec 2011 4:05 pm

if it was ...."Never hear Steel Guitar Rag again" ....then I wouldn't have even had a PSG yet ....so that can't be the right answer .

last summer my wife told Bobbe that I sounded like a lead guitar player trying to play the steel guitar ...... and yes ,we're still married

I'll stick with Joe Naylor on this one .

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Dec 2011 5:06 pm

When you get called to play again "after" playing a gig, or if someone else calls because you were recommended.

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 22 Dec 2011 5:42 pm

I have to agree with Jack Stoner.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 22 Dec 2011 6:42 pm

Honestly, I think as soon as you can do something musical on it. Doesn't have to be Buddy Emmons quality. There is a difference in being a "player" and a "professional player" in my opinion.

Mike P said:

When you're on a gig and your 3rd string breaks the middle of a tune.

I don't think that is what makes us a "player". It is what makes us an "idiot" for choosing such an instrument.

Mike also said:

How about when when somebody comes up to you and says "I love the way you play that TABLE TOP THINGY."?

I prefer when a pretty girl comes up and says she loves my "organ".

Been there.

Chuck Thompson · Post by **Chuck Thompson** » 22 Dec 2011 10:02 pm

I figured I was a real steel player the day sound man told me to turn down.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 22 Dec 2011 10:10 pm

Dave Grafe wrote:When another steel guitarist introduces you as such

I agree with Dave. You're a steel player when someone else, who knows what a steel guitar should sound like, says you're a steel player.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Dec 2011 10:32 pm

Ha,:lol: I love the notion that I was a Steel Player when I thought I was..

Well evidently I was not...back around 73 or 74...I got a call shortly after I owned a Steel, some of my friends knew I had one and I could play one or two licks and I knew all 3 chords...So I got a call from a local band , I told them I was a player, they hired me to play a two nighter, all traditional country.
HA !

they fired me after the first night

and rightfully so,they sent me packin'

It took me easily another year to get back to the place where they called me again and even at that I was struggling to get through the night "properly". i did end up working with those same guys for several years but it was based on "them" thinking I was a player, not me !

I feel the answer is " when you can play a gig with other musicians and they agree that you are a player in some form"..

Jacks comment above is pretty good but I would re-state what he says and say I have been an " active studying player" for several decades. Because actively trying to improve is what musicians should be doing.

I also just got a Tascam 4 track and I recorded a song, I imagine I am now a recording artist as well as a recording engineer !

Gerry Brown · Post by **Gerry Brown** » 23 Dec 2011 5:59 am

I don't know what official means, but I do remember the thrill of reading a review in the local paper of a gig my band played after about 7 months of playing pedal steel in which for the first time I read the words "steel player Gerry Brown". I have the article stuck to my fridge.

Dick Sexton · Post by **Dick Sexton** » 23 Dec 2011 6:14 am

For myself, I think, not thinking I'm a steel guitar player, pushes me to study and learn. I think I am a student of the steel guitar, and music for that matter. But I don't think I'm a very good one, I practice when I want and how much I want, and if I'd practiced more, I'd be a better student. If I didn't spend so much time on a computer, I'd be a better student of steel. I have known others that said I was a steel player, but few who said I was a good one. I always temper that with where or whom the info is coming from. I also don't think that just because you are paid, makes you a steel player or musician. On occasion I am a paid student, because I am always trying to learn something. No, I'm just an owner and a student of this instrument. I think most of us probably are? My opinion...

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 23 Dec 2011 9:41 am

I've been introduced on stage more than once as "Cal Smith on steel guitar". I guess I'll be a real steel player when they can remember my name.

Richard Keller · Post by **Richard Keller** » 23 Dec 2011 10:11 am

Chuck Thompson wrote:I figured I was a real steel player the day sound man told me to turn down.

That's a good one Chuck. There must be a story behind that somewhere.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 23 Dec 2011 12:41 pm

I've been introduced on stage more than once as "Cal Smith on steel guitar". I guess I'll be a real steel player when they can remember my name.

Really! That's disgusting. How hard is it to remember CARL Sharp?

Ronnie Boettcher · Post by **Ronnie Boettcher** » 23 Dec 2011 7:14 pm

When a singer finishes the first chorus, and says in the mic, your name, or "STEEL"!!!

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 26 Dec 2011 3:40 pm

From my observation it is quit obvious when a person becomes a real PSG player.
After a few gigs he became an overbearing contemptuous egotistical know-it-all imperious to all around him as he packed up and left in the middle of a set.
I was so impressed I went home put my Tele in the closet and bought a PSG.

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