Could YOU give up steel guitar?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 11 Mar 2014 7:34 am

Buddy Merrill left the music business to become a full time caregiver for his wife when she became disabled. Under the same circumstances, many of us would do the same thing.

Ron Taylor · Post by **Ron Taylor** » 11 Mar 2014 8:09 am

I couldn't walk away from the instrument and the time spent on learning what I know now. Worked too hard to gain what little skill I have to want to give that up. As far as working my way up the ladder toward fame and fortune, that's pretty unlikely in my case. I'd be happy to get some folks to jam with, who would accept my limited abilities.

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 11 Mar 2014 8:11 am

Thank You Mike, that explains a lot about Buddy for me, he really seems to be a great guy.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 11 Mar 2014 9:24 am

I'm over 60. And in my big money year, I might have done a dozen gigs and cleared less than 500 dollars. I like to think I could just up and quit.....

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 11 Mar 2014 9:30 am

Do you TRULY believe you could walk away and turn your back on your steel guitar after all of these years invested in learning how to play it?

Terry Winter · Post by **Terry Winter** » 11 Mar 2014 12:19 pm

At this point, I don't think I could just walk away as I feel my playing now is an extension of my expression rather than having to mechanically think of how to play what when....does that make any sense?

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 11 Mar 2014 1:38 pm

I could NEVER walk away from the bright lights, big money, & the abundance of beautiful women...Because none of that is here now anyway!

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 11 Mar 2014 1:59 pm

Ray Montee wrote:Do you TRULY believe you could walk away and turn your back on your steel guitar after all of these years invested in learning how to play it?

No. But I like to think I could.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 11 Mar 2014 2:41 pm

I've never thought about stopping and I never will. Playing steel has been my passion for fourteen years, and now I'm playing shows for the Georgia Steel Guitar Association and occasionally, I play in church. I'm still dreaming of playin' in a band someday. I think I gave up playing keyboards after five years, but I ain't givin' up on steel. The steel has really helped me use my left in a way I never had before. Even with cerebral palsy, I've found what instrument I've wanted to play-the steel guitar

Les Cargill · Post by **Les Cargill** » 11 Mar 2014 3:04 pm

I absolutely could give it up. I've quit playing everything altogether for years at a time.

If this cannot be a means to an end, something else will be.

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 11 Mar 2014 9:44 pm

Im just getting started!

Dave Bertoncini · Post by **Dave Bertoncini** » 11 Mar 2014 9:59 pm

I quit once...only lasted 22 years

Dave Bertoncini · Post by **Dave Bertoncini** » 11 Mar 2014 9:59 pm

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Dave Bertoncini · Post by **Dave Bertoncini** » 11 Mar 2014 9:59 pm

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Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 12 Mar 2014 3:27 am

I think it depends on what else is going on in your life. I've played an instrument since first grade and have been playing guitar for 45 years, steel for the last 14 years or so. In my early years I tried to make it as a full time musician, even attended Berklee School of music for a time. Went to Austin where I knew Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams. It was that experience that soured me on wanting to be a full time musician (the life was too hard). but I always continued to play.

Getting older though, there are other things in my life. I run a business out of my home which takes a lot of work, June will mark the two year anniversary of meeting my significant other. And I've rediscovered how much I enjoy writing.

The idea of hauling equipment around, setting up, and breaking it all down again...they idea of hanging for hours in a bar of strangers...it just doesn't appeal anymore.

I'd rather sit by the fire with my love, sit on the back porch watching the river with a good single malt in my hand, seeing my kids, writing about my life on my blog are things I'd much rather do. I haven't left music. I'm starting to put together a really good stereo, I have found a late life interest in Opera, which I'm loving exploring. Family, house, lover, children, writing....all of these are more important to me than playing music.

so, no..not hard to give up.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 13 Mar 2014 9:25 am

Could and did.

Geoff Barnes · Post by **Geoff Barnes** » 13 Mar 2014 12:45 pm

Fame and fortune? Never had either from music... but then again it was only of fleeting interest to me when I was in my teens.

I'm a 3rd generation professional musician. My grandfather once said to me; "Be a sideman. Sidemen work their entire lives if they want.... pop stars have a shelf life".
Obviously there are a few exceptions to this rule... but I am a sideman... still make a living at it after almost 50 years.

Could I walk away?
I am in my 10th year of working for the same company writing jingles (gaming industry) and to be honest, I'm pretty flat right now... I write, perform and publish 100-150 pieces of music a year.

I could get in my car and drive away today... there's nothing in the storeroom and this is a first.
But hey; It is Friday in Oz.... maybe Monday will see the muse return from her vacation.

Mentally? today I could walk away... this is why I'm sitting here on the internet this morning

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 13 Mar 2014 7:18 pm

I have been playing steel guitar since I was 15 years old and I am now still playing at 80 years old. In other words, you can't give up your life's work or you will give up life itself.

Chad Karnitz · Post by **Chad Karnitz** » 14 Mar 2014 2:53 am

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 14 Mar 2014 5:41 am

Ray Montee wrote:Do you TRULY believe you could walk away and turn your back on your steel guitar after all of these years invested in learning how to play it?

Sure, I don't think it would be a problem. I have so many other interests and involvments that the loss of one would be quickly filled up by the others...or something entirely new. It's a big world out there, and the ability to learn and communicate on some other subject is far easier today. That old excuse of "there's so little information available" on any subject is no longer valid. There's also the thrill of discovering something new, doing something for the first time, and the feeling that only comes along when your discoveries are major and significant. I suppose that's why our most memorable moments are often in the distant past.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 14 Mar 2014 5:46 am

I can't see giving it up because I feel like I'm just getting started. However, music is an all-consuming passion for me and I'd like to free up a part of my brain for other things some day.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 Mar 2014 8:24 am

Not music - no. But steel guitar? In a heartbeat!

I'll never be an exceptional player - not now. The only reason I persevere is because I sometimes have to play steel to earn my living. I'm a full-time musician and maybe 60% of my work/income is generated with my steel guitars.

I couldn't give up guitar, though - that's my 'first' instrument and, if I'm honest, my favourite. I started steel late (in the '70s) and never came close to catching up with my own ability on six-string. That's just frustrating and I no longer have the heart to really try.

Watching that Buddy Emmons show (from 1997) that Mr Ferguson was kind enough to post here on the Forum recently was yet another nail in the coffin!

Rick Schacter · Post by **Rick Schacter** » 14 Mar 2014 10:18 am

Could I give up playing pedal steel guitar? Probably.

Could I give up playing lap steel guitar? Maybe not.

Could I give up being musical? No way.

Rick

David Rupert · Post by **David Rupert** » 14 Mar 2014 5:40 pm

I HAD to sell my beautiful 1995 D10 Mullen I owned for 16 proud wonderful years. This was 2+ years ago. 2 long, sad years ago.
I did not want to sell. I became sick & had no health insurance.
I did not want to admit I was broke. Before this, I had PERFECT CREDIT. a great bank account. 3 actually. Van was paid in full from day 1. All bills were paid on time...but usually early. Now my life is an embarrassment.

I worked hard most all my life. This should not have happened to me! I am currently trying to buy my next steel. A Fessenden SD-10.

So, NO...I could not just walk away from my Pedal Steel Guitar. Music is MY LIFE.
It makes my happy. I enjoy sitting behind my steel, & putting every ounce of my soul into my playing. I did take a very short break, in the mid-80's...but man I missed it. Got right back in the saddle!

I live to play this this beautiful instrument.

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 14 Mar 2014 9:51 pm

Well,Ray,
Giving up steel guitar is kind of like mowing the lawn, changing the oil, taking out the trash; I just never seem to get around to doing it.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Could YOU give up steel guitar?

Thanks Mike!

Emotions aside now...........

Re: Emotions aside now...........

Re: Emotions aside now...........

No!