Do you sing while playing steel?

Lindell Thomas · Post by **Lindell Thomas** » 10 Jul 2015 9:58 pm

I've played guitar and sung for a long time, but I've only been playing steel for less than 3 years. As soon as I started playing and jamming with others, I also started singing. it seems natural although I don't play complicated fill-ins while I'm singing.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Jul 2015 12:15 am

I don't anybody does, Lindell, neither Schmidt or Lane who's pretty good. Probably would be counterproductive.
If Lane's tried it, maybe he can say what I'm just guessing, as bass ain't pedal steel.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 11 Jul 2015 6:46 am

Be brave. You have to try.
It's really not that hard fellas

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Jul 2015 6:49 am

And so very satisfying....

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 11 Jul 2015 8:12 am

Buddy says you will never over play when you are the singer. I find that to be true.

DG Whitley · Post by **DG Whitley** » 11 Jul 2015 8:12 am

My 2 cents is trying to do 2 things at once (playing and singing) is always going to be at the players discretion. But I think both will suffer. If you're going to sing, sing, and dispense with playing, or play and don't sing. I've just never believed you could this without loss of quality on both ends.

I applaud those that can, but I would always wonder how much better they could sing if they weren't also trying to play.

Just my 2 cents, YMMV.

Jerry Berger · Post by **Jerry Berger** » 11 Jul 2015 8:39 am

Singing while playing steel would be hard for me to do since I only sing in the shower!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Jul 2015 8:53 am

But great reverb!

Dave Grothusen · Post by **Dave Grothusen** » 11 Jul 2015 9:12 am

I have but it sure hurts my steel playing. I find that a headset mike helps. Do not have to concentrate about leaning into a mike.

Pete Nicholls · Post by **Pete Nicholls** » 11 Jul 2015 10:48 am

I took a few photos of the setup of the mic, stand, and gooseneck. It worked out pretty well on the job last night, although there was some straightening of the gooseneck (which actually worked to have it out of the way when not singing), but a little "push" put it back to vertical again.

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John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 11 Jul 2015 8:00 pm

Pete,
What do you think of the Pedalmaster?
I've never played one yet.
JB in Ohio

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Jul 2015 11:22 pm

It's a mighty pretty blue, Pete, and a loafer I could sleep on.

Pete Nicholls · Post by **Pete Nicholls** » 12 Jul 2015 5:37 am

John Booth wrote:Pete,
What do you think of the Pedalmaster?
I've never played one yet.
JB in Ohio

John, I really like the PedalMaster, especially since I replaced the E-66 pickups with Telonics pickups.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 12 Jul 2015 6:53 am

Pete,
Thanks, I'm thinking of looking at one that a pal has for sale as a 3rd guitar.
Anything out of the ordinary I should look for?
Thanks
JB

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 12 Jul 2015 8:37 am

I mostly cry and snivel (you would too if u heard me tryin to play)..Stormy

Lee Holeman · Post by **Lee Holeman** » 12 Jul 2015 9:12 am

I do--fronted my own bands for years. If you can sing, it just takes a little time to get used to it. With both hands & feet (along with voice) working, I now keep the lyrics on a tablet to watch when I pay more attention to the steel--getting old I guess. LOL
Lee

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 12 Jul 2015 1:59 pm

Back in the days of 5 day/5 set house band gigs, you pretty much needed to sing to keep the job in the places where I lived. Honestly, I actually think it's trickier to keep a solid bass groove going and sing at the same time than it is to sit behind a steel where often "less is more", and with our own little panic button (i.e. Volume Pedal). Look how many great singing bass players, or pianists, or drummers there are! A few years ago I switched to Ext E9 and "Ext C6" for that matter, with a deeper range, I found that for me it's more satisfying to comp for myself with that setup...but that really doesn't mean you couldn't do it on a standard tuning. I did for years.

Also singing while playing steel does sort of take the mystery out of what I've heard many steelers here on the Forum call "learning to play back up".It's natural...you sing, then you play an appropriate fill. If you learn not to step all over your own toes, you'll definitely gain insight into not muddying things up for another singer. Try it, it's great ear training! It's only the most Musical thing we can do!

Anyway, I personally think we all need to fully explore the steel as the "voice like" instrument that it is! There is surely a common thread... even if you don't sing. I'm pretty sure all my favorite players would agree.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 12 Jul 2015 9:37 pm

Do you sing while playing steel?

Yep, but mostly harmony. Typically LESS steel guitar is needed during vocal harmonies. And as my pal Larry Robertson says, no bar owner ever fired me because the steel parts weren't busy enough.

Now that I think about it... my vocals are always better when an attractive woman is singing lead

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Jul 2015 6:05 pm

My new old recording rig sits right in front of my steel with a condenser mic coming right out of it.

I think I'm ready to move on and sing and never stop.
Thanks, Rick, for moving me.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Jul 2015 12:40 pm

Rick, who's one of the best singers I know, regardless of instrument, makes lots of sense. Take heed.

Where is it written that steel has to be played all the time? Say what you want to say vocally for a change. Sing a line, then look down for a second and play a little fill. Trust your band to back YOU up, the same way you do them.

Ideally, there should be only one voice predominant in the band mix at any one time, and one support voice in the spaces. If it's your time to vocalize, don't go into competition with yourself by trying to be a hot-shot steel player at the same time. Let the other guys do the back up work for a minute. It's actually okay to not touch the strings for a short period of time.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 15 Jul 2015 7:28 pm

I did backup vocals for a long time, using a headphone mic - I quite enjoyed doing BV's, but mostly these days I am doing concert work so I have no need to do vocals, and just concentrate on playing steel - as Herb says, where appropriate

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 15 Jul 2015 7:57 pm

Thanks Rick and Herb, sounds simple and obvious now, but it was a real aha moment for me after digesting what you both are saying.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 15 Jul 2015 8:37 pm

Do you sing while playing steel?

YES

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 15 Jul 2015 8:40 pm

I've done it pretty much since I started playing steel. I remember in the old days of the Sierra Room at the ISGC and TSGA Pete Burak used to do it all the time - he is really good at it. Herb and Rick gave perfect advice.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 15 Jul 2015 11:50 pm

Cool shot of you Ricky.

On the topic, I'm reminded of E. Bovine's response to 'Do you play sax as well as steel?'
which was 'I don't play sax as well as I do steel.'

Certainly nothing to keep us from trying.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Do you sing while playing steel?

Some pictures of the setup ...