Essential Country Songs that every non PSG player must know

[Chris Lucker]

If you want some fun songs that aren't generally known try Eddie Noack stuff like Take or Away Lucky

[Doug Finch]

My band always played Folsom Prison and Cocaine Blues for sure, along with some Steve Earle. Also did a harder version of He Stopped Loving Her Today.

[Ray Montee]

Wouldn't it be simpler just to play each and every song the band elected to play as they come up?

There's probably a couple of hundred songs that might apply to your question.

Study your guitar..........learn each of the chord positions and how they fit in the majority of songs.

Listen closely to the melody playing and attempt to duplicate it as closely as possible. THIS is the best way to learn the guitar and a wider list of songs.

[Dan Gates]

I like just about everthing already mentioned, and I like to hear and play Sweet Memories.

[Paul Seager]

Wouldn't it be simpler just to play each and every song the band elected to play as they come up?
There's probably a couple of hundred songs that might apply to your question.
Study your guitar..........learn each of the chord positions and how they fit in the majority of songs.
Listen closely to the melody playing and attempt to duplicate it as closely as possible. THIS is the best way to learn the guitar and a wider list of songs.

I can't fault this advice Ray and that is how it's been so far. But what I am aiming for is to build my "lick-library" and that tends to come out of listening to and playing the classic songs. Now I came to the steel late in life and I am not living anywhere near a place that I can see players or bands to provide sources of inspiration. But I can get to recordings. I am a collector of vinyl and love to research and this thread is a way of combining that research and improve my playing at the same time.

Keep 'em coming - I listen to each suggestion and thanks to Andy Volk I am punishing our singer to get to grips with Nightlife!

\ paul

[Lane Cunningham]

Hey joe pretty much features steel all the way through the song and that lick gets stuck in my head all the time! Always late's into lick has gotta be the most recognizable non pedal licks there is, right? Maybe the intro to steel guitar rag when leon recorded it with bob wills is more recognizable.

carl smith - hey joe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdrLix2Zv6A

lefty frizzell - always late with your kisses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQqlMoqebnY