New directions

[Andrew Goulet]

I'm feeling a bit...strange in my current music, like I need a big overhaul of my musical life, efforts, and priorities. I was wondering if you hit a point in your journey where you realized you weren't as satisfied as you had been in the past and made radical changes in where, what, when, who, and how you played... Stories would be appreciated.

[Ian]

Hi Andrew,

Nothing too radical but I changed my focus from Open G on Dobro, which I've played for decades, to Open D, just a few years in. I still play Open G at home but when I get together with friends I try to stick with Open D. Best of luck and keep on keepin' on.

Ian

[Larry Allen]

Aloha Andrew, I’ve been on 3 totally bands the last 30 years, Classic Country, Hawaiian/Raggee,and a R & B, the variety always keeps me focused on the different guys and song lists ..about as satisfied as it gets for me! each band gets 1-2 nites a week over here.. no more 6 nighters..Larry

[Howard Parker]

I didn't abandon the music that I'd always loved but took a risk when invited to collaborate way outside of my musical sweet spot.

The short story is that through the oddest of circumstances I found myself playing pedal steel on a project that ended up on a lot of national/international "best of 2022" lists.

The genre???

Described to me as grunge/punk, metal or just "heavy". I'd guess that not many SGF members pay much attention to the heavy scene. I sure don't.

It was perhaps one of the most rewarding & fulfilling musical experiences of my "so called career". I had a fantastic time. Was treated like a prince. Learned a lot and made some new friends (and wine drinking buddies).

The band is

Caustic Casanova .

That's the short, wacky version of the story.

That weird enough for you?

hp

[Bill McCloskey]

Back when I was around 19 or 20 I got accepted into Berklee as a trumpet major. After I few weeks, I realized I was in way over my head, and dropped out a few weeks later. I never played trumpet again.

I went on to play guitar then later dobro and steel guitar. I did that for 30 some years. And then...

It bothered me I gave up on trumpet. One day I'm on 48th street and I duck into a tiny shop selling and renting horns. I decide in my mid 50's to rent a trumpet for a month and see.

Got it home, put it to my lips and...I couldn't make a sound. My daughter grabbed it and blew a note. My son gave it a try, and also blew a note. And I couldn't get a single sound out of it. But I had it for 30 days so the next day I tried again and I got a sound. Then I got a few notes. Then my scales came back and soon I was playing again.

I took lessons from some of the best hornmen in new york. I took weird trips to staten island to study a strange enbroucher technigue for high notes. I started buying and selling horns like a madman. This went on for years. I finally settled on a beautiful flugelhorn.

Eventually I got invited to play in a little novelty band. We played a gig at a cool new York venue. I solo'd. People applauded and I finally scratched that itch I left unscratched for so long.

And after I played that gig, I put the horn down and didn't pick it up again. I went back to dobro and steel guitar and now pedal steel.

But I don't ache anymore for what might have been. I played a horn in a club in Manhattan and that was enough for me. I crossed it off my list. And haven't looked back.

[K Maul]

I’ve held my nose and jumped off the diving board a few times. It was always rewarding. My focus was never much on some kind of “perfection”- tho I do prefer accuracy - but mostly on heart and soul and playing with kind(but tough) people who love what they do and have a sense of adventure. I have broad musical tastes, like I think you do. That’s given me flexibility and open ears. I can’t play ALL the kinds of music I enjoy but I still learn from even the types that elude my skills.

[David Ball]

I've played mostly banjo/fiddle/guitar for decades, and still enjoy them. But when I was gigging semi regularly, I did start losing interest in what I was doing to some degree.

Then, I had some neurological problems that left my left arm mostly paralyzed for a year or so--neurologist got that one worked out, and my left arm became usable again. But my strength had atrophied pretty bad during that time, and I couldn't play the instruments I usually played. I was still able to play steel, and started playing steel a lot. I did some tracks for a couple of singer/songwriters on pedal steel. This was during the onset of COVID, and a lot had changed since last time I recorded. I recorded tracks at home, put them in dropbox and they eventually ended up on some records (vinyl no less--pretty strange going from straight digital to vinyl) It was fun because of the challenge of figuring out how to play music that I wasn't really that fond of. Forced me out of my box, and it was good for me.

To get the strength back in my left hand, I started playing electric guitar, since the wimpy gauge strings I was using were at least somewhat playable for me. Started doing a lot of Chet/Merle Travis oriented thumb picking, and learning a lot of them fancy chords that I'd never bothered learning as a mostly banjo player. That's been great fun, and has gotten my dexterity back to where I can play banjo and fiddle again. I've been practicing mostly on a baritone Tele--the extra stretch and heavy strings are helping me get my strength back.
And when I pick up one of my Gretsches, my playing is much more effortless. Woo hoo!

I'm sort of back where I started, though not as good. But having fun with it, and still playing mostly electric guitar and steel.

So, for multiple reasons I ended up reaching in new directions, but it's definitely gotten my interest back.

Dave

[Dave Hopping]

Got tired of playing rock and roll lead guitar, and gradually got into country. Kept hearing all this delicious steel guitar stuff and took it up.That was 45 years ago.

[Mike Neer]

I've been down a lot of paths musically and the biggest change was deciding to go all in on steel guitar after a lifetime of playing guitar professionally. I always follow my muse, which often leads me to some very lonely places. My obsession with piano music has finally conquered me and I spend almost all of my time trying to figure out how to play it on lap steel. Another very lonely road. I'm cool with it.

[Fred Treece]

The biggest change I ever had to make was an attitude adjustment. After almost 20 years of being part of a very well run tribute act, I decided to get off the road and stay local in my rural hometown. The pool of musicians here is very shallow; the pool of capable ones is more of puddle. The good news is I got in with the best of them. The bad news is….I got in with the best of them. My standards have now settled at a level that would have been unacceptable to me and the pros I used to work with. I probably wouldn’t know how to play anymore with people who actually know how to play. But I sure as heck would like to give it a try.

I took up pedal steel 6 years ago because I needed a musical challenge. It has done wonders for my outlook, and made me a better band mate to people who are now my friends and neighbors. In some ways I think it has made me a better guitarist and singer too.

Don’t despair. Try something out of your comfort zone. Doesn’t have to be music, but… what else is there?
Go out on a limb and shake it up. Just don’t break it. Good luck!

[Andrew Goulet]

Thanks so much, everyone. These stories have really inspired me. I tend to work obsessively on "the next thing", practicing for my next live or studio gig, and rarely considering my long-term goals (beyond getting "better", which is a mirage I'll chase forever).

[Jack Stoner]

I'm a traditional country picker but have taken detours into other venues. I filled in lead guitar for a month with a group that played songs such as "Autum Leaves" and "Moonlight in Vermont". I played bass for over a year in New Orleans style dixieland band.