Wedding ring blues?

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 6 Feb 2003 6:03 am

I know that this could lead to all sorts of bad puns, but my wedding ring is interfering when I play my lap steels. (Fire away, Howard R!)

My (semi-)serious question: Is it normal for a wedding ring to scrape along the wound bass strings, or does it signal bad bar technique?

I understand that an obvious solution is "take it off when you play." Other than the logistical challenge of not losing the ring, there can be the unintended consequences of explaining to your wife why you're not wearing it -- particularly for you guys who play gigs.

So do I need to improve my technique? Experiment with brass,steel, glass and Bakelite rings? Or just take it off and play?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 6 Feb 2003 6:35 am

I'd suggest this a technique problem - your hand is too flat on the strings. The Jerry Byrd instruction video (available from Scotty's Music) could be very helpful because you'd get to see proper hand position in close up. The sample music in JB's tape is rather boring and geared to rank beginners but the instruction in proper non-pedal technique contained within is applicable to all players at every level.

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 6 Feb 2003 7:14 am

Thanks, Andy. The extent of my lap steel instruction has been a couple of Mel Bay books, so I suppose that it's time to step up to the Jerry Byrd tape before my bad habits get too deeply ingrained.

That is, unless Jeff Au Hoy stops me before I order. Jeff ... ?

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 6 Feb 2003 9:12 am

Russ, I appreciate the acknowedgement. I'll take my rimshot in advance, thank you.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Feb 2003 9:19 am

Now who is the "trouble maker" ...

When I saw the title of this thread ... I thought it was about "spousal economics" ...

As Carl D. said in another post ... your hand kinda forms a "cave" .... with the pinky takin' on most of the damping/anchor duties ...

The ring finger's distal "pad" pretty much remains in contact with the strings ... but the rest of it is off the strings ...

The hand is almost "bent back" alittle ... toward the nut ...

Just my opinions ... not telling anyone the "correct way" ... just sharin' my way ...

Please don't send me to the corner again... its lonely there 

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www.horseshoemagnets.com[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 11 February 2003 at 12:35 PM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 6 Feb 2003 9:22 am

Andy is correct. It's a matter of proper positioning.

When the wedding ring is positioned correctly through the nose, there is very little chance if it interferring with your playing.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 06 February 2003 at 09:24 AM.]

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 6 Feb 2003 11:19 am

Okay, Howard -- now you've earned your rimshot!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 6 Feb 2003 12:12 pm

Give it a little time, Russ. Stay with the steel guitar and eventually you won't be wearing a wedding ring.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 6 Feb 2003 4:14 pm

Howard, please share your rimshot with Herb.

Byron Walcher · Post by **Byron Walcher** » 7 Feb 2003 6:16 pm

I believe Herb is right on point.
Byron

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Lashley Legrande D10 8x7,Emmons Legrande 8x7, Sierra Lap-Top, Webb Amps

Gary Slabaugh · Post by **Gary Slabaugh** » 7 Feb 2003 8:30 pm

Russ,

All the good lines have already been taken!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 8 Feb 2003 6:17 am

Gary, Gary, Gary,....saying that all the good lines have been taken, is like saying, "all the good licks have been played."

Music and comedy are very similar. They both have many tools with which to work. In working up a tune, you have single string playing, chordal playing, stacatto, glissando, vibrato, harmonics, melodies to play and alter, phrasing, two & three string harmonies, etc....

In comedy, you have puns, double meanings, sarcasm, slapstick, schtick, silliness, profoundness, metaphors, etc......

It's all about relationships and putting these elements together.

Let's find an example, hmmm, ok, how about Bob Leaman's wife? (yeah, how about Bob Leaman's wife?

) See, already there's an example within an example.

My wife is Peruvian by birth, Spanish-Italian by heritage, Miss Peru 1950,

then the steel guitar ain't the only thing I'd be playing!

See what I mean?

I learned to play with my ring where she put it.

so, you play by the seat of your pants?

The hand is almost "bent back" alittle ... toward the nut

which one?

See Gary, you must put the time and effort into this...after all, "practice makes pervert"

and now, back to our regularly scheduled thread, carry on......

[This message was edited by HowardR on 08 February 2003 at 06:18 AM.][This message was edited by HowardR on 08 February 2003 at 06:19 AM.][This message was edited by HowardR on 08 February 2003 at 06:22 AM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 8 Feb 2003 7:22 am

Ralph H. Moorehead · Post by **Ralph H. Moorehead** » 9 Feb 2003 2:49 pm

I take mine off and lay it on the steel. Put it back on when you are done playing. I mad eone mistake though. I ONCE told my wife that after my steel she came first

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 17 Feb 2003 12:35 am

My wedding ring always bothered me when playing. The final decision came when I was playing a game of volleyball and the force of hitting the ball caused my ring finger to swell badly. I went to the medic who said he'd have to cut the ring off to reduce the swelling. He did, the swelling went down almost immediately. I then took the ring to a jeweller and had it made into a smaller ring for my wife. I have no love for jewellery especially on fingers.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 17 Feb 2003 9:19 am

You younger steel players just haven't gotten there yet. Try and relax.....your time will come. TRUST ME!
First, with body piercing so popular these days, why not do as I did years ago, in an attempt to solve this problem once and for all. Go have the local Harley Dealer's chief mechanic, resident tatoo artist and body piercing expert.........simply insert that ring in your nose. It works!!
Second.........as you age, you body will attempt to bloat with retained fluids and your ring will suck up in the hollow and/or
Arthur-itis will bend and distort your fingers so badly one can have problems just trying to pick one's own nose. SOLVES the problem y'all are attempting to solve here on the Forum. Don't keep trying to reinvent the wheel. TIME will take care of everything.
Don't sweat the small stuff...........

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 17 Feb 2003 9:39 am

Gee thanks, Ray -- something else to think about as I wait to get old enough to join AARP!

I recently saw my doctor, dentist and optometrist, and they all started a sentence the same way: "When you get to be your age ..."

Now I can look forward to hearing it from you guys, too.