Can you describe the music a Steel Guitar makes

Carlos Polidura · Post by **Carlos Polidura** » 20 Nov 2004 7:32 pm

rick,
i guess, there are "NO WORDS" to describe the so "BEAUTIFUL"... so "DISTINCTIVE" and so "PLEASENT" sound of the steel guitar.
carlos

Dale Thomas · Post by **Dale Thomas** » 20 Nov 2004 8:36 pm

I've always described it as "liquid". Pure, cool drops or a sustaining pool of sound.

Butch Foster · Post by **Butch Foster** » 20 Nov 2004 8:52 pm

Captivating!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 20 Nov 2004 9:19 pm

Ethereal

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 20 Nov 2004 9:24 pm

I can't think of another one word but "BEAUTIFUL" in every way.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Nov 2004 5:27 am

Whiney.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Nov 2004 6:04 am

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 21 Nov 2004 6:28 am

Hey Bovine... How did you get Cohen's logon password?

Jack Musgrave · Post by **Jack Musgrave** » 21 Nov 2004 6:49 am

Whiney+Twangy+Beautiful= Whangiful
thats my story and I'm stickin to it!

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 21 Nov 2004 6:55 am

Voicelike! George Jones and Johnny Paycheck sing like a steel guitar.
PS Add Marty Robbins to that list.[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 21 November 2004 at 06:55 AM.]

erik · Post by **erik** » 21 Nov 2004 7:33 am

:No, because there are many voices that can be achieved.

As stated above the steel guitar is closest instrument to the sound of a pipe organ - originally my favorite sound. The steel itself can sound like many things. When you hear the classic high register bar-wavering tones it sounds like the neigh of a horse, perhaps it's reason for association with country music. In can sound like crying, a woman, and in the case of one tune I have on CD, a bag of kittens (lol). It seems one must be born with the ability to appreciate the sound of a steel.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 21 Nov 2004 8:21 am

When I play it? "Atonal."

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 21 Nov 2004 9:04 am

It's hard to describe because it can take on so many different sounds depending on type of music being played. It can be anything from the whinny thing on hillbilly records,or beautiful smooth sounds,or driving guitar like sounds,or rich monster chords all with the ability to bend or alter notes if desired .I love it all from the silky smooth to the real punchy sounds. I am amazed at how much refinement and change the pedal steel is still going through.Some worry about the future of the pedal steel but I like to think it is still arriving and carving out a new sound.

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 21 Nov 2004 9:10 am

OK one word. how about "addictive".

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 21 Nov 2004 9:21 am

The human voice is also a fretless instrument.

Post by **b0b** » 21 Nov 2004 3:51 pm

"Acceptable"

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 21 Nov 2004 3:56 pm

HA!!!

Rick

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 21 Nov 2004 5:13 pm

With Emmons, Charleton, Byrd, among others playing it, no words will describe it!

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 21 Nov 2004 5:17 pm

sanctimonious

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 21 Nov 2004 5:38 pm

Controversial!

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 21 Nov 2004 7:12 pm

My wife just gave me the perfect scenario for the sounds of a steel guitar. "It has a multiple personality like a woman suffering with PMS -It can go from angelic to melancholy, then to screeching all in few seconds- ”.

What a nice little babe I married! Her appreciation for music is rather questionable to say the least.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 22 Nov 2004 1:17 am

Les - THAT'S IT!!!!!! Very profound. And people actually pay money for these things???????

Jimmie Brown · Post by **Jimmie Brown** » 22 Nov 2004 9:51 am

" HAUNTING'

Jimmie

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 22 Nov 2004 4:51 pm

I once played a gig in a living room for some very wealthy people. The hostess walked over to me having no idea what a pedal steel guitar was and said "that thing sounds like an orchestra" Perhaps we could add "orchestral" to the growing list thanks to Mrs. Wrigley's observation.

Harry Williams · Post by **Harry Williams** » 22 Nov 2004 5:28 pm

I'm enjoying this thread - but the most interesting descriptions are from those who don't play - us players are too biased!!

T.C. Furlong post alludes to something that I've always thought - The Pedal Steel Guitar is the equivalent to the string section, so common in popular music. Listen to Sinatra's "Songs for Young Lovers" with the Nelson Riddle orchestra, the strings add texture, melody, chords, harmony etc. Just like the PSG does. But with the PSG you can do it all on one instrument!!

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