Why I am unhappy with my steel playing..

erik · Post by **erik** » 4 Jan 2004 4:52 am

Bob, I don't play steel, but I do play some guitar and bass. I've never jammed with a band, obviously never played professionally. Can't get through one song without making a mistake. What I find satisfaction in is recording my own songs and playing my own solos on recordings. Like others said above, stop playing other peoples licks. Play your own. Buy some recording equipment, rhythm section(drum machine,BIAB, etc.) and start making songs from scratch. Even if you only do covers you'll feel a sense of accomplishment when it's all done by yourself. Once you realize that YOU have to create the solo and arrangement you will find new ways to play your steel.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 4 Jan 2004 6:37 am

Larry Bell nailed it.It`s all about enjoying what you do.Play with your heart and have fun,be yourself and don`t worry what anyone else thinks about your playing.No matter how fast you are there will always be someone faster,no matter how many chords you can showe it in to the measure there will always be someone with more chords.Does that mean that they are better?Nope.It`s all about the feeling,guitar is just an extetion of you that you are using to transfer your feelings onto the other people.Even when you play so simple that make you puke you can have people comiong to you and telling you how beautiful you sounded.People can feel what you do,and they get tired quick of listening stupid scales played in lightning speed.Be yourself and enjoy it,thats what is all about.

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Ryan Giese · Post by **Ryan Giese** » 4 Jan 2004 2:36 pm

If you made a living out of playing for 10 years you must be good. I have been playing for 1 year and am not anywhere close to where I want to be. And there is always room for improvment.

Tom Hodgin · Post by **Tom Hodgin** » 5 Jan 2004 7:36 pm

Come on folks, who are we trying to kid here..We have always known we would never be in that "TOP TEN LIST "..Why, you ask ?? simply because we decided many years ago that we were'nt going to pay the price to be there...for most all of us "looking inners", education and a good paying job to support our families so we could reach retirement someday, with a little picking along the way, was what WE wanted most of all...What I mean is "SECURITY".. Now the top ten were willing to sacrifice (if need be)`all of that for a lifetime in music...
Can you emagine the rejection, the just plain hardships that these few guys had to endure in their lifetimes just for a few moments( simply putting it)in the lime light. Union scale, maybe too old, maybe not as fast as the next guy, may too opinionated, "WHATEVER", they choose to endure, we did not....I wonder as many of you do, how many would do it all over again ?? Most would, some would not...I see them as not only successfull pickers, but as a type of warrior who conquered...but how many did we loose along the way ?? but what the hell, they did make our "TOP TEN"..........tom

Russ Hicks · Post by **Russ Hicks** » 14 Jan 2004 9:39 am

Hey Bob....I.M.O.,when you're 'happy with you're playing' that could mean you think you've 'arrived', and that could be dangerous. I know very few players who are really happy, or maybe a better word is satisfied, with the way they play. When I was in my twenties it bothered me to know that I would never be able to play like Buddie or Doug or lots of others, but I finally learned to take what I do and go with it and to be at least content in knowing I was making a living doing something that I loved so much.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 14 Jan 2004 10:00 am

"SECURITY"

That's what most of us opted for! I am happy with my current situation...but, I always wonder what would have been the outcome if I had not done that!....if I had turned left instead of right at the intersection?
www.genejones.com

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 14 Jan 2004 10:12 am

Gene, how true. We have all been there and done that, in one way or another.....al

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

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 14 Jan 2004 12:51 pm

Bob,
I can relate to how you feel. I've been at it on and off for 25 years now myself, and I feel like I haven't progressed to anywhere near the level I should be. I guess we all feel that way at times.

Sometimes I'll hear one of the greats, and think what's the use, I'll never be able to sound that good. But, I'm having fun with it, so at least from that perspective, I'm not a failure at it. Besides, I'll bet your playing is of a much higher level than you're giving yourself credit for. As they say, you're your own worst critic.

Regards,
Lem

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 5 Nov 2005 8:36 pm

Bob, I just came across this old post, and wanted to let you know how much this hit home for me at one time.

I felt a lot better after I read all the advice and uplifting words from the other Fo'Bros. I made the choice years ago not to pursue a full-time music career. Looking back, I'm not sorry I made that choice.

I used to feel bad about my playing when I would hear the top guns play. But now I take heart in the fact that nobody else in our band can sit behind my axe and do what I do. Prozac also helps, too.

I'd like to conclude with a big thanks to all the other members who offer up words of encouragement to us, and to b0b for running this wonderful institution known as the Steel Guitar Forum.

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2005 Carter S12U 7x5, Blanton D10 8x4, Peavey Session 400 Limited Wedge, Goodrich L120, Boss ME50 effects pedal

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 5 Nov 2005 9:14 pm

Bob:Quit beating yourself up,Enjoy what you've got,We all can't hit 100% free throws all of the time,Shaq is good example of that.Raising four boys should put you in the hall of fame.If your not having fun with it take some time off and hit it hard when you are ready.50 years young isn't that old,I'm 53 and still starting trouble,Stu

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 5 Nov 2005 9:46 pm

Bob, if I may make a suggestion? Put together a financial plan that will pay the bills without relying on income from music. Turn your music into a passion instead of a job.

Most people work a 40-hour job, and spend the rest of their time a) doing the things they love or b) watching television. You don't strike me as the "watching television" type. Once you decide that you love your music too much to sell it out, you can dedicate your own hours to advancing your artistry instead of selling beer.

You thought that playing professionally would satisfy your soul. You're not the first musician to discover that it doesn't always work that way. The music that comes from the heart is often at odds with the music that get drunken girls onto the dance floor.

I was about your age - not very long ago - when I realized that life is just too short to play bad music for money. We only get to play a finite number of notes in this life. Make them your own.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b2005.gif" width="78 height="78">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 5 Nov 2005 9:49 pm

I just realized that this topic is nearly 2 years old. I hope you're happier with your playing now, Bob!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 5 Nov 2005 10:04 pm

Yeah a lot of notes over the dam since this thread started.
And Bob C. is still posting provocative questions.

So Bob how's this question stack up 2 years on?
DD[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 05 November 2005 at 10:05 PM.]

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 6 Nov 2005 3:16 am

Hey Bob, hope your picking is better after two years.

Still the thread "spoke" to me. Frustration sets in on me sometimes about my playing steel. I don't listen to alot of steel licks and try to copy them. In fact I am making a concerted effort not to listen to too much steel as I learn because I do not want to sound like anybody but me. I do indulge myself every now and then with some of my dads stuff. Let me tell you thats a tough measuring stick to use. Played a little when I was a kid and took lessons from my dad. Then put the guitar down for 30 years before I picked it up again and began the journey to see if I could play. Circumstance beyond my control had a bit to do with my laying it down for so long. At any rate, somedays I'm glad I did pick it up again and somedays its so frustrating I wish I hadn't. I press on. Keep at it with a hard headed attitude and before long there will come a time that I can set down and hold my own. I gain a little each time I set down to play. I know there will never be another Bobby Garrett so I have no aspirations of greatness. I just want to play. Good post Bob and I do hope you're enjoying YOUR art more now. Cya

Rick

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 6 Nov 2005 3:29 am

C6th... Try it man. It will mellow you down.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 6 Nov 2005 4:47 am

C6: the Prozac of steel?

I wondered too why Bob's still concerned with his playing; but yes, it's an old thread.
I've heard very fine sound files of his work, and he's such an encouraging influence on me that I know he's at peace with things, but always trying harder.
This enduring thread indicates the pervasive issue among all of us.

But mostly, I can resonate with Rick:

... so I have no aspirations of greatness. I just want to play.

With no such aspirations, who needs Prozac?
Without aspirations, we can achieve what we are and learn more in the process without preconceived notions of what we want to be.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 6 Nov 2005 6:08 am

Bob, I am in the same boat you are in. I was fortunate enough to do a little traveling and make some money for a while but it fizzled out. Those bands were very good at that time. Today, it is difficult in this area to find good musicians to play music with. I sat down last evening and jammed with some great guys but a couple of them were not in tune and the fiddler plays flat at times. I tried to play an instrumental and as long as I played the melody they could follow, most of the time. When I get away from the melody line they get lost. So the bands we play with or just jam with can cause us not to play at the level we can play at. When I play music and another steel player is playing music too then my level of playing raises. I guess it inspires me and licks start coming to me that I may not have played in a while. I would bet you are doing fine but just like most of us we want improvement and we want it now.

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 6 Nov 2005 7:17 am

Steel players in "The Top Ten" are freak's of nature, only so many are going to get that good. God given talent? Sure is. Music is mood and as steel players we can get moody. Look at what we have to deal with; it's the only instrument on the stage where you use both hands, both knees, both feet. Then we sit down on stage close to the drummers cymbals and everyones guitar amps plus monitors and then the band members want to know why we play so loud?!
The times I didn't play in a band, I would practice (woodshed). I also play 6 string so I have split my time between both, had I'd stayed on just one, I think I would be somewhat better on each guitar...but what fun would that have been? The trick is; keep playing, keep learning, don't get burned out. From the examples above, some who play full time want more security and those with security want to play full time.
Road players get to play the same songs for just 90 minutes an evening in concert, heck in 90 minutes I'm just getting warmed up and we get to play all kinds of songs from all different kind of singers.
The key is balance. If everything is balanced at home, your music life will also be balanced. Another problem with less and less places to play is; Nashville stopped making music people could dance to. It use to be about dancing then the power ballads took over. DUI's became the rage and keep people at home in droves. If I get to play weekends, I'm happy and I don't have to play every weekend. Learning instrumentals is a great way to incorporate some of those "licks" into your playing and it gives you good practice time. How many times have you sat behind your steel practcing and then relize several hours have past? No one should be upset that a steel player plays an instrumental. After-all, it is the most beautiful sounding instrument on the stage. Remember, Big E had a rough time in New York City with the session players there which goes to show you, even "The Top Ten" can have a bad day too. The way you feel today may change by tomorrow. When I got my first steel, in one month I got on stage, I had to pay the band leader and about the only thing I knew was how to go from a open C to pedals down C and it was so cool I had tears in my eyes. I was actually playing steel! Now, 22 years later I make the listeners cry...I think it has something to do with too much treble on my amp...

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 6 Nov 2005 10:19 am

Wow.. forgot ALL about this one!!!.. Well actually I'm playing a lot more steel than 2 years back, unfortunately its all at home..

I am still playinmg rock guitar gigs for young girls that want to dance.. Brick House,Play that Funky Music White boy,All Right Now, etc , etc.. good classic rock, but the steel gets touched on about 4 songs in a 4 hour gig.. I don't play it more than about 1 song a set..

Such is life for a west coast style steel player living in NY state!!..

The guys in the pedal steel chat room hear me play regularly, at least a few times a week I play some live doodlings for them, and I have yet to be laughed out of the joint so i'm doing ok.. and actually I have come to the realization that although I'm not "world class" like some guys my age, I'm not dreadful either, and I get respect from my peers, which is all anyone can ask correct?.. If it sounds sweet, who cares if it its a Buddy Cage lick or a Buddy Emmons lick?.. its all done on a pedal steel guitar!!.. God bless the pedal steel,all those who play and love it, .... the worlds "happiest" sound IMHO!! bob

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 6 Nov 2005 10:50 am

I am still playinmg rock guitar gigs for young girls that want to dance.. Brick House,Play that Funky Music White boy,All Right Now, etc , etc.. good classic rock,

Bob, you should try playing steel on those tunes. You can't play your country licks, and would have to find things to play that will work on that context, but 1- it will force you to think creatively and open up your playing, and 2- when done right, the steel sounds great in that contezst.

Throughout most of 2001 and the early part of 2002, I played in a blues rock band. We did Hendrix, Cream, Zep stuff, and absolutely no country. Not even country rock. The closest we came to country music was Sweet Home Alabama, and I played with distortion most of the time. I played things loosely based on the old Mississippi delta bottleneck blues style. I didn't play and Nashville licks.

The audience was very interested in the instrument. Most of them and never seen or heard one before. I'd always let the guitar players in the audience sit down at my steel and try it out.

Jory Simmons · Post by **Jory Simmons** » 6 Nov 2005 11:08 am

I am not a great player in my own mind....only, then you go to play in a bar( where unfortunatly most of us earn our living) and some inebreated redneck tells you your the best musician he ever heard! You think.....Geeeeezzzzzz this guy never heard Hal, or Paul or Buddy. But guess what.You are a steel player..the Best one that guy or Gal ever heard, and YOU brought the world of steel guitar to THEM! I'm gonna go practice now..........JD

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Jory Simmons

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 6 Nov 2005 11:23 am

Sorry M.P. but it makes no sense to me to play those guitar licks on steel. Why not just get a keyboard then to do ALL the parts, including the drums,guitars,etc?
I'm in 3 bands right now, 1 straight country,1/2 steel,1/2 guitar; one singer songwriter band that does NRPS and some Dead,Dylan, Stones covers,about 8 or 9 steel , and my R&B band, no steel.
I would like to play more steel,so I plan this year to keep my R&B group, and start up a country rock group,featuring Poco,Eagles,NRPS,etc. Maybe you could do that too. JimP

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 6 Nov 2005 11:56 am

Sorry M.P. but it makes no sense to me to play those guitar licks on steel. Why not just get a keyboard then to do ALL the parts, including the drums,guitars,etc?

Would Mike's suggestions make more sense to you if you think of them in the context of playing music, rather than playing licks?

It is like a finger pointing to the moon--don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory! --Bruce Lee

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 6 Nov 2005 2:33 pm

When I played with the blues rock band, I didn't play guitar licks. We had a guitar player to do that. (I might add that this particular player was absolutely the hottest musician I ever worked with, and it was really a challenge for me to keep up with him.)

I had to think up new and different things to play. And since this band never rehearsed and everything was totally spontanous, it was exhilerating and a lot of fun, and I figured out/learned all sorts of stuff I never would have, if I had been playing the guitar instead of the steel.

I might add that the pedal steel guitar is a GREAT blues and rock instrument. We are seeing a lot of non-pedal steels shopwing up in this context. I just took that to the next level and added the use of pedals.

The thing is, so many of us are used to playing a lot of standard Nashville E9 mash-the-pedals country type things. I won't say that those licks never work in a blues rock context, but it's a different style of music, and it must be approached on it's own terms.

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 6 Nov 2005 2:43 pm

Chris, as a musician, it does not make sense to me. The general public couldn't care less.
I enjoy the seperation of instruments and the different tonal qualities they possess. Midi guitars that sound like B3's, keys that sound like horns(although I'm guilty of that one!), steels that sound like 6 string, and vice versa, just not my fave. I don't mean to knock anyone else's ideas, just voicing my own.JP