??? For all Newbies to steel guitar---------

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 25 Apr 2006 4:18 am

"I'm about a year I'd guess into Reece's 12 string tuning"

Brother Rick and I are on the same page with Reece's tuning. I've been playing Dobro for 3 years and steel for about a year and a half. A lot of that time was spent just finding what I wanted to play: 6 string, 8 String, pedal steel, lap steel, hawaiian, blues, jazz, country.

For me it has been a process of expansion and contraction. I experimented with lots of different things and now I have settled, sold, striped down to the bare essentials. 12 string, Reece's tuning, jazz.

My main guide right now is the George Van Eps Harmonic Mechanisms for Guitar, my own study into the neck and grips, about 200 bebop standards I'm working through, and a close study of everything I can get where Reece plays, the Slide Off DVD being a great resource.

On Dobro and Guitar I used to gig about 3 times a week, but I'm now holding back and focusing 100% on this tuning and on lap steel. I'm also moving away from the Irish, blues, and folk stuff I used to do and am focused 100% on Jazz. It is like taking a step back in many ways, but worth it.[This message was edited by Bill McCloskey on 25 April 2006 at 05:19 AM.]

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 25 Apr 2006 7:18 am

Four months now.
I get bummed out when guys playin for three months come on here or in the chat room and post soundclips that sound like they been playin all their lives. Then they tell me they practice 8 hours a day. If I get 30 minutes in, it was a great day. I know i shouldnt let that bug me, it aint a competition or anything, but somehow that kinda depresses me.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 25 Apr 2006 8:03 am

Ben, don't get discouraged. Sometimes I'm lucky to get 30 minutes in a week. It will come. Sometimes it seems glaciers meit faster, but, it will come. Just keep pluggin' away. Every little bit of time with the picks on helps.
Been playin' since 1963 and I still stink, just every day the stink get less

BTW, Tony's grip exercize is excellent. When the day comes that I can hit 10, 8, & 6 without lookin' and without a clam, I can die.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 25 April 2006 at 09:06 AM.]

Ward Skinner · Post by **Ward Skinner** » 25 Apr 2006 9:42 am

Interesting topic. My problem is getting my index and middle finger to create the same volume, my index is the weak link.

When I started on the steel, with no instuction, I used my index and middle. After getting some instruction courses I quickly switched to thumb and middle, which is very natural to me because playing guitar I use the pick and middle and ring fingers.

Right or wrong, I make my 3 string grips with my index finger always on the higher string. Problem is getting enough volume out of my index..if I switch my grip around to my middle finger on top, it will sound completely different. It is starting to become a problem in some stuff I'm playing and starting to try to fix that problem. On a Newman course I remember Jeff saying that was one of the hardest things for him to get right too.

I'm wondering, who else plays a 3 string grip with your index on the high string?

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 25 Apr 2006 3:30 pm

Hey Paul, Thanx for dropping in, and thanx for the fine encouragement!

Ray, Thanx to you also. Your comments are deep with insight, and we appreciate you!

The thing us newbies need to remember is that EVERYONE that we admire who is a very accomplisher steeler, started at ground zero, just like us. The difference is they have had a big head start! It all boils down to lots of time on the steel seat, and wearing out strings!

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 26 Apr 2006 3:37 am

Just a reminder, everyone starts on the bottom. As far as sitting on the steel seat, it will make the physical seat grow as well if you are not careful. Best wishes to all you guys and gals,[This message was edited by Paul King on 26 April 2006 at 04:38 AM.]

John Coffman · Post by **John Coffman** » 26 Apr 2006 3:55 am

Thanks Paul for your words of wisdom. Good to here from you. Doing fine here in South Texas,

------------------
Thomas SD10 3/4 and D10 8/5 Beginner

Chris House · Post by **Chris House** » 26 Apr 2006 9:16 am

I'm actually a drummer who ended up playing guitar for the last two years. We play a regular gig every Wednesday night, rehearse two nights a week. During that time, I picked up mandolin also. No searing leads, but because of the drum background, I do good as a rhythm player. I bought a Carter Starter about a year ago. Sat down, tried to tune it up, pick a few strings and was so intimidated I set it aside for about 10 months. Our band's old pedal player that lives out of state was in town a few months ago, came over, showed me a few basics and I stepped right off into the black hole. Completely ate me up. I learned a few basic three chord songs and in two weeks was playing them on stage. Not well, mind you...I mean I hit the notes and eveything, but mostly stayed back in the mix. Last week I bought an Emmonds D-10, gonna play that one on stage tonight. Just seems like every free moment I have I'm sitting at the damn thing picking away. Getting the fingers working independently and hitting the strings accurately and evenly while working the volume pedal is the biggest problem I'm facing. Tony's exercises are exactly what I'm working on, but man, as old as I am, I just don't assimilate as fast as I used to. I just keep telling myself "the way to Carnagie Hall...."

David Ziegler · Post by **David Ziegler** » 26 Apr 2006 9:39 am

I have been playing(of hacking) for 1 1/2 years and started from ground zero. I have had problems from day one with the chord progression thing so I have started studying some basic theory, Mike Perlowin's book, and understand why I am doing things now. This has helped me anticipate where I am going next which is the key to smoothness and continuity. I have been blessed with a great and supportive teacher, Mike Sigler, who won't let me quit or slack which has been a great help and motivation. I just love learning and playing. At age 54 I know I will never even be proficient on this instrument but I plan to be as good as I can be. That is what really keeps me going!

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 26 Apr 2006 9:54 am

This is a really great post.

Hey Bill, man you got more nerve than I have to jump off into jazz.

I dig the blues myself along with some gospel and classic country and even some classic rock and roll. I play along to whatever suits my mood at the time. I'm still stuck in the woodshed but it's coming along now.

Posts like this one keep me digging in so, Thanks!

Rick

Richard Gonzales · Post by **Richard Gonzales** » 26 Apr 2006 5:01 pm

Unless you are exceptionally gifted, there is NO WAY you will learn pedal steel guitar with only 30 minutes practice a day.
Learning the steel guitar must have a high priority in your life to where you will find those two hours or more to practice 7 days a week.
I also recommend that you have a practice plan each time you sit down to practice.
This is my opinion if you want to be a good average player.

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 26 Apr 2006 6:08 pm

I started in the beginning of March, and I've pretty much got down the I IV V stuff. And the rolling the A and B pedals. I prefer the single A pedal minor chords, especially the Am on the 8th fret. I plan to take some structured lessons when I move to Atlanta this fall so that I can bypass some of the bad beginner habits. Best month of my life so far

.

Yall can hear some of my playing on my demo at myspace.com/secondbestband.
------------------
Kyle Everson
Sho-Bud Pro-II
Fender Twin Reverb
Goodrich 120
[This message was edited by Kyle Everson on 26 April 2006 at 07:09 PM.]

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 27 Apr 2006 6:59 am

"Unless you are exceptionally gifted, there is NO WAY you will learn pedal steel guitar with only 30 minutes practice a day.
Learning the steel guitar must have a high priority in your life to where you will find those two hours or more to practice 7 days a week. "

- gotcha, unless i can practice two hours a day its hopeless. Anyone wanna buy my guitar?

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 27 Apr 2006 9:03 am

Ben,,

Don't sell the farm yet!! lol..

------------------
"Fessy" S/D 12, 8/6 Hilton Pedal, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 27 Apr 2006 9:28 am

that was bitter sarcasm Larry, I'll never give up, its too much fun to quit, and some day very soon, I WILL be an awesome player..you can bank on that. I Just dont like being told there is "NO WAY" to learn if i dont practice at least two hours a day....its not very encouraging to a beginner struggling to pay the bills, take care of family AND eek out a few minutes of practice time each day.
Cheers![This message was edited by Ben Jones on 27 April 2006 at 10:30 AM.]

Richard Gonzales · Post by **Richard Gonzales** » 27 Apr 2006 1:13 pm

Ben- Sorry if I discouaged you! Let me put it this way, if you really enjoy learning the pedal steel, you will find that extra time as it is so hard to stop when you are having fun. Also, let yourself be your only competition and you will get better and not discouraged.
My problem is that I have goals that are only attainable with seat time.
Again, enjoy, have fun and explore as the steel guitar is a lifetime learning experience ![This message was edited by Richard Gonzales on 27 April 2006 at 05:04 PM.]

Darryl Hattenhauer · Post by **Darryl Hattenhauer** » 27 Apr 2006 6:58 pm

Ben and Larry,

I think that learning steel is like learning anything complex. Some people will get it quickly, some people will get it slowly, and some people (like me) will never get it, even if we practice 12 hours a day.

But I'm not discouraged about the fact that I'll never be good at it. As with running and fishing, I like playing steel even though I'm no good at it. But for some reason, I picked up shooting on my own as a kid. Maybe it's genetic because my dad was an infantry sniper and taught small arms at Fort Benning, but he didn't teach me how. I just did it.

My brother was a great runner, but he never tried, while I stunk no matter what.

Being bad at something makes me appreciate just how miraculous great baseball players and musicians really are.

I think I'd enjoy steel even more if I had an aptitude for it, but I enjoy it despite the fact that even my dogs leave when I play. I have a friend who paints, but even though he stinks, he likes it.

------------------
"Drinking up the future, and living down the past"--unknown singer in Phoenix

kbdrost · Post by **kbdrost** » 27 Apr 2006 7:44 pm

"I think I'd enjoy steel even more if I had an aptitude for it, but I enjoy it despite the fact that even my dogs leave when I play."

My dogs don't leave; they just sleep. I think that's even worse.

Seriously, I first picked up steel 30 years ago and played for 2 or 3 years. Then I got married, got a career, had kids, etc., etc., and the steel sat in the closet for 25 years. I got back into it 3 or 4 years ago, and it was like coming out of a coma -- relearning all those things I forgot. I've gone way beyond what I used to know, but it's still so intimidating.

I'll tell you what will help: Find a band and play out at least once every two weeks. You will lose the butterflies, you will learn how to play under adverse conditions, and you will become increasingly more confident in your abilities, even if you will never play like Buddy Emmmons.

The fact of the matter is that most people have no idea what a pedal steel is supposed to sound like. I have people come up to me after a show and tell me I'm brilliant and I know that I sucked like a vacuum. I nod politely and thank them and continue to practice as much as I can whenever I can. Those single string exercises sound a lot like Joe Wright's "Secrets of the Wright Hand." When I first got that video, I thought it was the most boring thing ever suffered through in the history of mankind, but believe me, it has made a HUGE difference.

------------------
Ken Drost
steelcrazy after all these years

Mickey McGee · Post by **Mickey McGee** » 28 Apr 2006 1:28 am

I still can't believe I have taken this instrument on-one year at it and I still can't believe I trying to play this thing-I get a lot of remarks from my band mates-incl.the steel player.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 28 Apr 2006 6:37 am

thanks Darryl Larry and Richard. I'll be fine. I know where I am going with this thing, just dont know how long it might take me to get there. I play a few other instruments and am in a couple bands so making two hours a day for the steel probably will never happen (unless by some miracle I can quit my day job...yeah right)...I hear what you are sayin tho, as i used to play the 6 string all day long till I fell asleep and woke up with it in my hands.

Oh well, I hope getting there contnues to be as enjoyable as it has been thus far, wether its two hours a day or ten mintes on my lunch break..... (yup, I drive home from work so i can get ten minutes in at lunch)

Robert Bayles · Post by **Robert Bayles** » 28 Apr 2006 8:02 am

Interesting thread. Guess I'm what you'd call a pre-newbie...just ordered my guitar on Tuesday. Interesting to see some of what I have to look foreword to.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 28 Apr 2006 9:57 am

When you have 3 picks (or 4), 10 strings, 3 pedals, 4 knee levers, and a fretboard with infinite possibilities for placement (and misplacement) of the bar, you gotta know there ain't nothin' simple about this machine.
That's one reason why makin' any kind of good sounding noise with it is so rewarding

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 28 Apr 2006 10:44 am

I think all of us would like to have more time than we do to devote to pratice, but in my case I too still have to work, can't retire yet.

Even though I play out about every week-end, I still try to get in as much pratice as I can, some times a couple of hours, sometimes none.

I think the secrete is to make the most of the time you do have to practice, and make sure you have fun doing it!

I could never play like Buddy, or anyone else if I practiced all day every day the rest of my life, I'm a very un-orthadox player to say the least, But what fun I have doing it!! lol..

Larry

------------------
"Fessy" S/D 12, 8/6 Hilton Pedal, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Chris Grotewohl · Post by **Chris Grotewohl** » 29 Apr 2006 5:36 am

I've been at it off and on for awhile but the last year I have been at it fairly consistant. It seems like I spend more time underneath the thing tweaking than playing. It also feels like I'm getting worse with practice. I have a MSA 5/5. On days where things click though it sure is fun. I have a few books but prefer to play by ear. I've been listening to steel for years and know the sounds. Getting those to tranfer to my hands and feet though, ....LOL

Darryl Hattenhauer · Post by **Darryl Hattenhauer** » 29 Apr 2006 6:32 pm

Robert,

If you search, you'll find threads about which teaching materials and practicing techniques have worked for various people..