The Evolution of a Steeler

Mat Rhodes · Post by **Mat Rhodes** » 13 May 2006 8:20 am

With the recent news about one of my early steel heroes falling victim to sickness and the occasional obituary notices in the Events portion of this forum, I've found myself wondering about what a steel guitarist "should" develop or achieve throughout his/her lifetime. Whenever I read about a steeler, either known or obscure, who has passed away, it bothers me a little that his work might have gone unheard or unnoticed by our community. Even worse, that person might not be remembered by anyone except family and friends.

I know everyone's goals and aspirations are different, but I'm interested in hearing from you about what you hope to accomplish in your lifetime with this instrument. It can be anything as mundane as getting proficient enough to play in front of your friends and family (or mastering that lick you've spent months sweating over) to something as arduous as writing that steel guitar concerto that people from all sections of the planet will pay to see and hear you perform. Of course, any goal in between these is fair game.

I'm also interested in hearing from you seasoned veterans about what kind of legacy you'd like to leave behind, be continued, or advanced in a direction you'd like. I'm not asking you to spill your guts (not if you don't want to!), but this is as good a place as it gets to air your feelings, regrets, "what-ifs", and "woulda-coulda-shouldas" if you have any about the subject.

I'll start with myself: I'm in the beginning-to-intermediate stage of steel studies and I've been dabbling with songwriting lately. I've had about 5 good years of watching and studying the singer/songwriters that I've worked with and hope to write and sing Pop-oriented songs that have more steel guitar in them. After I get enough material, I plan to play out more locally with rhythm tracks or a sequencer. I'm doing this because I've gotten a little tired of how the general population and singer types with "star mentality" have relegated the sideman to a status of little better than "skilled laborer". There's a lot more to be said with this instrument than the uninformed and unadventurous (and I've been guilty of this as well) have restricted us to.

Matt

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 13 May 2006 8:47 am

It's not something I can dwell on, Matt.

I earn my living by playing, but I'm appalled by my lack of real progress. I recently heard a couple of studio jobs that I'd done in London in the '70s when I'd only been playing steel for about three years - I think I sounded better then than I do now!

It's something to do with knowing too much, and being afraid of failing or being seen with what some might view as a poor technique. The longer I play, the more I realise that I'll probably not do much more than scratch the surface of this frustrating pursuit.

When I started out, I didn't care - it was just a diversion from six-string guitar. Now it's an obsession but, thirty years later, while I consider myself a 'single-figure handicap' guitarist, I'm an '18' on steel - I never seem to catch up!

This is too depressing

- but I'll 'post' it anyway....

'Dejected in Naples'.....(RR)

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 13 May 2006 9:04 am

I'd like to be remembered as a player that brought a smile to at one persons face at each place I played. Also, a player that helped other players as much as possible to further there playing and knowledge of the steel guitar. It's a lifetime committment!

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 13 May 2006 9:06 am

"to at least one persons face", that is!

Herman Visser · Post by **Herman Visser** » 13 May 2006 9:46 am

I would like to get good enough to teach my grand daughter how to play right.And later in her life to be remenber as the one who taught her.Thats my small wish in life as far as the steel guitar goes .

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 13 May 2006 9:58 am

Steel guitar is like golf. You never win.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 13 May 2006 10:12 am

I think it's a good idea to document our musical journey. A good friend of mine died young, and at the funeral everyone was asking each other "Do you have any tapes?". He never recorded much, and all of us needed music to remember him by. That's when I decided to record my "Quasar Steel Guitar" CD, accompanied by my best musician friends, so that I could leave something behind for the people I love.

Since then, I've gone back into my personal archives and resurrected some obscure recordings. I know that at some point everything I've done will be forgotten, but I want to leave something of myself for those who are still living when I go. It's not that I consider my music to be great or extremely unique or anything like that. It's personal - one person's journey. I like to think that my loved ones will appreciate these noises I made after I'm gone.

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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
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 14 May 2006 7:24 am

I think
He helped others
He made music fun for all (including the band)
He played well

Bob - A lot of members have been posting clips lately so how about a new topic for the forum where members can post their clips. They would be all in one place and would be here for posterity. Just a thought

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Chuck
Country Fever Band

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 14 May 2006 9:46 am

Billy Carr,pretty much,stated my sentiments. If I can leave this world with people thinkin',"He was an 'okay' guy",I'll be happy.

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.</pre>

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 14 May 2006 11:49 am

I hope that when I leave this life (and I'm up there) that people will feel good when they remember me.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 14 May 2006 12:03 pm

I'm more ambitious than most of you.

I want to be remembered as the guy who brought the steel guitar into the world of classical music, and within that genre, I want to achieve everlasting fame.

I don't know whether or not I'll succeed at this, but I don't want to look back at the end of my life and think that I was afraid to try.

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My web site

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 May 2006 12:16 pm

I'm ambitious too, Mike, but I'm also my own severest critic.

RR

Herman Visser · Post by **Herman Visser** » 14 May 2006 12:25 pm

Mike.. I truly hope you get your WISH .That would be Cool.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 14 May 2006 12:38 pm

I wouldn't mind just being remembered now and then..

MY Musical Journey..(the condensed version )

1-Started out very early in life
2-I had a few dollars
3-Now its' late in life
4-I have no dollars

the long version..add #5

5-I have no chance of getting any dollars

t

Ron Kirby · Post by **Ron Kirby** » 14 May 2006 12:53 pm

Tony, You cant take it with you ! SO GRAB A HANDFUL OF STRINGS ! Move a few knee levers, Push a few pedals, And HAVE FUN!!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 14 May 2006 1:49 pm

Roger, I think we all are our severest critics. When I listen to my CDs, all I ever hear are the mistakes.

I was talking to Susan Alcorn recently (mostly about her experience of switching from a D-10 to an S-12) and she is the same way.

It is way too soon to make an official announcement, but sometime in late 2007 or early 2008, I will be performing as a soloist with a local symphony orchestra. Before we can set a date, I have to have all the orchestral arrangements made, so there's no way to say exactly when this will happen, but the conductor/music director thinks it's a great idea.

This is very small potatoes, but it's a beginning. and once the arrangements are made, tney can be used over and over again.

Hopefully this will mushroom into a career.

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My web site

Rodney Garrison · Post by **Rodney Garrison** » 14 May 2006 2:41 pm

MATT, Great topic for all of us to think about !

It seems all reply's have a crown of their own,
Thank you Matt.
OBTW I want to be remembered for keepin' the money circulatin' in the PSG world.

Rodney Garrison · Post by **Rodney Garrison** » 14 May 2006 2:45 pm

I forgot something: Old dogs and children and watermellom wine.
T.T. Hall knows all.

Rodney Garrison · Post by **Rodney Garrison** » 14 May 2006 2:46 pm

N (sp)

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 14 May 2006 3:08 pm

I just want to play this thing! I'm in the beginning stages of this ride and I know I'm making progress, slowly. I want to be good enough to play in church, at local jams, nursing homes and stuff like that to start out. I think when you can take your music and use it to put a smile on somebody's face it's a good day.

Rick

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 14 May 2006 10:35 pm

Maybe something like[He may not have played to well,but he did play in TUNE!!!]

Ken Thompson · Post by **Ken Thompson** » 15 May 2006 8:02 am

Interesting topic...here are my thoughts.

To the music lover who is not a musician I would like to be remembered as someone that brought pleasure to them through the steel guitar. Someone that could be approached and discuss the instrument so they could have a better understanding of all that the instrument entails.

To the fellow musician I would want to be remembered as a "good hand." Someone that played tastefully; someone that knew when to play and when not to play; someone that was dependable and did the job when called upon to do so.

To the music stores of the world as someone who shared freely with whatever earnings I received for playing the instrument so they could find more things for me to spend my money on.

David Ziegler · Post by **David Ziegler** » 15 May 2006 8:21 am

I have been playing about 18 months and am happy with my progress so far. I just hope I am always motivated to get better and to learn more . If I can do that , when the good Lord calls me home I will be satisfied with where I am.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 15 May 2006 9:30 am

May my epitaph read, "No animals were harmed in the making of his music...".

Subtitled "JIT vs ET, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg duke it out..."[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 15 May 2006 at 10:34 AM.]

Gene E. Jones · Post by **Gene E. Jones** » 15 May 2006 9:57 am

With electric guitar I am comfortable sitting in with most any band be it jazz which i prefer or any other style. My goal on pedal steel is to feel comfortable playing with a band. I want to feel that i can contribute something even if i do not know the song that well, no matter what key they announce etc. gene jones