How many newbies...

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 27 Jun 2006 3:54 pm

...will still be playing the steel 10 years later?

The steel is darned hard to learn -- at least until you reach some plateau. I have been playing for about 21 years now and I haven't the slightest clue as to how many times I have nearly quit (still tempted!).

Jesse Vargas · Post by **Jesse Vargas** » 27 Jun 2006 4:08 pm

After a couple of years of on and off playing (never quitting), I'm still running strong. I still sound like a hack though! I live in an area where there aren't too many steel players so I'm always going to shows when they come around for more. There's a gentleman by the name of Dave Berzansky that plays with the Hacienda Brothers. After hearing his story of only playing for about 5 years and seeming how amazing the guy is, it's pretty darn encouraging to keep going at it. The love of the sound of the pedal steel can't steer me away.

Wally Taylor · Post by **Wally Taylor** » 27 Jun 2006 6:35 pm

Hey Guys,
I have been pounding away for about a year and a half and never had any thoughts of quitting. As for now, my practice time IS my playing time and I get immense satisfaction from it. Each time I play, I usually learn something and it keeps me going. I have about 20 or songs that I keep trying to improve on over and over. Quit, no way! At 57 years of age, this gives me as much pleasure as the Telecaster did in my youth. So, if you are new to the steel as I and others are, stick with it and rest assured, the good folks on this forum will do all they can to help and encourage you. Yes, it gets frustrating and you feel you can't go any further.....but you can and you will! No, I am not ready for live stage work, but I play for MY satisfaction and try to play as tasteful as possible. Don't quit!
My 2 cents worth anyway.
Wally Taylor

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 27 Jun 2006 7:32 pm

I lack 6 1/2 years to make 10. I'm having a blast! Quit? Naw. I learn something new each time I sit down to it.

Andy Jones · Post by **Andy Jones** » 27 Jun 2006 8:24 pm

At 54 years old,I've been playing about 10 months.I learn something every time I sit down at my MSA D-10 Classic.Give up,I don't think so!As long as the Lord lets me live,and I'm physically able,I'll be hacking away! Andy

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 27 Jun 2006 9:42 pm

I've been playin' steel now for six years. December 25 will be my seventh year behind the steel guitar and my playin' ain't stoppin'. I've always told myself if I ever did stop playin', I'd be so upset, so I ain't stoppin'. The steel guitar is such a wonderful instrument and I'll always be a steel guitarist. I think the steel is the best instrument I decided to play and nope, I ain't quittin'. My advice to any new steel player is don't ever give up because the steel guitar is such a wonderful instrument and you learn a lot if you practice hard. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10[This message was edited by Brett Day on 27 June 2006 at 10:45 PM.]

Nic du Toit · Post by **Nic du Toit** » 28 Jun 2006 2:56 am

I've been going on and off for the past twenty six years or so, but this instrument has a way of getting under your skin.......who said something about stopping ?.....nah !.... too much to learn still.

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John Coffman · Post by **John Coffman** » 28 Jun 2006 3:43 am

Quit Heck No then you would want to take up golf, fishing and hunting. To much to learn to quit.

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Thomas SD10 3/4,Thomas D10 8/5 and Desert Rose S10 3/4. Beginner

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 28 Jun 2006 3:51 am

I will, but because I'd already ben a musician for 40 years and steel replaced my guitar playing due to injury. but it IS frustrating, and I can see many total newbies "hitting the wall" after 6 months and flat quitting.

At least my hand problems mean I can't play golf either - no chance of going that direction, thankfully! But I still surf...[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 28 June 2006 at 04:52 AM.]

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 28 Jun 2006 4:06 am

3 years and hanging in there. JP

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 28 Jun 2006 4:37 am

ok...I admit it.

My name is Rick and I'm a newbie.

Been seriously working at it for about a year I guess. Half the time I ain't gotta clue what I'm playing BUT I am gaining every time I set down to play. I play my guitar every day. Sometimes 30 minutes and sometimes a couple of hours.

Mike Gorsch · Post by **Mike Gorsch** » 28 Jun 2006 4:40 am

I have been a bass player for the past 40+ years. Started playing the steel 3 years ago when my older brother passed away and left me his gear. The steel is such a refreshing change musically and I can't seem to get enough. I don't see that changing for me anytime soon.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 28 Jun 2006 4:57 am

OK, I'll quit, just as soon as I master the pedal steel guitar, and Lloyd and Buddy take lessons from me! Howz that?!?!?!?

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 28 Jun 2006 5:04 am

As soon as I find the right steel I'll start playing after 30 years plus of playing lead. I feel that the only thing that will make me stop is health or death I hope anyway. I already know that I have the gumption to hang in there when things get rough because I made all these years on the guitar and believe me I'm not one of those people that learning came easy for. I struggled with a lot of things on the guitar. I'm just hoping that all of those struggles will make it somewhat easier for learning the steel but if not I'll still hang in there.

Bob

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 28 Jun 2006 6:25 am

First steel was the Sho-Bud D-10 in 1989 which I traded for a very nice Mullen D-10 about 1992. Played around with that until about 1995 when I sold everything back to Mac McDonald for $800. The worst thing I did was give him all my instructional materials and tapes. I should have kept them. Now I can't find the Lloyd Maines and Tommy Roots video courses which appear to be out of print. I couldn't afford them even if I could find them.

I bought the new Carter S-12 in 2004 and it was like starting all over again. I am still stuck in the same rut but I do enjoy playing at home. It is very satisfying.

Sherman

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 28 Jun 2006 7:11 am

I don't know how any isolated, remote, exiled steeler survived before the birth of this forum. The opportunity for knowledge just wasn't there. And finding things by accident, or trial and error, is enough to drive anyone nuts.
Of course you could get support and encouragement if you lived near another steeler or two...but, alone in the woods? Impossible.
Ain't never been a better time to grab ahold of the rope and hold on...[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 28 June 2006 at 08:32 AM.]

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 28 Jun 2006 1:21 pm

Ray, You just spoke volumes. It couldn't have been spoken more clear. Thankyou!

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 29 Jun 2006 1:31 am

I think the steel is more intimedating than hard to play, I always try to have fresh material and I challenge myself, about a year and ahalf ago me and my wife sold our home our realator said lets get rid of this clutter pointing to my "music stuff" I went about 3 months with out my steel and went nuts. we did sell the home and I have more clutter now then ever!!! eat your heart out!!

Gabriel Stutz · Post by **Gabriel Stutz** » 29 Jun 2006 6:44 am

I'm a newbie -I'm about 3-4 years into this thing now- and I have no intention of every stopping. I've played guitar my whole life, but I've hardly touched it since I got the steel. Everytime I sit down I discover some new position or some new sound, and it keeps me coming back. I love it. It feels like I've finally found a musical home, guitar never felt quite right.

Gabriel

Keith Poteat · Post by **Keith Poteat** » 29 Jun 2006 10:55 am

The original question was how many newbies will still be playing after 10 years? I think it depends on your wife! You will need one that loves you more than anything else in the world to be able to hear that gosh-awful, off-key racket for years and still be able to say, "Honey, that sounds great!" Thank the Lord, I have one of those!And, believe it or not, she is an accomplished musician. Now that's true love!

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 29 Jun 2006 1:09 pm

The reason I ask this question--I was speaking to a steeler/instructor in Cheyenne a while back and he was extremely discouraged. Discouraged to the point of not accepting new people to the steel and staying with intermediate and advanced steelers--people that have proven that they will stay with the steel.

He said that most new starters drop after about 6 months to a year. Too many of them are leaving for every reason you can think of.

I wondered if (perhaps) he was going about teaching in the wrong way or does the steel require something that lends itself to quitting (besides practice)?

After years of teaching others in my profession, I am too well aware of how one can lose a student or a complete class by using one of a thousand incorrect procedures, statements, etc.

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Edited for clarification

[This message was edited by Leroy Riggs on 29 June 2006 at 03:05 PM.]

Mickey McGee · Post by **Mickey McGee** » 29 Jun 2006 9:22 pm

"alone in the woods?" yes,most of the time I feel this way BUT now(thanks to the forum) I can also see all the other new players who are in the woods with me-my Carter S-10 is black so it is easy to hide in these woods when I need too.

Robert Cook · Post by **Robert Cook** » 3 Jul 2006 7:32 am

It took 40 years to get off the 6-string long enough to take up the steel. It took a couple grand to get behind one. It took a guy like Bobbe Seymour to make me not feel like a geek for asking a bunch of lame questions. And it will take a lot more than screwing up every other chord and a lot of people asking "can you really play that left-handed?" to get me to quit. Keep at it!!

Danny Kirby · Post by **Danny Kirby** » 4 Jul 2006 3:05 am

If it's in your blood, you will always pick steel no matter whether you're new or have been playing forever.

Pete Cormier · Post by **Pete Cormier** » 4 Jul 2006 4:05 am

HEY GUYS
BEEN PLAYING MY 6 STRING ABOUT A YEAR IN THE
BACK ROOM OF MY HOME.--NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING READY FOR A STAGE.--EVERY DAY FOR ME I CLICK ON THIS FORUM AND IT GIVES ME HOPE.--SO I SPIN AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER AND SLIDE MY OFFICE CHAIR UNDER MY OLD SUPRO AND SOMEHOW OUT OF THE BLUE FIND ANOTHER SMALL LICK ON THE NECK AND BORE MY WIFE TO DEATH PLAYING IT.---JUST LIKE A REFORMED DRUNK,ICOME TO THIS MEETING AND GET ENCOURMENT----THANKS TO ALL
PETE