Layman's Triangle

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Not the devil's triangle, nor a lover's triangle, but simply a layman's triangle. It's the starting point of a beginner's level of playing steel guitar. The amp, steel guitar, and lack of steel guitar savvy forms the triangle. There is a critical need to recognize developmental abilities on the steel guitar. Achieving the goal of elevating oneself above the layman's level of playing steel holds many rewards. One important reward is the clear view of what lies behind, after paying your dues. Ah! yes! those all important dues. The message is clear. Steel guitar isn't something that is picked up overnight, in a week or two, or for months, in some cases, not in years. As a beginner, plan to spend some time in the layman's triangle.

David Ziegler · From: Lancaster, Ohio, USA

Amen to that! I have been at it 2 years and 3 months and have made great strides because I have spent a lot of time behind the beast. I am still very much in the laymans triangle but I am learning the language as well as the instrument and hopefully not sounding TOO new anymore.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

David Z.,

American history, and derisiveness imparts a telltale sensitivity,that is reflected in sparse responses. I have no qualms about trying to get on track with readers' interests, and deliberately holding true to the premises. The emergence of multiple related interests, calls for, and beckons an astuteness that will allow for concepts to prevail in future replies. I feel that my qualifications to reply, are denoted, quite possibly, by the innovations built into my steel guitar, including the rare fretless E9th neck, that has increased my playing enjoyment far beyond words. David, I can also relate to the phase of learning, that slowly improves, with each hour spent practicing. Thanks...

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Well Bill, I sense something here that makes me uneasy.

"Dues" are not tallied by the individual player.

That's not the way it works.

Only their peers.

More later.

Smile

EJL

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

When I was teaching pedal steel about 25 years ago, I had to get my students over the initial critical problem where the instrument was intimidating them. Pedal steel guitar has been described as the most difficult instrument in the world to learn and master. While this is subjective, it is undoubtly a very challenging instrument.

There is no real shortcut to the gaining of experience - or paying one's dues - but certainly having a proficient teacher does circumnavigate the time consuming process of trying to figure it all out alone. The layman has to overcome so much initially - co-ordination, correct body and arm positioning (often overlooked but very important), bar control and pitch accuracy, picking technique and grips, pedal and lever combinations, and last but not least the most important - getting good tone.

Natural proficiency does come into the equation, and certainly some people are blessed with a natural ability and others will have a lifetime struggle with the instrument. However, the learning curve does get less steep after the "dues have been paid".

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Ken B.,

I like the way you point to pitch accuracy, tone, pedals and knee levers, etc. There is a great need to work a little magic, by tending to all of those considerations that determines success or failure as a steel guitarist.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Eric W.,

Confronting "dues to be paid" is ever so easy for me; as well. The irony of the usage as it applies to common steel guitar "lingo", commonly imparts dismay. I've never used the term before, after having read its usage dozens of times in the writings of others. This is the first time ever for me, to parrot the term, and in all likelihood it will be the last! I would think that whoever "coined" the phrase, should be made known, and for what reason? Would anyone be so kind as to direct me to the original sayer? Perhaps then, Eric, we could see eye to eye, by digging into what message was originally intended to be conveyed. Do you agree?

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

"Learning Curve" is such a relaxed and pleasant misnomer... A "curve" implies smooth, bumpless transitions... gentle, slow, rolling, happy little incremental changes and improvements...

When it comes to the pedal steel guitar I envision the metaphor to be more like "learning cliffs", where improvement and progress is gained by scratching and clawing and scrambling among the craggy sharp (or flat) edged outcroppings while getting bruised and beaten by the driving wind and rain of frustration.

Then one day the sun comes out...

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Ray M.,

In te world of steel guitar inception, it's difficult to describe the total frustrations associated with the beginner's early experiences. Mingled with the struggles of getting acquainted with the multiples of diversified combinations of necessary savvy, the realization of the awesome and unique potentiality begins to unfold. This is better known as an acquired knowledge made possible through persistent practice.

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

Bill the basic's of PSG is easy to pick up provided one had played a stringed intsrument before, a good example is my wifes cat as I am trainning it to play PSG, pooh is a good student, however he doesn't pay.

richard burton · From: Britain

Bill,
I rarely read your posts, they are so verbose that they become incomprehensible, to me anyway.

This time, I saw the word 'Layman' in the title, and hoped that you were going to adopt laymans language, so that more people like me (Philistines?) could follow the thread.

Sadly, I was mistaken Crying or Very sad

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

richard b.,

Surely you jest. I know for certain after viewing your spring loaded steel, bottom up, that you possess a comprehensive mind. I'm a little disappointed to learn that in so many words, you've excluded me from your peer group. I've always respected your innovative approaches to new ideas. It's always nice to read your posts. Thanks...

richard burton · From: Britain

Bill,
I wish it was in jest, as, when you first started posting, a few years ago, you wrote in a perfectly normal, understandable fashion, about many interesting steel-related topics that I enjoyed contributing to.

Then, for some reason, you swallowed a dictionary, and it has become progressively harder to interpret the meaning of your posts.

I now find that I can't afford the time to fathom out what you are talking about, so I skip your posts.

For the same reason, I skip Eric West's posts also

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

richard b.,

If I were to ask you to snip the 5th and 6th strings on your E9th neck, would you go looking for the side cutters? Correct grammar should not be subjected to disapproval, particularly if the subject matter is controversial. The steel guitar and the various methodologies, spawn technical issues, that evolve into many interests, that the lay person may have difficulty grasping; that is, the key points. That isn't a justifiable reason to revert to elementary levels to explain notions or concepts.

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Bill, if I may, I think Richard means that verbosity is unnecessary to effectual communication. It only slows the flow of understanding, and makes meanings uncertain.

Richard, if I'm misinterpreting you, I appologize.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Oops...double post.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Oops....triple post.....what's goin' on here!!
_________________
Best regards,
Mike

richard burton · From: Britain

Mike,
You're not misinterpreting me, you nailed it Very Happy

Bill,
If you could dispense with the flowery language, and write in everyday terms, I'm sure more people would read your posts.

I'm sure that somewhere in your impenetrable verbiage there are some good ideas waiting to get out Idea

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