The Steel Guitar Forum

A couple of thoughts:

Stephen brought up a good point that i overlooked. Lap steels and dobros can be found extremely cheap and they arent the trouble that pedal steel is to move set-up etc..

You guys who have passed beginner instruments on to others are real champs. Thats great.

In my opening post I mentioned lap and dobro players and posted their links. Some of those I posted about are certainly outside the classic pedal steel area. I think it's awesome.

I also mentioned that I hoped the thread would not degenerate into the tired old complaints about the current state of top 40 country music. There is so much going on in music outside of that arena. Look for it. It's there. Thats where we can find alot of people moving the boundries of steel guitar.

A couple mentions of attitudes have been made. Maybe there are some issues on both sides of that fence. Being the grumpy old man that cant get past 1976 and cant get past the idea that there is music being played that they dont like sure isnt going to attract new players. On the other hand...from the novices side - You cant expect that someone do everything for you short of playing the instrument. I remember posts in the past from people who thought every veteran here should jump everytime they asked a question. I remember seeing a thread where a guy complained about the cost of learning materials and the fact that his connection didnt allow for fast download of youtubes. Mickey Adams offered to burn dvd's for the guy and the guy was mad over the idea of having to pay for it! We who are learning have incredible opportunity here on this forum and elsewhere. We really need to be grateful that we have this instead of having an attitude of "I want everything I want it now and I dont want to pay for it".

Just ran acrossed this today. Never heard of the guy before. Andrew Winton with some cool stuff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKnngyCI ... re=related

You can't call people "stupid" or infer that they are just because they ask questions that reflects ignorance of the instrument. I have played with many musicians who respond to questions and so forth extremely well. I have also seen some who are not so hot at public relations. I worked a fair with a feller on steel guitar and I saw a young man standing close watching. He waited til break and asked the steeler some question. I didnt hear what he asked, but the steeler responded loudly "if I have to tell you, you wouldn't know anyway". I could see that the guy was not expecting that, and I told the steeler he was an AH, and he replied that he was getting tired of folks asking him questions about steel guitar. I know students can be "gimmee gimmee", but that's kinda the way our whole society is now. If you want to attract new players, some things have just got to change. Actually, except for some rare occasional few, I think we are just kiddin' ourselves anyway.

Friends - Attracting new players, concerning the internet -
This internet communication is still brand new. This technology has evolved so quickly over the last few years that there are very few folks that can really keep up with it. That being said, the way we USE this technology is still evolving, PLUS, we all evolve at different rates. We are chatting with people we have never met in the flesh, that live all over the world. It's like a Flash gordon movie. Some folks are "better" posters than others, just like some folks are "better" public speakers. Attitudes and differences of opinion are easily misconstrued by differences in writing style, and how we process information, as individuals.
Differences in processing information - Attracting New players -
Example - Tab. Some people swear by it. Some swear at it.
Attracting New Players-
Initial exposure to steel will mainly happen thru the web, or whatever the NEXT technology is. Yes, some of us still like AM radio, however...
And learning materials, certainly are now on-line.
However, to actually learn the thing, even if all one can play is "happy birthday", there is just no substitution for seat time.
So "now", learning time not only competes with friends, stuff we have to do, TV, rest time, dinner time, learning competes with COMPUTER time.
I just realized something. I'm freakin' helpless.

I wonder if any of you folks had my home adress, would anybody write me. I don't think so. The internet is a strange thing!

We who are learning have incredible opportunity here on this forum and elsewhere. We really need to be grateful that we have this instead of having an attitude of "I want everything I want it now and I dont want to pay for it".

Chuck, IMO you have just described the current state of our society in general, and the Internet in particular.

Joachim - I would not only write you, i would draw you a picture!

Thanks Bud, that's very kind of you!

I have received more help and offers for help through this forum from professionals, veterans, professional veterans, and other novices than in any endeavor or organization/society/group I have been privy to be included. I personally want to thank each and everyone of you for your time and patience.
My wife would like to know where she can log into the "Steel Widows" forum?

This young boy came up to me at my gig on Saturday between shows and asked, "What is that instrument you're playing?" "It's a pedal steel guitar." sez I. "Wanna have a closer look?"

So he came up on stage, sat down and I showed him how to wear the picks and hold the bar. I stomped a few pedals to show him how the strings made bendy sounds. He exclaimed, "Wow! This is a really cool machine!"

Future player? Who can tell. Potentially attracting a new player? Absolutely!

It's not everyone that can say the first steel they played was a Williams. That's awesome Joe S.

I think that we are all teachers! What and how we teach is up to us. We've all heard the term "first impressions". And everyone has there good and bad days. But if the first impression of a "steel player", or any musician is not very pleasant, most people wound probably not approach another. Think about it. If your first impression of the first steel player or musician you had met, was or had been that of an aloof, a-hoooole, would you be a musician or student of steel today. Maybe! Maybe not.

Joe, that picture speaks worlds about you. You taught that young man something very positive, and you can see it in his smile.

I say, seize the moment, teach something positive, make some real music...

Good job Joe !!
Just put the bar right in their hands.
Next, show 'em how to play a nice simple tune, like under the double eagle.

I've seen a huge jump in interest in the PSG recently. I live in Upstate, NY and only picked up the PSG two and a half years ago. At that time, I knew one steel player. Fast forward a couple of years and I can name five steel players under the age of 40 who live in the small city of Oneonta. To me, that's huge. I guess we mostly have to thank the current alt/country movement for the interest. That's my (very amateur) opinion.

Daniel obviously I agree with you about the value of this forum. There are some great people here and countless years of experience.

Joe what a cool thing to experience!

Dick - as usual - great thoughts. thanks for sharing.

BTW guys - Dick Sexton is one of the forums most ardent helpers. He posts many great ideas tab-wise etc..

Patrick thats great news and ya I think the alt/country stream is perking up alot of ears.

Patrick, very cool to see another steeler near me. I'm in the Deposit/Hancock area - not too far from you. Only been playing for a couple a' months, but the journey has been fun.

I'm currently in Buffalo for school, but I would love to get together and play sometime in January iffin you're willing.

As for attracting new players, I think a natural attraction to the instrument is the only thing that's going to work. I was fascinated by the haunting sounds of Ben Kieth on Harvest Moon, Jon Rauhouse with Neko Case, early Wilco records, and the quirky parts in Doug Paisley records. That fascination led to finding out what instrument was creating that sound. Took some searching, but eventually I found out, traded my Telecaster for a GFI, bought some finger picks, borrowed a bar and got to having fun.

The pedal steel is far too obscure and pricey to appeal to everyone like a guitar would, but it's been said before - if the interest is there, obtaining a steel will follow. Happened to me!

By the way, is anyone aware of a pedal steel group/club located in Buffalo, NY? I'd love to meet more people and chat steel in my spare time.

Thanks for including the CAKE link, Chuck! -GV

William Blanda wrote:Patrick, very cool to see another steeler near me. I'm in the Deposit/Hancock area - not too far from you. Only been playing for a couple a' months, but the journey has been fun.

I'm currently in Buffalo for school, but I would love to get together and play sometime in January iffin you're willing.

Sure, give me a yell if you get back to the area. There's a guy in Walton, Larry, who owns the music store that plays too. He's also a member on this board.

Greg Vincent wrote:Thanks for including the CAKE link, Chuck! -GV

Greg - Thank you and Cake for the cool music!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrGoeFPtwYU great lyrics and steel in that song!

Cake "Prolonging the Magic" Buy this album folks its great

The above comments make me feel so old!

In 1946 when I first became interested in music, I as so far behind all of the fiddle and guitar players that performed at the local jam sessions that I began looking for something different to play.

While listening to the radio, I discovered the steel guitar sound. I ordered one from Sears & Roebuck but there was no one in my area who owned or played a steel guitar. So, I bought a Hawaiian song book and started from there. The learning curve was hard for a beginner with no help from anyone.

I endured the "cats tail under the rocking chair" jokes and continued on my quest to play something different, until eventually the audience was requesting me to play "Steel Guitar Rag". As much as I hated that song, it was my entry into music.

After graduating from high-school, I auditioned and was hired to play with a western-swing band full time. I was more surprised than anyone else!

Gene - If anything I have blabbed has caused you to feel bad, I sincerely apologize.
For what it's worth, although I did grow up in the 70's "rock era", I have a deep respect for the "traditional country" music that the steel guitar is closely associated with.
So, if you are feeling old or down, maybe try to remember the old saying,
"Everything old is yound again"
Cheers!

I've given steel guitars away to friends who are excellent musicians, in the hope that they will take up the challenge and become engrossed like the rest of us, but I've had little success. The instruments usually end up in storage.

As they say in the old addage, "You can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink."
Like giving up an addiction, taking up the steel guitar has to come from wanting to. I always wanted to sound like Don Helms. I'm still working on it.

Not a problem Bud with anything you said. I am just an old guy that misses the golden times for the steel guitar that are gone.

Alan Brookes wrote:I've given steel guitars away to friends who are excellent musicians, in the hope that they will take up the challenge and become engrossed like the rest of us, but I've had little success. They usually end up in storage.

As they say in the old addage, "You can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink."
Like giving up an addiction, taking up the steel guitar has to come from wanting to. I always wanted to sound like Don Helms. I'm still working on it.

That's interesting. I also gave away my first pedal steel to a friend. It was a Carter Starter, so I'm probably lucky that we're still friends. Also, playing steel is a commitment in another way. They're heavy as heck. I mean, I'm a relatively young guy who's been gigging with a six string since I was in my teens, but man. They are bulky and require a lot of effort to set up. As far as I'm concerned, it's worth it.

I just spent a chunk of change to aquire a fancy dbl 8x5 contemporary professional pedal steel after making the decision to move up from the Carter Starter. I joined a band recently,after a few years away from the instrument, but quickly discovered that breaking down the guitar,loading the heavy thing in the truck,traveling,setting up,tuning,playing the rehersal,then breaking it down to do the whole process again was a lot of work in the hot summer sun. So I tried my cheap six string lap steel instead on my last gig, and not only did it make my life way easier but seemed to lend itself better to the old classic country and western swing styled tunes we play. I thought my 1st gig with this band went really well because of all the dancing and cheering up in front of me,so I may just continue on with the lap steel(s) for this band. I will keep practicing with the pedal steel because it's the most amazing instrument in the world and can do way more,especially for versatility in playing various changes/styles etc. however my point is that for attracting new players,a cheap lap steel or dobro might work well enough compared to all the issues of a big expensive pedal machine. It didn't take much for me to get started in a band and having fun...a $90 six string lap steel is just as valid as $3000+ 20 string pedal machine with all the bells and whistles attached under it for the basics of learning and playing "steel" guitar, it's just that it took me years of experience,much trial and error that lead to the wisdom to figure that puzzle out. Maybe my story makes things easier,is encouraging and inspiring for a new player to get started down the road of learning steel guitar.

Yes Aaron - There are shortcuts, and if lap steel,no pedals, is working for you, have at it!
However , there are keyboard players out there that will not play midi or synth to get their big organ sounds. They MUST play a hammond B3 or equivilent and real leslie. And they will move thru high water to make it so. That is their mindset. It's just the other side of the coin. So, yeah, whatever works for you.