The Steel Guitar Forum

I started playing in 1954 at the age of 15. My teacher started me on the Alkire method. I noticed a trend here. Many of the older players started at a younger age. Ray said he started at 7, Carl at 14, and many others. Today's trend seem that people in their 30's and 40's are learning the steel. It would be nice to see younger people taking up the steel--seems that they are distracted by too many activities. If they can learn computers at such a young age, why not learn the steel (or another instrument)? Joe

My older brother started those famous Oahu lessons when I was eight in 1938. I would get home from school before him and try to figure out those markings on those Oahu tab sheets. Still trying to figure it out today.
I am very proud of the success my musical efforts have wrought in that my wife Betty was able to take a years leave of absence from her Nursing teaching profession and obtain her Master's degree in Psyc. with a 4.0 gpa from all the very practical experience she gained with this association of a struggling steel guitar wannabee player.
She went back to the teaching profession and now there are a lot of nurses all around the world that can really take care of a lot of us as we grow to require special treatment. Just goes to show the world the effect steel guitarists have on this world and everyday living. See you all in Dallas.
Bill Stafford

My mon taught Hawaiian and Spanish guitar in the 40s in Columbus,Ohio before I was born. When I was 10 I started with some of her old Oahu books. Dad was playing a Fender double neck 6 string and I wanted to do the same thing. Around 1960 I got a Fender 400 and a year later a 1000. I've been a weekend warrior ever since. Darn, How long does it take to learn how to play this thing? I'll be 57 in March, still love to play, and will be playing at Dallas on Thursday night.

Started playing guitar when I was 16. Picked
up the steel at 28. I'm 56.

Started January 2002 at 49. Now I look 79. BUUUUT just about the best thing I have ever done. So many licks to go and so little time. Need all the help I can get.

Started playing the drums at 13 in 64 and played full-time by 1968 6 or 7 nights a week. I've played every kind of barroom, dancehall, hotel, flatbed trailers you name it and some real society gigs for the very rich too. I made more money in 1970 playing music than my neighbor did at General Electric and he got layed off right at Christmas time. Switched over to pedal steel at 30 in 81 and have been playing it ever since. I occasionally play a D-8 Fender Stringmaster C6/E13 and seldom play the drums now. Playing weekends in Lebanon Tn at the Rest Stop Tavern for the last 4 years. Learning to play Dobro now and own 2 very nice Emmons p/p guitars and a very nice old Sho-Bud. I've also recently begun experimenting with a U-12 E9/B6 tuning.

Well, Uncle Sam kindly invited me to a free
trip to Korea in early 1951 to ride them old
C-119 "flying boxcars" for awhile. There was
this guy in the barracks who had a Gibson
6-stringer lap steel who could play the best
country music you ever heard! I was hooked
and one day he says he had to ship out in a
week and would I buy his guitar. I did and
he gave me a pretty good week's worth of
training. I kept on practicing and later on
bought a Fender D8 Prof model. Been playing
that, but not very well, til now! Sure is a
lot of fun! Later, guys. Regards. Paul