The Steel Guitar Forum

rick,
i guess, there are "NO WORDS" to describe the so "BEAUTIFUL"... so "DISTINCTIVE" and so "PLEASENT" sound of the steel guitar.
carlos

I've always described it as "liquid". Pure, cool drops or a sustaining pool of sound.

Captivating!

Ethereal

I can't think of another one word but "BEAUTIFUL" in every way.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Whiney.

Hey Bovine... How did you get Cohen's logon password?

Whiney+Twangy+Beautiful= Whangiful
thats my story and I'm stickin to it!

Voicelike! George Jones and Johnny Paycheck sing like a steel guitar.
PS Add Marty Robbins to that list.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 21 November 2004 at 06:55 AM.]</p></FONT>

:No, because there are many voices that can be achieved.

As stated above the steel guitar is closest instrument to the sound of a pipe organ - originally my favorite sound. The steel itself can sound like many things. When you hear the classic high register bar-wavering tones it sounds like the neigh of a horse, perhaps it's reason for association with country music. In can sound like crying, a woman, and in the case of one tune I have on CD, a bag of kittens (lol). It seems one must be born with the ability to appreciate the sound of a steel.

When I play it? "Atonal."

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<font size=1>Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?</font>

It's hard to describe because it can take on so many different sounds depending on type of music being played. It can be anything from the whinny thing on hillbilly records,or beautiful smooth sounds,or driving guitar like sounds,or rich monster chords all with the ability to bend or alter notes if desired .I love it all from the silky smooth to the real punchy sounds. I am amazed at how much refinement and change the pedal steel is still going through.Some worry about the future of the pedal steel but I like to think it is still arriving and carving out a new sound.

OK one word. how about "addictive".

The human voice is also a fretless instrument.

"Acceptable"

HA!!!

Rick

With Emmons, Charleton, Byrd, among others playing it, no words will describe it!

sanctimonious

Controversial!

My wife just gave me the perfect scenario for the sounds of a steel guitar. "It has a multiple personality like a woman suffering with PMS -It can go from angelic to melancholy, then to screeching all in few seconds- ”.

What a nice little babe I married! Her appreciation for music is rather questionable to say the least.


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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Les - THAT'S IT!!!!!! Very profound. And people actually pay money for these things???????

" HAUNTING'

Jimmie

I once played a gig in a living room for some very wealthy people. The hostess walked over to me having no idea what a pedal steel guitar was and said "that thing sounds like an orchestra" Perhaps we could add "orchestral" to the growing list thanks to Mrs. Wrigley's observation.

I'm enjoying this thread - but the most interesting descriptions are from those who don't play - us players are too biased!!

T.C. Furlong post alludes to something that I've always thought - The Pedal Steel Guitar is the equivalent to the string section, so common in popular music. Listen to Sinatra's "Songs for Young Lovers" with the Nelson Riddle orchestra, the strings add texture, melody, chords, harmony etc. Just like the PSG does. But with the PSG you can do it all on one instrument!!

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