The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a mental list of members who's opinions I have grown to respect. Sometimes I wish I could have some sort of rating system that could be displayed on the screen (that only I could see, maybe saved in my cookies or something), so I could better keep track of everyone. Call it the "salt grain scale."

Nothing is stopping anyone from posting their credentials in their signature line and/or profile. In fact, isn't that kind of the intent of having a profile on a forum? I do often wonder about backgrounds and the experiences that have led to someone's opinion.

"The SGF is a public forum. There is no set of criteria that any person has to meet, therefore the good with the bad, the experienced with the inexperienced, the nice with the nasty, the dumb with the smart, the Southerners with the Northerners--you get the pic. "

Yeah just like life ain't it.

I play with big name stars almost everyday. I played with Hank Sr. a while ago. Merle Haggard too. And I'll more than likely jam with the Eagles after dinner. Experience? I have none. Greenest gord in the field. Took lessons from my dad (Bobby Garrett) when I was a kid and then quit for 30 years. Seriously started E9th about a year ago with a teacher. Then went to Reece's 12 string C6th tuning. Been feeling my way around it for maybe 5 months or so.

Said all of that to say this, as a died in the wool newbie I try to post carefully. I don't post to questions that I'm not qualified to answer. If someone wants to know about a particular type of guitat that I know about I'll share my opinion. I also try to treat everyone with as much respect as they deserve whether they're right or not.

Rick<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Rick Garrett on 11 January 2006 at 01:33 PM.]</p></FONT>

The BS types are going to BS their credentials too.

What if some credentialed someone gives advice that turns out to be wrong are they liable?

If you pick it, it won't get well!!!!

Herb--I can play 128th notes--on the drums, with a real fast 2-stroke roll. I can't imagine anything that fast on a guitar!

I really don't think it's such a big deal to list your background. Reading the posts, I found a lot of interesting info and people I would not have thought to ask certain questions. So FWIW:

53 years old, played guitar 41 years until left hand problems recently. Mostly B-bender Tele in rock and blues, with a little country. Played bluegrass guitar and mandolin since '73, dobro since '76. Electric and upright bass for many years. Enough banjo to play the "hits" and annoy real banjo players. Steel guitar since summer '05 - Fender 400's and a 1000, playing a mix of all kinds of stuff, but no country.

i know a couple of fellas on here that have never sat behind a steel but they love it , and as long as they support it whats the problem i mean they have no "credentials " what so ever but they still contribute to the forum
the forum should and is open to anyone that like's the sound of a steel

well many on here are seasoned players and have much musical background. others don't have that much. i think that the forum is a great thing i have gotten much info off of it and met some people through the forum. i am really unconcerned with how long they have been playing or what they know or don't know. thats really unimportant to me. what is important to me is the person and what info we can exchange or stories we have to tell. i have been playing for 2 years this april. i am self tought i used bruce boutons video which was a great help and used some tab sheets. i am not a great player but i am getting better. the only thing i play and am interested in playing is gospel musice. i love to play in churches and then speak of the good word that god has given us. but i do have to admit that it is interesting and sometimes funny the stories you hear on the forum. i enjoy it. thanks doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy session 400 steelseats they are great at sales@steelseats.com
if its not a zum steel it isn't real
just trying to steel for the Lord>

<SMALL>The BS types are going to BS their credentials too.</SMALL>

I have a BS. Does that count?

Charlie,, if that "B" stands for Bull,, I don't want to hear the rest! LOL.,.
Larry

Credentials? I think if you have an interest in steel guitar, pedal or nonpedal, player or listener, you are qualified to be a member and comment/ask questions.

BS Credentials ?

wow !!! ya mean I'm not 57 and I don't have a former wife !!! ????

That would be awesome !

There is always something to be learned from the newbies. I listen to everybody's input.

"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." -
John Coltrane...

Actually 'twas Charlie Parker who said that

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http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...

I come to this forum for a few laughs and the stories from guys like Bobbe, Ray, Jody, Jussi, etc.. There ALOT of great information out here and alot of opinion that helps keep the mind open. This forum is unlike many other forums on the net- ITS A GOOD ONE!
and I think we are all here cuz we love steel guitar. Thats just good enough for me.

Have fun!

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1953 Fender D8, 1960 4x10 Bassman, in search of Bigsby

"Chops".

To me, a player's playing is his/her best credential. No discography, no liner notes, no reviews, no "informed opinions", and no biography or work history will tell me as much as 10-15 minutes of just listening to a player. (Most times, it doesn't take that long.) I'm not impressed by equipment, how many times someone's been recorded, or who they played with. It's all chops, plain and simple. There's some famous players I wouldn't walk across the street to hear. By the same token, there's some relative unknowns who play so well, I wonder why they're not the famous ones?

Ray What credentials do you consider adequate to post on this august forum and how often do we have to state them?

Credentials? What are those in steel guitar playing? If somebody can play in a tuning other than A Major low bass, do they have better credentials?

Hey, I enjoy the SGF for many reasons, even for getting some good laughs!!!!!

Keep up the good work guys.

George
thepeachpickers.com

Larry Bell and Donnie Hinson,
Nice posts, and I mean that.

I think you just gotta learn by watching. Some people always post stupid stuff. Some people sound real smart but they don't know the subject. Some people are modest but they know the subject really well. After a while, you get to know the people here well enough to know how much of what they say is BS.

Don't ever ask me for advice about changing your copedent, for example.

I don't think the whole idea of "credentials" is worthwhile. For example, I'm at the point I know an awful lot about the mechanics of Fender Steels, but I'd consider myself a really incompetent player.

I still like the idea of knowing people's backgrounds, instruments, amps and musical tastes. Whilee profile pages are wher you usually find that stuff, it's fun to have a thread now and then to read through that stuff.

I don't think it does any harm. But the "credential" idea is not workable IMO.

I'm guitarist, not a 'steel player' as such. I've been playing rock 'n' roll for almost thirty years, and now I'm into playing original material. I still play rock, and I have no intention of branching off into other genres of music. I use different guitars for different sounds, including PSG.

I feel bad about that obvious gaffe - and I had the real quote there right in front of me!
It bothers me when people pose questions like this on this forum, since there are people on ALL levels contributing here, and it OUGHT to be a welcome place for all, not an invitation to a pecking party.
It always seems as though the quetions inovolve some form of sour grapes, maybe, for the writier not gettingenough appreciation, somewhere, somehow, in their own life. No wonder the "names" rarely Post here! For one, they'd be covered in dripping, fawing admiration, for another, it's also likely they'd enocounter someone nursing an old grudge.
I have ben playing guitar for 40 years this December, and the steel for 3 now. I am still at something of an intermediary point in developing my chops - to say what I can with a six-string. Prior to the gfuitar I studied (frustratingly) several other instruments in grade school-jr high. I was never wquite able to get the hang of sight reading- at that time. i am still not a sight-player, though I CAN write down what I hear in my head. I wouldn;t trust myself on a studio job where I needed to sight read a chart off the fly, but Nashville number system charts are pretty elementary.
I have a lot of experience as a solo player and witthe mechanics of recording, and while was never in a "on-the-road" situation, am no stanger to the personal dynamics hassles of playin gin bands, either.
There's people on all levels here. The forum ought to FEEL welcome for anyone with an interest in the instrument, and the idea of "credentials" doesn't wash too well here, IMHO

<SMALL>. . . but I can pick 'em. I can do chimes--I got an old doorbell bolted to the side of my BMI.</SMALL>

Gee, I have enough trouble with chimes to think this might not be a bad idea! Thanks!<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by James Cann on 13 January 2006 at 11:41 AM.]</p></FONT>