The Steel Guitar Forum

Amazing answers based on personal experiences! There are many entry level players that wonder these questions. I know I did. I have played out since I started, less about 5months at the house. It was rough, but I survived, and most of my music buddies survived, too. There is a certain magiic that happens when you play music with others, and take it to an audience. Something draws you out. It becomes a craving to perform.

In the words of Homer & Jethro--"Hey you!! In the back sneaking out, get back in here and sit down, you ain't no better than the rest of the audience! If they can take it, so can you!!"<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by James Morehead on 24 November 2006 at 08:47 PM.]</p></FONT>

Finished building my first lap steel in Jan. this year, and started learning to play that thing in C6 right away.

Played my first two gigs on Oct. 31st and Nov. 3rd, joining a friend's band for 4 or 5 tunes on stage.

I know I'm still a beginner, I can play the most important chords and noodle around in the blues pentatonic scale, do some slants, and that's pretty much it at the moment, and I know I didn't play perfectly every moment at those gigs, but everybody loved it (at least, nobody complained...), after the second gig a young guy came up to me after the show and asked me how to start learning to play, too...

Really, once you can intonate a few notes correctly and know some basic chords, you can start adding meaningful stuff to a band, no need to play everything all the time, and do all the solos, so just give it a try!<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Roman Sonnleitner on 25 November 2006 at 10:17 AM.]</p></FONT>

Jump in the fire and get your butt kicked as early and often as possible. I've been at this for 4.5 yrs, still a novice. It's interesting to see how many phone calls come after I stink up a gig. There's no better experience (or motivator) than that!

James,
IMHO I think a person should gig as soon as he feels confident enough in his survival. What I mean by that is I don't think you need to be accomplished to start giging but at least knowledgeable of various "pockets" on the guitar. However giging in the infant stages of your playing is a much needed thing as it teaches you to think on the run. I agree with Jim about the "Bedroom" Theory. Giging puts you in the position of you have to do something even if it is wrong. And this is how you learn. A big downfall to playing in the bedroom is it can effect how you interact with the rest of the music world. Rhythm tracks never deviate from tempo like a live drummer may do. ( some call this a groove) You never have the unexpected lead player deciding to play over the top of you. You need those unexpected variables to advance in your playing. And as far as falling on your face. Bruises heal and life goes on. Scary? yes Needed to be a better player? absolutely. In the words of the great psychiatrist Sydney Freedman..."Ladies and Gentlemen take my advice, drop your pants and slide on the ice!"


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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

I'm trying to get back from a ten year lay off, but I can still smell the tacos from the first place anyone would let me set up. Sun Valley Inn in the high desert between 29 Stumps and Yucca Valley. Don and Jenny Stashy, an open mike on every Sun afternoon. All I had was A & B up or down chords. They were very kind and let me come back every week. I'd say find some one to pick with as soon as you learn to set the thing up and get the tuning close. But don't do as I did, find an instructor as soon as you can. DS

One other thing that is almost universally encountered - the first time you play with other people your guitar, which you just tuned either ET or Ji (makes no difference in this case) sounds just enough out-og-tune to drive you bats. I've had students go through this, and the ones who find it the most irrritating are former keyboard players.

Your ear adjusts to whatever tuning system you use and you learn to make subtle adjustments when playing...which work one way while playing along with recordings or playing by yourself, but change, often dramatically, when playing with a band..especially if the members of the band (often unknowingly) use the "other" tuning system than the one YOU do.

So you turn on the tner, check it, and...you're in tune. STOP! *Somebody* is out of tune! Everyone checks, and they are all in tune...THEIR way.

I'm not starting another ET vs JI thread, but I have found that adjustments, whether in playing or at the tuning keys/nuts, are almost always necessary to adapt to the rest of the band (either moving slightly JI or more yoward ET, depending on what everyone else is doing). Experienced players make the adjustments on the fly and barely notice, but for a beginner it can be intimidating.

Scotty, I thought all I needed was pics,bar and guitar and amp, now you tell me I need ice, too?? I'm looking for some ice as we speak! HA!! Chris, Is that how you got started?? you guys hog all the ice up that way, anyways! <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by James Morehead on 26 November 2006 at 08:02 PM.]</p></FONT>

Yeah Jim S. that will shake you up a little. You are trying to do some simple fills, and everything you do sounds out of tune! Been there, done that! HA!

I'd like to ditto everyone who said get out asap. That's what I did, sucked for awhile, but the old rule of thumb: one gig is worth 10 rehearsals.

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Mullen RP, Webb 6-14E, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume.

I drew my MCI out for a gig after one (1) week of intense rehearsing/aquainting myself with the instrument.
One of our local country-stars ofcourse chose this particularly evening to go on the town - And ofcourse, of all places, to the place of my gig.

She actually found me after the the gig and told me that she thought it sounded great (Maybe she was just happy to hear a steel again. We're not that many
Anyway I'm happy that I met her again recently, and had a chance to tell her how much I appreciated what she said back then. It was very encouraging, and according to her she really thought it sounded good - Not just a friendly gesture towards a very nervous newbie.

If you believe in yourself at what you're doing, you're ready to really start to learn.

I remember my driving-instructor back then when handing me my drivers-license "So Klaus. Now you're allowed to rehearse further on your own".

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

Just wanted to make it clear, this thread is meant to inspire confidence in newbies approaching the "time they step out and play live", that little transition we all make sooner or later. I appreciate the encouragement offered by all, as I'm sure many entry-level players are encouraged here on this thread. I have recieved encouragement directed toward myself, in which I give thanks for such effort and giving spirit. I may have led some to believe that I have NOT played out live yet. I apologise for not being clearer. My bad! I have actually been gigging on steel for about 3 1/2 years now. Sorry to not be more clear. Thanx all for the nice comments so far! Keep them coming!

If you can make the singer sound good, you are ready. If the singer(s) like your playing, you are ready.

Jeff Newman taught many of us to use no more than two strings at a time. Sometimes, just play the melody. Keep it simple.

They will love you.

The only place you will truly gain experience is on the stage playing with a band. You can be the world's fastest picker in your basement, but if you aren't connecting wth other musicians in a real-time format, you will never get to know yourself and your true level of playing. I feel for guys who really want to play live but haven't found the right band yet.

Experience sometimes comes with age, but I find that it ultimately comes from experiencing things. Quality of time, not quantity. You can spend 10 years in your basement learning licks, but are you really learning anything? Being content playing at home is fine. Lots of guys don't want to be bothered out in the clubs or on the road. I respect that completely. But I do have a feeling that some players think they know more than they do, because they've been at it so long. But have they really been at it? Have they tested themselves in all kinds of situations? I have way more respect for a home player who is interested in hearing what the gigging players have to say than I do for the home player who thinks they know way more than gigging musicians because they've been "at the steel" for 30 years.

Look out for those gigging "newbies"...........they'll be whipping your ass in no time. why? Because they're at it in REAL TIME.

My 1st gig was 40 days after getting the Shobud.
At a music school concert with a 8 piece band.

I did One Note Samba and Black Orpheus.
Took a short solo in each.
I had played C6 lapsteel before,
but it was sure different with pedals.

I didn't play out E9 for a bit longer,
but did record with both necks quite a bit,
and played on most of an album at 11 months.

The client is still very happy with it.

Basically if you know the tunes,
and can find the basic positions in time,
and not try to be too tricky,
then you can play clean, simple, but solid music,
when your hands are smooth with the above.
If not virtuoso playing, acceptable..

Friday morning --- Hi James--Look outside man , you have the ice you were looking for ! (at least we do here in Pea Ridge) -

Yeah James. We got a little ice we can share and Austin has a LOT of ice!!!!!!

I think playing out has helped Austin a LOT. He has what his Mom calls his cop out lick, but he also throws out some GOOD stuff on the run. It has also helped him come out of his shell. As most of you know he never did smile on stage or talk to anyone. Now he does both of those things. Different ones at the shows this year would come up to us and tell us how Austin talked to them. They were SO suprised. Austin played his first show when he was 6. He has been sitting in with the bands Jerry plays with for a LONG LONG time now, but he also has his own bands he plays with. Has been with one at Coffeyville for over a year now and he's also picked up a couple closer to where he lives. He gets paid for most of his gig playing,but not all. He's having fun doing all of it and I think his playing and interacting with people has inproved for getting to do all this playing. He is now 12.

Donna

Hey Bill, That will teach ME to open my mouth! HA!

Donna, Austin sure is blessed with good guidance! Ain't it great to see it pay off?
Hummmm, let me see here. Austin is 12 now, and let see now---he's been playing since he was 6---Awe yes, He's only been playing 2 years longer than me!! There, I don't feel so bad now!! HA!! Way to go Austin! And Jerry & Donna!

Austin has been playing 1/3 as long as I have and he is at least 3x better than me. Is that FUZZY MATH or what. The boy is fantatic. I have been playing in a band for 3 years and I am "forced" to learn something new almost every practice. But so are the other musicians. It is a wonderful learning and teaching session as much as a practice session.

Hi James.Of course i have no idea how far along you are on steel.I am not sure when i started playing for a living but i do remember the wheel had just been invented.
Any hoo i started before pedals on a fender string master.Here is how i got the hang of pedals very quickly.I am sure you know the old kick off to slowly.A and B pedal only.I started out with one pedal.Any ways as was said in the Wizard of OZ it is always best to start at the begining.
Do the slowly intro in every key on the neck and you can chord (fake) your way through any 4 and some times more chord songs.Thats how i went to pedals.And if you know any steel players ask for help.And believe me after you learn the 3 chord change in any key you can get with some week end band and believe me you will stumble into more licks on your own.
You can hen later work on learing licks.
Wish you lived closer to me as i would be happy to help you if i could.I had so many good steel players help me and i always loved to pass on to other steel players any thing i had run across.Take care.
Tracy Sheehan
Ft.Worth

Edited because the post from Tracy was probably intended for the James who started the post. I should drink more coffee before posting in the morning<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by JAMES BANKS on 04 December 2006 at 09:50 AM.]</p></FONT>

Well, He did say James, and that LOOKS plural, so I'll share it with you James B.!! HA!! Besides, You live closer to Tracy than I do, so you SHOULD go visit Tracy, and take advantage of the talent he has to offer!<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by James Morehead on 04 December 2006 at 12:03 PM.]</p></FONT>

James - It took me about 8 months from my first lesson to getting on stage with a band. (not a paying gig) just a gig that would help get my confidence up and allow me to stick it out there. Of course my few first attempts were not all that great, but the guys in the band were super in that they just allowed me to tag along, and throw in what I thought I knew (which wasn't much).

But one of two things happened to me:

1) it's amazing what I had to learn when I'd have to, and are put on the spot.

2) Or I would get enough courage to step up and play what I have been taught.

Now it doesn't have to happen in that order, but everything worked out like it was supposed to. And I truly believe that, that early work really helped set me up in what I'm doing today. (Still not a great picker, but I'm better than I was a year ago). I feel that if a guy knows his fret board, and chord changes, it's time to get up and get out there if that's his/her agenda, and the exposure given from getting up on stage with a band really helps with the confidence needed.

I have found that being in a band actively gigging has helped me to not only be a better player, but it has also given me the ability to start hearing steel licks in my head, and being able to put them down has been a huge step in the right direction for me.

Hey Mark, Great for you! How long you been playing steel now? One thing I found playing out is you get one shot to get it done, and it challenges you to "hang" with your band mates. And that's something that does not happen at home.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by James Morehead on 04 December 2006 at 05:45 PM.]</p></FONT>

Record your ideas,record your rehearsals. Simple well played ideas will trump the complex and have you out there in no time.


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I'd say, when you can play in tune, it's time to play with others. Practicing with tapes/CDs should let you know when you're ready.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com