The Steel Guitar Forum

Been a month since "the crash" and the interest in 8-string is returning, but I'll have to do this 'my way'...

Guess I'm one of those players who's looking more for a personal style than being able to play anything people throw at me, after 40 years of playing I have learned to accept that there are - and always will be - "black holes" in my knowledge and skills.

Hey, wasn't it David Bowie who said that your personal style is defined by your limitations?

Good for you Steinar ! Ain't no better way than 'your way'. Interest + direction = great results. Good luck. Let us know what you come up with ?

Here's a little song to get you back in the mood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqAuuIDU2sw

You know, I'm at this very weird place right now. I've decided to take a little time off from playing and I left all the groups I was playing steel with. The only gigs I do now are the $$$ where I sing and play guitar. The steel chops are at a high, but I need to turn it into music now.

I'm trying to move in a new direction musically with the steel and I just feel like I need to purge a bunch of stuff from the archives. I even have a few lessons I was working on and I just kind of pushed them aside for the time being. I experiment with sound a lot and have had a ton of success getting what I want, I just don't have the context for it right now.

So, it's time to take a little vacation with my wife. Off to Puerto Rico we go....

Anyway, I was wondering how you were making out, Steinar?

Thanks for asking, Mike!

I'm sorry to say that I haven't touched a tonebar in about a month, for the time being it can only be described as a total meltdown. I have experienced variations in enthusiasm and interest before, that's only natural, but this doesn't feel like one of those..

I have a studio gig coming up at the end of the month, where I will be asked to play lap steel in addition to regular guitar, maybe that will help. At least I will have to start practicing again so my chops are up to the standard needed to get the job done. Perhaps that's what it takes to renew the interest.

I hate to say it, but sometimes you just gotta hang up the phone when you're done talking.