The Steel Guitar Forum

Fiddle and Steel Guitar is like an orchestra. I've played with some great fiddle players and they usually hate playing that fiddle competition and showboat stuff.

I heard Henry play on some recordings and I said to myself, "I'll be damned, he's pretty dang good on both steel and fiddle.... You betcha"

I am forunate to be in the band where the guitar player likes hearing me more than he does himself.
However.....we have a young fiddle player who can't lower his fiddle for even a moment. He said he needs to keep his hands busy. I told him to put his hands in his damn pockets. He did not find that at all amusing.

I have even heard him play over another player part.

I know he is young but how can I approach him to help him understand he is only one cog in the gear and it not about him but about the band... and the singer..... and more important...the song!

I have to give him the evil eye as he says to get him to shut the hell up long enough for anyone else to play.This means he knows he's should not be playing right?

Comments????

David, the other band members should pitch in w: you, lettin' the whippersnapper know that rules & regulations do apply when musicians play Musik together
then offer him a root beer

David, if it's your band or even if you are the band leader, I would pull him aside and tell him what and when I wanted him to play. Most musicians, especially the younger ones don't understand the elements of making good music. I think the one on one is not quit as belittling as the whole band. If its not your band then have the band leader do it. I play in a little jam type deal every once in a while and the guitar player plays every note the singer sings and every note on your lead ride. Such a shame because the band would sound good if it wasn't for him. Finally, one night I just stopped the band and said, if you want to play every note then the rest of us will just leave and you can have it by yourself. It worked for about two nights, lol. Most, what I call garage pickers, don't know when they are supposed to play so whether it makes them mad or not, I tell them.

Richard, don't know if you play the type music where a fiddle would fit in or not but if you do, I really think you would enjoy some of great Texas fiddlers like Bobby Flores, Reggie Rouffer, Jess Meadows, Snuffy Elmore and I could go on and on. These guys know how to make a band sound good, when to play, what to play and are pitch perfect. Know what you mean about the hoedowns but makes good impressions for show bands but not for dances.

Thanks Danny for the nice comment, you made my day---Henry

That's awesome Mickey.

Hey, Mickey, fantastic thread. I have been searching for years to find the secret method for communicating listening skills, dynamics, and collective musical respect to those who just don't get it. Unfortunately, whether it's ego, lack of seasoning, or just blockheadedness, it seems to be a lost cause.

It's such a deeply moving pool of joy to play with an ensemble who do get it that I truly pity the cats who never get to experience that. Especially when it's through their own refusal to share the music.