The Steel Guitar Forum

One of the best I have seen in person is Mike Zigler, not only is he a great player when playing the steel but also just a great singer. The first time I saw Mike he was 14 years old and then later on I got to know him and his family. He and our son Greg Jones became great friends and we have enjoyed Mike and his wife Sally.

Im gonna try singing while playing very soon because we can get more money that way maybe
and then im gonna try those vocal harmonizers in my pod HD desktop, that give me that popeye voice,

Yes, but only while singing backup harmonies with the chorus.

Herb Steiner wrote:Where is it written that steel has to be played all the time?.....It's actually okay to not touch the strings for a short period of time.

Rick Schmidt wrote:..sit behind a steel where often "less is more...

Also singing while playing steel does sort of take the mystery out of what I've heard many steelers here on the Forum call "learning to play back up".It's natural...you sing, then you play an appropriate fill. If you learn not to step all over your own toes, you'll definitely gain insight into not muddying things up for another singer.

Advice like this is pure gold for me. As a fairly new player (4+ yrs now) I’ve gotten to the point where I can usually figure SOMETHING out to put most anywhere, to fill every space and more even. Just because I can, doesn't mean I should. It’s very tempting to play all the time, to show people that I CAN play this thing….but I understand that’s not really “playing this thing”, that’s just jabbering aimlessly, adding very little, and usually detracting, from the song and the vocals.

So I've been singing a bit while practicing lately, and it's a strange phenomenon: what didn't feel like "stepping on the singer" before, now does when it's me singing!

Great stuff, this is one important concept that I’m working on at this stage of my playing…

I am afraid I am guilty of singing & playing my own backup. I could not find a single soul to go out to the local nursing homes to sing, so I decided I would do it myself. My Son sang for me for years, but he passed away back in 2007, so thats when I had to take over the singing. It was quite a chore for me cause I just usually sang a little harmony with someone else. I had a tough time getting used to it, and I have found that out of my 100%, I can give 50% to singing & 50% to playing. I would still rather have a singer, but around my area, thats just a 'pipe dream'.

Ernie Pollock
301-264-4172

I do, sometimes. I don't love singing lead sitting behind a steel, though... harmonies, sure.

yes, but the playing suffers....

Yes...takes a bit of getting used to and the funny thing is now all my phrasing is like willie nelson, right on the edge. It will take me some real practice time to get it right. But I know a couple of folks who do it very well.

Craig Schwartz wrote:Im gonna try singing while playing very soon because we can get more money that way maybe

i'm curious why you'll get more money if you sing?
i sang a dozen songs or so back in the 5 night a week club days because we all needed to share the load. no one ever paid us more though.

Bob, you're just a kid.....I'm almost 72 and am playing more than I've ever played and I'm loving it.

Lindell Thomas wrote:Bob, you're just a kid.....I'm almost 72 and am playing more than I've ever played and I'm loving it.

Lindell, I am just a mere 70 years old till Nov, so it makes me think I have at least a couple of years left to play & sing with my Ol' MSA!!

Ernie Pollock

I do...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cv ... ity_view=3

You sure can, Dom.
I checked out Route 66, one of my favorites that lays out well on steel and you're doing it.
It even had a lady that looks like she has a cast on her foot tapping her toe to it.
It had me too. I'm impressed and encouraged to try it, as soon as I learn how to play and chew gum at the same time.

Nice work, if you can get it.

I haven't sung much since the 70's. I do some backups now when on guitar, not pedal steel.. yet.

If you're singing the melody line, how about only playing response lines on the steel and resting on the singing parts, until you get better at trying the 2 simultaneously? The old "call and response" stuff? That way your sound and your brain aren't stepping on each other, if you know what I mean.. you sing, then the steel sings.

I didn't for a long time,then started to fall into it.I like looking out at the audience,so the steel playing gets pretty basic.Been finding a little to my surprise I start doing hand gestures if there isn't much steel stuff going on.Anyone else do that?