The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi All,

I've playing guitar for a long time but just picked up the steel last year. Started with a Carter and then got a GFI S-10 last summer. I'm still in the fumbling around stages, but the band I'm in doesn't seem to notice! It's amazing how forgiving other musicians can be - they are so in love with that pedal steel sound. This is a great site and I'm looking forward to learning lots here!

James

PS - If you know any teachers in the greater Seattle area, let me know. They are hard to find up here!

welcome to SGF....I am also new to steel....been playing guitar 40 yrs.....mostly dobro, but have recently go into lap steel...and some psg....
all these a such neat instruments.......and this place...sgf......is chock full of folks who are willing to share their knowledge with some of us beginners......not only music..but all other stuff...equipment...news.....tabs...etc.

traveled a lot years ago...made several trips and stops at seatac.......love seattle.....Pikes fish market is a fav spot......hope to return up that way someday when I retire....also drove up to vancouver
bC....neat area all along I-5......there is a neat "turkey restaurant" north of seattle...with great turkey recipes and the absolute best "blackberry cobbler" in the world...even better than my old mom used to make.
sorry for talking too much..
again......welcome from texas.
ch

Hey James! Good to see you on the forum.
I've been looking for lessons anywhere near seattle for a while myself. I will definetly let you know if I find anything. I dont go out much these days but when I do it is usually to see a band with a steeler...I have your myspace page so next time I am heading out to see some live steel I'll shoot you a message. There are a couple of very cool and very generous steelers in town...but yeah finding a teacher has been difficult. Just a heads up..I know its a long long drive and will cost a bit of money for hotel and seminars and so on...but there is a steel show coming up in Spokane in mid May. I went last year and it was awesome, both the instructional seminars and the performances, and just meeting some of the area steelers was great also. Going again this year..consider it if you are able. Here is a link with some info on the show:
http://www.nwsteelguitar.com/

well, anyway, we'll have to meet up at some point and talk steel (i know nothing but am happy to share that valuable info with anyone who will listen...haha). Cheers!

Hi James from another learning Seattleite! This is a great place for info...I do what I call "Lurk and Lurn" her on the forum, not posting much but reading bunches.

I too have had no luck in finding ongoing lessons here in Seattle but have found several steel players that have been generous in helping a novice steeler. I'm finding this is typical in the steel community.

Funny, I have a similar situation in that the band I drum for is excited enough about having a steel guitar that they don't seem to care about my level of playing, or missing drums during the steel stuff. Gotta get good before the rose tint fades from their glasses!

You and I and Ben should try to connect sometime. Ben, I'm going to try to make the NWSG show this year. I'm glad to get your feedback about it, I was wondering if it was good.

Brian

Ben,and James there are two great Steel Guitarists in Seattle,Dan Tyack,and Chris Middaugh,Maybe they can teach you guys?

Welcome aboard James, from the sunny South. Good teachers are hard to find, any teachers are hard to find. But I find that most any of the experienced guys on here will be glad to help a feller out however they can. Good steelin to you...

wow Brian, playin drums AND steel in the same band?!
That must be something. Talk about alot of gear to haul
Yeah looking forward to meeting you...hope you make it out to Spokane. If not there somewhere in town sometime for sure.

Stu, I tried asking Dan Tyack for lessons as he is a great player...sadly for me he declined. I know that he does give lessons from time to time ...maybe the timing just wasnt right for him when I asked, maybe he didnt have the patience for a stone cold beginner, maybe it was because i expressed an interest in country e9th and he's more of a sacred/blues dude..I dunno. I'd love to get a lesson from him now tho especially since i am keenly interested in blues and rock psg at present. Maybe I will summon the courage to ask him again when i see him in Spokane. I'll have to look up Chris, I havent heard his name mentioned before....

Portland has some great and very cool players if you guys ever make it down there. Kinda far to drive for a lesson tho.

Ben,Chris works for a company that makes acoustic guitar pickups Schertler,If you are in Alaska by chance I would be glad to help you,Stu

Hello James and the rest of you - I'm also a pedal steel player in the Seattle area (Browns Point, near Tacoma). I play steel with a band at my church every week. I don't post here on the SGF much but read it all the time. I'll be at the Spokane show, maybe I'll see some of you there, and if you local folks ever get together please include me!!!

Barb

Thanks for all the welcomes. I'm gonna see if I can get to Spokane.

Our guitar player mentioned Chris Middaugh as a possible teacher, I never followed up on that lead.

I "cold called" Dan Tyak after getting his cell phone from a vintage guitar shop here in town. He graciously declined in giving any lessons.

Needless to say none of us will let not having a teacher hold us up, right? Just keep an eye on not developing any bad habits with the right hand, and your other two eyes on the bar. A circle of 5ths poster on the wall can't hurt either!

Brian

PS Barb, your post came in while I was composing this. I'd love to talk to you about your praise setting some time. (sorry if this is "Hijackish", James).

Hi James,
Nice to see that Seattle gets another steeler. There is a ton of good learning here on the forum and yes, there is always Spokane. I went last year and I'm going again this year - I had a real good time there last year.
Maybe we'll see you there or around town sometime!
Jon

Wayne Franco lives in Silverdale, whether he teaches or not can only be answered by him. Doesn't hurt to ask real@silverlink.net

If Wayne doesn't respond, please let me know so I can follow up fur ya. He has been known to let his mail box overflow...why is that Wayne

Welcome James,from Alabama.

Welcome to the forum, from a trans-planted Texan, now living in the Great NW. (Olympia)

Sorry about not being available for lessons. I have taught in the past, and enjoy it, but right now I am working full time in the software biz while at the same time my session work and live playing has greatly increased. So any spare time I get I spend with the family.

I'll see if I can get my company to lay me off so that I will have more time to teach......

James Peters wrote:Hi All,

I've playing guitar for a long time but just picked up the steel last year. Started with a Carter and then got a GFI S-10 last summer. I'm still in the fumbling around stages, but the band I'm in doesn't seem to notice! It's amazing how forgiving other musicians can be - they are so in love with that pedal steel sound....

Ain't it great how a little mashing on the A&B pedals (with reasonably accurate bar placement) gets the band to smiling? You're right, there's something about "that sound".....(Hey it hooked us all right?)

Welcome James! Hey, you ain't alone, there are a passle of us guitar slinger "pedal wannabes" around here. These guys are great and bound to keep you striving for higher levels...
(Not to mention, the place is full of sympathetic PSG legends with great advice!)

You be at the right place pal,

Dennis

Sorry about not being available for lessons. I have taught in the past, and enjoy it, but right now I am working full time in the software biz while at the same time my session work and live playing has greatly increased. So any spare time I get I spend with the family.

hey, no problem, we understand and are glad things are working out so well for you. but....

I'll see if I can get my company to lay me off so that I will have more time to teach......

this seems kinda like mean spirited sarcasm to me, but maybe its just not translating well over the net?

Dont matter anymore for me anyway, Ive re-injured my back and wont be hauling this guitar anywhere for a long long time...best of luck in all your endeavors mr tyack and to all the new players seeking lessons as well.

Ben,there is nothing mean about Dan Tyack,he is the nicest guy in the world..the Son my folks wanted but got me instead..I'm sure his plate is full right now.If I get to Seattle this summer I'll find you and teach you for free.
Stu

Quote:
I'll see if I can get my company to lay me off so that I will have more time to teach......


this seems kinda like mean spirited sarcasm to me, but maybe its just not translating well over the net?

Hey Ben, it's not sarcastic at all. I'm looking forward to spending less time in the software world so that I can do more music related stuff (like teaching). I'm working on it!

I'll show you some stuff in Spokane.

okay, sorry...I'm maybe a little too sensititve right now, Im in alot of pain. Thats a very kind offer dan and I had looked forward to meeting you in spokane, I dont think I am gonna make it now tho. Hurt my back and am not getting around very well....

much appreciated tho, sincerely, you too Stu.

Ben,feel better,Stu

Welcome James. This is the place to learn that no matter how hard one tries one will never really learn how to play this thing. In the beginning, it's kind of like trying to teach an ant to respond to voice commands. Sometimes the ant does exactly what you tell it, but more often than not the ant does exactly what it feels like doing, much like the pedal steel.
I love Washington state, and I especially love Olympia, that is a really neat little town. My wife is from Seattle, went to Garfield HS and her parents live on Mason Lake near Shelton during the summers. I hope to come hear you play the next time I am out there. Same goes for Ben and Dan, I'd love to hear you guys too. I'm sorry about your back, Ben.
Duncan

Are we all hidden away? We ought to have a Seattle get together sometime. Had a teacher for about a year-- great player Martin Lefeld (sp?) But he moved to Nashville and I am looking again too.

I had the same experience, started with the band within a few months, but I gotta say, even when the guys in the band are happy, you get to feeling you need to contribute mo betta. which means . . . Practice.

I'm with you on both your points, Dillon.

A Seattle area steel summit would be a blast.

And no, a person can't settle back and be satisfied with a bit of simple pedal mashing just because your band mates are happy with it. I'm one to never be satisfied with any music I play just because some else says it's good. I know the truth, good or bad. Keep practicing brothers and sisters!

I'll save the link to this thread. Maybe down the road James, Barbara, Jon, Ben, Dillon and myself can all get together, perhaps with the Band in a Box orchestra. (They always do exactly what they're told).

Brian

PS I didn't have any idea there were this many steelers around here.