The Steel Guitar Forum

When you were first starting out on Pedal Steel, and who was it?

Mine was from none other than George Edwards. I was with Joyce Talis at the time. We were going to audition for a job at a place called "The Lakeview Inn" I walked in and had no idea at all that George Edwards was playing there that same evening.

Remember I was pretty new at steel. Joyce did country and top 40 at the time. And she liked the sound of the steel with the Leslie on some of her stuff. So I had this huge brand new Leslie system that I used on a few of her songs. We get done, I walk over to George, and he says: Don, what I heard out of you was some real good work, but do yourself a favor, and get rid of that Leslie and let the steel sound like it's suppose to sound.

When I told him I'd never have played had I known he had been playing there. He replied: Never let anyone intimidate you. Needless to say, I thanked him. Sold the Leslie, and from that evening on, never used gimmics to cover the sound of the steel again.

The funny thing was, while I was setting up my Steel, a man (who I became good friends with years later, and worked with on numerous occasions) asked me how long I'd been playing steel. I said not long. He said well when we get done you people will be going back to where ever you came from. "They were also auditioning for the job." We ended up getting the job.

Thanks George, my friend, for the best advice I could ever have gotten, and from one of the best.

Practice a lot.
Doug Jernigan

1)"Why do you wanna play like him?We already got him!!!
Play like yourself!!"...........Doug Jernigan
2)"Play with authority!"....Mike Smith

Mine also came from Doug Jernigan...
A friend who is a fairly well known pro told me
"Your right hand is all wrong" (I am natural at pick blocking-palm of my hand tends to be more horizontal over the strings than palm edge)
Friend also said "The only one who holds his hand the way you do and gets good tone is Doug Jernigan"
So when I had the opportunity to meet Doug backstage at the G.O.O. I explained to him what my friend had said and asked him what He thought of it-
Doug's answer was "Use What Works For You"

Tom Brumley told me to play as long as it was enjoyable, no matter how good or how bad I thought I was. I'm still trying.

Nothing can make you feel more inspired that words of encouragement from those we admire.

My teacher. After my 3rd lesson. He said; "I found you a gig. Take it! You won't regret it."
It was with a "request band." They had over 2,000 songs on 3X5 cards, and,,,I didn't know any of them! Forced me to think fast, adapt quickly, and the situation forced me to develop my own style. It was my first foray into Country Music.

I Never Use Any Kind Of Gimmics. Just Steel- VP- Amp. SONNY.

roy wiggins; play softly and simply.Play for your audience, not other musicians.
Jerry Byrd; keep your thumb pick hot. Be yourself.

"When you're learning, stick to the pretty songs. They are the easiest to learn"
Deacon Brumfield

"Don't quit your day-job."

Tom Brumley told me: "When it's your turn to play; play the sh!! out of it; and when it's not your turn to play; Don't play".
Lloyd Green told me: "Be the other voice in a song".
Ricky

Jimmie Crawford said: "It all boils down to time spent behind the guitar(steel).

"Learn when not to play"
. . . . . Jimmy Day

John Buffington

Lloyd Green, in an interview, said, "Play melodies!" Best advice I ever heard. (or read) Doing this does more for my improvement that probably anything else. Now when I practice, I try to spend a lot more time getting the melody right, not sluffing over sections that I don't understand, and spending less time on licks or riffs. Really works for me!

From Jeff Newman, "Just play the melody".
From Mac Atcheson, "If you're going to be a steel player, put the drums in the closet".

Now that I've dispensed my usual smart-aleck answer (see above; but, hey, it's really true too), I'll give the non-smart-aleck answer, too.

Many years ago, I spent 3 wonderful days at the cabin with Jeff Newman (why does that name keep popping up, I wonder?). One day I was playing for him "Blue Moon of Kentucky". He listened for about 8 bars, then grabbed my hands right off the guitar and said "Stop That! Stop that right now!"

"Huh?"

"Don't you ever play that song again!"

"Double-Huh?"

"You don't know that song, you don't like that song, and you have no business in the world playing that song!"

He then continued:

"You need to play YOUR MUSIC, Jim. Not somebody else's music. The music that YOU were raised on. The music that YOU understand and love."

Clearly, Jeff was telling me to be genuine and honest in my music. That this is where the integrity lies. I took his advice to heart. The result? 'Home, James'

And, as I think about it, a lot of the recognition I've received in the steel community has been specifically because of the material I have chosen to play, which is, for the most part, the songs I grew up listening to. Thank you again, Jeff, for that crucial lesson. Gone but sure as heck not forgotten.

I'll never forget what the great Buddy Emmons once said to me:

"Would you please pass the ketchup?"

I'll never forget it...

That is so deep, John. I wish he woulda said that to me...

I guess the ones that have heard me figure it's best to say nothing at all.

Hey Jimbeaux,

Long time no see...I am SO SORRY I missed you and the new axe at Norwalk. I heard nothing but raves.(Of course. You da Man! Happy Holidays buddy...JW

Here's sme great advice that I got from some of the geats.

When asking his advice about a road gig once, Zane Beck looked down over his glasses at me, grinned while he was working on my steel, and said, "You'll never know unless you try it, will you now?" Zane also told me "Stay away from the hard stuff!" A great guy and one always willing to help another.

Jerry Byrd said "Play the melody, all the rest of it is just window dressing!"

Speedy West said "Play like yourself, don't try to copy others. I woke up one day and decided not to try to sound like my idol anymore." Man did Speedy ever accomplish that. He defintely had his own unique approach and sounds to the steel guitar.

I would say try to be original, creative and reach for the sky.

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

AHH Jeff... at one of his seminars I plugged into the little amp that he provided and he quickly handed me some headphones and LOUDLY asked why would I want everyone to hear how badly I play!

Funny thing, I doubt that he was joking.

"Son... don't EVER let ANYBODY, EVER, tell you how to play"
josh graves

Dave Van Allen wrote:"Son... don't EVER let ANYBODY, EVER, tell you how to play"
josh graves

That's odd; in my case he said, "Son... don't EVER let ANYBODY, EVER, teach you how to play"