The Steel Guitar Forum

I don't even own a flattop or anything. I've noticed that it seems most steel players have some guitar experience.
How many of us here don't come from 6-string guitar backgrounds ?

-John

John,
I came from piano. Never liked playing 6 string. I do when I have two.

Dan

i never played anything until i bought a steel
this does make it a lot harder at first, but hang in there and you will make it

None here...although I have taught myself to play Crazy Arms on a 6 string acoustic. But that was after I started pickin the steel....

Like Dan, I played some piano, but also played bass guitar for years in a band (by ear). I still relate anything music theory wise to the piano, because that is what I have a mental picture of.

The guitar is too hard. It hurts my fingers...

Do Play 6 string reso, but not "spanish" guitar.

I do own an old cheap flattop acoustic, keep it handy for when friends drop by.

I've played acoustic bass for the last 30+ years. Got hooked on the PSG just a couple of years ago and can't seem to get enough.

I know some of you never played guitar,I did over thirty years before I caught the steel fever,Every steel player I know in person did play guitar first,Also only know one bass player that did't start with guitar.

Played bass for five years and pedal steel for forty nine years. Can recognize chords on a six string, just can't play 'em. Regards, Jay Thompson

I tried several times over the years...just couldn't make my fingers reach far enough to get a lot of those necessary chords.

Played drums before steel. New some chords on guitar but didn't really play.

I play 6 string for the fact that it is easy to transport, I play my steel alot better and more, but my 6 string guitar is fun.

I just had a truce rod problem, I had to fix today and I really hope it turns out ok.

I read an article about truss rods and in this article the writer said to mark the rod and back it completely out and pull it out, oil it, then thread it back in, this is to help prevent it from breaking as I had to tighten it in a little.

I sold my 6 string not long ago. Arthritis in my left had made it painful to hold chords.

I learned and have taught classical piano for 27 years. Had a bit of a go at violin but never any guitar at all til now. Love psg and trying hard to get my head around it.
Cheers
Sandra

I strummed a guitar for a little while with one hand, then played piano by ear with one hand from 1995-1999, and in 1999, I moved on to pedal steel. Pedal steel is my main instrument.

Brett

No music experience at all until lap and pedal steel.

Hi John,

I think keyboard when I play steel.

I play 6 string guitar to and for one reason...it is a big help in learing a lot of chords so then I just apply those chords to the pedal steel...beleive me...the regular guitar is a big help in finding chords.

I have been drumming for around 14 years now. I just got the PSG bug about 3 months ago and I love it! I still play the drums, but not nearly as much.
Jamie

I can kind of do the basics on standard 6 string guitar. But I don't really play. And I don't own one. One instrument is all I have time for.

I got my first guitar in October of 1942, when I was in 8th grade! I bought my first steel, a 6 string lap steel by mail order, in November of 1946 while I was senior at Chautauqua Central School! In between these dates I taught myself to play string bass......
hill-billy style..... still can't read bass clef well enough to keep up!

I played lead Guitar for 20 years, then I bought a Emmon D10 in 1973 and practiced for a few years and it been Steel ever since, my 1970 Telecaster has been in the case now for 25 years and stll looks new

Never played guitar, played clarinet in elementary school and Tenor sax in high school. Last year of high school got a Miller 8 string, 3 pedal steel and went from there.

Never could do anything with 6-string except to strum chords, and after I learned to barre, 99% of my chords were E, Em, and Am. Could barely barre a decent A. I'm constantly amazed that I can actually pick steel.