50 tunes

[Kelly Coyle]

I'm interested in a lot of steel guitar music -- Alvino Rey is on top of my list -- but, practically speaking, the best chance I have to sit in with a band is country music, which I like but don't know much about, really. What I would like to ask the forum is,

What songs should I put on my must-learn list so I can sit in with folks?

Appreciate any guidance.

[Brad Bechtel]

In my opinion, "Country music" is too big a genre to just throw out some songs and guarantee any band will know them.

Will you be sitting in with a specific band? Why not ask them what their set list includes? They might know all of Alabama's songs but not be familiar with Jimmie Rodgers. They might have a whole set of Buck Owens but not a single song by Patsy Cline. They might know lots of Johnny Cash and not know anything by Garth Brooks.

[Bill Creller]

If you like Alvino Rey, country music may not fit with what you would like to play. Alvino played a modern pop style as I remember.
If country is all that's available to jam with, listen to some bands, and like Brad sez, see what they are doing.

[Ray Montee]

The question you ask is legitimate but I believe it's entirely rediculous!

If YOU know your guitar and have a finely tuned EAR for music, chord changes and the like, you have no need to worry about 'song titles'.

One of the biggest challenges and most fun elements about playing steel guitar, is to sit in with a new group for the first time, having no idea what's'coming up next, what key or anything else that is considered pertitnant.

Someone kicks it off, and you jump in and go for it.
A lot of mental work to do in the process but the awards are MANY!

Perhaps you need some more home work with the guitar and forget the song titles.

[Mark Roeder]

My suggestion for you, and there are alot of good suggestions available from the forum, is to learn Don Helms pickups and fills. They will fit alot of country styles and songs. I only suggest this because it worked for me.
Mark

[Alan Brookes]

...One of the biggest challenges and most fun elements about playing steel guitar, is to sit in with a new group for the first time, having no idea what's'coming up next, what key or anything else that is considered pertinant...

...but sometimes they get through to the last verse before I've figured out what key they're playing in...

[Gary Stevenson]

I had to laugh Alan,that happens to me all the time.And I hate wandering up and down the steel trying to find the root chord.In some songs the chords change too fast to muddle around and find it. But I am a bloomin newbie and have no other excuse!!