How many years did it take to...

Tommy Gibbons · Post by **Tommy Gibbons** » 22 Dec 2009 5:15 pm

Few will become great steel players. We all strive to be better musicians and we're always learning new licks, and new music, with that said;

How many years did it take for you to get to the point you felt like you were good enough to be considered a decent steel guitarist?

OK, sit down and play a good 3 chord country ballad solo with confidence in public...1 year, 2 years, 5 years?

What is a good benchmark, for average talent to be playing reasonably well?

Your response to this may be a goal for some of us new to pedal steel guitar.

I realize this is relative based on several factors such as practice time, instructor, tab, equipment, etc.

Thanks, and I look forward to you comments!!!

Tommy

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 22 Dec 2009 6:04 pm

I was fortunate to join an adult working country band when I was just 14. Street dances and local radio shows. By the time I was 15, I was in a top local band, BIG DANCE HALL and weekly radio shows.
I started lessons when I was age 7.
Today, I still lack confidence to play in front of a seated or live audience........but feel I could hold my own without difficulty in a working country dance band as long as the musicians were capable also.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 22 Dec 2009 6:38 pm

I actually found myself doing a master session on pedal steel in a London studio just over a year after I'd first bought one, but I was already a pro guitar-player and already had some credibility. That allowed me some latitude in what otherwise would have been too stressful a situation, and I was able to make a couple of passes at the overdub.

Those surroundings will get your attention, though, and you learn a bit faster than you might otherwise have done.

I'd always encourage a newer player to get out and play on a bandstand just as soon as the opportunity arises - one night of that could be worth three months of sitting in your practice room.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 22 Dec 2009 6:38 pm

I realize this is relative based on several factors such as practice time, instructor, tab, equipment, etc.

The most important factor for me was the people I played with, whether in a working band situation or just in someone's garage. You can only get so far sitting in the bedroom practicing with tab and tapes. Playing with more experienced musicians is how I really learned. I could play a decent solo on "The Other Woman" with local bands after a few months, but it took me about 8 years before I considered myself an adequate steel player, and this was after playing with Opry artists for a couple years.

Jerry Eilander · Post by **Jerry Eilander** » 22 Dec 2009 10:09 pm

hi. it took 5 years off practice.
but been playing .rock and roll. for over 20 years
on guitar ,and bass,.
I'm 47 now, and getting payed gigs sinds last year on ,PSG.
I think its all got to do with ,age ,ability,.
and if you are "daring". enough,.
Happy Christmas from "Down under".

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 23 Dec 2009 6:32 am

I played the steel in public when I wasn't really good enough to do so (maybe 70 practice hours) about fifteen years ago. One evening as we were playing, a voice inside told me, that I played bad. There was no variation and nothing very tastful.
A few days later I read an article in Steel Guitar Magazine, where the writer (Tom Bradshaw?) described a fictional steel guitar, that could have been me at that time:
endlessly repeating his boring licks, and overall playing to much. Even though I was alone, I blushed.
From that day on I practiced more, and hopefully got a little better

But only the 'live' experince made me aware of this,
I guess.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 23 Dec 2009 7:10 am

I played steel on a gig three months after I got it.
I was normally a bass player with the group but the lead player would switch off with me for a one or two song change of pace. I'm not saying I was playing very well but if it wasn't for the guitar player giving me a chance it would have taken much longer. I used to sit and watch Gene Schible play in a club six nights a week. When I got my first steel, a new 1969 Emmons P/P, I had to call Gene and have him help me tune it over the phone. I practiced every week day from 5:oo pm until 1:00am. Weekends were usually 16 hour practice sessions each day. I did my first recording session three years later. I was lucky enough to play in bands where everyone else was a good player (better than me) and it helps make you "catch up" more quickly.
That was forty years ago and I probably played better from the '70's through the '90's than I do now. I got to work with a lot of people from Nashville over the years but now I stay pretty local. I live in N.J, and N.Y. & Pa. are about the extent of my travels anymore.
I didn't mean to be so long so I'll quit now. Interesting post.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 23 Dec 2009 10:07 am

I played steel on a gig 3 days after I brought it home. It was a 1975 MSA single 10 with 5 and 4. I was an experienced guitar player and knew how songs work and was also aware that E9 was comprised of major chord tones and 'other' tones so I figured out where those major chords were and stayed on those strings. I figured out that the A pedal gave me a relative minor and A+B gave the 4 chord and I thought I was hot stuff.

I actually played it more than half of the gig -- SOUNDED LIKE CRAP, mind you -- but it kept getting better and more natural. We scarcely ever had a weekend night off -- 2-3 nights/week. Within a month I wasn't even bringing my six string -- we had the best guitar player in town anyway, so I was window dressing on guitar. I owe them a debt of gratitude -- there were more clams and intonation blunders than there were correct notes, but it did get better. If you know how it's supposed to sound you can work it all out if you try hard enough. I played / practiced from the time I came home from work until bedtime for many, many months. I had some friends -- forumites Mark Van Allen and Tom Stolaski -- who were in a similar boat. It was the mid 70s and 'Urban Cowboy' and 'Panama Red' were what the crowd wanted to hear -- lotsa steel.

As many others have mentioned, I can't emphasize too much the importance of playing with the best musicians that will have you -- whether it be a garage, a bar, lodge hall, or concert arena. The experience and confidence playing live gives you can't be bought on a DVD or in a book.

Practice as long as you need to in order to find the chords for the songs you're playing, then GO PLAY SOMEWHERE.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 23 Dec 2009 10:43 am

It works backwards for me. I started out pretty good, but the more I play the worse I get. All practice does is make me better at being bad.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 23 Dec 2009 11:37 am

That's quite a coincidence, Rick; sounds like you and I have followed a similar path.....

My bad stuff is so polished nowadays!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 23 Dec 2009 11:42 am

After playing for 30 years, I feel like I'm just now starting to gain any insight into the full potential of the E9 tuning.

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 23 Dec 2009 12:02 pm

Hey Skipper:

I would happily be one of your seated audience. There is no reason to be afraid of me.

Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas

Ben

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 23 Dec 2009 4:44 pm

Some time around 1990 I felt that I was STARTING to play more acceptably in tune. I'd been playing since 1955.

John Cox · Post by **John Cox** » 23 Dec 2009 4:57 pm

Well, I started (E9th)when I was 13 and sounded terrible until I learned to tune right and play in tune. That came about 20 years later. At 48 I'm still trying to learn not to play. Now my biggest flaw is I tend to chop things rather than play smoothly.

I've just started C6th again and hope I can re-learn it before its too late. Everyone learns at a different rate. I'm a slow learner so, it took me alot longer than most.

JC.

Dan Blaisdell · Post by **Dan Blaisdell** » 23 Dec 2009 8:25 pm

Took me 15 months. My schedule was/is 1 year to learn the instrument; 3 years to be good. I'm ahead of schedule due to BIAB, 5000 songs, the members of Mid Atlantic SGA, and practicing 2-3 hours daily. I'm just now finding my way around the "inside" strings.

PSG: a blessing and a curse.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 24 Dec 2009 5:49 am

5 years to make it to Opryland playing in Country USA show. 5 minutes to findout everybody up there could pick and I was just a little 19 year old rookie that thought he could. Ha!

Jerry Bull · Post by **Jerry Bull** » 24 Dec 2009 6:57 am

One year to play in public. 2 years to feel good about it. 3 yrs to get excited about it and learn to cover up mistakes so that everyone just thinks that's what I meant to play in the first place. And lots, and lots, and lots of practice. I'm in my 3rd year, and I find myself in a rut. And by that I mean, I get stuck playing the same songs gig after gig, so I'm not learning new material which expands my playing ability. For the new player, when you start having dreams that your watching Mickey Adams videos on youtube, at that point your probably ate up enough with it to excel at a very rapid pace like I did(LOL). I consider myself an extremely fast learner, in part because I started playing 6-string guitar about 20 yrs before I put my hands on a steel which gave me a solid foundation in music theory. I remember in the very early stages, getting frustrated because the fretboard looked like an interstate highway. The thing that saved me from giving up was when a guy showed me a simple common lick involving rocking on and off the A pedal(A&B pedals down, striking strings 5&6). When I heard that sound and was able to do it instantly, it was all over, I was hooked. Then I discovered the forum, and youtube. The people here on the forum and all the folks on youtube are truly great human beings. I hope someday I can give back what everyone has given me. -Jerry

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 24 Dec 2009 10:09 am

Tommy Gibbons wrote:...How many years did it take for you to get to the point you felt like you were good enough to be considered a decent steel guitarist? ...

I'll let you know when I get there.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 24 Dec 2009 10:32 am

If playing at a gig is the benchmark of having the confidence to consider yourself a good player, then mine came 6 weeks after buying my first steel. Fortunately, I had already been jamming with the band for a few years doing bass. Once I bought the steel guitar however, I sat in on gigs playing nothing but the chords that I knew and could handle comfortably.

Five years later and after endless hours of addictive practice and pushing myself, I feel confident that I can play the steel in almost all country music settings. Mind you, already having 50 years of band work behind me may have had something to do with not being afraid of playing in public.

Playing solos at gigs???? I would rather play solos than do backup: that's not the real world however.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 24 Dec 2009 10:37 am

Just because you can jump into a gig right away does not mean that you are ready and will magicly play great. Take some time and learn how to play well enough to do the music a little justice, then go gig.

Some think that the added pressure of being in a band, on stage in front of an audience as soon as you can smooze yourself in, will fast trac your ability. That is questionable to me. Chances are you will only sound like your skill level really is. And if you have not gotten the basics down fairly well---well you probably know what you will sound like. Get a handle on the basics, then go after it. The public will get a better opinion of steel guitar then.

I played my first gig when I had a couple months under my belt. Should I have? No, I sucked liked the beginner I was. It made a bad impression with some of the local musicians, whom I've never played with again. Not that THAT was really a big loss, though. Like they had the guts to take on playing steel guitar.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 24 Dec 2009 10:49 am

James Morehead wrote:Just because you can jump into a gig right away does not mean that you are ready and will magicly play great. Take some time and learn how to play well enough to do the music a little justice, then go gig.

James, that is sort of what I was trying to convey. Many musicians feel (including many on this forum) that if you can get into a band almost immediately then you are a good musician. I don't consider myself that on the steel guitar. I am however, comfortable and confident enough with it to not freeze up if caught off guard.

As I mentioned above, I had already been playing bass, chromatic harmonica and acoustic guitar for 50 years before getting into the steel guitar. I knew what a newbie sounds like and was careful not to push the boundaries on stage and fall into that trap.

Do I consider myself a "good" steel player? Nope, not in the least! An "acceptable" steel player playing in a particular setting and genre of music: Yes. Not too many instances throw me off track.

Bill Mayville · Post by **Bill Mayville** » 24 Dec 2009 11:17 am

The day I bought my first pedal steel,I brought
to the gig that night.
I started to play this easy instrument, on a Haggart song.I thought I may have sounded sorta new at it ,til the band leader told the audience,He just bought it today.
I must have sounded much worse that I thought.

Six months better i tried again.Not much better.

Bill

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 24 Dec 2009 11:19 am

Yeah Les, I hear ya. I had my share of bass playing blah blah blah. No matter how bad you wanna be a steel player and fill that chair, jumping into a gig too soon is not as quick as putting in the chair time in you music room, without the pressure to "perform" 75 songs all night infront of an audience and your band mates.

There seems to be this pressure to push newbies to get in a band asap if they want to become a steel player. NOT! Some of those who did just that and say they did just fine, and recommend that to the newbies to follow suite, I'd sure like to hear how good they sounded in THEIR beginning. I guess you could say I challenge that concept.

There's a vast difference in BEING a steel guitar player, vs. OWNING a steel guitar. All beginners are owners first then eventually become owner/players.

If I went out and bought an airplane, would that make me a pilot? Wanna go for a ride? and no, I never had flown an airplane.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 24 Dec 2009 12:29 pm

There is also a vast difference between knowing where all the chords are and being able to play a lot of licks, and really understanding the many intricacies and subtleties lurking below the surface. I was not attempting to be funny when I said that after 30 years, I'm starting to gain some real insight into the E9 tuning. It's a lot more than just mashing the pedals.

It's an old cliché, but it's true: the more you know, the more you realize how much more there is to learn.

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