The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been playing almost two years now, I love all pre-1975 country music. As a new steel player, would you suggest trying to learn one style (Green,Seymour, other) or just try to play some of all the artists?

You suggestion really appreciated!!! Tommy

I say, practice your own style. Try to learn all you can from the masters, but play like Tommy Gibbons.

Many years ago I bought a Paul Franklin tape where he went over various players styles and basics on how to imitate their way of playing.

If I remember correctly,he was saying to learn all the various artists styles you can so that you'll have more in your bag of tricks to pull from in any situation you might be asked to play in and that in doing so,your own style will emerge along the way.

Learning how different players approach playing will make you a more well rounded player and I feel it will give you the ability to draw out your own style as you will have a better understanding of how they get their signature sound.

32 years ago I got my 1st SHO-BUD and tried playing (@19yrs old) .Fingerpicks & me were not to be .Everyone said "got to use 'em"....(must be none of us realized there was a guy named Bobbe Seymour out there ). Needless to say I gave up...besides I was working with some pretty good steel players , so why bother .

Now with the internet and all the different coarses available no need to give up .Try a little of everybody....figure out what's good for you and have FUN

****Bob V****

Tommy -

Print out Rick Barnhart's post, pin it to the wall and read it at least a dozen times a day.

What Richard said !!!!

I agree with Bill

I also agree with David about his agreement with Bill's agreement with what Richard said about Rick Barnhart's post... whew!

Like all of the members of this forum, you should start by learning all of Buddy Emmons' songs, licks and solos first ... just kiddin' Tommy

Tommy,

Sounds like you picked the right era to listen to. There were so many good ones during the 60'and 70's. Today the TX guys are still playing the good stuff too.

If you want to play new country, make sure you practice the first string raise lever. To my ears it sounds like it's being grossly overused in today's music, but I'm no authority because I don't waste my time listening to it. However, you pick up bits and pieces when you go in stores, etc... enough to hear the first string raise over and over. That seems to be the dominating steel lick of the current times. I'm not knocking it, if it makes them money, go for it, but I get tired of hearing it. I suppose I'm just different.

Tommy,

Sorry I sidetracked and didn't answer your question. In my opinion, you play what you listen to. So if you listen to a mixture of the greats like Emmons, Myrick, Overbey, Hughey, Green, Rugg, etc.... you'll pick up their licks as you learn, but not necessarily in the same songs. Therefore, your listening mixture becomes your style, along with some of your own licks that will find their way into your music. Learning some classic licks is good, but I'd stay away from trying to sound like the individual player on the particular song they played on. Being a copy cat didn't get these guys to the level they acheived. I think you'll enjoy your music more if you accept the fact that you play the way you play and build on that with some borrowed licks from other players too, and it doesn't have to be the pros. You can learn a lot of good licks from good non-pro players that chose another way to make their living.

There's a youtube of Vince Gill doing "Look At Us" for the first time on stage. I don't remember who the steel player was, but I liked his playing on it as well, if not better than John Hughey's, but John cut the record and that's the version that most people follow. They very both excellent. It's hard for any decent player to not sound good on a nice song like that one.

Just my opinion of course.

Well just stopping by..

If you are trying to get around sounding clean, precise, and in tune by developing a style that lets you play as sloppily as you wish, you're cheating yourself.

All the mentioned players are more than worthy of study for those things.

Buddy Charleton spent nearly every waking hour learning, studying, and practicing nearly every lick that Buddy Emmons ever recorded. NONE of his time was wasted, nor did it stop him from developing his own "Style". I can tell him in a few notes. This was in the time period that I took lessons from him anyhow.

I LOVE Lloyd Green's playing and can remember days and weeks of going over things off "Shades of Green", and other albums trying to get things down.

None of my time was wasted. If anything I found how hard it was to play things that sounded "simple" because of the often complex ways he put them together.

SImilarly with learning old things off records, or tricks that John Hughey made famous such as rapid blocked chords.

Playing things note for note, or trying top play things as cleanly as famous steel players is not wasted, NOR does it keep you from "developing your own style".

You will have your own style no matter what you play.

There are TONS of nuances you can learn from many sources.

One is to try from time to time to play things that are "pleasant to listen to" from players that were not known for supreme accuracy or "schooled style" such as Jerry Garcia, or the "avante garde" things from say Robert Randolph or David Lindley.

Bobbe Seymour has TONS of things that make you want to either play along, or learn note for note, and they aren't as intimidating as some of the most complex and razor accurate instrumentalists.

In short, if you spend your time learning things from other players that challenge you, you will not learn things that will hurt "your style".

There is no easy way to play things that measure up to YOUR standards.

Not really.

Getting ideas and techniques from others helps.

You'll know if you're trying to excuse being sloppy as "having your own style". You'll also know if other people are trying to, but you probably won't point it out when you go and hear or see them..




EJL

Even if I play another's licks note-for-note, it still sounds like me playin' 'em...

As Tommy White said His greatest influence was Lloyd and Buddy, but he learned licks from Weldon Myrick,and Hal Rugg as well. If it sounds good, and fits, Play It!!