How Many Steel Guitarists Originally Played Lead Guitar?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 12 Mar 2011 6:02 am

Several members on this forum have reminded readers that their main instrument before switching to the pedal steel, was in fact, the 6 string acoustic, or electric guitar. I believe there are few examples of those who started out on the pedal steel without some knowledge of how to follow melody lines. "Little" Roy Wiggins expressed to me in the '80's that a traveling music teacher asked him which instrument he would like to play. Roy chose to play the dobro. He was a pioneer of the first "bar" slides in the early '30's.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 12 Mar 2011 6:33 am

I still play lead guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1aTPfFvotE

Dale Bessant · Post by **Dale Bessant** » 12 Mar 2011 6:48 am

yes count me in

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 12 Mar 2011 6:56 am

Lead guitar is still my main insturment.My steel playing leaves much to be desired but I do love it..

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 12 Mar 2011 7:50 am

I started my guitar lessons in 4th grade. I actually got pretty good at sight reading. I got my first pedal steel guitar in college.

The title of the thread is:

"How Many Steel Guitarists Originally Played Lead Guitar?"

yet, the original post only makes reference to six-string acoustic or electric guitar. While I am a great "rhythm" player (good working knowledge of chords and chord progressions) I have never been a "lead" player in a band or ensemble setting.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 12 Mar 2011 7:53 am

I did and still do on ocassion for recording sessions!

How about Russ Hicks and the late Curly Chalker they both were great on lead guitar!

Terry

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 12 Mar 2011 9:43 am

The partial abandonment of a once prized instrument of choice, can be very difficult, unless I miss my guess. Those who climb steadily into the ranks of noted steel guitarists, must spend virtually all their time engaged in steel guitar studies. I seriously doubt if any former players of the Spanish guitars, who now play pedal steel, can say that certain sacrifices were not made in making the move to the pedal steel guitar.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 12 Mar 2011 9:46 am

Richard B.,

I enjoyed your musical rendition.

Dick Sexton · Post by **Dick Sexton** » 12 Mar 2011 9:57 am

And Rusty Rhoads...

How many played steel before any other instrument. That would make an interesting poll question.

Tim Heidner · Post by **Tim Heidner** » 12 Mar 2011 9:58 am

I don't really consider myself a 'steel guitarist' yet, but I switched over about a year ago when my left hand started showing carpal tunnel symptoms. I very rarely even pick up my regular guitars anymore, there's just too much to master with a steel to be distracted. Struggling along with right hand blocking these days.

Jaclyn Jones · Post by **Jaclyn Jones** » 12 Mar 2011 10:28 am

Lead is where I started. Now do 50/50 between steel and lead.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 12 Mar 2011 10:31 am

I've been playing guitar a lot longer than steel, and I do not remotely think they are mutually exclusive, especially once you move past the 'strummy strummy' and 'pentatonic scales as solos' phase of guitar and start really playing it. Rather, I think they complement each other greatly, especially jazz guitar and pedal steel, which both tend to use moving voices in chords quite a bit. I view them as both being quite 'pianistic' in this sense. There are technical differences between the instruments, of course - the palettes of tonalities are indeed different. But in the end, they are both vehicles to make music, and music is music.

The last year, I have been playing a lot of guitar. I will never give that up, but is a challenge to make enough time for both.

BTW - I don't make a distinction betweeen 'lead guitar' and 'guitar' - the good players play whatever is needed and play the whole instrument.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 12 Mar 2011 10:31 am

The partial abandonment of a once prized instrument of choice, can be very difficult, unless I miss my guess. Those who climb steadily into the ranks of noted steel guitarists, must spend virtually all their time engaged in steel guitar studies. I seriously doubt if any former players of the Spanish guitars, who now play pedal steel, can say that certain sacrifices were not made in making the move to the pedal steel guitar.

Ain't that the truth. And, the sacrifices were not just musically.

I started on drums and could strum chords on a guitar, but never could play lead (I just never sat down and learned). I did take up keyboards after taking up the steel guitar though.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 12 Mar 2011 10:52 am

I've been playing guitar since I was 13 and took up steel when I was 21. I'm now 59.

I play steel with 3 picks and a thumb, which I pretty much attribute to playing the guitar first.

It's funny that I still don't really think of the PSG as a "guitar". Guess I'm not quite sure what the heck it is?

Scott Shewbridge · Post by **Scott Shewbridge** » 12 Mar 2011 11:33 am

Mr. Hankey, you seem much happier these days and I am glad of it.

You have pondered some themes in recent months that have resonated with me and I think you make some important observations. Guitar was my first stringed instrument and after years of playing cowboy chord campfire songs, I made a decision a few years ago to try to integrate my singing, woodwind and stringed knowledge. It has been a very fulfilling experience.

In the midst of this, I had the good fortune to visit Nashville and got to meet Bobbe Seymour at his shop. I'd been warned that the learning curve was steep, but I had to try the steel guitar.

Here are some of the the things I've learned:

Woodwind players learn how to read music well.

In the woodwinds, when you aren't playing the melody, you're either an "omph" or a "paw-paw." Most of my life, I've been an "omph."

Guitar players live in chords that woodwind players usually only understand in concept.

Many of the best guitar players live in the world of rhythm and because they are more familiar with two and four than any woodwind player, their lives swing.

A good guitar player can take a single note and rhythmize it into a solo that only the rarist of horn blowers can approach.

In my opinion, the most compelling lead guitar players and horn blowers live like singers. Melody is always on their minds.

Steel guitarists live in the most ethereal musical realm - counterpoint.

A few weeks ago, you had a thread about technique being paramount. I didn't completely agree. For some periods of time, I think you should ignore technique completely and focus on pleasure and expression. When that gets boring/stale, technique moves back to the top again and new knowledge can revitalize the next phase of pleasure and expression.

I think though, you are right about sacrifice. I am finding that trying to be an omph, with a swinging 2&4, while singing the melody and complimentary counterpoint is too much for me. Being very aware of my mortality these days, I find the time I can dedicate to the periods of technical development are limited. Having all of the complimentary techniques available is very powerful, but as a student of all, I find that some of these run counter to others (e.g., my intuition as a lead singer might direct me to some not so complimentary, perhaps even competitive, counterpoint).

In sum, for many of us, I think our limitations do force us to make choices. In my opinion, pleasure and expression need to be experienced and for most of us, diverting our efforts to too many techniques is likely to diminish or maybe even remove all expression and pleasure.

Everyday I say to myself - Life is short, good or bad, get out and play with someone.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 12 Mar 2011 11:35 am

ME too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeubNLlxAmg
not much six string these days...

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 12 Mar 2011 12:11 pm

I started off on six-string,too.Played lead for many years,then took up steel,and played both onstage-still do,and still enjoy both.I found that playing steel made me a better six-string player.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 12 Mar 2011 12:52 pm

Dave Hopping wrote:I started off on six-string,too.Played lead for many years,then took up steel,and played both onstage-still do,and still enjoy both.I found that playing steel made me a better six-string player.

Yes!!!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 12 Mar 2011 2:10 pm

I played guitar for abut 20 years before I started to play steel. Now I hardly ever touch it.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 12 Mar 2011 5:49 pm

Interestingly, how rewarding it is to observe those who have been so kind as to take part in a discussion such as this, that quite apparently has generated unspoken thoughts among steel guitarists, over a considerable number of years. Kalamazoo's finest Gibson guitars, in many instances, are presumed to have found their retirement, safely resting behind closet doors while their faithful owners while away the hours learning the art of playing the steel guitar. The time consuming requirement involved, can easily capture the attention of the burgeoning hopeful, even to the point of totally focusing on a single plan of dedication. Months slide by, as the time consuming practice sessions amass the days into years. The Gibson, made in Kalamazoo, once proudly hailed by its owner, revisits the music room rarely, except at the request of various cronies who by chance are steadfast guitarists. Bursting with enthusiasm, is the man of the house. At last, someone who will truly appreciate the results of his many hours of practice.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 12 Mar 2011 6:57 pm

I was a working lead guitarist when I took up steel "seriously"

I'd more or less picked a little on one and even owned one from time to time but never really decided to pursue it until all of a sudden it hit me that I was a horrible vocalist and no one ever asked steel players to sing and also they got to sit down all night so that's when I got my old ShoBud.... I still do about 50/50 on gigs. I love the steel and will never consider myself a great player but I can gig on one so that's OK in my eyes....... Since I've gotten old (71) I even sit down to play guitar now to keep the old feet from hurting......JH in Va.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 12 Mar 2011 7:05 pm

Yes, 6 string is my first instrument. I still play it all the time, for me and my daughter..hoping she will find the muse and the friendship that an instrument can bring.
I stopped practicing 6 string when I became serious (seriously obsessed) with the pedal steel.
I never stopped learning or studying.

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 12 Mar 2011 8:05 pm

Jazz guitarist for many years - no such thing as "lead" guitar, in my opinion, it's all just guitar....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFEjrLpmwzk

Chris Dorch · Post by **Chris Dorch** » 12 Mar 2011 8:25 pm

In order of education..

Drums 1st
Piano 2nd
Guitar 3rd
Bass 4th
Steel 5th

Now I play guitar and steel, sadly 75/25.

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