I had to laugh at a comment I received today on one of my YouTube videos.
It said "Playing pedal steel is like trying to juggle while standing in a hammock".
What's even funnier is that I went to YouTube and typed in "juggling in hammock" as a search........there's a few videos to watch........that guy in Mexico would make a great steel player....
How would Bill Hankey describe playing steel guitar?
A vulgar display of dexterity challenged application of music theory to an aluminum mechanical advantaged Merry-go-roundish mechanization propagating the bench-mark of the nonvirtuoso's endless series of nonsensical musical outbreaks in pointless expounding.
David, guys like you (and the hammock juggler) make it look easy!
As a former competitive golfer (played collegiately in the early 80's) and a newbie steel player, I think it's a great analogy.
In my prime, my handicap was +1. As a newbie PSG player, my steel "handicap" is the maximum-allowable 36!
Anyone who's seen the movie "Tin Cup" will recall the scene on the practice range at the Open when a frustrated Roy McAvoy tells his caddie "my swing feels like an unfolding lawn chair!"....well, that's how I feel playing steel.
Bo Legg wrote:How would Bill Hankey describe playing steel guitar?
A vulgar display of dexterity challenged application of music theory to an aluminum mechanical advantaged Merry-go-roundish mechanization propagating the bench-mark of the nonvirtuoso's endless series of nonsensical musical outbreaks in pointless expounding.
I don't think Bill will ever see this. I don't know if I've ever seen him post in anything but his OWN threads... But the "joke" is not wasted...
Bo what ever you said is beyond my little mind. I can say it is like a very complicated puzzle for the mind and the game of twister for the body. Some time you just got to hang on for the ride. IMHO. Good thing I love playing.
Most assuredly, there isn't another person on planet earth who could give a better account of the advantages and obstacles involved in learning to play the pedal steel guitar, than you David. Obviously, you are aware of the multiples of necessary requirements facing those attempting to master the instrument. After studying and enjoying your renditions of country music, you are by far, one of my favorite steel guitarists. Whatever slows down the learning process, in the series of practice sessions, you've managed to go way beyond, with remarkable accuracy. It's pure delight knowing that
you are living proof of what can be accomplished on the pedal steel guitar.
To steal a quote from the immortal George Burns:
sometimes I feel like I'm,
"trying to play pool with a rope" !
Of course he wasn't a steeler, as far as I know, but he was filled with wisdom
Rick
I've been playing pedal steel long enough that I don't find it difficult or complex. It's easier than most video games, in my opinion. Perpetuating the myth that pedal steel is difficult is really counter-productive, in my opinion. It tends to scare people away from learning the instrument.
One thing I always try to drive home is that lap steel is harder than pedal steel. The pedals and levers make the instrument easier to play, not harder.
I don't think pedal steel is more difficult than any other musical instrument. If the bass is so much easier to play then how come there are so few good bass players ? I think people say its difficult to play steel because they don't practice enough. Any instrument or musical pursuit takes a serious time commitment to do well.
Drums should be real easy. You just bang on the thing with a stick to create the sound. I have found that among full time pro drummers that only about one in twenty have the ability to keep accurate and musical time.
