The Steel Guitar Forum

This may sound ridiculous to some folks but my question is,, how many of you get a severe case of the shivers while playing a slow " " peice on you pedal steel? I do and some times it affects my plying so much I have to stop if I really get into 'it' and let my heart pour out. Is this totally weird or are some or alotof you guys in the same camp as me? I guess I'm just an emotional sap !

My tent is near yours in camp. But, I have to say that, it depends on the song and the mood I'm in. I, too, am an emotional person and certain tunes affect me very personally. I've learned to live with it, but, it's not easy. The PSG is an emotional instrument, to me. Some people say that, that's where your soul comes through when playing and I agree.

Not shivers, but I've had a hard time seeing the fretboard thru a lens of tears a few times. Just means you're alive, I figure.

From my experience you can get that emotional feeling if your band mates are feeling it with you. If the singer is singing from the heart and the band picks up on it it's a great recipe for a song, then it's passed on to the listener.

Sometimes a gospel song will bring me to tears.

I'm with Erv...gospel music gets me like that, especially those songs filled with words and certain harmonies of what my Savior has done for me...even without steel in it...but just intrumental steel from Buddy, Paul, John, Tommy, or Terry Crisp...when they're sucking every once of feeling and emotion out of a phrase, well, that too can suck the tears right outta me eyes...I don't get that too much when I'm the player, but if I stumble onto something while I'm playing, I'll get a chill, and stop, and go, "what did I do, what did I do"?!?!?!?...that is pretty thrilling...

Dale,
Those tears are the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

Moments like that are why we all spend years learning how to manage this contraption....

Amen Erv, Amen...Country music has the same type harmonies as the country gospel I like, but the message if far from being the same...the message in gospel music speaks to a deeper part of your heart, and conscience, and you know the Holy Spirit is the one really doing the singing.

The Hawaiians call it "chicken skin" - goosebumps. It happens a lot in Hawaiian ballads. - Jack

great to hear you have an emotional connection to your steel. you're on the right track. are you related to quentin tarantino?

No shivers, but tears sometimes. I save the shivers for my girlfriend

Richard,
I save the shivers for January in Minnesnowta!

Winter in Minnesota, where many are cold, but few are frozen.

Just don't put your tongue on the pump handle when it's 20 below!

Erv, I would be too cold to shiver up there.

But, if I remember right, wasn't John Hughey's vibrato referred to by someone as "bar shiver"? Maybe Winston?

Yes, John Hughey was noted for his bar "shiver", coming down from Hughey Land.

It was probably on this forum that I read what has become one of my favorite quotes. I wish I could remember who to attribute this to...

"If your steel guitar doesn't bring tears to your eyes, maybe you need a different steel guitar."

By that standard, my Mullen works just fine.

Yes, John Hughey was noted for his bar "shiver", coming down from Hughey Land.

Is Hugheyland close to Brainerd?

Erv,I,ve spent many years playing with different country Gospel groups and my best playing was done under the anointing of the Holy Spirit It,s those times I find myself playing far beyond my puny abilities and doing things I,ve never learned. Does this mean our Lord and Savior is a S.G.player? Hope so.Don,t think He plays organ or accordion though

Somewhere in the Bible-(Psalms,I think)-it says something like "play to the Lord with a ten-stringed instrument"

Somewhere in the Bible-(Psalms,I think)-it says something like "play to the Lord with a ten-stringed instrument"

Somewhere in the Bible-(Psalms,I think)-it says something like "play to the Lord with a ten-stringed instrument"

Somewhere in the Bible-(Psalms,I think)-it says something like "play to the Lord with a ten-stringed instrument"

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
Psalm 92