The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi all,

Just joined the Forum today. I'm a longtime guitar, banjo, etc. player, and teach in a university music dept. (kindly don't hold it against me) but I have only recently begun playing steel. It's been on my lifetime list for at least 45 years and now I'm finally taking lessons with an excellent pro, who is a fellow faculty member at our little community music school here in Urbana, Illinois.
Looking forward to being part of the conversation.

Tom Faux

Welcome aboard Tom, I too am a newbie, both to steel guitar and the group. I have played guitar for 50 years and have always said that the steel guitar was my favorite instrument, but never thought I could play one. I started in May just after turning 64, and am having more musical fun than I have had in years and years!!

Thanks Pete.
I heard a steel guitar at a county fair in northern Maine when I was about 12 years old and it raised the hair on the back of my neck. I've wanted to play ever since, and am finally getting to it.

Tom

Tom Faux wrote:Hi all,

Just joined the Forum today. I'm a longtime guitar, banjo, etc. player, and teach in a university music dept. (kindly don't hold it against me)

What, the university, or the banjo?

but I have only recently begun playing steel. It's been on my lifetime list for at least 45 years and now I'm finally taking lessons with an excellent pro, who is a fellow faculty member at our little community music school here in Urbana, Illinois.
Looking forward to being part of the conversation.

Welcome, Tom... glad to hear someone of the pedagogic persuasion is contributing. Tell us more... are you learning lap, dobro, or PSG? What styles intrigue you? What brought about your choice to start playing this instrument? I'm a swingnut, myself.

Hi Tom
I'm a new player myself from the ranks of the 6 string twisters
You'll pleasantly find everybody from beginners to the best players and guitar builders in the world here
As previously said somewhere on this forum:
Welcome to the musical backhoe!

Welcome to the wonderful world of pedal steel guitar!

Brett

Thanks.

It's the glittery electric one with all the pedals.

I take the wide view Stephen. I love the toe-curling Curley Chalker solos I've been listening to lately, Jerry Garcia's cool little ending on "Teach Your Children" just about killed me when I was 15, a dozen years ago I saw the Nigerian star King Sunny Adé on tour with the "African Beats--a sizzling Afro pop band with two pedal steel players, and last year the Campbell Brothers Gospel Steel group came to town and kicked my bootie, musically-speaking. For now I'm learning plenty of chords and a bit of volume control & we'll just see where it all goes.

It was the academic-musician thing that I needed to get off my chest. I guess admitting my banjo proclivities is probably alright on a forum like this.

Tom

Brett Day wrote:Welcome to the wonderful world of pedal steel guitar!

Brett

Thanks Brett!

you will have fun here ,lots to learn, and lots of help.
enjoy ,
sam.
but ,what is a banjo??????????????

Good luck on your journey tom.
I live about 90 minutes west of you in Springfield.
I have heard that there are a couple of real good steel pickers over there but I have never had the opportunity to meet any of them.

I am a long time Tele player - been playing the pedal steel for just more than 3 years now...
If you ever get around springfield look me up!

Don

Welcome to the forum. Lots of good info here.

I made the switch from lead to pedal steel when I started with pedal steel. I had started on lap steel 20 years before that but went to guitar and bass. Knowing guitar helped make the transition easier, as I would figure out licks on the lead then transfer them to Pedal Steel.

Finally...a university music professor joins the fray! Now we can put an end, once and for all, to those pesky "What chord is this?" arguments.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard Tom!

Wecome aboard Tom! This is a great place to find your honing points. Should have turned back while you had the chance. Now you're hooked and it won't turn loose.Happy Steelin'

Hey Tom, I'm a new steel picker, too. I joined this forum a couple of years ago, but finally took the plunge and bought a pedal steel. I knew it was going to be a big time commitment, but now with the boy starting college and moving out, I feel I got the time to make a go of it. That's great that you have a pro showing you the ropes, though I bet you can teach any one of us a thing or two as well.
See you around,
-Dan

Welcome.
I am 75 now and I have a stack of tab, CDs and old tapes with licks that I am going to learn as soon as I get around to it...............plus there is this lick I hear in my head that I've gotta get out so I can brag to the guys at the next gig.............I don't think it ever ends.

Tom Faux wrote:...I guess admitting my banjo proclivities is probably alright on a forum like this...

You're obviously new around these parts...

welcome! I live in the same town. small world. Billy

Welcome aboard, Tom. Love your surname!

Howdy Tom -
Just watch which way you point that banjo!

Welcome to this great forum Tom
be careful when it comes to the b---o here
otherwise you're gonna have a ball
gettin' out of this ward is another matter ( lol )
btw : Faux is a French name - it's what the grim reaper carries round...
you are a Fo'bro now tho'

Welcome, Tom, from a fellow Illinois player.
It's always great to see new people taking up the steel guitar, regardless of the style they chose to play. What classes do you teach in the music department? Formal music training of any kind is always a plus when learning any instrument, and will add to the diversity of things a player will be able to do as they learn. For instance, I've sung for years in church choirs, and have enjoyed taking home some of the choral arrangements home and trying them on the steel. There's room for everyone at the "table with strings," just pull up a chair, sit down, and be yourself!

hello Tom.....my name is Chuck and I'm a steelaholic. I haven't had a drink since last time.

Welcome to the forum Lots of good folks here. Lots of help here. All you have to do is ask....

When someone mentions " I'm gonna kill you & put you in a box half your size" , They don't really mean it has to do with a banjo or steel....it's a tune ...Whew !! welcome ..JF

Welcome to this little fraternity, Tom! Steel just catches your whole person and keeps you spellbound like no other instrument.