The Steel Guitar Forum

Robert...many of us Forumites have seen the DVD of the Guy "claiming" to be the best...he was a joke and we had a good laugh about it. Most of them say about hanging out with steel players and watch etc etc etc...needless to say that because that's what we'll do anyway!! Many years ago I had a Paul Franklin tutor. He was showing how various players "think" when playing, and he covered many famous players. It was a good tutor, but he did stress to just try their styles but most importantly to develope your "own" style. Too many times we'll hear a steelie on a record, and not know who it was, but then on occasions we'd hear someone whom we can pick out immediately...like Paul...Ralph Mooney, John Hughey, and Sneeky Pete, and not forgetting Lloyd Green. I must admit I did to this day remember some of the stuff on that tutor. I'm not saying I play like Paul more like a million miles off target but it was money well spent even if you learn one good lick..then add to it to make it your own style

Micky Byrne U.K.

Roger, get ahold of forum member Richard Burton, who is also in the U.K.. He's a very good player, quite knowledgeable, and also knows how to explain things. If you can't get together with him, I'm sure he could recommend someone else for a few one-on-one lessons.

Hey Robert, I've been there also. I spent a lot of money that I consider to be wasted on such videos. I only buy Newman instructions and just a few others but the Jeff newman instructions are absolutely the best and believe you me I've tried many. This is frustrating and expensive only to find that you get a "talk it up" session. I'm not saying that Newman is the only video lessons that can help but saying that they are top of the line. Hope this helps. Feeling your pain.

Robert, I don't know if it's the same guy you're talking about, but I've seen several videos from a well-respected and self-promoting player that have very little actual content and frankly, a whole lot of hot air. For someone in his position, I wish he'd put some more thought and content into presentation. While there are a couple of other DVDs that are a little thin on content, I suggest you don't give up on them based on that experience, as there are some fantastic instruction vids loaded with good stuff. For beginners, the Newman "Up From The Top" and basic steel courses are great, as are Joe Wright's, Steve Palousek's beginner E9, and Bruce Bouton's old course on Homespun is still a good foundation.
There are many other videos that would be helpful as you progress. Just keep looking and asking other players what's helped them.

Hi Robert,

I'll bet that 50% of the instruction material I bought in my early days was not too useful, at least until I got to the level of skill and understanding where it COULD be useful. The Sierra Steel site offers some free, online basic training from Joe Wright that you may find helpful.

http://www.sierrasteels.com/lessons/e9th-lessons.html

Best wishes!

If you are not learning CUMULATIVE logic and THEORY based steel you are never going to learn the instrument. I have never seen so much DiSJOINTED and scattered lesson material as I've seen with steel guitar. Many of the DVD lessons out there are not cumulative based. If you don't know what step C is theoretically based on, how are you ever going to apply it? The other thing is that they hardly ever show the move in a practically based application or song. It doesn't make sense. Steve Palousek's Emmons courses and some of Jeff Newman's courses are cumulatively based. They don't pick something out of thin air without first showing you the theory base. Then they apply it directly to a song.
I've had a few people call me to "take SOME lessons". I now refuse because they are unwilling to learn theory first, and cumulative based knowledge. I've tried to teach 3 people so far who were unable or unwilling to learn theory.
There is way too much lick based DVD's out there.

Kevin's points are exactly why I base my courses on number system theory and integrating the "ear" or hearing of music with positions and licks on the guitar via that theory. A good grounding in this makes all other courses much more accessible and useful. Winnie Winston's book did a really good job integrating the concepts with song usage to introduce ideas and the E9 structure- before that book, and in much material since, the ideas are presented simply as songs, and if a person doesn't have the ability, desire, or interest to de-construct the song structure to see how to apply material to any song or situation, they won't get much out of a course.
Learning any musical instrument without seriously studying music theory (as distinct from music reading) is far more difficult and less rewarding.

Newmans "Chord Connection" is extremely helpful and effective.

Robert
If you live anywhere within driving distance of me I would be happy to spend some time with you. I used to teach pedal steel 30 plus years ago, and have a number of ex-students who went on to make the grade as pro players.

With all due respect Robert, to put the BB video in the same class as the 1 week video is just plain wrong!!!! I viewed the BB video after having learned to play, and a beginner player said the same thing about the video, I found that ALL the elements needed to become a pro player are contained in the video. I would give it another chance

Jim

I tried all sorts of DVDs and instructional methods, none of them had much continuity with respect to what you should concentrate on. I finally bought Jeff Newmans beginning course, it is well thought out and teaches techniques that are needed to begin playing. The theory and chord base is the hardest (aside from learning to pick) but Jeff carefully walks you through each section so that you can learn. I am still a novice steel player but I am having a lot more fun.

Joseph Barcus and Mickey Adams have some great stuff on youtube. As good or better than many of the things I've seen that are for sale.