The Steel Guitar Forum

Players at all levels. What is the ONE thing
you find most difficult in playing pedal steel guitar ???

Intonation

Intonation - that should be the first priority!

Intonation, intonation, and intonation.
It's a moving target. Being in tune with the band often entails being in tune with a guitar player who isn't. Never ending struggle.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

As a 6 year player it's been the mental thought process required while playing. I don't use tab or memorize songs so each fill or lead is constructed "on the spot". It makes it very challenging mentally, not to mention all the physical aspects of this instrument.

Blocking cleanly.

The critics!

A clean attack on the strings. Getting the notes to ring clearly.

Number one: Intonation.
Number two: Avoiding accidentally hitting the 2nd string.
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 20 December 2002 at 03:07 PM.]</p></FONT>

Intonation, by FAR.

1. Intonation
2. String attack
3. Proper use of volume pedal

Using volume pedal effective as others.
The overall tuning of the guitar.

Amen, Randy.

I've been playing a little over a year & I know where the chords are BUT If the intonation isn't there the chord still isn't right so

1. Intonation
2. Frustration

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JIM
"Carter SD10" "74" LTD & NASHVILLE 400, Profex II "55" Esquire, "63 Epiphone, "63" Precision,
"71" Jazz


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Whitaker on 20 December 2002 at 08:04 PM.]</p></FONT>

That about wraps it up. It looks like it is unaminous.

The hardest thing is playing a steel guitar in tune.

As Jim says if its'not in tune, the chords aren't right, for one thing.

I can't stand playing out of tune....al

<SMALL>most difficult in playing pedal steel guitar ???</SMALL>

Keeping the sexy girls away. It throws off my intonation.

Right and left hand technique. That includes intonation on Steels and Girls. I usually carry a big stick to keep them beat off when I am playing.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Kenny Dail on 20 December 2002 at 09:09 PM.]</p></FONT>

I would put Pitch ( keeping the bar straight) just slightly ahead of intonation and tuning..

Even the most perfectly tuned guitar will be sadly and offensively out of tune if you don't keep the dang bar straight !

But at the end of the day it's all the same stuff..

left hand, right hand , left foot, right foot, left knee, right knee..vision..ears,
soul...This is one heck of an Instrument to play...

tp

Finding people who appreciate it?

LOL!! It's already cost me one relationship so I know where you're coming from! Worst part is she got custody of the dog, at least I got custody of the Sho-Bud!!

That sounds familiar... at least I got custody of the cat AND the ShoBud

First time around I didn't get the dog or the cat..but I did get the Sho-Bud..just in time...

tp

oh yeh...the dog and cat left shortly after me...<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 21 December 2002 at 09:23 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hauling all the equipment upstairs to the local VFW and setting it up!

Blocking. When I've been in the music room longer than my wife thinks I should be there, her right cross is difficult to block while playing.

Convincing my wife that I really need another peice of Equipment, From there,,,I can put the rest into proper perspective..(LOL)...God Bless all and have a warm and thankfull holiday season...

Joe
Derby SD-10 4X5 Nashville 400 Fender twin
Lexicon MPX 100 Profex ll, Fender Passport 150 (and some other secret toys)