The Steel Guitar Forum

Every question I ask him he gave me a response. Had I not asked I would not know, I would be guessing and most of the time it would be wrong.

I told you that to tell you this. STOP GUESSING.
If you are struggling with your technique ASK!
If you are struggling with your equipment settings ASK!
If you are struggling with anything ASK ASK ASK!!!

There are several thousand members here with tons of knowledge and willing to share it, ASK THEM!!

I do not care if you have played for years, if you are not meeting with success YOU need to ASK for help. There is no need to continue to struggle when a little course correction may be all you need.

NBA players have played BB since they could walk, but there is always a shooting coach on every team that works with them to tweak this or that. The same goes here, a little of this or that could put YOU in the drivers seat vs the back seat.

Please do not go another day guessing and struggling, let others flatten your learning curve, not to mention saving you some money when you purchase something you know nothing about.

Call any time
Larry Behm
9/7/1/-2/1/9/-8/5/3/3

Ok, I'll start the ball rolling:

Larry, how the heck do you do that??

There are several thousand members here with tons of knowledge and willing to share it, ASK THEM

There are also several thousand members here that have very little knowledge and are willing to share it, DONT ASK THEM!

Bob Knight wrote:There are also several thousand members here that have very little knowledge and are willing to share it, DONT ASK THEM!

Could we get a list of those, please, Bob?

You know them already Jim.

Actually, they perform a useful service.
The FASTEST way to find the truth on the internet is to post an error. Corrections come FAST

Jim cock your head to the right and stick out your tongue, see how easy this is.

Bob you are correct, but sometimes they do have some good things to say as with the internet they have done a ton of research.

I check with many different people looking for just any two that might have the same response.

Next.

Larry Behm

I thought everything on the internet was true..

How else could it get there ??

Bonjour No !!!!!

Would it be alright if I use a capo on my acoustic guitar?
JUST KIDDING !!!

OK the fun is over, let's get serious..

Larry Behm

I've known a lot of folks who have questions, but aren't quite sure WHAT the question is.
I've been that guy a few times.
I know this forum has enriched me with more knowledge than I've been able to share.
All I have is an outlook and enthusiasm. And maybe a bit of experience

Asking GOOD questions is probably an O.K. idea too? The only other music site I spend any time on is the unofficial Warmoth forum. Around here, the "admission price" is that you're basically either smart enough or stupid enough to try to play steel guitar (the jury's still out). On the Warmoth forum, the ticket is, you put together and finish off your own six, four, five or seven-string electric guitars/basses. It's a good deal more freewheeling site than here, but there's a core of 15?... 20? of us who, between us all, can answer close to anything about an electric guitar.

It does skew quite a bit younger than here, but the real Warmoth company links to that site so there is a certain tiny sense of responsibility. It's still painfully obvious when a 13-year-old kid tears through a dozen other websites accumulating a garbage pile of "learned" terminology and pops up on the Warmoth one with questions about... off-setting the accentuated upper midrange of a medium-scale wenge neck with a Seymour Duncan alnico 5 magnetic pickup as opposed to the alnico 3's... you're left shaking your head going "Whuf... whuf... WHA?" That's what them tone controls do...?

However, it's also equally obvious when a little kid who knows nothing DOES make the time and effort to determine exactly what he doesn't know, and then asks about how to get to the procedural details to go from point A, to A.5, to B, B.5 etc. And now there are some not-so-little kids there who knew nothing five years ago - and they're doing their own fretwork, and modding and repairing guitars for their whole high school, just from that forum, asking GOOD questions and organizing their own brain.

I always get a few students who preface (and seek to define) their lessons by saying "I don't really have a very good memory." And about the only thing I can responsibly tell them is to shut up and play your guitar for a while, and then you WILL. Ignorance may not quite be bliss, but it certainly is a whole lot easier to fix than rank stupidity.

Larry Behm wrote:
I told you that to tell you this. STOP GUESSING.
If you are struggling with your technique ASK!
If you are struggling with your equipment settings ASK!
If you are struggling with anything ASK ASK ASK!!!

There are several thousand members here with tons of knowledge and willing to share it, ASK THEM!!

I do not care if you have played for years, if you are not meeting with success YOU need to ASK for help.

my question is, 'could you calm down a little, larry?'.

The problem with offering advice on the forum regarding technique is that you get accused of being pompous and arrogant and stuck in your old ways. Never-mind that some of the old techniques actually work pretty well. "Technique" seems to be a dirty word to many folks on this forum. It's sad.

Man, why is everybody so negative?. All Larry is saying is that the forum is a place to ask questions and get answers. What's the downside of that?

The question isn't about Who's opinion or information is "right" or "wrong" that's entirely subjective based upon what the player wants to accomplish,

What Larry is getting at, and I completely agree on the matter, is always trying to figure everything out Yourself is NOT always the most productive method...especially when You're just beginning something as complex as PSG, I'd still be sitting out in left field trying to figure My way around the pedals and knee levers if it weren't for the help of all the MUCH more experienced players that I have the extreme good fortune of knowing and being able to call My good friends.

It honestly is EXACTLY like Larry is always saying regarding Our NW steel guitar jams...it's all about the brotherhood...there literally is not a one of Us that would still be trying to wrap Our heads around this incredible instrument if it weren't for someone along the way...whether it be through a record, a CD, a TV appearance or like Larry and a fair number of others Who actually had the good fortune to meet and talk with some of the individuals that made this instrument mainstream...Buddy, Paul, Tom, Lloyd...without rookies like Myself being able to pick the brains of those that actually were DIRECTLY influenced by those legends of the steel guitar I honestly don't know how any of Us could hope to keep the PSG alive, like Larry said...if You have a question ASK there IS NOT a one of Us with ANY kind of experience under Our belts that won't at least TRY to help...isn't that right Guys?

Joshua, I totally agree. I've only met Larry a few times, and all of them over 20 years ago. I used to drive truck cross-country and Larry's band used to play at Jubitz. He was then, and still is, INCREDIBLY willing to share anything from knowledge to licks to equipment tips.
You have a great resource in him.
I bet he doesn't remember me, but I recall him. And well.
(I STILL have the Vern Collins cassette I bought from him)

I suspect the point he was making is that most of us are like him: more than willing to help, and if you ask, an answer is coming.

Larry is a great influence for me, not to mention a good friend with a ton of talent and 40 years of experience behind him. I have gained so much in knowing him, and when I "asked" for his help and opinions, based on that vast experience, he has devoted much time and dedication to improve my understanding of my equipment, my playing style, and an overall appreciation for the pedal steel guitar, that inanimate object that brings us all so much frustration and endless enjoyment. Bottom line, I asked Larry. That is the point I believe he is trying to make here.

So Fred calls me today, talks about buying my videos, we talk a lot about his playing, he sends me sample videos of his playing, I tell him he does not need my videos he is well on his way, but we can do some Skyping about blocking.

He thanks me for my feedback on the videos as he plays at home, not a lot of steelers in his area to spend time with and has questions. HE ASKED, TOOK THE TIME TO CALL, CHAT, LOOKED FOR FEEDBACK.

This is what I am talking about, dial someone up you feel might knows one more chord or lick than you do and have a conversation.

Another steel called, we talked for an hour, I am going to try the Fred Kelly delrin thumb pick, orderd some from Fred Kelly should be here next week. Had he not shared with me his findings I would not have gone looking, now I am. I am always open to new things, may not buy them, but am always open.

With these two examples above in just two days, pick up the phone, make a friend, get some advise, spend some money (or not), HAVE FUN.

Larry Behm

What you said, Larry, the only truly stupid question is the one you wanted to ask but didn't...

Keep an open mind and don't quit learning...
If this means asking a question, do it.
We all have something to contribute...I have only spoke with Larry a few times but, he is always ready to help and is still looking for knowledge on our favorite subject....pedal steel.

Old Bud

PS: I will be dragging my eighty one year old body to Portland this year and I expect to learn a lot out there.

A list of who to ask and believe me they know! Jody Cameron,Fred Justice and of course our beloved Jimbeau Cohen.

Don't ask me. I don't know S__T!!

You don't know who, Smiley?

Joshua Gibson wrote:The question isn't about Who's opinion or information is "right" or "wrong" that's entirely subjective based upon what the player wants to accomplish,

What Larry is getting at, and I completely agree on the matter, is always trying to figure everything out Yourself is NOT always the most productive method...especially when You're just beginning something as complex as PSG, I'd still be sitting out in left field trying to figure My way around the pedals and knee levers if it weren't for the help of all the MUCH more experienced players that I have the extreme good fortune of knowing and being able to call My good friends.

It honestly is EXACTLY like Larry is always saying regarding Our NW steel guitar jams...it's all about the brotherhood...there literally is not a one of Us that would still be trying to wrap Our heads around this incredible instrument if it weren't for someone along the way...whether it be through a record, a CD, a TV appearance or like Larry and a fair number of others Who actually had the good fortune to meet and talk with some of the individuals that made this instrument mainstream...Buddy, Paul, Tom, Lloyd...without rookies like Myself being able to pick the brains of those that actually were DIRECTLY influenced by those legends of the steel guitar I honestly don't know how any of Us could hope to keep the PSG alive, like Larry said...if You have a question ASK there IS NOT a one of Us with ANY kind of experience under Our belts that won't at least TRY to help...isn't that right Guys?

Well said Josh! It really is about "the brotherhood" and picking the brains of experienced players. Not to mention I'm finding more and more that steelers are more than willing to share their knowledge and opinions with those willing to ask. I was recently at a jam in Texas and got to meet some really great players and talk steel with them. And I meet a few other newbies like myself. It was great to share our experiences learning this incredible instrument. For me it's all about the community. Talking to players, watching player, listening to steel, using the internet and all the resources you can find.