The Steel Guitar Forum

what instructional videos did YOU like best when learning steel guitar?

did you choose a variety or stay with one particular "teacher"?

so many choices.....so little time.....

Terry, It really depends somewhat on how you learn best and what area you're looking for improvement in. If you narrow that down some you can hone in on the vids that might be most helpful. For example, there are videos loaded with live performance licks, but no explanation or tab (BE's various live stuff, The Lloyd and Tommy E9 video, lots of Swing concerts) which are great for someone who can pick up a lot by ear, and some visual position clues. At the other end of the spectrum are the tapes where each lick is talked through string by string, for those who don't like tab but want note-by-note lessons (Steve Palousek, Wally Moyers,etc.) Then there are courses with Tab and video combined, like all of Newman's stuff, Buddy's C6, Jernigan, Wright. Some are based on songs and licks, some on just technique. (And also, generally separated into E9, C6, non pedal, Reso etc). What specifically are you looking for?
In my case, there weren't any videos available when I started (no video players either!) If I had to start today on E9 I'd probably recommend the Newman series for great basics. I like watching everything I can, there's something to learn from everybody!
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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 11 December 2003 at 03:34 PM.]</p></FONT>

I like Jeff Newman's videos, but I am one of those people who like talented, hard working, difficult, opinionated, hard headed people (Especially if they are smaller than me!)

Jeff wouldn't want me to say so, because I'm no good as a steel player, but I spent a week at his cabin about a month ago and had the time of my life. I am going back for sure (If he lets me in!).

Jeff has a teaching method and he sticks with it. He is a great teacher, player, and if you like people with the qualities that I described above, you gotta like the heck out of Jeff. Get to know his stuff and if your lucky, get to spend some time with Jeff. You'll never regret it.

David,

Your post makes me smile. I don't usually associate "difficult, opinionated, hard headed" with "great teacher".

I've got some Newman videos arrivng soon, so I guess I'll soon get some idea of what you are referring to.

Jeff Newman is a great instructer. I've gotten a lot better since I got his Up From the Top A&B pedal dvd. The up from the top method makes sense to me. Start with the A&B pedals, move onto the L lever, then the R. Pricey stuff, but that's what I'm gonna go with in E9. I think I'm also going to try Herby Wallace's 100 licks, just for some fun stuff, before go on with the rest of the Up from the Top series. I'm just staring on C6 now, and I'm really considering Jeff's C6 instruction. Ward

i have heard alot about the JN tapes and have looked at them on his website. Ward is right on being pricey but i guess "you get what you pay for."

being new to the steel guitar, i don't want to get over my head. i think i may start w/ the JN A/B video and go from there. i think i need to start well and NOT get the bad habits.

thanks to all who responded.

It's hard to bite the bullet and shell out $100 for a video (Up From the Top), but I've got to admit I can now work my way around chord progressions a bit, and I'm starting to develop my own licks. Worth it I suppose.

When you get to my age, "opinionated, hard headed" etc. are terms of respect and endearment. Anyone as professional and accomplished as Jeff Newman is (and has been at the top of his field for as long as he has, and doesn't have strong opinions and a forceful personality is deficient in some way in my book.

Don't get me wrong. After spending time at his place one-on-one, he is a thoughtful and serious teacher and a very nice person. I wish I lived next door to him not just because I would like him as a neighbor, but because the place he lives is as beautiful of a place as you can ever imagine.

I think Bruce Bouton's "Learn To Play Pedal Steel Guitar" video is great. He teaches everything there is to know about playing steel guitar. He'll play scales, chords, and melodies two times through so you can understand how he explains it. He also explains how to use the knee levers too. Brett Day, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

For right hand improvement, Joe Wright's "Secret of the Wright Hand" video/book is great.

It teaches finger independence and interchangeability which is the key to being able to play any string pattern in any order, which is the basis of being able to hear it in your head and then play it. It is not an overstatement to say it revolutionized my playing. Now my right hand can play the things I hear at brisk tempos, before it was holding me back.

The course is not pick blocking specific, but the exercises are much easier pick blocking in my experience. I used it as a combined right hand training/pick blocking course.

I come at steel from the 6 string guitar world and there I would focus on the fretting hand and the right hand sort of follows. On steel the right hand has a much bigger role, both note selection (which string to pick) and blocking.
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Scott Swartz on 17 December 2003 at 10:40 AM.]</p></FONT>