The Steel Guitar Forum

Gentlemen (and ladies?...). I just joined the Forum, I am a 46 year old pro guitarist, (6 string), I live in the hill country south of Manchester, England, (where it always rains, but it's beautiful!), and I have always loved the sound of the pedal steel guitar. When I had my mid life crisis, (which lasted the last 15 years), I didn't buy a flashy car, I bought a Carter Starter . Pedal steels are rare in England, and as I know jack **** about them, I reckoned this was the right purchase to start with.I have played 6 string guitar for 40 years, and have managed to scrape a living in pro and semi pro bands and by teaching, but I always knew, deep down, that I had to take a journey, a long tough journey, into the wonderous pedal steel. I need education into the history and tradition of this fabulous instrument, into proper technique, and proper practice routines, and suggested listening material. I need to learn from players like yourselves. Incidentally, I don't see any players from England posting in this forum, does anybody know of one,or a teacher over here? I think the Steel Guitar Forum is great, hats off to b0b for getting this thing up and running. I feel priveliged to have joined this community and will endeavour to serve the tradition of this instrument. I don't suppose I will be able to kick ass on it for a good few years...

welcome to this wonderful forum. Like you, I am late to pedal steel guitar. 40 yrs of standard tuning electric guitar. I lucked into a great old ShoBud early last year. a year has gone by and although I cant rock it I can actually get something out of this old steel. after listening to pedal steel most of my life my ear, and help from videos and the pros here, I have been able to suss out several tunes.
if I dont listen to anyone else I actually sound great. but when I put on a Buddy Emmons CD I am rightly 'sobered'.
the few beginner videos I ran through hlped me to get started. my experience on guitar helps believe it or not.
you have come to the right place to learn the history of pedal steel. many players here are living archives! (I am not worthy).

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Mark,

Welcome. I also live where it rains a lot, but is beautiful. Seattle, Washington.
I play a Carter S10. There aren't many steelers in my area so I'm always checking out stuff up here.

Good luck and practice, practice, practice.

Mel

welcome to this great Forum Mark
you'll never get back out...........alive
Yes, there are quite a few Brits here
there's also a British Steelies Society that you should check out : http://groups.msn.com/TheBritishSteeliesSociety/messageboard.msnw
Good Luck on your Journey

Hi Mark. I'm relatively new to the forum myself. You'll find all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff from weird and wonderful people(check all sections). I have been at it for nearly thirty years(picking that is) and have probably spoke to two or three steel players in all that time till I discovered the forum. So;
Fill yer boots!
Cheers. Arch.

Hi Mark,
Welcome to the world of steel guitar and the Steel Guitar Forum. I have some instructional tapes that I have had for years. Actually I was thinking of taking them over to where I took lessons many years ago in hopes some student would like to have them. If you would be interested in having some of them, send me and e-mail with your name and address and I'll wpap them up and send them to you. No charge.

well i joined the foum less than a year ago. i started out on a carter starter also. i have to travel 150 miles for lessons. can't afford that so i bought some tapes and started teaching myself. Scotty's music in st louis missouri has excellent material. i am self teaching at this point in time and doing ok. i would say that the best thing to do is pratice pratice pratice. the more you pratice the better you will be. i bought a book on learning to read music for psg. it was a loss to a degree cause they don't write music for psg they use tab sheets. but the book had a lot of good songs in it to pratice on and different exercises. so in the long run it was a very good book. there are a bunch of people close by me that know how to play but either don't teach or not able to teach due to health reasons. but i love the insterment and i am progressing some but would be better if i didn't have to travel so far for lessons. good luck with your journey. doc

try this for local players
online steelers

Hi Mark,
There are loads of us playing over here!!!!!! and quite a few in your area
that have been around for ages. Ron Bennet must be just down the road from you,he not only is a good player but he builds a good steel as well!! Why don`t you make the journey down to my steel players meeting tommorow ?? you could maybe meet 100 of us!!!!

I just want to thank everyone who replied to my posting with generosity, good advice and tips. I already feel part of the community!