The Steel Guitar Forum

I am looking for some steel guitar lessons in the olympia wa area. Any teachers/players in the area? Can I hear any steel guitarists in any live bands around here? Many thanks,Fred

Yes please and please live equi-distant from me and Fred so we can both get lessons Im in Seattle Fred and havent been able to find anyone yet. Alot of people from this board sure have been helpful. I know nothing beats personal instruction tho and Im still lookin for that.

Id be interested to hear about bands w/ steel players in this area as welll...
Best of luck Fred.

Boys keep searching, there are quite a few good steelers in the Tacoma and Seattle area, just got to get to one and the rest will surface.

Dan Tyack
Stan Remick
Wally Giffin
Wayne Franco
Jim West

Thanks for the replies and if you are a PSG instructor in SEA/TAC area pleae don't be bashfull,Fred

Yeah been pestering Dan, He's a busy guy and Im sure with the holidays is extra busy.

Still hoping to find an instructor in these parts. If anyone knos of anybody, sned them my way, Thanks ns a great new year to all,Fred

Well, I live near Tacoma WA, and have been playing steel for several years now. I haven't found a teacher around here and so have been teaching myself PSG. I've been a keyboard player for years, so obviously the musical background helps. I have not found a lot of places to hear steel guitar around here, either, I've had to travel a bit. As far as teaching myself, I have used a lot of courses, and most importantly, I play with others regularly - I play PSG with a musical group from my church and I'm sure playing with others is the best way to learn. I'd sure like to hear what you find out about anything else local.

Barb

Yes, I am considering driving down to Portland from Seattle (3 hours each way) to get a lesson, just so I can know if im even close to being on the right track. Ive asked a couple well respected steelers in this town and they have indicated that there seems to be a shortage in this area of PSG players , not to mention instructors. Portland seems to have many great players and folks willing to teach so I guess I will bite the bullet and try to get down there sometime soon. I just dont wanna hear three years down the road that my right hand technique is all wrong or that my vibrato stinks or that Ive been wearing the picks upside down or something ...hehe.

I found 29 PSG players in WA. Have you seen these or tried all of them ?? Just trying to help, you may have already tried them all....
http://www.onlinesteelers.com/stateslist.cfm?cmnStates=WA


James<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by James Sission on 04 January 2006 at 03:43 PM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks James! not all of those 29 are PSG players, some are lap it seems...6 of those twenty nine are in my area (looks like Spokane is the steel capital of WA state), of those 6, 4 are pedal steelers..I just emailed two of em asking if they teach or know anyone that does. Its kinda hard to intrude on someone like that without knowing what they are up to, if they are even a good player let alone a decent instructor, or if they are just a flat out loon, etc. So I emailed the two on that list that Larry mentioned above as being good playersthat live within an hour of me. we'll see..and if I find someone Barbara and Fred, i will certainly let you know, please do the same and best of luck and happy pickin!

Ben,

I'm far from having the talent of an instructor, as I've only been playing on and off for about eight years, but I'd be more than happy to sit down with you and see if you're on the right track -- I feel qualified to do that! I know what that's like. I picked up the fiddle about two years ago and wanted to meet someone just for the same thing -- make sure I was on the right track. I've also got Bruce Bouton's tape (which, in itself, is enough to get you going), David Wright's "Secrets of the Wright Hand," and Lloyd Maine's "60 Hot Licks in 60 Seconds" that you can borrow.

This is if you don't find a proper instructor! I live in Newcastle there by Factoria.

Al

My number is 503-722-7562. Come on down to Portland I will set a spell with ya.

Larry Behm

Larry,

Didn't you do an instructional video? I could have sworn that when I took a few lessons from Butch Cornwell years ago that he showed me one of your tapes...am I just remembering the name wrong?

Al

Sorry, I was just trying, I know how hard it is to find a quality teacher. Fortunately, I am in an area where a guy can find one...James

No james I was serious when I said thanks..
I may get an instructor from that list after all! Al, I would LOVE to sit down with you sometime soon...I will email you in a bit. Same with you Larry, I will definetly be coming down to Portland sometime hopefully soon and would absolutely be honored to sit with you and try and learn a bit. wow..things are shaping up...hehe..maybe theres hope after all (until you all hear me play..hehe)

Larry can show you a bit about singing from behind that guitar, too.

To Fred & Ben,
I saw your posts earlier and thought sure you'd find someone closer than me. But now I see you are still considering driving to Portland. I am in Arlington, just north of Everett. I worked as full time steel player from early 70's to 1995. I taught violin, guitar, banjo, and steel guitar at Arlington music for many years until the store closed a few years back. I'm working as an electronic tech now and playing with a band again. My first love is the E9 Nashville stuff. I'm not officially teaching again but am willing to make special arrangements. If I can help you and am not too far away, let me know.
Best regards,
Johnny<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Ummel on 05 January 2006 at 10:08 AM.]</p></FONT>

I think I may have found someone about thirty miles away from me. I might get my first lesson this saturday! Fred and Barbara I will ask this gentleman if he would consider taking on yet another student besides myself if you are interested but he is north from me so thats even further from you both.

I would still love to sit down with Al, John and Larry and hope to meet you all at some point.

Thanks to everyone here for your help! I will let you all now how my first lesson goes. man, Im excited!

Good news Ben, let us know how it works out...James

You can call Mondo's pub in Lynnwood (425) 775-6110 I understand Forrest Lee Jr has a band playing there on January 15th-=-but it is not on their calendar so I would call to confirm before making the trek. The steel player in that band, Martin, is awesome even though he professes that keyboard is his first love. Also Forrest is an incredible guitar player. If the date is confirmed I will be there soaking up all I can. With the smoking ban for Washington pubs it'l be alot more pleasant than last time I was up there. If you go check your map its tough to navigate there.

------------------
Dillon Jackson
abiband.com
ZUM U-12, Carter S-10; NV-1000

Painless Steel Productions. www.aracnet.com/~lcbehm

Larry Behm

Someone mentioned that there seems to be a shortage of steel players in Seattle. I'm surprised. I live in Port Townsend. There isn't much country up here. I play whenever I can. Anyone know how I might find a band in Seattle area looking for a steel?

My teacher is working out great!
I couldnt be happier.

Hey Dillon, I called Mondos and asked about Forest, they said he's in nashville right now but they hope to be booking him when he gets back in a few weeks. They said they'd post it on their website.

Tomorrow (sat Jan 21)at the Tractor here in seattle, the band is suposed to have a good lap steel player...gonna try and make that show.

Pete-check craig's list (google craigs list seattle, then click on musicians). I have seen an add for a PSG player wanted, and several adds trying to form country bands within the past two weeks. I wanna get a couple months under my belt with the guitar first but thats what i am gonna do when Im ready.