The Steel Guitar Forum

Had a great session with Gary Sill last week. I am a guitar player who is learning steel. 55 years young.

I play by ear and always have. Of course, I know chords, but when a song is played I can find the chords on the guitar and off I go. Don't know how to read music and could care less.

But when picking up the steel, there are notes everywhere and charts, etc. I was getting paralysis by analysis because I wanted to learn some theory and how to apply that to the steel. I do NOT want to short-cut.

So things like knowing the notes that make up a major chord are something that I didn't need before. But with the steel, what good does it do? This was where I was at. Applying some music theory/knowledge to the steel guitar was what I was struggling with.

Then in my session with Gary and his instruction, the light bulb went off. If you know the three notes that make up a major chord, now I can search for those on the neck and find a bazillion ways to make a C chord for example.

I know this is elementary to all here, but when one like me who has successfully played by ear on other instruments, it was a struggle and I knew I would shortcut my learning if I didn't learn how to apply the knowledge.

Although I am a work-in-progress (more work than progress), the light bulb went off and this has been a tremendous encouragement to me. This plus the applicability of scales in the same manner is beginning to open my eyes to applying some theory to the instrument.

Maybe having prior music ability is an advantage to some, but for me, it was becoming a disadvantage. After my two sessions with Gary, I am beginning to see the light. So to others who are in the same boat, light bulbs will go off and things will start making sense. My encouragement is to definitely have a few sessions with someone.

Thanks to Gary. Also, Lee Johnson, if you are reading this, thank you as well for help starting out. I am finding out there are good people in the steel community.

Hi Bruce,I just read your post on the forum and wonder
where you are in Indiana. We may be fairly close. I'm
West Union Illinois, about 30 miles SW of Terre Haute.
If your close enough maybe you'd like to come over.

Carl "Lucky" Kilmer

Fairly close. I live in Bedford which is south of Bloomington about 20 miles.

I guess you're a lot younger than I am. We are about 86
miles apart. For an old man like me, fairly close is about
30 miles or so. I deleted my phone and mail address off
here to prevent any scams etc. You have both and your
welcome to call or email anytime. I'm always home.

30 yrs ago I was in music school and was a whiz at theory-studied jazz guitar and was "fairly" proficient at comping/soloing. Then I decided to concentrate on tuba to land a gig (no theory needed). Interim I played some classical guitar-lots of technique, style, memorization (no theory needed). I lost the knowledge.

I am learning steel and 49 years young. This instrument is so complicated; I found at least 10 different ways to play the same C major triad. I practiced and learned a few things by rote. Then eventually I go back and discover the theory of it; and the more I imitate passages I find in songs on Youtube or my CD's I see the theory related to the chords and positions/grips.

So theory is essential to the steel! Hats off to those who can play off the top of their head and know every chord, line, and where it's leading. It's certainly a strain on the brain but good mental exercise. OK-enough of that-good luck!

Another Indiana (beginning) steeler here! I have been working on the same thing, Bruce. Can you share what you are using to learn more theory? Thanks!

The study of theory can be really enjoyable, especially when you start applying what you learn to the music you are playing.

It isn't enough to know where all the C's are on the neck, but where is the first inversion? where is the second inversion? And when to use each one.

I've always found Mark Levine's Jazz Theory book to be my bible. It is geared towards jazz playing and it assumes you can read music, but everything is there. But there are a number of good resources for theory.

For me, I have no choice. I play a 10 string alkire eharp tuning on a non-pedal steel. There are literally no resources, in the form of tabs, videos, recordings of other performers to imitate. Fortunately, I've been able to collect most of the original instructions put out by Eddie Alkire in 30's, 40's and 50's. But for the most part you are on your own.

Reading sheet music, an 80 year old eharp method, and a deep dive into theory are my only tools to create my own arrangements and play music.

I lived in South Bend IN and played steel about 20 years there and in lower Michigan. Now I’ve lived for about 20 more just SW of Indy in Martinsville IN. Still playin’.

Bruce - - three steel guitars, and plenty of good country at the 'Toys For Tots' show this Sunday at two o'clock just off of Fairfax Road, on Moffat Ln. A place called "Buddy Bills" About a mile from the turn off onto Moffat South side of Bloomington. Jimmie



































;:

It’s so great when we make connections that make steel and music make more sense, and allow us to express our inner music better!
In the spirit of wanting to help this along, my theory course is designed to help make sense of the most useful theory applied directly to the E9 tuning. No tab, just laying it right out on the guitar. I got excited about this when I found that applying some basic theory made me advance much more quickly on the bandstand.
http://www.markvanallen.com/store_books.html

I'm an old guitar player who's new to steel too Bruce. I slowly absorbed a working knowledge of theory over the years of playing and working to be better. But, Like you, I am essentially a play by ear guy. What my (I'd say somewhere in the middle of intermediate level) knowledge of theory helps me with, is that if I hear, say John Hughey play an unusually voiced chord, I can hear it and work out what it is using my knowledge of extended chords. It also helps me quickly figure out chord progressions (which was a BIG help when I charted out Lost In The Feeling).

That being said, nothing else has really helped me at all with the steel. Smooth execution, right hand technique and memorizing where everything is, have been my stumbling blocks. - Oh, and finding the large amount of time I need to practice.

My "How to Easily Play the E9 course has basically what we went over. It is always exciting to see someone get excited over what is being presented. You will be a great steel player, already on your way.

Thanks,

Gary Sill

www.sillmusicsupply.com