The Steel Guitar Forum

Check this out...

Barbara Mandrell Pickin'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nYvDTi_u9s

Banjo, dobro, E9 pedal steel on Foggy Mtn Breakdown, and then a very bluesy number on C6 (Milk Cow Blues??), after which she switches to sax on the same tune!

Amazing!!

- Dave

No fiddle ?

My Brother took a tour of her home in Nashville (Fontanel) and said they announced that she is the world's foremost Pedal Steel Guitarist.

Poor Buddy was knocked off the throne.

I saw her play that live (same routine, same instruments) at a fair here in Massachusetts back in the 1970s. I was impressed!

And Norm Hamlet, Haggards steel player was her steel teacher. The girl is above average and loaded with talent.

is that Cookie Jones she kicked out of the steel chair?

two great pickers, but not my favorite tone on that Emmons.

As talented as she is lets not forget she was not hard to look at either. Barbara plays about anything she picks up.

I first met Barbara, she was 12, My dad built her a Monster Steel...it was bigger than her!!!...A true super talent..Just remember, Steel Guitar took her to being a star...))))

And three finger picks!
Erv

I recall seeing one of her shows where she did vocals, steel, etc. & one sister fiddled while the other sister was on drums. A huge super talent.
As David mentioned the steel made for her [a Wright Custom?] in her early days dwarfed her. That also showed up in the movie of her life. Mr. Hamlet taught her to play some hot stuff at a young age & she was a quick learner. Looking at her right hand [for one thing] she learned excellent technique.

The 'blues tune' starts out as 'St Louis Blues'., I think.

Was she using a Stevens bar on PSG? I can't quite make it out.

She's more than competent on each instrument. It's a slick routine.

No, it's a bullet bar.
Erv

I like how she pulls off one boot when she gets to the pedal steel, but leaves the boot on that operates the pedals!

Here's a short video of Barbara Mandrell showing her talents on steel guitar. Anything known about the steel she's playiing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iskLvDD4ccY

I agree with Roger, it started out as " St Louis Blues".

I remember, at one time, I heard that her game plan was to go to Nashville to play Pedal Steel. I used to watch her show, Barbara Mandrell Show, just to watch her play her Pedal Steel. The Steel Player does look like Cookie Jones. I met him at one of her shows. Heck of a nice guy.

Greg- I think that the guitar in that short clip is a Mosrite?