The Steel Guitar Forum

We have a contemporary service but the steel fit right in, small parts here and there. The worship team leader hates country music but likes the steel now and then. Just goes to show you that if we work at it steel can fit in just about anywhere. Now I am going for the dobro, I already played mandolin once.

Larry Behm

I play at our church every week. We started going to Trinity Fellowship Church in White House TN about 2 years ago. Doug Jernigan has been attending there for a long time. He and I both have guitars setting up on the platform. When he's in town, we both play (like yesterday) and if he's out working, then I play. We have a full band. Johnny either plays bass if needed, or else he runs sound. We have a great church. We're not afraid of a little country sound at our church. I'll bet God likes it too.
Joan

Leonard T. Zinn plays at the church he attends here in Michigan, and they love him and the instrument.
He also, plays at surrounding church's with his sound tracks.
He is becoming very popular,around here.


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Evelyn Whitney on 29 April 2002 at 06:11 AM.]</p></FONT>

I'll be working steel into our services soon at our church; Thompson Station Church, Thompson Station, TN.

I have the pleasure of playing for a contemporary service each Sunday am. I switched from lead guitar to steel about a year ago for a special "country" service. The music director was blown away at how much the steel added and the rest is history. Wonderful instrument! I also play with a gospel group "God's Country" that does hard country gospel. It doesn't get any better than this for an old picker....

I had the same experience, Larry. The music director asked me to keep from doing so many bends, but did like how the steel made the praise band sound more full.

Tony

I play at my church( Four Square Pentecostal) here In Sonora Ca. They are kind enough to let me play for them every Sunday.I just got baptised yesterday! Ole Dave Frye

My very first public steel gig was at our church just a couple months back. The first time I played there was a dud, but the second time worked out really well. I usually play piano at the services so I can only turn to the steel in those few songs which don't need piano. Our worship leader is also not a country fan so it's a bit of a challenge for her to flex and let the steel in, but she is willing to some degree. All the other band members really like it. I may have to see if I can persuade her a bit more. And I've asked the band members to pray about the steel's place in the worship band, too (imagine that!).

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<font size=-1>Bill L | My steel page | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?</font>

Dave, you just got baptized? Cool! (Well, I guess that depends on the water temperature in the batistry.)

*<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 03:59 PM.]</p></FONT>

Steel and lead guitar every Sunday morning and evening at Hartselle First Assembly of God in Hartselle, AL. The steel is the main lead instrument and I also switch back and forth to lead guitar in order to keep the Tele man (me) in his proper place!

I only play my Tele for the few songs on Wednesday nights because the steel is at home in the woodshed.


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Frank Estes

I play in chuch Sunday. We play mostly contemperary music, And most of the time i play sax. But I brought my steel out and played it on some of the country flavored tunes and people really liked it. The worship leader wants me to bring it back and play some more.I had some real nice coments from the people there.

Every Sunday at Watermark Community Church in Dallas. The best gig in town. Contemporary service with musical styles quite literally all over the board. I'm very fortunate that our worship team leader and all the other musicians really like all kinds of music and had (have) no preconceptions or biases about steel guitar when I joined. Also play dobro. Musically, it has provided me with the best training I could imagine. Spiritually, it's the most satisfying way I can use my meager talents to serve the Lord. www.watermarkcommunity.org/
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Randy Pettit on 29 April 2002 at 08:36 AM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Randy Pettit on 29 April 2002 at 08:37 AM.]</p></FONT>

I play six string about once a month and sing tenor in the choir. I never thought I could do it after 40 years of playing secular music by ear but find it's very interesting trying to sight read the music lines.

Depending on the various translations, there are three references in Psalms to giving praise to the Lord "on an instrument of 10 strings".
The steel is definitely the instrument for church services!
Erv

You will hear better music at Joan's church than you will at the Opry!! After all Johnny has been busted down to sound man and he ain't too shabby
jp

I play every other weekend with a very contemporary praise band at my church. It is a killer band--all session level musicians and a monster sound system (flying EAW with Crest 56 in FOH console and 12 monitor mixes). There are 3 services--one Saturday night and 2 on Sunday morning. The church seats about 1900.

The steel is very featured, and I get to play some very cool stuff. It is not at all country (they told me to think U2), so I do a lot of delay oriented parts. They love it! And so do I.

Every sunday morning and Wed eve. We show up sundays at 6:45am to rehearse for two consequtive services. Similar situations to Larry, Tony and Bill. They love the steel though and dont direct what I play. I double on accoustic and bass. I'm grateful to be valued there and to serve God in music ministry. However as a steeler I sorely need the developement that comes with playing traditional country, and there aint too many country gospel churches round these parts. Country aint swingn' too much either in the secular.(Sorry to get off trac) <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steven Welborn on 29 April 2002 at 11:00 AM.]</p></FONT>

Larry, I no longer play in my home Church since the bass and piano players moved on to another Church. We had a very good thing going for about 1 1/2 years. However, I play with a Southern Gospel group by the name of ""Fairhaven" and we play just about every Sunday night at different Churches. There is always quite a bit of interest shown toward the steel guitar everywhere we play.
Jerry

I am fortunate to play three times a week at Trinity Full Gospel Church in Carthage, Tennesse. Almost all our songs have a country flavor , and alot are traditional hyms from the hymnals. I have a great deal of influence over the choir director, my wife of 21 years.

The church we go to has a rock christian band
and I don't think the leader would want a steel. I went to the Cowboy Church one Sunday where Duane Marrs plays and they had a great country band. It was a great service and the band was one of the better bands I've heard here.

Our church is also country gospel to a certain degree, when I sing I play a rhythm and bass combo, singing alot of the Singing Cookes songs. It doesn't get much more country than them.

I play at our church each service. I am still relatively new to steel. I try to play what I can and always try not to be too loud when I try something new. It is definitely a good way to get the opportunity to play with other musicians and hopefully, make a contribution to the Lord's work.

Rick

I play steel (my wife's Sho-Bud LDG lives at the church) every Sunday at Wesley UMC at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. It's a contemporary service and my wife is the music director (that's how I got the gig!)

I play bass....