Is there a more difficult instrument to play?

Jim West · Posted 30 Jul 2002 10:43 am

The other day I was trying to describe to someone how the PSG is played. When I got done I realized that I may have done a disservice to the instrument because when I was done in my attempt to give this individual a "how to" on the instrument he looked at me and said, "that's a tough instrument to play".

I told him that it takes two feet, two knees and two hands as well as having to accurately position a bar with your left hand for proper intonation as well as develop a technique with your right with a thumbpick and two metal finger picks. Then I got into how you tune the thing. You have to tune the open strings then you have to tune the pedals and knee levers then your have to readjust some strings for cabinet drop and other mechanical variations.

Can it be that we are playing the most difficult instrument to play competently? I can't think of another instrument that requires so much attention.

Is there another instrument that has such a steep learning curve?

Tom Jordan · From: Wichita, KS

I'd have to put my vote in on the violin. I looks so simple but talk about a life time of commitment...it is all technique...especially trying to master all keys/double stops with one tuning.

Not to detract from our steel guitar though, which we all know takes a great amount of disipline to be proficient.

Just my $.02

Tom

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

After I had been playing 5 or 6 years, I took one of Jeff Newman's classes in Nashville, back when he was doing the 5 day, group lessons. I asked the question in class one day. "Is it just me, or are these things really hard to learn to play?" Jeff's answer was, "It's one of the most difficult instruments in the world to learn." If I had not have had so much time and money tied up and the burning desire to play the thing, I would have probably gave it up and went back to my Telecaster. There are always exceptions, but for the vast majority of us, yes, it is very difficult to learn. I have always concentrated on playing smooth and simple. Once I get the smoothness down, then I am going to move on to more complicated things. The only problem is I have been trying to get the smoothness down for 34 years and still don't have it to suit me. I don't think I will live long enough to get to the more complicated stuff. It has been a great ride though and I don't regret one minute of it.

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Fiddle is much harder than steel.

Jim Eaton · From: Santa Susana, Ca

Would that harder fiddle be "case-hardened"?
JE:-)>

Johan Jansen · From: Europe

I think there will be differences in how hard it is on an instrument to get sound out. But I don't think there is much difference in getting MUSIC out of different instruments. That's hard for every serious musical instrument.IMHO

JJ www.steeljj.com

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I have to say.....that learning to play the pedal steel is almost as complicated as learning to fly a helicopter/rotary-winged craft....
From my position....I DO BELIEVE that too many folks want to learn to play pedal steel because it is pretty to listen to...., provides somewhat of a status symbol and yet truly lack the burning desire that many of us old timers originally had.
Those with whom I've talked, are most anxious to jump into speed picking on their first lesson...and if the machine hasn't been fully mastered within just a few short weeks.......they move on to things requiring less personal commitment.
Why, right here on this Forum, I've seen countless posts where after just a few short weeks or months, someone is playing in a working group before the public and yet by the multiple questions they ask, they really weren't fully prepared to jump-in to public perforances at that level.
After all these many years, I still struggle to discover WHAT or HOW Jerry Byrd or Billy Robinson or whomever, did this or that way back in the 1940's. I learn something NEW each and everyday.
Some of the younger people we all know, just don't have that kind of stick-to-itness.
I've encountered countless working musicians that have seen me playing one of my OLDEN DAYS Ricks....and who have later approached me to see if I could teach them how.
It's readily apparent that many have no conception on how to hold the bar, let alone how to move/control it. Others have no idea on where to place their right picking hand in order to determine the "right position" for the best tone obtainable with that particular guitar. So many are ready to reinvent the wheel yet...unwilling to learn the basics BEFORE trying to play the instrument in front of audiences for BIG BUCKS.
For everything, there must be a starting place. Attempting as so many do, to start in the middle.....is only going to manifest their frustrations and cause them to become another drop-out of steel guitar.
Steel guitar does not require GENIUS mentality. But it will require determination
and that's something that some folks just cannot seem to muster; short attention span and instant gratification?
Perhaps suggesting interested potential students should consider starting with a basic lap steel would prove to be more prudent than starting them off with a full blown 10 & 10 pedal steel.
Young drivers do not start off with an Indianapolis type race car as their first automobile. Parents usually don't give their kids a full blown Harley but rather, a small bike with training wheels. Country boys used to get a single shot 22 not a fully automatic military type rifle.
What do you think? Is our vision of our own status as "hot picker" do more to discourage new comers than it does to retain them? I can't help but wonder.

Don Olson · From: Muscatine,Ia. USA

I've had people tell me I really like that instrument you make it look easy to play could you teach me to play it,I ask them if they are willing to spend 2-4 hours everyday for the next 30 years devoted to practice.They change their minds.I have been playing 34 years and I will run out of time before I reach the level I think I should be as a steel player.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Pedal steel guitar IS a demanding instrument to learn. But if you ask a trumpet player, pianist, French horn player, whatever---they'll say the same thing. The physical technique of learning ANY muscal instrument is demanding, especially when some degree of proficiency is desired/required. But ask anybody who works with his hands, in a repetitive job. Be he a surgeon, production worker, electrician(as I am), hand/motor skills are fundamental. But, once you learns it, you gots it!
But the hard part comes later. It's only AFTER we've mastered the left brain part of the instrument--the tuning, what the knees/pedals do---that we can start trying to make music. This is where it gets tricky. The right(creative)side of the brain must tell the left(mechanical)side what to do. It's establishing that link of communication that's hard, whether you're playing steel, or nose flute. We've all heard great technicians, who couldn't play one teardrop. And, there are guys like B.B. King, who's not the most technical guy you'll hear this week---just the best guitar player. So, the most difficult instrument to play? The one you can successfully make music on.
OLD FOLK'S RAMBLIN'

erik · Posted 30 Jul 2002 5:14 pm

What about a harp with pedals.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Sometimes. In the weeeee hours of the morn.............sit at your steel and just try to let your fingers go where they may. Don't look at any charts or videos or listen to cassettes. Just sit there and take what you know at this point and try to play a melody to ANYTHING........STICK YOUR NECK OUT...Who's gonna hear you anyway........BE BOLD......try to incorporate this into a recognizable song.

Then, if you've gotten to this point...........try to play that melody in different ways, utilizing different strings, pedals, knees.

In essence what you will be doing is gaining more mastery of the entire neck.....then try to play this melody(song) combining all those different positions you have learned.

You should actually be able to play any song from a lower fret to a higher fret [& visa versa] and juxtapose both these styles.....

ie: Put it all together...integrate all the ways you've learned the melody.......and start to REALLY play. Link them up. You will start to see "patterns".

IMHO........Chip

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Yeah, like Earnest says, I think fiddle is really hard to learn. The times I've tried to get anywhere with one have left me seriously frustrated.

Dave Birkett · From: Oxnard, CA, USA

My vote is for the clarinet. I used to play tenor sax (some say the easiest instrument to play badly) and I found getting a clarinet to sound at all was difficult much less getting it to sound good. Artie Shaw, who some say had the greatest sound ever, finally gave it up out of frustration.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

I always tell people it's helpful to learn to play steel before everybody tells you how difficult it is to learn. That's when you have a fighting chance at it...

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

I think that any instrument is very difficult to really master.For me,piano is really difficult while some say it's among the easiest to learn.It's true that you have to finesse the steel into tune w/the bar as you try to find your way around way too many strings while manipulating pedals and levers.But is it really any harder than playing a clarinet w/all it's open hole pads and alternate fingerings while using your lip to play in tune up and down the octaves? To me,the way the various tasks are divided up among your different limbs on a pedal steel actually make each one a little easier - it's coordinating them that's the bitch.Let's face it - it takes about five hard years just to figure out where in tune,good tone comes from - on any instrument. -MJ-

ESnow · From: Berryville AR USA

I believe the difficulty of an instrument lies with in the person themself. To some playin' a certain instrument comes more natural to them than another one may. What may be hard for one to learn may seem real easy for another. To me steel was the hardest to get just the basics down smooth than any other instruments I'd played. When I did start understanding the basics I didn't play or want to play a note on any other instrument.

Mike Weirauch · From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe

Martin Weenick · From: Lecanto, FL, USA

Buddy Emmons always said it was 10 % talent and 90 % "want to" He must have "wanted to" in the worst kind of way.

------------------

Martin W. Emmons LG III 3/5 Peavy 1000

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

I'd vote for banjo; no matter how good you play, it'll still sound annoying

Pat Goodbla · From: Longview, Washington

When I was much younger, my dad, in his infinite wisdom once said, "Can't never did nothin' and try did it all". True words. I am not new to music, but just started on steel. The steel is a challenge, but like the rest of you, I will keep on trying.

Reggie Duncan · From: Mississippi

From the sound of one in my high school concert band, the oboe must be the hardest!
However, I agree with Doug L. about the fiddle.

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

Speaking as someone who has played seven different instruments professionally (including fiddle), I feel that the pedal steel is the most difficult instrument I've ever tried to play. Of course, some things are easier for some than others.

Jeff Agnew · From: Dallas, TX

Mark Ardito · From: Chicago, IL, USA

I have never played one, but to my knowledge the Oboe one of the more difficult instruments to play. It is played with a double-reed. Extremely difficult to play and make notes with the double reed combination.

Mark

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I play six instruments including fiddle. I've been playing fiddle for twenty years. I found pedal steel guitar to be much more difficult than fiddle or violin. I know fiddle players and Telecaster players that tried to take up pedal steel and quit within the first six months because of the difficulty. It is the only instrument that I go to $@###! on after being away from it for two weeks. The other ones I can readjust in five minutes even if I haven't played for months.

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