The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm curious about when all of you first started playing.

I'm 33 and brand new to the pedal steel and this forum. I've been playing guitar for 18 years, and noodling on the lapsteel for a few years, but I'm just getting going with my new Carter Starter. I'm very committed to my practice and developing my skill, though the pedal steel seems like a "lifetime" instrument, which is exciting and daunting. It's silly, but at 33 I feel like an old man that's missed too much time when I sit down at the steel. Though, I'm loving every minute I spend with picks on and bar in-hand squeaking noises out this amazing instrument.

Haha, I couldn't resist.

I've been playing pedal steel for 1 day!

Glad to see I'm not the only beginner on this forum.

I'm very grateful for this forum though--I would really have no direction without it.

Makes the difficult stuff seem not as terrible knowing you have a good support base.

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brand new.

Dylan, Welcome to the world of Steel Guitar!! You might want to locate a good psychiatrist for the first few years, after that you'll be too far gone for help

I bought my first steel when I was 30 and tried to teach myself with the aid of tab and videos but that route didn't work for me. After 2 years of frustration I took lessons from a great teacher and thats when I really started playing. So I tell people I started when I was 32.

I had the same concerns about starting too late in life but my teacher told me that since we can't go back and start younger to just get it out of my mind and look to the future.

There's a lot of great people on this forum and tons of great information. Just don't hesitate to ask.

As with most things, there's different ways to skin this cat, you just need to find what works for you and put the time in.

Good Luck!!!

Kenny, I have an extra one of Winnie Winston's book with a CD. It came with an Emmons push-pull that I bought. If you can use the book I will give it to you. Just email your address. This book has helped a lot of people. My email is jvogan@woh.rr.com

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

I started when I was 30. I had people telling me how hard it was to play and that I probably wouldn't be able to play well for at least 10 years (as if I was supposed to have the same defeatist attitudes that they had), but I was planning on being 40 and I really wanted to play these guitars. I'm 55 in 3 weeks and learning to play the steel has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

Thanks for the kind words.
I'm relying on books, videos, and my ear at this point. I live in Salt Lake City and haven't had any luck finding any other players around here yet.

I just moved from the San Francisco Bay Area where I got to frequently hear many fine players like Bobby Black and Joe Goldmark, but steel guitar is pretty sparse around Salt Lake. Anyone know of any players/teachers in Utah/Idaho?

1946.

I was 14. My dad and I were sitting on our porch in a government type project (these were common during WWII). Along came a man walking down the sidewalk. He had a guitar in one hand and a sales' book in the other one.

He walked right up to me and said,

"Son, lets see if you got any musical talent?"

So he put that cheap Sears Silvertone 6 stringer (with a raised nut) in my lap. Then he put a flat steel bar in my left hand and placed it on one of the lower frets. Then he put a thumb pick on my thumb. He said,

"Son, rake this thumb pick across the strings". As I did, he said, "now slide that bar up to here".

When I did, the salesman got all excited, looked at my dad and said, "Did YOU here what your son just did? He is a natural born talent. Why, he could be a star some day".

Bless my precious father's soul. He had NO idea that salesman told that same story to every parent's kid in town!!!

So, my dad (who did not have two pennies to rub together) signed his son up for a 72 week Hiwaryan Git'tar course. $7.50 a week! That would be like 500 dollars to day. And that included the Git' tar!!! (if'n ya completed the course; of course!

The salesman could NOT have been more wrong. Not only was my dad's son never going to be a star, but he could easily qualify as the worst steel git' tar player who ever lived.

"And that includes those yet unborn." (hey Theresa )

May God rest my dad's precious soul. And may he bless all of you,

carl

I started playing on a 6 string lap steel in 1950 at the age of eleven. I graduated to a three neck Fender in 1953. I got my first pedal steel (a Fender 400) in 1958. The steel guitar has been a major part of my life all these years. I still learn something new every time I sit down behind it. Just goes to show you, we won't live long enough to learn it all. (but we can try)

I started at age 25, in 1978. I would advise to take Jim Vogan's offer on that Winnie Winston book. I went through that book on my Pro I and was on stage in about 2 months. I sucked for a while, but playing in front of people makes you learn a lot quicker than sitting at home.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

I started playing pedal steel when I was 18 years old and now I've been playing for four years. I started on a student model Emmons single ten(my first guitar, which I play now) and I'm learning to play lap steel now. Brett Day, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

I started at the end of 1999. Brett Day, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

3 months ago at the ripe old age of 33. What was I thinking?

Carl, most of us on this Forum are willing to accept the truth about almost anything you say. I say "almost", because I doubt that many of us who enthusiastically read everything you write believe you are the "Worst Steel Guitar Player that Ever Lived"!

My father wound up in similar lessons, sold door to door in more or less the same manner. Unfortunately, instead of starting a lifelong involvement with the instrument as happened in Carl's case, it forever soured him on steel guitar!

By the way, I started playing steel in my mid-twenties.

Dylan, April 1979 was when I got my first pedal steel. It sure has brought me many hours of joy as well as some frusturation. Hang in there for the long haul and spend as much time in practice as possible. It takes time to learn and get smooth. I bet you will be playing pretty good before too long. There will be some days you will want to walk away for awhile and that is ok. If possible try and find a band to play with because it will help you tremendously...Paul

1940- I was 6 years old and got a Gene Autry guitar. I sold ROSE BUD Salve and paid $2. I still have the guitar. I got my first REGAL lap steel in 1948. I still have it. In 1958 I bought a "Electraharp" . I don't have the original but have a couple like it.Then in 1968 I "Built" my first steel- The Fiberglass "Pedesonic" which I still have. Along the way there was Multi-Kords-Fender 400, 7string Bakelite Ricky and many more.You see I don't throw anything away. I have a warehouse full of old records. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works

"I started at age 25, in 1978. I would advise to take Jim Vogan's offer on that Winnie Winston book. I went through that book on my Pro I and was on stage in about 2 months. I sucked for a while, but playing in front of people makes you learn a lot quicker than sitting at home."
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I did take Jim Vogan's offer on the Winnie Winston book--I've heard great things about it and I was going to order it this weekend, but now I'm in great shape.

I'm still floored at what a great community this is.

Thank you all for putting me on the right path!

Kenny

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brand new.

I got my first steel in 1984, I was 29. Still learning

Last January at 32!!

Now I feel 72!

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Help prevent juvenile delinquency...teach children to STEEL

Like Carl, my Dad started me out playing steel with the old Oahu system in about 1945-46. I played off and on until about 16 yrs old when I started playing standard guitar.
Started playing steel again in the Air Force with a Hawaiian group and later with country groups in England. Bought my first Pedal steel ( Fender 1000 )in 1961 Played both standard and steel gitar for several years and like a dummy, I quit the steel.
Just started playing steel again last month and its like learning to walk again !

I started the same year and age as Bob Tuttle,1950 age 11, only my experience was more like Carl Dixon. A few years later the music studio realized I was never going to be a whiz kid on the steel guitar so they offered me the opportunity to be a student recruiter. After a few days of that I couldn't stand lying to the parents and I declined to be a further participant in their program. I did graduate to a double neck Magnatone in 1956. Didn't get a pedal guitar until 1978, an MSA Red Baron 3+1. Finally got a real guitar in 1995, Carter D10 8+5. After 50+ years I am still trying to learn to play the dang thing. When they tell ya it takes persistance, believe'em

AHA! Another Red Baroneer!

Got mine at Falls Church Music in 78.

First Steel I played was in the belly of a channel ferry coming from Holland to England in '76 on a leave from the AF in MD where I took some lessons with what attention span I had at the time.

Played guitar, piano and uke since age 6, banjo in public for money in '63,and for better or worse, still continue to take as much money as I can, as often as I can, for as many old cliches as I can remember..

I only apologize for my mistakes after I get paid.

EJL

Dylan:

I started during the great country rock scare of the '70s. I'd already been playing guitar for some 15 years, was out on the road with a pop rock band. We were in Lubbock, Texas and I had to have some repair work done on my amp. I went to a shop owned by a guy named Earl Swinford and standing in the middle of his shop was a Fender 400 8-string pedal steel. It spoke to me and said "buy me." So I traded a very nice Gibson 330 guitar (now worth much more than a Fender 400) and some cash and walked out lugging this old Fender. I actually learned a couple of licks on it and worked it into the act the first week, using an E9 tuning and a dobro bar. I'm talkin' real simple fills on a couple of songs but everyone liked it. So I got pretty focused on it, got Winnie Winston's book and practiced diligently. About a year later I quit the music business full-time but kept practicing and learning. Maybe two years after getting that Fender I got a Sho~Bud Pro 1 and played it for over 20 years on week ends. With practice and taking every gig offered I gradually improved and am, in fact still improving. About four years ago I traded the 'Bud for a ZumSteel S12U and have really improved my playing and knowledge of steel. So now, at age 55, I am a better player than ever. The sad reality now is that there are fewer gigs available for steelers than I can ever remember and I've gotten much choosier than before about where I play. Or some combination of the two. The neat thing is that now I'm getting to meet some very interesting musicians when I do play and they're all great players. This does more for one's sound and ability than anything I can think of. So it's a place you work hard to get to and can savor even if it comes a little later in life.

I would say that in the beginning, play out in public as often as you can, but always strive to work with better players, better musicians will improve your playing much more than "hackers" who can't keep time, can't play in tune and play too loud. I've been with plenty of the latter types and I know the difference as do most guys on this forum.

Also practice makes (near) perfect. You gotta love the instrument so much that you're willing to give up chunks of time to play and learn. It's a sacrifice, not unlike those people do for their careers. This one won't pay off financially but there's a spriritual payoff of sorts and the camaraderie of other musicians that, as they say, is "priceless."
--JR

In 1936-
I started playing "Hawaiian guitar and Spanish Guitar" when I was 15 , Jerry Byrd was 16 and Alvino Rey was 28.....al

It was 1956 and I was six years old at the time. You do the math!

Dave

A door to door salesman signed me up at age7
back in about 1943. Started on a round hole flat top with flat bar. Graduated to an arch
top/f-hole; then a beautiful late 1940's Gibson lap steel set; in 1950 a triple-8 Fender; 1956 a quad Bigsby w/six pedals; 1972
Emmons dbl-10 p/p; 1999 Rick 7-string; etc. etc....and on and on. Have played professionally for money since age 14...live radio, television, stage shows, dance halls,
club work and a few record sessions.
GREAT FUN! Met lots of fine people but none finer than here on the Forum.