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Topic: I'm I just too old to be living and picking? |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 11:27 am |
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Since I was 14, I've played in professional groups; mostly with older musicians. During all of those many, many years, it's been expected by these groups, that I'd know EVERY SONG THAT WAS EVER WRITTEN or RECORDED by virtually every artist from Jimmy Rogers, the Singing Brakeman, to Garth Brooks or George Straight.
The simple fact is, during all of those same years, in spite of the fact I have known a hundred or more instrumentals......
many in two guitar or fiddle, guitar and steel tight harmony arrangements....those
master players of "ELVIRA", "I Walk the Line" and "PRETTY WOMAN" and/or "WIPE OUT"...could NEVER EVER play the right or even close chords required to perform a Speedy West tune, or any other song recorded by a top name steel guitar artist. For the majority, "Remington Ride" was and still remains a major musical challenge to these folks.....
Am I soooooooo old, that I just don't see the valid reasons behind this confusion in my rapdily fading, cob web infested mind, or have others of you out there, also found that we (as steel players) must know their material but there is no requirement on their part to know or even be interested in performing a steel guitarists "spot light"?
How about Emmons, Rugg, Hughey, Helms? Have THEY too, experienced this kind of
apathy by band members as it relates to the steel guitarists' corner?[This message was edited by Ray Montee on 30 November 2003 at 11:27 AM.] |
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Walter Stettner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 12:12 pm
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Well, Ray, don't complain, you are just the Steel Player!
"You get those strange sounds out of that strange machine in front of you, how do you do that? How many strings did you say? 20? And those pedals do what? Oh, there are instrumental songs that were especially written for the Steel Guitar, Wow, I didn't know that!" This little library is used whenever you start in a band that didn't have steel before.
Just think positive: You can play along with them, but they can't play along with you! And who knows, with a little patience you might be able to open their eyes and ears for the pleasure of a Speedy West-Tune!
Walter
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 12:17 pm
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Ray, we play because we love the instrument, but we can't expect others to share our sentiments. To most of the general public, we're just a little outside of the box in what we do. To the other professional musicians, there's so few really accomplished steel players players (those who can do "cold" sight-reading, and do a good job) that we're also outside of the box with them, too. Take solace in the fact that we pedal steel players play one of the world's most difficult instruments to learn.
Share what you know, and support the players here on the Forum, and out there "in the trenches". And, don't expect too much from "others" until we've "earned it". To date, very few of us have. |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 12:31 pm
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| Dang Donny! Once again...as always...I find myself nodding my head up & down while I'm reading one of your posts. Right on! |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 1:18 pm
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Ray. In answer to your question, people can perform on stage long after they've died.
Bands too..
How do I know?
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EJL
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 8:27 pm
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Ray, If you signed their checks, I bet you could get them to learn all kinds of steel songs.  |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 9:06 pm
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Ray, a lot of us old timers have been down that path and I know what you mean.
Yes, James,there is nothing better than being the boss or band leader. That is the way to go , if you can.
Some of the my best solos, I could never play with most bands, Because they didn't know the Chords, tempo or whatever.
Bill Stafford made a great CD called "Going Home" with NO band at all. That is one way of doing it......al
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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Wayne Cox
From:
Chatham, Louisiana, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Nov 2003 9:47 pm
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RAY, I can relate to what you've said,like most other forumites. But the fact is that playing music (if done for money) is a job. Therefore like any other job, it carries its own set of problems,gripes,disappointments,and frustrations. Sorry, but that's life. And this is just my humble opinion. FWIW just take comfort in the fact that some people do appreciate you for who and what you are. I,for one, still remember a nice guy named RAY MONTEE who helped me with something during my early days on the Forum. That help was not directly solicited from you but was greatly appreciated, anyway.
~~W.C.~~
[This message was edited by Wayne Cox on 30 November 2003 at 09:49 PM.] |
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Dec 2003 2:55 am
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| Quote: |
| Bill Stafford made a great CD called "Going Home" with NO band at all. That is one way of doing it.... |
That very well may be the only way in this day and time. Doesn't seem like ordinary gigging musicians are getting better these days, just louder.
John |
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Robert Thomas
From:
Mehama, Oregon, USA
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Posted 1 Dec 2003 6:54 am
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Hi "you all". I am about to turn 70 years young and I started playing for dances by myself when I was 15. I played for many years, along with my daytime job, to keep food and clothes on 5 kids and a wife, still have the same wife. We really appreciated the extra money from playing, couldn't have made it without it.
Over 7 years ago I started playing by myself again. I am having so much fun. I recommend it to any of you players who now have the time to do what you want. I have over 200 hundred numbers I do on a regular scheduled basis. I get to play what I like and what my audience enjoys. Please understand me, I am not tooting my horn, but encouraging you to use your God given talent and share it with a lot of people who will repay you with appreciation you will never forget. I am suggesting, like myself, that you play for nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, not for money, because then it becomes a job, but for the shear plesure of giving soemthing they can never repay you for. It really is more blessed to give then receive and you all have soemthing to give, a talent that your Creator blessed you with to use wisely. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 1 Dec 2003 10:31 am
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| Jim Cohen's band seems to play whatever he dang well tells them to, and they keep up with him as best they can, which is usually pretty dang good. |
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Tom Wicks
From:
Coombs, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 1 Dec 2003 2:53 pm
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| Well folks I`ll soon be 74 and I still play three and four nights weekly in a jam 4 fun band, we play for anyone that needs music and having more fun then when I played for money with the pressure on, I figure to quite in exactly twenty years. On the go with my Williams D 10 in the van and my heavy Emmons in the music room. |
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Joe Miraglia
From:
Jamestown N.Y.
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Posted 1 Dec 2003 6:09 pm
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| Ray the steel is still in the spot light! I'm finding out the less I play on the new country song (in and out a little run here and there the people say we want to hear more from that little steel player--thats when the band,says-- ok Joe give it to them ,thats when I turn it up a notch. and I don't mean volume. People want to hear steel ,even the young kids (I'm having ball) And it's the steel guitar. Just think what they would think if they could hear a real steel player and not me. I have to go work on Toby Keith's latest _I Love This Bar. the band wants to play it. And do you know the Steel kix it off and has a little solo. You never know. Joe [This message was edited by Joe Miraglia on 01 December 2003 at 06:18 PM.] |
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Jesse Pearson
From:
San Diego , CA
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Posted 2 Dec 2003 10:45 am
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| All I got to say is two words, "Fake Sheets". We all forget songs if we don't play them alot, so having fake sheets and even some tabs on the songs you do, helps you and the band. Jazz players will reharmonize a standard for their solo, you write out the chords for the other band members so everyone is on the same page. If a band doesn't care to follow your solo's right when given the chart, your with the wrong band. Pick up gigs are different than a regular band gig, where you have time to learn and work out stuff. With pick up gigs you just try and follow the other guys changes and everything is cool. |
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 2 Dec 2003 6:03 pm
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Ray..
I should be against the law to start a thread like this.This brings back so many memories and most of them bad.It started in my teens. I was playing with a small band, no drummer of course,no PA so I bought one. Bass man , no Bass so I bought one.After setting everything up by getting to the job an hour early, the singer walks in pulls his old flat top out of the case and says..What the hell ? aren't you ready yet. We have a lot of musicians ( ? ) down here but I can't find one who can do a song with more than four chords.Where is a bass player who can play a waltz ?.
Two week ago I played with a gopel group at a little church, It was the best gig I've had in years. The folks came to listen, no smoke, no drinks, no loud mouths. Afterwards a lot of folks came up as
I was putting my steel away and said that was the best sound they have ever heard on gospel music.I thought about it all the way home and I believe I found my nitche.
No money in it but a ton of satisfaction.
Bud |
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