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Topic: Taking guitar only gigs...feel so guilty. |
Gerald Menke
From:
Stormville NY, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 7:08 am |
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Hello friends,
Last week it turned out that I had no steel gigs, but two of the artists I've played steel for live and in the studio, asked me to back them up on guitar only. I felt so guilty neglecting my steel, as I had to do a bit of practicing on six string to get my act back together on that instrument. The electric gig went great, the acoustic gig was really tough, backing up a singer on quasi-jazzy songs with lots of fast changes.
But I felt so weird playing guitar...like some kind of imposter. Received some nice compliments and got asked for cards, but found myself saying "What I do much better is play pedal steel..." Anybody else feel weird when they do guitar only gigs? Both were very decent paying, by the way.
Gerald
p.s. When I sat down to play steel again, the time away seemed to have refreshed my hands somehow, in some ways I sounded better than when I practice psg everyday. What gives?? |
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Gordon Borland
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 7:20 am
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It always seemed like the wife looked more attractive when she got back from a business trip than when she left.
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Gordon Borland
MSA D10,FENDER STEEL KING, |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 7:28 am
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Pull a dollar bill out of your wallet and see if it looks any different having made it playing steel or "underarm" guitar. You will feel better.
Jerry Byrd played other instruments on sessions and gigs. Be thankful that you have other musical skills that kept you from sitting at home. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 7:31 am
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I think each one can open the WINDOW so to speak for the other.
I think playing Steel can clearly open up new phrasing for the 6 stringer and vice versa..
I did 6 years on Bass behind a Grand Piano , and that little excercise made it perfectly clear that I didn't study enough, or maybe I didn't take my other two pals( Steel and Guitar) serious enough. But after 6 years on the JBass the rules changed no doubt.
Taking some Guitar gigs and sitting out on Steel is NOT a bad thing, it's a gentle reminder of the total picture .
Kinda like the REFRESH Icon on your PC...
t |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 9:00 am
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| Sell your guitar. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 9:07 am
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| Having played guitar a lot longer than steel, I conversely sometimes find it very strange that people want me to play steel much more than guitar these days. So I'm OK to do guitar-only gigs sometimes - it's about doing the thing that fits the music best. I also agree with Tony that playing guitar, bass, and even b@njo (oh, the horror) can give me ideas of things to do on steel, and vice versa. |
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Greg McMullen
From:
Brooklyn, New York
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 12:32 pm
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i'm usually happy when asked to play guitar only. its less gear to transport to a gig, and it means i don't have to listen to bad guitar player while i try to play steel around them.
if i'm gettin' paid, it usually doesn't matter what i have to play, but that's just me... |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 4:53 pm
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Gerald...I have been playing electric guitar on some sessions lately...I have really enjoyed doing something different for a change!Got to work with John Hughey a couple of weeks ago!Just be glad you can do it...I remember seeing Jerry Byrd and Walter Haynes play other instruments on TV...Buddy Emmons played bass with Roger Miller for a few years...have fun.
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http://home.comcast.net/~steves_garage
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 6:59 pm
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| Variety is the spice of life. |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 7:53 pm
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For me, after picking up the guitar again after too many years of steel only not quite a year ago, it'll be a milestone I'm looking forward to. I've been doing a few songs a night so far without having to play "rhythm guitar", and my left hand is finally FREE..
EJL |
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Jack Francis
From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 8:12 pm
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| Gerald, forget what b0b says. Send me your steel, take your guitar out and make some money. |
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Scott Shipley
From:
The Ozark Mountains
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Posted 15 Jun 2006 10:48 pm
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| Gerald, I've figured out that by playing several different instruments, I can actually pay my bills, ha ha. Seriously though, pedal steel is the best thing to ever happen to my guitar playing. It has opened my eyes to new chord voicings and ideas I might never have thought of! I play whatever they pay me to play, and always have enough work. I feel very fortunate just to be working, although I will say steel is my true passion and about half or better of my gigs are on steel. It's a hillbilly torture device!!! |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2006 2:03 am
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| What b0b said has a grain of truth though - can you play the same guitar parts on steel instead? It can be done, Easley, Emmons, etc. It might be an avenue to explore. |
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