The Steel Guitar Forum

I have been playing steel for some 30 years and in all that time have convinced myself that I can't "speed pick", well I think that's what they call it. I have recently found that I can pick fast but my brain doesn't keep up with my fingers, in other words my left hand can't keep up with my right hand what d'you reckon????
Dave.

More whisky,,,, or do what I do watch someone else do it. Id much rather hear something played well with style and tone than just fast,,,,But I feel your frustration,,,, on a daily basis!

After 64 years and several Jeff Newman Speed Pickin' Seminars....I too, discovered that hearing someone else do a splendid job of great Emmons style single string work is far more gratifying than working, and straining to attempt to do something that I apparently was never intended to do.
It would be gratifying to be able to do so and to win everyone's praise but it's just not in the cards so........
Give me a waltz; a one ah, and a two ah and'a three ah.........

IMO it's more important to play the song, play in time, know when to lay out, have flawless tone, and play in tune.

The flashy stuff is great for the first 10 seconds, then "sensory overload" kicks in and nobody notices most of it anyway, except for other guitar players...and they burn out listening to it after 20 seconds.

In other words - don't worry about it.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 04 November 2006 at 05:15 PM.]</p></FONT>

Just stay clear of instrumentals that are designed to showcase speed picking - most of them are boring anyway. If you can play as fast as singers can sing then you are doin' OK.


Terry

My favorite Jim Sliff post yet!

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Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...

Somebody just posted some John Hughey here doing "You Don't Have Very Far To Go." After that, I don't care if I never learn to speed pick.

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"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman

Another way to look at it:

If you can play as fast as one of the greatest, Jerry Garcia for example, then you can play fast enough!


Terry

Yeah! what Jim Sliff said.

If you want to play fast, get out your banjo. To my mind, the best sounds from steel come with slow, whining accompaniment. It's what steel does best. That's probably just my personal taste though.

Jim S. couldn't have said it better.

Alan,
It's my taste too. I can really crank on a 5 string banjo, but I don't want to on a steel (not that I ever could).

Dave:On second thought I was wondering if there's someone who lives close to you that could give you one on one instruction?Or have you done that?

Playing fast is way overrated, but it is fun to do. Someone once said, "learn how to play fast, then stop playing fast."

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Mullen RP, Webb 6-14E, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume.

The thing is I have never been known for fast playing and I don't really want to play fast, I just want to know that I can do it if I was ever asked to. I haven't done a gig in some 7 years so it's not a must do. I go to the British Steelies (yes we call ourselves Steelies as opposed to Steelers) Meeting twice or three times a year and usually learn 3 or 4 numbers for each visit, but they are all ballads. I must be the only steel player in the world that doesn't play "Steel Guitar Rag." As for one to one Stu, the only two steel players that live anywhere near me are out working with bands, and I never even get a chance to see them play never mind get together. Anyway I enjoy what I do and you never know one day it might just happen.
Cheers Dave.

When ever I read or hear of someone wanting to speed pick or, play really fast, my first question is always, why?

If you pay close attention to the really fast pickers, there are very few of them playing a definable melody at that high speed. Most are just picking the strings in unison or doing it in chords with very little bar movement.

Playing a steel guitar is a joy in its self: screwing up when showing off does not do much for the guitar nor the player.

(take note of my signature)


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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 09 November 2006 at 11:39 AM.]</p></FONT>

Some just play half fast!

Wes Montgomery, the great jazz guitarist, was once asked if playing with his thumb rather than with his fingers or a pick limited him as a player. He responded, "It is my limitations that define me."

If trying to improve your speed results in more practice time, it is a good thing. You may not reach your speed goals, but you will improve the rest of your game in the process.

<font size=1><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 16 November 2006 at 10:05 PM.]</p></FONT>

Not that long ago I was listening to some speed picking from a very well known player that was supposed to be jaw dropping. He clearly thought it was anyways. It sounded like a mess to my ears. There was barely a tip of the hat to the melody and the intonation was totally sacrificed for the speed. There are certainly players who can do it very well but there are a lot more who only think they can. I can't do it at all so maybe it's just sour grapes.

Paul<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Franklin on 09 November 2006 at 04:02 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Franklin on 09 November 2006 at 04:17 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Franklin on 09 November 2006 at 04:20 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Franklin on 09 November 2006 at 09:55 PM.]</p></FONT>

I have Paul's speed picking courses for C6 and E9th. They really help by making you stick to your practice to play clean. If you just go faster without playing them clean they get ugly in a hurry. One thing I notice though is there are certain phrases and lick styles we just naturaly play well and conversly others which tend to be harder for our motor skills to get ahold of. If I just can't get my fingers to do a certain lick I just change it to some other style of roll or pattern that will work with my speed playing since all instruction material should just stimulate you to expand on it anyway.

Jeff

It's easier to play fast than slow. Bash out five times as many notes as the tune needs and four out of five of the notes are going to be right. It's much more difficult to play slow, where the length and timbre of ever single note counts.

If you don't believe this, try and play Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on the classical guitar. It's basically very simple... the whole thing is just based on a minor chord, but it takes a genius to play it right.

<font size=1><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 16 November 2006 at 10:06 PM.]</p></FONT>

Allen,

Yes, I'd rather hear sustain. Especially with rhythm guitar. I think it should be played more like a bass, with chords sustained in a groove that reminds you of the time yet varies from it. Here's an example of what I like: http://www.myspace.com/pangferdig

For my old ears, I wonder why most other rhythm players try to pour out a steady diet of 1/16th notes. It just sounds like white noise to me.

But what's a Brummy?

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"My help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 13 November 2006 at 08:51 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 13 November 2006 at 08:54 PM.]</p></FONT>