Newbie: Should I really be in a band this early

Tim Konecky · From: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Yep, there is obviously a shortage pedal steel players in Lincoln, NE. Who woulda thought? I've been approached by a few bands here in town that are already on board to get me playing with them.

I've only had a little more than a month with my Carter-Starter. I've got a couple licks down (a little sloppy however) and can chord along with 'em.

Do you guys think it's a good idea to start doing the band thing this early? I can see the benefit to learning to play "with" a band, but I feel maybe I'm jumping in to early when I should be working on technique.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Tim,[this is just my opinion only]I don't think you are ready to play on the bandstand just yet,may be wrong,Do you have a couple of friends,maybe a bass player and a guitar player you could practice or jam with? If you could do this for a few months and get used to playing with other pickers it would help.If you play another instrument such as guitar that will be a GREAT asset.Get a little more knowledge about the steel,how to play in different keys with the band,Just wait a little longer,It's a fact that can't be disputed,Once you get to the level you can sit in with a band,you WIll learn more in a couple of weeks on the bandstand than you will in six months in your living room,As I said this is just my opinion,maybe some of the other guys can give you better advise,if I can ever help you just let me know.DYKBC.
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Jim Park · From: Carson City, Nv

IMHO you should get on the band stand as quickly as you can and stay there. The techniques you learn there will stay with you and you will learn quicker and will get the basics such as tempo, volume, and intonation(I.E. watching girls and playing at the same time) and tuning and other other basic musical skills that can only be learned and perfected on the bandstand. So go get 'em

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I say go for it as long as your band mates know you are "in training". Stay in the back line, play soft, simple PADS ( chords ) you will learn a bunch and before you know it those few licks or phrases you know will fit right in. Concentrate on bar control, keeping the bar strait and being on the proper pitch.

IF you are comfortable, thats what matters, if your band mates are ok with it then it sounds like a match. Don't try to be Buddy Emmons the first weekend, wait until the 2nd !

tp

Tim Konecky · From: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Well... my thought was that it would force me to learn things that I wouldn't necessarily think of while just practicing on my own... i.e. chords outside of the basic I,IV,V...etc. It's kind of a rock\country\americana type band so it's not really too uptempo.

I'm comfortable so far playing with the band. Just learning the songs and chording along... throwing in a lick here or there. They know I'm learning and are alright with me just coming to practice. When I'm ready, I'll start playing with them at gigs and such.

I've been playing guitar for 15 years or so and feel musically able.... technically is another story. I know and HEAR what I want to play. Figuring out how and where I need to play is my mountain to climb.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Go For It! May the force be with you...

Ulf Edlund · From: Umeå, Sweden

Definitly!
That's how i speeded up my learning.
Play safe and remember, less is more.
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chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

join the band!

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Go for it ! Man, I started gigging on the steel within a few weeks of owning one with absolutely no idea what I was doing. I just ran across some charts I made for those gigs. A typical one had the name of the song then a big letter G with the number 3 written next to it. That meant if I put the bar on the 3rd fret some of the notes would be right. That's all I had ! I used to solo and everything. I had a plenty of gas pedal with no steering wheel style. I run into people every once in a while that heard me back then. They crack up about how terrible I sounded. I wanted to play steel in the worse way and I did !
It was a once a week gig that lasted a couple years so every night I would practice like crazy and get a little bit more together for the next week. It was a great time.

Its important to have fun !
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Bob

Mike Phillips · From: Brooklyn, NY

while i have taken lessons here and there and studied the books and played at home to get some licks and techniques under my fingers, i would have to say that pretty much everything i can do on the pedal steel is the result of playing in a band.

do it. let go of fear, yes you may want to play simple stuff for the most part, but also don't be afraid to go for it.

your buddies will be psyched to have the steel in the band, and will cut you some slack for a few bum notes -- hey, just figure a way to make music from the mistakes, and you'll thrill yourself with what you uncover!

mike

Scott Swartz · From: St. Louis, MO

I bought a home made looking 3+0 steel in a pawn shop for $150 (it wasn't worth even that, trust me) in Feb 1986, played it on the gig two weeks after getting it. So, my vote is of course go for it!

Some simple AB to no pedal pads and such go a long way.
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Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

It's all practice anyway,so you might as well do it for money.You will learn more,faster, when the pressure is on..One night on the band stand is like a month in the basement.Like Tony said,just stay out of the way and do what you're comfortable with.If you mess up,slap your hand and move on..PJ...

Tim Konecky · From: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

You hit it right on the nose Scott. That's pretty much where I'm at right now... Simple AB pedal stuff, with a few minors thrown in there. Slowly figuring out where my 7ths are. I've even got a quick little no pedals to BC lick that I throw in every once in a while. I'm not sure what it is, but it sounds pretty cool.

The band is really going to force me to learn the fretboard. I can practice my picking and blocking the other 6 days of the week. w00t!

Scott Swartz · From: St. Louis, MO

Practicing the two note harmonized scales on strings 3,5 or 5,6 and 4,5 or 5,8 is very important, using A,B, D, F pedals/levers. Playing even very simple melodies using these will make you sound quite accomplished quickly.

Look at some tab and you will see how important these are.
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Steeltronics - Steel Guitar Pickups
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Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

If we all waited until we were ready, we'd stil be waiting.

Go for it. Nothing like pressure to force improvement.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

The caveat here is...have they heard you play?

If they have, and they're satisfied, do it!

Steve Broatch · From: Newcastle, England

I was (still am!) in a similar position Tim. I've been playing about 18 months and already played banjo in a band. Once they knew I'd taken up steel they were constantly at me to bring it along to practice. I was reluctant at first but I learnt more in a few jam sessions with the band than hours spent at home on my own.

Sure the technical stuff like blocking is probably something that is best practiced alone. I'm still not great at it. But for learning the neck there's nothing better. And it's much more fun.

Go for it!

Steve

Antolina · From: Dunkirk NY

My vote goes with the general consensus with a little Charles Davidson thrown in. See if some of your potential band mates will jam a little with you first. You'll definetely need to have your I IV Vs in order as well as the keys you'll most likey be playing in. Keep your volume low for the first few go 'rounds (until you're comfortable)then go for it.

Good luck and be sure to let us know how it goes.!
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Tim Konecky · From: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

I've already jammed with them a couple times and they're all pretty excited about it. They know I'm not very good, but they make me turn it up loud and yell out "Fireballs!" when they want a steel solo. They gave me nickname already... great! I usually just end up staring at the guitar players hands to figure out what I should be playing.

The lead guitar player joined the band under similar circumstances a year ago. You know... the not really a lead player but learning kind of guy, so they are pretty open to the idea of me learning with them.

Maybe they want to get their hands on me first before I actually know how to play in hopes that some other band doesn't snatch me up if I ever actually get good. Hmmm.... devious or genius?

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Go for it! My teacher got me a gig after only two lessons. The band was a request band with about 5,000 song lyrics on 3X5 cards. The only country songs I was familiar with were from the "Sweetheart of The Rodeo" album. I still remember the first song! "Sugardaddy in A, JB. Kick it off!" I learned many things from that experience. Think fast. Think for yourself. It made me develope my own, very personal style. Many guys say, "Play the melody." I couldn't! I didn't know the melodies. To this day, I play in the moment. It happens as I play, and has given me great satisfaction..

Marc Jenkins · From: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Do it!

I lugged my now-long gone Carter Starter to a Grateful Dead tribute gig about a month after getting it. I had up to that point only played 6 string on the gig. I played 4 or 5 tunes the first night. The second night I did the same, and did pretty well! I listened to a recording of Dire Wolf from the second night recently, and while it's certainly not great, it has balls! (most likely from fear mixed with adrenaline!)

Best of luck.

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Yea, Tim......Go for it! I had the fortune of being indulged by people willing to let me sit-in with them when I first got started, and it was a great experience.
Don't forget:
1) it's supposed to me fun, so have fun and bring your sense of humor with you;
2) nobody else will probably understand what you're doing and be judging you like they might a standard 6-string player, they will just look at you and smile and say how great it sounds;
3) a lot of bands are just overjoyed to have the sound of the steel, and will look at you as a blessing more than extra baggage--you are giving them something that perhaps not too many other local bands have;
4) a lot of times less-is-more...when I first started playing with bands I listened to a lot Neil Young's music with Ben Keith playing pedal steel....I tried to emulate Ben Keith's approach: he is very tasteful and does not overplay, he adds only what makes the song better, and thus on many tunes his steel makes the song, even though he lays out a lot. By laying out for some parts and tasefully adding yourself to the places that the song needs steel, you will sound better, you will enhance the song more, and it willl give you time to think about your next phrase, etc.
Good luck!

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

Tim,
Go for it!
Working with a band is the best experience. Keep practicing during the week, go for it! Smile

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

Yes, yes, yes, do it! Two nights on the bandstand is
worth two months practicing in the bedroom. You'll
crash and burn but you'll be embarassed enough to get
it right the next time. Even if these guys can't put up with it, you'll be way ahead of the game for your next opportunity.
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Joe Smith · From: Charlotte, NC, USA

I also say go for it. You will have fun and learn too. It's a win win situation.

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