Satisfaction NOT Guaranteed

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

One of the most common revelations in related steel guitar practice, occurs at some midpoint after years of grueling sessions trying to make the grade. "Master" is a title that addresses relatively few steel guitarists, when the facts are known. There is no shortage of proponents who declare that practice will be the main requirement in reaching a masterful status. In this particular matter, satisfaction is not guaranteed. It's quite similar to a puzzle with missing pieces. Rolling Eyes

Eddie Cunningham · From: Massachusetts, USA

Bill , If you are satisified with your playing or sound you haven't set your goals high enough !! No matter how hard you practice very few players ever reach the pinnacle they are trying to attain !! We constantly change amps , guitars or strings trying to reach that unattainable level of perfection !! Only a few God blessed players ever reach that peak level and I am sure even those few players are not fully satisified !!! IMHO !! Eddie "C" ( the old non-pedal geezer )

James Collett · From: San Dimas, CA

I agree with Eddie- I don't see how anyone can reah a point where they're as good as possible.
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James Collett

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Eddie,

I'm in full agreement with your thoughts on so-called "paying the dues". It would be nice to learn when the actual statement (PTD) was made, and what the sayer was referring to at the time. The adaptation became a favorite quip of steel guitar hopefuls who may have been at the brink of throwing their hands in the air. Finding oneself hosting repetitive challenges on the steel guitar, can produce an image of the steel as something lifelike. It offers similar challenges of a worthy opponent, in a contest of wit and strength. A respected player of the steel guitar, maintains an appearance of effortless composure while in performances. The calm demeanor is as professional as selecting the correct strings to pick, and most assuredly the mind races ahead while intermingling with the joys of playing preferred melodies. You can be sure of at least one reliable reference point of view. Much quality time will be spent in getting to a point of offering faultless performances.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

eddie...amps, guitars, strings...i've saved alot by waiting til my ability to play well reaches a level that these items become a problem.

richard burton · From: Britain

I think most players reach their plateau, and no further progress is possible.

This has certainly happened to me on regular guitar.

I attained a competent (nothing to worry the big guns) level of lead playing about twenty years ago, (after an apprenticeship of twenty years Laughing

), and I cannot progress further.

It just ain't in me Shocked

I appear to be following the same path with PSG, as my playing now is no better than it was ten years ago.

C'est la vie Smile

Steve Broatch · From: Newcastle, England

I agree. I've played six string for nearly twenty years and I haven't improved much technically over the last ten. Learnt new stuff of course but my actual technique and playing ability seems to have levelled off.

On PSG I haven't been playing long enough to reach my plateau yet. At least I hope I haven't. If I have then it's a pretty low plateau. More of a small ledge really! Wink

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Richard,

The plateau that you've brought to the attention of the readers is all too familiar. I appreciate the expressed concern with an assumed "marker" that denotes an abrupt cessation of newly learned musical material, either on steel or 6 string guitar. The different approaches to melody lines, can beef up a renewed interest, if the discovery of a new pattern sounds better than the one that was played countless times. It was just the other day that I "discovered" a new slide in Tammy's "Stand By Your Man". It brought forth some hasty retreats from the plateau stereotyping. I enjoyed your music on You Tube. Just keep in mind that there are literally thousands who would desire to play at your level of entertaining on the pedal steel guitar. Very Happy

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

One thing that never fails to amaze me, is the standard length of a thumb pick. When I visited the Allendale Shopping Center to purchase two new picks @ 75 cents each, I was allowed to check out the new shipments. I settled for two Dunlops* in mottled brown coloration. I glanced at the two pitiful ends of the picks before bringing them home; where the picking surfaces could be trimmed to a much shorter attacking tip. I then proceed to clip the striking tip to the desired length, before the final shaping with a fine cutting small flat file. The finishing touches includes simulating a worn surface where the pick strikes the strings. I've settled for 5/32 of picking surface. The original tip measurement was 13/32. I had experimented with the small differences made by angling the striking edge slightly forward. I have reasoned that the side movement in terms of speed increases, as the striking surface extends at least parallel to the tip of the fingernail.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Folks who are Masters, regardless of what it is they are doing, already had the talent buried deep inside and the GIFT of PASSION for that talent is what brought it out.

Masters:
Buddy, Loyd etc..
Michael Jordan
Tiger Woods
Dale Earnhardt Sr. not Jr.
Mantle
Namath
Streisand
Eric Johnson
etc..

These folks didn't have to take lessons from scratch to get to where they are, they already knew where they were going and the daily consistent practice ( life journey ) rounded it out...they knew exactly what they had to do.

Now there is hope for us, we may not become masters but we can overcome obstacles and become quality performers with correct regular practice. Not all excellent players are masters, but they are still excellent !

Russ Tkac · Posted 1 Jul 2008 5:02 am

I think there needs to be a purpose.

In January we had a music program at the piano store I manage. The man putting on the program tells the people, "At the next program, Russ is going to play his banjo and he's very good!"

I had not played my banjo in about 20 years. So I had 90 days to get it out and learn five or six tunes that I could play. I worked at it a bit every day and pulled it off quite well.

What I found was that I sucked when I started, found great fun in the process, got pretty darn good at it, almost signed up for a banjo camp but after the April program I haven't picked it up.

Oh well, maybe in another 20 years. Laughing

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Tony,

I wouldn't hesitate to "buy" into your concepts, or the amount of effort that each person experiences to reach various levels of musical expertise. Certainly, great amounts of energy and fitness are called upon throughout the journey up the steps to greatness. The logic of the differences in player's capabilities seems to rest upon physical, intellectual, and an overwhelming penchant for the arts in their most advanced forms. The inexplicably sublime nature of limited individuals, can be seen at an early age, and is better known as gifted or precocious.

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

We all evolve in different ways as musicians. I also agree that passion is the most important element in a musician's personality. Passion to experience music in all it's most sublime forms. Most of my favorite country steel players are those that I know listen to all kinds of music with a voraciously open mind. BE is a prime example of this.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Rick,

I inadvertently typed an incorrect thumb pick measurement earlier in this thread. I've since made the correction. Your pointing to passion as an important element in the study of the steel guitar, cannot be challenged. The intense passion applied to lofty performances, lies in that restricted area where only dreams are permitted to go.

Bo Legg · Posted 1 Jul 2008 9:27 am

Bill Hankey...

Alan Miller · From: , England, UK.

What's that old statement, ? " I wish I had more talent or less ambition " .
I agree with the" limit on talent" view , in a different arena a person could train to run and work immensely hard, but will never be able to beat the "naturally gifted /talented" athlete.
Painting / drawing the same, you can be taught to see perspective better and learn techniques to draw better but the naturally gifted artist you will not surpass .

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Bo Legg,

Thanks for responding and enriching the concept that transforms a melody into a musical presentation others will hopefully enjoy. The richness of an irresistible desire to seek out melodies that immediately find a place within the heart, moves a player closer to the infinite joys of music.

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

it is not important how "good " musician is, what is important is that you enjoy making music ,that you`re happy with how you play and that you are able to transfer your feelings and heart to others thru your guitar....everything else is bla...local hot shot can be as fast as lightning...but..there will always be someone faster...key word here is "music", you either have a talent to make music or not, you can be technicly fastest picker on the block but at the same time not be able to make any music what so ever...

Db

the good example for that is Johny Highland who is one fast SOB but after 3 songs I get bored listening him, I can only take so much of the hyper speed scale playing...
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www.steelguitarsonline.com

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Alan,

I am fascinated by your point blank style of writing. It makes good sense, and that matters most. Implications are at times difficult to accept as factual. Life is chock-full of exchanges and opinions, consisting of a wide range of values in accuracy within the notations. One branch of intuitiveness that seems to reflect and give meaning to the concept that abilities run rampant, are the large groups of random musicians; who fall behind or somewhere below that upper echelon. Like a vine reaching upward by the inner forces of nature's bid to grasp and grow, the avid steel guitarists' awareness that their contemporaries are musically escalating far above in levels of excellence. Each day, a new plan is formulated, to look in on the masters, by searching the labyrinth of musical endeavors, always mindful of the task that lies ahead.

Bo Legg · Posted 2 Jul 2008 8:25 am

Bill Hankey...

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Bo Legg,

Years ago I went traipsing through wide expanses of swampy growth, hoping to bag a deer during open season. Other hunters have mentioned a type of labyrinth in deep forested areas. I experienced a similar disturbing situation while heading back to where I left my vehicle. It was late in the afternoon as shadows were visibly falling upon the forested woodland. I actually became frightened as I stumbled from one brushy area and back into several others that looked the same. My doubts began to approach my panic button, as a clearing up ahead beckoned me in the direction of the setting sun. Early experiences, such as chasing about with reckless abandon, have contributed in many ways in learning to drag the feet, and avoid rushing into unfamiliar situations. Taking up the P.S.G. warranted consideration, as the maze of difficulties associated with getting started were detectable at the onset of accumulated interest. Attending live performances led the way to fulfilling a dream of attempting to play the pedal steel guitar.

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Bill, I want to congratulate you. A great subject!

My sincere thoughts on the subject is simply this. Some folks are gifted in one thing and some in another. Many people are gifted in music, but it's not always the choice of instrument they chose.

Some have to go through many different instruments before they find the one/s that's meant for them. And there are some who could practice until they turned blue and never get to where they wanted to be. Simply because for whatever reason their life was not cut out in that area.

I've seen it happen. I've seen folks with enough intent to become professional, and yet not even get good enough to play in local bands. Then they'd suddenly turn to another instrument and Bingo.. It was like they'd been playing all their life.

My thoughts then have to be that we are all gifted in areas different from one another, and I do honesty believe that God, gave each of us, the special gifts and talents that we have..

So never give up, but keep trying until you get it right and you'll know when you are working with the right instrument/s or when you're trying to play an instrument that simply is not the right one for you.

Have a great 4th of July..

Don Cool

richard burton · From: Britain

That's why I gave up the Triangle Smile

Alan Miller · From: , England, UK.

Bill, my small contribution to your thought provoking thread was not meant to be "a point blank style of writing "apologies if it came across that way, it was just my thoughts in general on the limits of talent and determination in any arena.

I liked Damir's thoughts that one should be happy with the level of expertise one achieves and to be able to make music at all levels that others can appreciate.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Alan,

I want to apologize for not responding to your post, until now. You might agree that "Satisfaction" in all endeavors is never "guaranteed". Much time is wasted on a daily basis throughout the industries, when expectations for better results for efforts put forth, transcends into wasted motion. It is difficult to separate, or categorize ability levels, without looking at the whole "picture" of a routine practice session. An agitated student of the pedal steel guitar perplexes the onlooker. There will be no guarantee of satisfaction, at least not for the moment.

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