Multi-Instrumentalists chime in!

Victor Gillett · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

From what I've read on here, several PSG players are also playing several other instruments with their bands.

As a beginner on pedal steel, I'm starting to realize that it's the combination of skills that you'd learn on other instruments.

Piano players are used to harmonizing with themselves, fiddle/viola/cello/upright players are familiar with the fretless operation of a stringed instrument and single note lines, drummers develop limb independence, guitarists seek out inversions to compliment the arrangement (sometimes...) and develope right hand technique, etc.

Seems to me the best primer for pedal steel is to play everything else first.

I've been lucky enough to cut my teeth on a bunch of junk over the years, and it's translating pretty well to my new found passion/addiction/social disorder.

Sorry for the text block!
-vwg

...looking forward to the years of devotion to half-master this thing...

Ulric Utsi-Åhlin · From: Sweden

The fact that I always play guitar(electric Spanish
etc)utilizing the same finger pick style as when playing the PSG,the switch from the one to the other
is smooth ; on stage I just throw the Strat,or what-
ever,´round my back(Yes,wireless!) ; an added multi-
instrument-rel bonus is the fact that I don´t have
a high E,but a high D on my six-stringers,always
have,so...the top four strings of my six-stringers
are,in fact,tuned like a Bluegrass Banjo,SANS the
high G,of course...the end product:two way benefit,
since I also play a bit of Banjer...McUtsi

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Victor, I would agree that bringing forward knowledge from another Instrument eliminates years of stress and struggle. I have been fortunate, like many others, I didn't start on Pedal Steel, I was a guitar player for many years and already had a skill set and some education in my pocket.

When I read the posts where the new or early players are struggling , it seems to me that the basic understanding of basic theory has been missed or not conquered. Make no mistake, the Pedal Steel is an Instrument based on basic theory principles, no different than ALL other Instruments.

EX: fret 5 no Peds is our generic A chord, mash peds AB and go direct to the 4 chord.. Fret 12 peds AB mashed is another form of the A chord , release the peds and you are at the 5 chord.

To me, if we are players that are not auto connected to this basic structure , in any and all positions on the fret board or do not understand the relationships of these positions then we will struggle for years, maybe longer.

Currently I am back on the 6 string full time and as I play and practice I am now bringing over my Pedal Steel knowledge back to the Guitar , I practice everything in several keys and across the I , IV and V positions, just like I did on the Steel . Initially I took Guitar knowledge and moved it to the Steel, now it is reversed, I think this is common for those of us who perform double or triple duty, or more. Playing Guitar first allowed me to start out on Pedal Steel and after years on Steel I am a totally different guitar player now ! I think , at least for me, it works both ways.

Last year I bought my first Dobro ( very late bloomer) , same thing, I am bringing over Steel and Guitar principles to the Dobro. Like the steel and Guitar, I apply the same principles, 1 chord at the 8 th fret, 4 chord open , 5 chord 2nd fret.> 1 chord open, 4 chord 5th fret etc...

I think , for me anyway, it is more important to know where the music is located on the fretboard than it is to know licks and phrases, It really doesn't much matter which Instrument , the process and theory behind each is exactly the same, the physicals may be different but at the end of the day the music is the same.

Playing Guitar first was certainly a huge benefit but the biggest benefit was understanding relative positions before starting the adventure on Pedal Steel.

As a Guitar player and Steel player, I am playing Dobro and some Mandolin, I love em' all. Also lap Steel with a few different tunings but I really do not spend much time there, there is no more time !

Good thread, I hope we hear from others..

t
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Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Jason Hull · Posted 10 Mar 2010 3:38 am

I couldn't play just pedal steel; I'd get bored. I'm a classically trained guitarist, and I've made a point of learning other instruments and alternate tunings. I play guitar, bass, lap steel, pedal steel, banjo, mandolin, keyboard, percussion, and anything else I can get my hands on! I love to make music more than I love any one instrument.

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Greg Gefell · From: Upstate NY

I have a similar experience to Tony's. After playing guitar for 20 years - I picked up steel and tried to port that knowledge over to get started. Now that I've got 10 years behind me on steel, my guitar playing has expanded to included those concepts derived from certain steel positions, voicings, pedal pulls, and knee lever changes.

When I'm playing with other guitar players, that different way of approaching the guitar sets my sound apart from those around me. I'm not saying you try to play steel parts on the guitar but rather you think like a steel player while playing guitar.
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Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

I Learned in the following order:
6 string acoustic
6 string electric
6 string dobro Squareneck
6 string electric lap steel
12 string PSG Universal

Current percentage I play at a gig:
PSG - 65%
Dobro - 20%
6s Electric - 5%
6s acoustic - 5%
lap steel - 5%

This has changed over my 30+ year carrear. I did alot of woodshedding with the dobro early on.
The one thing I've ported over from steel to guitar is playing against a progression modally rather than with patterned scales like the diatonic for example.

Victor Gillett · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

Steve Benson · From: Massachusetts, USA

Hey All, good thread.
Classical/Jazz Upright Bass
Guitars
Mandolins
Sitar (indian lute or pagan banjo)
Oud (fretless middleastern lute or arabic/turkish/armenian banjo)
Lap Steel
Dobro
last but 1st love A fine Magnum Pedal Steel (black for tone)
By far the hardest to play and by far the sweetest to hear
(thank you John Fabian I love my steel more than
any instrument I've ever played)
As you can tell (sitar oud etc..) I enjoy fretless instruments,

Pedal Steel is America's greatest gift to the world of music. Music is the greatest gift you can give the world.
_________________
Carter-Magnum S10. Georgeboards S-8 Stealth. Chandler Lap. Peavey Powerslide. Bunch of mandolins. Sitar. Oud. All that and a bag of chips.

Steve Broatch · From: Newcastle, England

I play

Guitar
Banjo (Scruggs and Clawhammer)
Mandolin
Dobro
Non Pedal Steel
Pedal Steel
Saxophone
Blues Harp

BUT ... With the exception of guitar which I've been playing forever, I suck at all of them. Shocked

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

I play guitar, banjo, mandoline, fiddle, Dobro, autoharp, bass, cello, cittern, lute, boujuki, oud, cumbus, plucked dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, hummel, langleik, cuatro, tricordia, ukelele, bajo sexto, tromba marina, 12-string guitar, xylophone, glockenspiel, harp. What have I forgotten ? Oh yes, pedal steel and non-pedal steel.

I'm what you would call Jack-of-All-Trades-Master-of-None. Embarassed

You have to be careful carrying the techniques of one instrument over to another. For instance, once you've learned to play one fretted string instrument, learning another is mainly a matter of learning a different tuning and different chord positions, but the fingering style can be very different. The fast-picking style that you use on banjo, for instance, translates well onto Dobro and mountain dulcimer, but when you go from Dobro to Electric Steel you don't need to bang away at the strings so hard, and you don't need to play so many different parts. When you're playing guitar you learn to simultaneously play bass runs, pluck chords, and play lead runs on the top strings. If you use that sort of fingerpicking style on a pedal steel you'll sound much too busy. You need to leave most of that to the band, and just play two or three notes at a time, taking advantage of the instrument's sustain.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Pedal Steel is the only instrument I play that I could play in a band all night. But, if there was room, I could double on Keyboards, Dobro, and a little Mandolin (just learning). I also just got a Power Slide and will be using it live soon to play slide guitar.

I was a drummer before playing steel (39 years now), and I could probably sit in a song or two on drums.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

I suck at banjo.
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Allan Jirik · From: Wichita Falls TX

Guitar first, then Fender dual six steel at age 15, then pedal steel at age 17. Defected to Dobro and banjo, now back with steel after 29 years. The common factor for me has been the right hand- I've used finger and thumb picks for over 40 years now. Plus, figuring out tunes by ear on steel, then banjo and now steel again has helped a heap. I can't think of any instrument that would hamper your ability to play steel guitar.

John Ed Kelly · From: Victoria, Australia

I mucked about with my older brother's spanish six string guitar at about 14 y.o..

I then started with some drum tuition at age 15.

I discovered Johnny Dodds and started Albert system clarinet at about 17, plus a bit of alto sax thrown in for good measure (no pun intended).

Was drafted in the the Australian army and went back to drums for about a year.

Then on to the tenor sax some years later, followed by a return to the clarinet.

I have been buggarising around with the piano all these years too. It's very useful for me for working out chords and other theoretical problems. I wouldn't play it in public though.

Took up the lap steel about 12 months ago and am struggling manfully to get to grips with the concept of it all.

To sum it all up: if the phone rings and a drummer is wanted I'll do it. If the phone rings and they want a clarinet, I'll do it. My goal is to add the SG to that list...........there's a long way to go though, until that will happen.

Chris Dorch · From: Wisconsin, USA

Drums 1st.. Lessons
Piano 2nd.. Lessons
Guitar 3rd.. Self taught
PSG 4th... Self taught

50% guitar 50% steel..

Alvin Blaine · From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA

Ransom Beers · Posted 11 Mar 2010 3:17 am

Harmonica is the only instrument that suck & blows,not necessarily in that order,but then maybe in that order.

I play 6 string lead guitag(or guitar,depends on the song),a little bass(actually a bigun') have been known to bang on the drums,a bit of pianny,just enough mandolin & dobro to get me in trouble.

Ransom Beers · Posted 11 Mar 2010 3:19 am

Oh yeah,just started on PSG(I won't mention the name as Bee zero Bee might move my post)

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I had thirty years in on six-string and bass, but I think the single best thing you can bring to it is knowing how you yourself learn. Different people have vastly different processes (and goals) and getting that stuff straightened out before you even pluck your first note is a godsend. Some people benefit most from learning a single song at a time, as well as they are able; some benefit from strictly technical exercises, because they have their melodic sensibility in place. Some people need to play three hours a day, starting at exactly 5am; etc.

My own desire was to execute melodic ideas in ways that were near-impossible on a six-string, indeed I basically treat is as a giant re-tunable slide guitar. Others really, really want to join a country band... tying your goals in there could/should control the learning curve immensely.

Tony Davis · From: Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Harmonica as a kid
Piano at about age 10...for about a year...enought to learn to read
Piano again for a year at 14 for about a year
Borrowed guitar then my own guitar at 15
Banjo in a Jazz band..15-16
Clarinet in Navy Band at 18
Always had guitar at sea
20 years band leader on Pedal Steel
Also play Dobro and 5 string banjo
Tony

Rick Winfield · From: Pickin' beneath the Palmettos

Although I've taken on several instruments, electric guitar was what I made money with, and was my strongest.
So far...
I think my "music addiction" began at age 7 or 8
I'll try to recall the correct sequence.
Accordion
Bass
Guitar
Keyboard
Harmonica
Flute
Dobro
Lapsteel
Pedal steel
I found out quickly that the AB, & BC pedals, fell into a pattern of Bar chords I used on guitar.
However, the technique is very different, and after 4 years of PSG, it's "getting there". I will add that I found PSG to be the hardest to get down, but maybe AGE, has something to do with it. At 59, I'm, not as sharp, or physically agile as I once was.
Every instrument has it's own "technique", or feel, but music theory will always prevail.
Rick

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

I REALLY suck at banjo.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin

Thomas Ludwig · From: Augsburg, Germany

32 years six-string and bass
5 years nonpedal steel
and now pedals Very Happy

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