Becoming a Pedal Steel Player

John Castelletti · Posted 19 Dec 2010 10:18 pm

First off I would like to thank b0b and this community for putting this support group together.

I am new to PSG's and just bought my first on Dec 7th. Another big thanks to Jim Palenscar at Steel Guitars of North County. He was absolutely great to deal with. As a guy who knew virtually nothing about PSG's Jim took the time to field all of my questions and was incredibly accommodating and committed in helping find the right instrument for me.

Being totally new and seeing (hearing) so many of you great players on the forum has been a tremendous inspiration. So far I've had one lesson with Jim and at his recommendation picked up the Right Hand Alpha DVD and am absolutely having a ball! PSG's might actually be the greatest thing since sliced bread!

If you all have any words of advice tips or memories of how you started out I would love to hear them.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

John, I started eleven years ago, and it all started because when I was nine years old, I started lovin' the steel guitar, and I was tryin' to figure out what instrument to play, since I've got cerebral palsy in my left hand. I tried strummin' a guitar with one hand, but I couldn't fret the strings, then I played keyboards from 1995 to 1999. By 1999, my interest in the pedal steel guitar got stronger, so on December 25th, 1999, I got my first pedal steel guitar and I love it. I was eighteen when I started playin'and I still love it now. My first pedal steel was a 1974 student model Emmons with three pedals and one knee lever-I played it from 1999 til 2004 when I bought a GFI Ultra D-10 which I played from 2004-til April of this year, when I got my current guitar, a Jackson BlackJack Custom SD-10 with three pedals, four knees. The Jackson is my best steel. Another reason I play steel is because I love how it looks and sounds in country music.

Brett

Bruce Hilton · From: Berwick, Maine, USA

Hi John,

Welcome to the forum! I'm a "newbie" as well. 7 years ago I had a Steel player come to my recording studio for a session. I had never even seen one in person (not many in Maine). I instantly fell in love with the instrument, and bought an old Fender 800 from a friend. I only noodled on it for years, until about 3 months ago when I decided to hunker down and learn to play it properly. I'm having the time of my life! I'm already playing it in an Alt-Country band.

You're in the right place here, for sure. The folks on this forum are friendly and willing to help anyone, regardless of skill level. No one's ever looked down their nose at me, though I sure look up to them. Best of luck to you!

John Castelletti · Posted 20 Dec 2010 2:51 pm

Thanks guys! The bug bit me when I was younger as well as I grew up on Merle Haggard and George Jones as a rodeo kid in Colorado and Wyoming in the early 80's.

I was a drummer/ bass player in R&B bands in my early 20's. I haven't gigged in about 10 years but I'm looking forward to doing some serious shedding this year. We had our first child this year and in the down time while he would sleep I got really into playing rhythm country guitar and found my self trying to emulate pedal steel licks and finally realized I should just get the real thing!!!

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

Welcome John!
Ok tell us about your steel!!!
and pictures are always good! we love pictures of steels! Very Happy

_________________
Twang to the bone!

Jay Yuskaitis · From: Massachusetts, USA

"The key to the Kingdom" is practice X 10,000. not my words, but from Rick Alexander. How true, there is no "Magic Wand" you're looking for! Jay Y.

John Castelletti · Posted 20 Dec 2010 6:33 pm

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

Sweet! Love them Blondes!! Here is mine Smile

_________________
Twang to the bone!

Gregg Laiben · From: Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Welcome! I've been at it 18 months (and my wife says I'm getting better Laughing

)

I'l add to the Buds - just got this one 2 weeks ago from a fellow forumite - mighty sweet sound.

Of course, now I've got the disease - I can't let go of my first PSG, a Stage One!

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Cal speaketh the truth, I don't care if it is 38 years down the road now. Same deal for me, a lot more recently than that. After 30+ years playing guitar, I actually had a guitar/steel gig lined up 2 weeks after starting to fiddle with my student model Emmons - nothing like the terror of bleeping up onstage to light a fire under your ass. OK, I already had lots of the classic records, and even the Tim McCasland video that showed me the absolute basics. But otherwise, it was just sittin' there listening and playing.

Steel guitar monk. Yup, that's what it's about.

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Hi John. Two things are a must. PRACTICE,PRACTICE,and PRACTICE. And learn to use the KISS Method. Jody.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Author Malcolm Gladwell, in 'Outliers' proposes that to ASPIRE TO true excellence (i.e., to be in the RUNNING) one must have 10,000 hours of 'cockpit time'. An example, Bill Gates was in Jr Hi but lived a few blocks from a university campus where one of the best equipped computer centers was located. He would sneak out of the house at bedtime and spend 4 or more hours pounding out code on punchcards. If you think about it, 10K hours is 8hr/day for 3 1/2 to 4 years. It is a MAJOR commitment for the possibility of greatness.

A lot of people play the steel guitar. Some actually master it. And then only one is named Buddy Emmons.
(sorry, I had to say that)
The tales are legendary of Buddy's dedication to perfection of the instrument itself and his application of the instrument to make music. Practicing chimes for HOURS on end -- and all the rest which culminated in the ability to play what he heard. And he heard a LOT. He had his 10,000 hours in while still in his teens. (as did Paul Franklin and Tommy White and several others)

So spend the time needed to play what you hear. Your own style will come from that. Sure, study what others did but remember that the goal is to be able to play (technically) anything you can dream up.

Strive to be a musician who plays the steel guitar rather than a steel guitarist who plays music.

And, most of all, HAVE FUN DOING IT. It can be a high better than any substance.

And . . . welcome to the fraternity. Fasten your seat belt and hang on. Shocked

_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Joseph Barcus · From: Volga West Virginia

scales, scales, and more scales, learn why they call it E9th and why the strings are the way they are. try to learn what you can without the pedals and of course with pedals but first should be without, learn what makes a chord and again how it all comes out of the scales. watch & learn all you can but remember ones brain can only work up so much at a time and thats why it takes years to what do they call it (master the art) guys here are always willing to help, youtube is a great source I only with youtube was around 15 years ago myself.oh I learned this one the hard way get you a steel guitar seat right off the bat for a kitchen chair is not right for the job.by the way nice looking bud you have
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvuH7H8BajODaL_wy3_HSJQ

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

John,
Im just starting (5 years now), and it just gets better!

My daily routine is pretty much the same.
I listen to SteelRadio.com or RadioFreeTexas regularly.
After a song or two, I just cant help but plug in and play along.
I find playing along with the radio is a great way to learn any instrument.
For one thing, it builds your repertoire.
For another, its not as routine as practicing scales with a metronome.
You can still practice scales while using the song for tempo and key.
Youre bound to hear a lick you want to learn so it also inspires developing different techniques.
Best of all its free!

That is a beautiful steel you have, and I wish you many years of joy playing it.
Welcome to the forum!

Clete

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Pretty steel! There's nothing like a well-mellowed natural finish. One comment, though: The specific feature that distinguished the Pro III from the Pro II model is that the Pro III has aluminum necks, rather than wood necks. Does the decal on yours really say Pro III? (Wouldn't be too surprising if so--there are plenty of anomalous Sho-Buds, customized after-market by the factory or by an owner.) Just curious.

John Castelletti · Posted 22 Dec 2010 5:17 am

Thanks again everyone for the words of wisdom and encouragement. I know there is no "magic bullet" so to speak. What I am most concerned about is building my foundation off of bad technique and being limited in the long run. Thats why I immediately started to take lessons...well only one so far, but Jim immediately corrected some issues I had in BOTH hands.

I would love to be able to put in 8 hours a day of practice and playing like I did when I was younger, but my first priority is my family and being a good dad. There are enough knuckleheads walking around these days and I'm doing my best to not add to it...lol

I am having the time of my life playing/practicing though. Mainly I get up before them or play after they go to bed. Trying mainly to maximize practice by playing everything at a tempo where I can execute a passage, progression or scale perfectly and in tune. After I get my practice time done then I just jam on it and improvise.

Cal: Your blog is really cool, I look forward to following it.

Britt: The decal on the front is a Pro III Custom, to be honest I really don't know much about PSG's at all. In a way it was actually a good thing because I didn't have any prejudices as far as brands go. Jim just turned me loose in his shop and I pretty much played about every steel he had in there. I made a point not to turn over the price tag until I was done playing on each one. The best sounding one (to me) was a black D12 Emmons, every note sounded like it was dripping in warm honey, price wise it was out of my league (Any really, seems like a crime to have a complete newbie start off that!) The 2nd best sounding one was the Sho Bud I ended up with.

When I sat down to all the guitars I really could only evaluate one aspect - TONE. I only had my ears to go by, I had never touched a steel guitar in my life until that point. Now that I have about two weeks on it I can appreciate the difference in older and newer PSG's and how each one plays and the differences in how the mechanics feel.

It's going to be a long road but thats fine by me, I'm taking in the view enjoying every step along the way. TIme to go practice!

P.S. You guys have some beautiful steels!!

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

John, thats a beatiful guitar. I am basically a "newbie" too, I started out in'74 with a Sho-Bud maverick-played for 16 years,got frustrated and sold it! BIG mistake, it took me 21 years before I was in a position to get another.So now I am starting over again..Here's the one I bought from Jim last January...also the serial numbers may not provide much help in identifying the guitars build date. The changer appears to be from the early to mid 70's, it does have a "non-rounded' edge on the front of the guitar,I think in the late '60s the wood was a "wraparound" the changer-I'm thinkin later than '75 maybe so I am thinking possibly mid to late 70's(somebody help me here!) though I am not an expert.

_________________
Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Allen Kentfield · From: Texas, USA

Welcome to the fold. Very Happy

My advice: play as much as you possibly can. Alone, with recordings, with musicians, in front of an audience; it all adds up. A night club gig will probaly require you to play more than one hour. It takes me at least an hour to warm up.
Don't try steel as a second instrument. Make it your real deal. Cool

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