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Topic: Too Old To Learn To Play Pedal Steel? |
Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2013 4:05 pm |
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| A friend called me today from Louisiana. He told me about a lady who called his wife and wanted to know if he had a steel guitar for sale. The lady went to his house and bought a Mullen D10 from him. She stated she wanted to learn to play the steel guitar to challenge her mind. The kicker is she is 82 years old. I just found it amazing that someone that age would be interested in learning to play steel guitar. I just hope at 82 I can stell play mine. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Chris Brooks
From:
Providence, Rhode Island
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 4:56 am
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I'll vouch for that, Jim!!!
Chris in Providence |
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Fred Wright
From:
Minocqua, Wi USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 5:48 am
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| Good for her! There's always hope regardless ones age. I'm 84 and still trying. And yes, it's good for the mind and physical dexterity. Fred |
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Larry Behm
From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 7:31 am
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I have a 86 year old guy who just bought a D10 Bud and wanted to learn the C neck for some western swing for his band. You are never to old - is still a true statement.
Larry Behm
_________________
'70 D10 Black fatback Emmons PP, Hilton VP, BJS bars, Boss GE-7 for Dobro effect, Zoom MS50G, Stereo Steel amp, Telonics 15” speaker.
Phone: 971-219-8533 |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 8:19 am
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I don't think you are ever too old to do something you want to do, but in all seriousness, getting proficient at it is another story. I was 44 when I started playing steel guitar and even though I had a background in music, I think I was still held back because of my age.
I would like to think that I'm proficient but was a hard road to travel because now I 69 and have been playing 25 years. I just wander if I would have started at 14 what I would sound like.
I say it makes no difference you age though, if you want to do something, go for it.
I'm thinking about taking up sky diving and the banjo. 
_________________
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 8:29 am
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"I'm thinking about taking up sky diving and the banjo."
Both activities could have catastrophic consequences!!!
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Last edited by Roger Rettig on 20 Sep 2013 4:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 10:00 am
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Roger, are you thinking of playing the banjo whilst skydiving ? 
Be sure not to drop it or you could have created tomorrow's alternative to the atomic bomb.  |
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2013 2:21 am
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| Henry, Heights bother me so sky diving is out for me. Not too many people care about banjo these days so I guess that I will stay with pedal steel. I have 34 years invested in it now. Back to the topic, I found this story so interesting simply because of her age. I know men and had a good friend in their 80's who played. Starting at 82 years of age is tremeendous. I hope one day to see this lady play. I might get a welcome surprise out of her playing. |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2013 6:53 am
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Yeh, me to Paul. She may surprise us. I think it's great.
_________________
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 20 Sep 2013 7:24 am
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| Most 82 yr. olds have trouble keeping their hands steady. It could work wonders for her tone. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 20 Sep 2013 10:15 am
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One of my other hobbies is racing. I like F1, Indy and Stockcar.Three years ago, my wife got me a pass to drive at Pocono Racetrack in a Nascar stockcar. I had a ball and now respect these drivers, more so, for their skill and stamina. Anyway, there was an elderly woman, possibly in her late 70's,who was going to drive too. I watched her drive the track and she was very adept at it. Not as fast as the rest of us, but, definitely did the job. We all applauded her loudly as she exited her car and she took a bow. Just goes to show you..... You're never too old!
BTW- She went sky diving a week before that! |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 20 Sep 2013 10:58 am
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| Good for her. The only thing that i would say is that steel can be pysically demanding. Problems with joints, feet issues and pain and of course the weight of the instrument, plus the difficulties in tuning don't make it an ideal instrument to take on in later life. |
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Bill McKillop
From:
Glasgow, Scotland
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Posted 20 Sep 2013 1:53 pm
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Good luck to that old lady, you're never too old!
Hey Henry, I don't think that your age has held you back at all. Man, you make your steel guitar sing on your youtube videos! I thought you were a pro! |
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2013 8:52 am
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| Playing steel can be physically demanding. That would be a concern if she were to want to go out and play. I dobut there are too many 82 year old people who could carry a steel guitar and the spouse probably couldn't either. To me, just playing at home would be dreadful. I sure wish her the very best and I am proud of her for even trying to play this instrument. Thanks for all the comments. |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 21 Sep 2013 9:40 am
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I'm also 82 years old, but, I don't play anymore, not because I have tremors, or that my mind has stopped functioning, but because I have arthritis in my hands and they don't respond to my mind's input without pain.
My musical instruments now hang on my den walls to remind me of my past, and my double-neck steel guitar sits in the corner of my den, unused and embarrassed, because it has been retired too soon.
_________________
"FROM THEN TIL' NOW" |
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2013 6:09 pm
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| Gene, I am sure many of us fear what has happened to you. Age catches up with us and slows us down. I for one do not look forward to the day I can no longer play. I hope to be playing at 100 years of age. I may sound terrible if at all possible to play. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 21 Sep 2013 9:46 pm
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| Les Paul used to have terrible arthritis in his hands in his later years, which gave him a lot of pain, but he reckoned that once he started playing with his band he would get carried away with the music and didn't think about the pain. |
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Bobby Carter
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 8:25 am Question.
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I just passed 81 and psg has become my new hobby. I have spent sometime learning about music and the basics of the instrument and now its time to learn to play. Should I quit or just give it a go anyway?
I would like to know if anyone has an idea where I could get some thing like a paddle for a knee lever. Two of the levers on my guitar are really hard to use. Hope I have not taken too much time, and thanks for any reply. Old Crow 80 (Bobby) |
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Fred Glave
From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 10:05 am
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Alan, if you go skydiving with your banjo just remember that if you chicken out at the last minute the banjo can still go over by itself.
_________________
Zum Encore, Zum Stage One, Fender 2000, Harlan Bros., Multi-Kord, |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 10:14 am
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I started on this elusive path at the age of 57 and I will soon be 64. I had no delusions of ever being a super duper stud muffin on the steel, I play simply for the sheer joy and satisfaction it gives me. Played the six string for about 40 years and did that just for my own personal satisfaction also.
No, you are never too old if it pleases you to do something you like.
Am I proficient, probably not, but the main thing is, this old man is having FUN!!! Anything else after that, is just icing on the cake. Yeah, old folks, young folks, jump in there and just have fun with it!! The only one you have to please, is yourself. |
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Ken Campbell
From:
Ferndale, Montana
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Posted 26 Sep 2013 10:37 am
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| this |
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Posted 29 Sep 2013 3:24 pm
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I would really love to be running around buying and playing steel guitars when I'm in my 80's...some other, less pleasant places come to mind when thinking about 80's...
Db
_________________
www.steelguitarsonline.com |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 30 Sep 2013 11:38 am
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| Damir Besic wrote: |
| I would really love to be running around buying and playing steel guitars when I'm in my 80's... |
I hope I'm still around to see my 80's.
Statistically, if you're 68, like me, you're much more likely to make it to 100 than one of today's teenagers. Why? Because you only have to live 32 years to be 100 but a 14 yr. old has to live 86 yrs. to get there.
It's wonderful what statistics can do for you. |
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