I think my brain is worn out

Jim Williams · From: Meridian, Mississippi, USA - Home of Peavey!

I've been working on learning the pedal steel for a few months now, and I go between being encouraged and at other times feeling totally inadequate and discouraged.

I stay pretty busy and can't always practice every day. It seems like with the pedal steel, if I miss a day it puts me three days back.

I'm also not totally sure I will ever master hands, feet AND knee movements at the same time. So far I've mainly worked with the A and B pedals but when I've tried things with the levers it just seems very awkward for me. One thing is that I'm short and I need to put some type of extensions on the levers, as my knees will barely work them as it is.

I really want to learn this, but it just seems like such a struggle at times.
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GFI SM10 3/4, 1937 Gibson EH-150, 2 - Rondo SX Lap Steels and a Guyatone 6 String C6. Peavey 400 and a Roland 40 Amps. Behringer Reverb Pedal.

Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

Jim, do what it takes to make your guitar yours and it will help. Keep at it. I am fast approaching my first year anniversary playing steel and loving it.
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I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!

Randy Myers · From: Risingsun, Ohio, USA

I know what your going through. I recently bought a 70's MSA U12. My problem is a copedant that is not standard so whenever I try instructional material, I get goofed up trying to figure out what lever/pedal does what. But I do press on learning using my A,B,C pedals. I am about to turn 60 and I Will prove you can teach an old dog new tricks. Hang in there. My brother plays steel and is always telling me to work on the basics and technique. Stay with it Man.
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MSA U12 8 4+1

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

We've all been through it too. There were times I'd hit these plateaus and almost give up. I just felt I wasn't making any progress but then I would learn a couple of new licks,smooth out some problem areas and I'd get re-interested again.

Steel is a time intensive instrument that takes a lot of finesse to play properly. To get there requires much repetition in order to get your hands/fingers,feet,ears and eyes all working smoothly together and that only comes with time and practice.

Hang in there and if possible,find a teacher in your area. Having someone to guide you and keep you focused really pays off in the long run.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Jim Williams · From: Meridian, Mississippi, USA - Home of Peavey!

Yes there is not doubt that getting the basics and technique is an important part of it. I sometimes wonder if it wouldn't be easier for an absolute musical beginner to learn the instrument rather than somebody who plays other instruments. There a couple of reasons I think this might be true. One is that if it were his only instrument, there would be less distractions with other instruments. In my case I jam almost every weekend here with acoustic instruments, so I have to devote a certain amount of time to those. Secondly, someone who has played other instruments has a tendency to want to just jump right in and start playing songs instead of spending lots of time on drills, scales, etc. which is probably the wrong way to learn this instrument.
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GFI SM10 3/4, 1937 Gibson EH-150, 2 - Rondo SX Lap Steels and a Guyatone 6 String C6. Peavey 400 and a Roland 40 Amps. Behringer Reverb Pedal.

Wayne Neal · From: Ohio, USA

I think there is a "balance" when teaching/learning that helps. When I give guitar lesson to a begginer I always teach them 3 basic chords. Once they learn those and can switch between them pretty well I show them a song they can play with them. This seems to "stoke" the fire and make them want to learn more.

Drills and scales are good to do and neccesary but I think a lot of folks get tired of just drills and scales because they feel like they are never gonna play a song.
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D10 Carter, b-bender Tele, Electric Fiddle & Mandolin, Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 BW1203's, Peavey Special 130 Ken Fox mod BW1203.

John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

As the above have said- seat time is the answer. The longer you practice, without getting burned out, the more you'll become acclimated to your steel. It's like an invisible barrier, once you break through, you'll know for sure.
As to your height. You might want to try and lower the rear of your steel a little by adjusting your rear legs. I've seen that done and it works. But, I've seen many other variations such as taping extensions on the levers or actually screwing extensions on. You can buy aluminum stock and cut them to length and attach or even pieces of hardwood strips. Anything that helps you Just keep working at it and try not to get discouraged. There's plenty of help here, just ask.

Curt Trisko · From: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

"One thing is that I'm short and I need to put some type of extensions on the levers, as my knees will barely work them as it is."

I'm about 5'2" now, because the years have taken care of what height I had. So, if I might suggest, if you bought new, contact the maker and get the steel fit to you. If you bought used, there are legs and rods floating around either not being used or that can be bought, that will get your steel right where you need it to be. For me, the correct position is forearms parallel to the deck. When this happens, you should have no trouble reaching your pedals and levers. This works for most. There are some that use other measurements. I guess they work for them.

Find a face to face instructor. Most, will tell you that is the best course.

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

Must be something wrong with you.. If you don't have it down in a couple months you probably should hang it up and send that thing to me for proper disposal. Cool

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Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

Yes...at about one year the frustration becomes almost unbearable....taking time away from the instrument is not always the worst thing. You gotta see the forest for the trees and there's a lot of tree"s that are looked at in this first year, and the 'brain' is only feeling like its shutting down cause it needs some time to put all that data together.

On a different point, there are multiple learning methods...oobservation, practical, theoretical, applied theoretical...

A blend of approaches is the best.

Stephen R. Feldman · From: Takoma Park, MD

See if you can borrow a copy of
"Up from the Top" and get "face to face"
instruction, even if it's one or two lessons. That may make all the difference.

David Scheidler · From: Arizona, USA

What Curt said, and...

I've only been playing the steel again for a couple months (after 30 years away) and finding it rather invigorating. I've also played acoustic finger-style guitar, mandolin and electric bass for all those years.

I think that's helped me because I already have the basics of music theory down, reading tab, etc, so it's just a matter of applying it to this instrument - kind of like a handyman learning how to use a new power tool that he's never operated before.

I only get frustrated with things like getting the chord grips down and learning tone bar technique (moving across the strings and vibrato). There's a lot going on at once! Occasionally I get into a groove with the neck techniques, pedals & levers and suddenly discover that I've got the volume pedal floored. Good thing I use headphones and keep the volume settings relatively low!

In addition to all the other great advice posted here, convince yourself that you won't give up NO MATTER WHAT and that conviction will help you through a lot of the tough moments when you feel like quitting. Before you know it, you're brain will start to function normally again.

Ian Holman · From: New York, USA

Also, a good thing to remember is that you're in no hurry, it's going to be something that you're always going to be working at, improving and figuring out. Life has a way of complicating things, so if you miss a day or two of practice, don't worry about it.

Richard Smelker · From: Winters.Texas, USA

Jim,
I know exactly how you feel. I started playing steel in March 2013. I have days where it sounds good and days when I wonder why I decided to start playing. I had been playing Bass, Guitar, and dobro for a number of years but always wanted to learn steel. I started by buying a Sho-Bud Maverick here on the forum.
I talked with my older brother to see how to attack learning since he played steel for about 15 years and he said to learn where the chords are, figure out what strings to play, then learn the scales and after you get that down in your mind, work with the pedals and then work with the knee levers.
I played that for about 3 months and learned the basic grips and positions for the chords and worked with the 3 pedals to figure out what they did. In August I bought a Sho-Bud Professional from the forum and started working with the knee levers. I have now figured out how the play chords with no pedals, with pedals down and with the knee levers.
What really helped was going to a steel guitar school for beginners and intermediate players held here in West Texas by Larry Toliver. It helped alot in figuring how to change phrasing and try different licks. It also made me aware of how little I knew and how much more I need to go.
I really enjoy playing steel and I practice about 2 hours a day on it. In addition, I play for 3 church services a week in our praise band. I play guitar, Dobro and steel depending on the song. Playing weekly has forced me to stay out of my comfort zone and keep working to improve.
So even if I get frustrated alot, I still enjoy learning steel guitar (also, I'm 67 years old)
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Richard Smelker
assorted 6 & 12 string guitars, a Pedalmaster D10 8+5 to play on, a Roland Cube 80Xl, a Peavey 130, Digitech digital Delay, distortion pedal, Melotron pedal, Keyboards and a MOYO pedal.
A new DAW system that I'm using to create a Christian music CD of original songs. Ordained Minister, Riding for the Brand of Jesus Christ.

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

Practice sitting up to your steel comfortably-the same way, everytime. It's possible your steel is at the right height and you are not. I personally found, once I got my rear on a pac a seat, that I was more comfortable and better able to reach pedals and actually sit at the steel for extended periods for practice. Maybe the chair your in is to low? And remember: "perfect practices make practice perfect."
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“TONESNOB”

Stephen R. Feldman · From: Takoma Park, MD

And Joe Wright's got some good advice on this, on one of his DVD's, I just can't
remember which one.

Morgan Scoggins · From: Georgia, USA

Jim,
I know what you are going through. I started playing pedal steel just a few weeks ago. I have been through some rough times, especially with coordination of the feet and hands. I have had times when I just wanted to give up. thankfully, that is behind me now. I feel I have gotten over a major hurdle. I still have a long way to go, but I am seeing some progress, A couple of days ago I spent two hours practicing a 1511 turnaround that I was learning from Bob Hempker on Youtube. I spent two more hours on it yesterday and I still was not satisfied. Well, this morning I woke up and got back on it and played it perfect on my first attempt. I felt like I did in a Little League baseball game back in 1959 when I was placed in right field at the end of a lopsided game. It wasn't long until a kid hit a long fly ball over my head. I ran after it and just stuck my glove out and somehow the ball landed in my glove and stuck there. From that point on, I began to learn to play ball.
Just keep on and you will see results. Just don't give up. Pedal steel players are a rare breed. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
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