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Topic: Playing In Church |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 10:48 am |
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I just got a call from my good friend, Bill Heser, in southern Illinois. He is jumping up and down with joy. He usually plays the Saturday night service at his German Lutheran Church but they needed some music for Sunday morning when the organ player couldn't show up so he played again. He is playing all gospel music with the help of my tabs and tracks. His church isn't used to that kind of music, it's usually pretty formal.
BTW: A couple of my buddies and myself played up at my church (Baptist) a couple of weeks ago and after the services we got asked to furnish the music for a wedding in October. This is my 1st experience at playing for a wedding so wish me luck!  |
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DG Whitley
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 10:51 am
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| Erv, best wishes on the wedding, but I have full confidence you'll do fine. |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 12:17 pm
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Recently, I was asked to play steel on Merle Haggard's One Day at a time at Church. The Pastor thought it would sound good with steel so he asked his people to find someone who plays the instrument.
It went great and you would have thought I just played Nervous Breakdown by the reaction of the crowd.
It was some of the most fun I've had in a long time as the people and musicians had a bunch of questions about steel guitar.
I hope you have as much fun as I did.
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 12:30 pm
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Dick,
Good for you!  |
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RMckee
From:
Broken Arrow, OK
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 12:56 pm
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| I have played several weddings as well as funeral services. I even was asked to play a fellow steeler's guitar at his funeral service. That was tough. I played the steel at my father's service. That was worse. But, weddings are a blast. Just go and enjoy yourself! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 1:09 pm
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You're braver that I am. I doubt if I could play for a funeral.  |
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Karol Wainscott
From:
Kokomo , Indiana
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 3:57 pm
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| You will do fine Erv. Relax and enjoy. Good luck. |
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Danny Letz
From:
Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 5:10 pm
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| Just don't play one of them guitars with the card symbols on it. |
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Lem Smith
From:
Long Beach, MS
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 11:38 pm
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| Danny Letz wrote: |
| Just don't play one of them guitars with the card symbols on it. |
I actually ran into that problem twice before, at two different churches, back when I was playing with a couple of different gospel groups.
One pastor told me in no uncertain terms that I would NOT be allowed to play that "honkytonk instrument" in his church. I was tempted to remind him that his church had a piano in it, which was used in honkytonks and saloons a LONG time before any pedal steel was... but I held my tongue.
The other time they just told me that if I were going to play that night, I'd have to do something about the card symbols on my guitar. Suffice to say that I just sat it out both times...and made sure not to ever go back. 
The price I paid for playing Sho~Bud I guess! lol |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2015 8:48 am
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| I had the same problem with the card symbols. My 1st pedal steel was a Sho~Bud Fingertip with the card symbols. I didn't think it appropriate to play a guitar like that in a Baptist church. What I did was take some chrome tape and cover up the card symbols. After a few years I traded that guitar for a Pro III Sho~Bud. Al Udeen was a Sho~Bud rep. at the time and he wound up with my original guitar. He always wondered who the screwball was who did that to the fretboard. After a few years we met up together and the mystery was solved!! |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 17 Sep 2015 11:05 am
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| Playing steel in church is always wonderful for me! I always look forward to Sundays when my church's piano player asks me, "Want to play on Sunday night?" on some Sundays. The first time I played in church, I gave my testimony and played "Old Rugged Cross" and all my friends at my church were amazed because they'd never seen and heard a pedal steel up close and in person. They all loved the pedal steel and its' sound! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2015 12:22 pm
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"Give Praises To The Lord On An Instrument Of Ten Strings".
Psalms 33:2
Psalms 92:3
Psalms 144:9 |
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Danny Letz
From:
Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540
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Posted 17 Sep 2015 4:57 pm
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| I was just making a funny because I had seen the card symbol problem discussed on here before. God bless you guys that play in church and play real perty. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2015 8:37 am
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Danny,
I know you were just funnin' me. |
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Danny Letz
From:
Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540
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Posted 18 Sep 2015 4:58 pm
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| Erv, I have found that a lot of people are surprised how great pedal steel sounds on gospel music and express there appreciation. I have done it some and probably should do it more often. Thanks |
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J.C. Norris
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2015 11:15 pm Pedal Steel in Church
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| Guys I admire all of you who play in Church. I've been playing in Churches for many years. And yes pedal steel fits so well in gospel, hymns & southern quartet material. Worked with 3 quartets for years & absolutely loved it. Irv you'll do fine, if you take the 1st step, He'll do the rest. God bless!!! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2015 8:14 am
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J.C.,
I've always said that if you want to learn the pedal steel, the best music to learn on is gospel music.
The Holy Spirit is standing right over your shoulder helping you along.
He loves it when you "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 19 Sep 2015 9:03 am
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I play all funerals, and services that our praise team is asked to provide the music. I remember one funeral I played, the first song started, "boink" you guessed it G# broke, I always keep one cut to length, and bent to make it easier to start on the tuner, had it changed, and in tune before song ended.
Bro Erv, Thanks once more for providing us with a great selection of gospel tabs to help along the way..Bill
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Steven Albrecht
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2015 3:35 pm church
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| I am new playing pedal steel only 3 months now, but Have played Gospel all my life and I think Steel really adds to the feeling and emotion to any song, And I agree, there is something that helps when we use the steel in worship. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 19 Sep 2015 4:56 pm
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so i guess your churches don't have 'casino night' to raise benefit money for the church?
is bridge allowed? how bout pinochle? ..go fish?
cards are cards. they are for games.
sounds pretty intolerant.
do they allow dancing? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2015 6:15 am
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Chris,
Do you know why Baptists don't make love standing up?
People might think they're dancing!
I take exception to your calling us intolerant, we are a discerning group of Christians and see no need for the things you think are important, they have no place in a true group of believers. My church supports itself through contributions not gambling. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 20 Sep 2015 8:59 am
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not trying to start a fight,erv. i like you.
if you're happy, i'm happy. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2015 8:26 am
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Chris,
Besides being happy, I'm blessed. |
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Wesley Medlen
From:
LaCygne,Ks
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Posted 22 Sep 2015 1:53 am
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I've been playing in a cowboy church band for over 51/2 years and love it. We have been asked to play in concert at several churches, Mo. state fair and parades and concerts of our own. Never played at a funeral before I got in this band have played 6 since then. Wes
_________________
Justice S10 Jr, Gibson Electra 6string, Boss Katana 100, Steelers Choice ,Gretsch 6 string lap, Hilton VP |
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Don Sulesky
From:
Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH
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Posted 22 Sep 2015 6:29 am
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I did two weddings back in the late 70's on steel.
It was a lot of fun.
_________________
Private one on one lessons available
Member: FSGC, PSGA, TSGA
Co-founder: Florida Steel Guitar Club
"Steel guitar is like playing chess in the dark with three players". Jeff Newman quote from 1997 seminar |
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