Getting steel guitar into the mainstream?

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

I think I posted something similar to this about four years ago on here, so it's time to freshen it up just to toss the salad.

I just read the Kid Rock thread, and everybody's talking about how great it is that pedal steel is getting more exposure through groups like Kid Rock, Springsteen, Dixie Chicks, etc., but I say "Whoooooaaaaa!!!!"

I don't want every Tom, Dick, and Harry playing lap or pedal steel. I want it to remain mysterious and played by us chosen few! Who the heck wants it to be so common that it's not a specialty anymore? I sure don't! I think the whole charm of lap and pedal steel guitar is that not many people play it or even know what the heck it is.

LET'S KEEP THE LID ON THIS, GUYS AND GALS! You know, keep a secret. I liken it to this scenario:

I've lived in the Seattle area for 8 years, and let me tell you -- it doesn't rain nearly as much as what every one else outside of here thinks it does. And you wanna know why everybody else always thinks it rains so much? Because we tell them that! We don't want every Tom, Dick, and Harry moving here! We have incredible weather.

I say let's keep lap and pedal steel to ourselves and maybe just teach our sons, daughters, or even nephews how to play this wonderful instrument. You know, keep it in the family, man! Tell people who are interested something like: "No, dude. It's just too much to tackle. Try the electric guitar..."

STOP SPREADING THE WORD. I want to remain special. (Selfish, yes, I'll freely admit.)

Al

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Actually, I kind of agree. This is something that always crosses my mind when reading those "is steel dying?" type threads. Steel guitar will never TOTALLY die out, and that small group of people who keep it alive--that is, us--will get to keep our mystique. Put another way, steel guitar still has a certain "novelty" value (not the most charitable choice of words, but not totally inaccurate either, IMHO) that we steel guitar players trade on. And besides, do we really want the competition?

On the other hand, the more people playing steel guitar the better the chances of humanity generating another Buddy Emmons (or at least another Paul Franklin or two

). More players will mean a richer steel tradition and more good music.

So as a player, I'm all for keeping the numbers down, but as a fan, I want to hear steel guitar everywhere!

-Travis

P.S. There's a character who you will find at every show that features steel guitar. I call him "the guy who's way too easily impressed by steel guitar." He's the guy who comes up after the show and is really curious about the instrument, and was blown away by your playing, etc. Usually he likes Ry Cooder, or the slide guy from Little Feat, or the Allman Brothers or something. If steel guitar was as popular as regular guitar (which could never happen, as its rhythm playing capabilites are too limited) then this guy would stop coming up and talking to us after shows. And we'd miss him (he's good for our egos).

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

I visit with friends of mine for about 10 days in Everett close to Seattle and out of 10 days it rained 7-8,everyone was excited how nice of a day was everytime it stopped to rain and sun was kind of,somewhere behind the clouds.It rains and that is the fact,rain clouds are to havy and low to get across the Cascade mountains and that is why Seattle gets so much rain,the east Washington state is as dry as it gets,only because it is on the other side of the mountain range.Beautiful part of the country,just,well,...it rains too much...

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Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Have i missed something?I never thought steel guitar was dying out.I thought it was country music that had died.There is only a hand full of good country singers who don't need half naked girls on stage.I am repeating my self here,but look and listen to what the public is buyng and watching on tv' and the radio stations won't play the good singers who are over 30 years old.Doesn't leave much does it?Tracy

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Yea, steel guitar has been dieing out for about 50 years now.

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

I never hear steel, it's dead!

Larry Miller · From: Dothan AL,USA

Theresa, I hear it ALL the time!

LARRY COLE · From: LANCASTER, OHIO, USA

I agree with Chas. Let everyone go out and buy a steel and amp and all the accessories and give it a shot. Most will give up when they see how difficult it is and the talent and coordination required then real steel players will get (like Arethe Franklin says) a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Then we can buy all their steels real cheap. Steel players are the Green Beret of musicians. Many have already learned other instruments.

"One hundred men will test today,
and only three make the Green Beret".

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12, SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60

[This message was edited by LARRY COLE on 23 November 2003 at 05:36 AM.]

Chris Walke · From: St Charles, IL

"I've lived in the Seattle area for 8 years, and let me tell you -- it doesn't rain nearly as much as what every one else outside of here thinks it does. And you wanna know why everybody else always thinks it rains so much? Because we tell them that! We don't want every Tom, Dick, and Harry moving here! We have incredible weather."

Hah!! Cat's outta the bag now, Al! I'm packing my wife and dog, and heading out to Seattle. Whoo-hoo!! Can't wait to tell me next door neighbor, Tom, and my barber, Dick, and my cousin, Harry. We've all been thinking about moving to Washington, but heard it rained too much. What a relief!

!!

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