How many players....

Curt Langston · Posted 17 Mar 2005 6:33 pm

How many pedal steel players started learning pedal steel, without having learned any other instrument.(guitar or bass)....Just curious. I can't play anything else, and wondered who else might be the same way.....

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

Tuba or bagpipes was my second choice. Just kidding. It was a struggle for me learn the steel with my hearing disability. If you do know bass or guitar before learning steel, it's definitely helps in hearing the chords and know the music language. The chord sounds are already in your head. Of course,learning the technique is the same either way - whether you played another instrument or have not played another instrument.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Curt, I don't fit that catagory but I'd like to say that it's really all in how much you love the instrument and want to play it. One bit of advice I can give is don't try and teach yourself right off from the start. I've seen more guys give it up that way. If possible find a good teacher and/or buy some good DVD courses. Jeff Newman's are just excellent to get you quite a ways. Personal instruction is the best way to get your technique right from the start instead of creating bad habits that can hold you back and are hard to break later. Another thought about this is that even those of us that played other instruments had to start cold with the first one. You'll love it!

Billy Joe Bailey · From: Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Like Scott said you want go wrong with a few of the Jeff Newman course's under your belt.
God Bless BJ

Ken Thompson · From: Great Falls, Montana, USA

I played accoustic guitar for a couple of years, taught myself bass, played that for about twelve years. My wife bought me a custom made PSD for my 36th birthday. I had not idea she was doing it. I had made a comment once that I thought I could learn to play PSD. I'm 53 and still learning but I have been playing it in bands for about ten years now. I don't think I could have learned it without having the guitar and bass background.

Hal Higgins · From: Denham Springs, LA

Desire and determination is what it takes to learn PSG. It does help if you have some kind of musical background such as guitar or bass....and even piano would help, because of knowing what the chords sound like already. I learned from listening to various records of the day and time that I started......I started in 1970 and basically, I taught myself. In that day, there were not many courses to turn to so that one could get off on the right foot. Now, however, there are many courses available to help get someone started and carry you through to advanced stages of the learning process. I've now been playing for 35 years, and I find that I'm still learning this instrument.....good luck....and don't get frustrated if you are not progressing as quickly as you hope you will. HAL

------------------
Be Blessed........HAL
'85 Emmons LeGrande D-10,(8 & 6) Hilton Vol. Pedal, BJS Birthstone bar, Rack w/Evans Pre-amp, Lexicon MPX500; (2)1501-4 BW's in custom built cabs by T.A. Gibson, & Sound Tech PL802 Digital Power Amp.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

I did it 'cause it didn't make my finger tips sore.

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

How 'bout going from DRUMS to steel! Talk about a learning curve. It's been quite an adventure, just wish I had started years earlier.

Dean Vallery · From: San Antonio, Texas, USA

I too fall into the catagory of not playing any instrument prior to wanting to play the steel. As has already been mentioned, back then there weren't many places to get steel coarses such as there are today. I was lucky enough to have a good steel teacher early on. He suggested to me several times that I ought to do a little rythum guitar just to help me with timing and chord changes. I didn't pay any attention to him and I think I paid dearly for it. Hope this helps.
Deano

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

I had been playing Bass, and Lead guitar all my life when I decided to take the plunge into pedal steel at the age of 48 Even then I decided real fast I needed HELP!! Armed myself with Scottys' course book first, then one of Jeffs' vidios. I can't tell you the number of times I nearly threw my bar thru the TV screen!!lol.. Jeff made it look sooo easy. Just reall glad I didn't give up.
Larry

------------------
Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

John Parker · From: Golden Valley, Az. USA

I started learning pedal steel about five years ago. Never played anything else. I had one guy who showed me some things and helped a lot but mostly I learned from books, CDs, tapes and tabs. I'm just now getting brave enough to go to some jam sessions and hack my way through 'em.

------------------
John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400

Jan Jonsson · From: Gothenburg, Sweden

I've been playing the 6-string guitar (mostly Strats and Teles) for almost 30 years and I got interested in the steel guitar some ten years ago when I heard Buddy Emmons playing the C6. After the musical revelation, my 6-string style changed in terms of phrasings and voicing towards that of a steel guitar. And then, after discovering the Telecaster masterships of people like Danny Gatton and Redd Volkaert I got quite conviced that the pedal steel was something for me (there's a lot of pedal steel influences in those guys' playing). So, last year I bought myself a Sho-Bud D-10 and attacked it with a hitherto unseen frenzy. I soon learned that the advice: "don't try and teach yourself right off from the start" is an excellent one. There is so much that can go wrong and give you a bad first experience with the PSG if you don't have some type of professional guidance. So the last six months I've been taking remote lessons from Sho-Bud meister Ricky Davis (who also refurbished my guitar). And so far, it's the best investment of time and money I've ever experienced!

-- Jan

------------------
Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8/4, Fender Stringmaster S-8, Fender CS Nocaster

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I started out on a 6 string lap steel first at age 10. In 1956 it was unlikely one would start out on a PSG with no tab, very little help, not to mention a PSG of any sort was hard to find. By the time I got my pride and joy Fender 400 I was playing my dads 54 Fender bass regular and could play 5 and sometimes 6 chords on a guitar. Thats still all I play on guitar but have graduated to a D-10 on PSG.

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

Until I discovered the forum, I was the only picker I knew. My family has a musical history, but the steel was the only instrument I took up seriously.
Anyway, that's getting away from the point I was going to make.
Most guitar players, when asked what key the song is in, turn and show me their fingering, as if I should know what the heck that means!
They assume you are also a six-stringer.
Well, I'm not!
Sorry, folks. Got that off me chest.
Cheers, Arch.

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: