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Topic: When The Mood Strikes |
Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 12:54 am |
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Members, do you practice steel when the mood strikes, or do you strive to keep up on practice sessions regardless of high or low level inspirations? |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 1:10 am
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there are times that I sit at the Steel maybe twice a day for an hour each session. This can go on for months..and has...
then there are times like now..I haven't really touched the Steel much in the past two weeks..
But when I do sit down it's back to the same grind...playing the same things over and over again...
Many times I go backwards and take something that I don't feel I am playing well on the bandstand and REWORK it..play it with a totally different twist...
currently my main routine is changing my alternate picking patterns...
heck of a life.. 
t |
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Rick Garrett
From:
Tyler, Texas
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 1:32 am
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Hi Mr. Hankey, I find myself yearning to practice. Can't wait to get home to my guitars nearly everyday. I do play better though when "the Mood strikes".
Rick |
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Mark Edwards
From:
Weatherford,Texas, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 4:59 am
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| If I'm home, I'm on my steel, been playing (not very well I may ad) about 2 years, and I practice as much as I can. I have about 30 cassette tapes, I have taped over time from lessons I have taken (I tape anything anyone has to show me on the steel) and I replay those, and learn something new all the time. I also aquire new learning material as I see it, and work on that too. I pratice more if nobody is here, but kind of just pick around when the bride is home, becasue there is always some sort of distraction i.e. TV, her needing something etc... but when I'm by myself I practice long and hard and can work on a certain tune or lick over and over until it's right, if I were to do that with my bride it would drive her crazy. But any free time I have I'm at the steel. |
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Andy Jones
From:
Mississippi
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 10:03 am
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| I have found that if I'm not in the mood to practice,I'm more or less wasting my time to try and play.15 minutes of practice when I'm motivated is worth more than an hour of monotonous plunking when I'm not in the mood.About 45 minutes is all I can sit still,any way,unless I'm really focused.Any time I hear Dicky Overbey,I can really get focused. |
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 10:17 am
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Interesting thread.
With me, the key element is the first five or ten minutes of the sit-down, after which I either continue for whatever time period, or realize that now is not the time. In shorter words, sometimes I can play; sometimes I can't!
If I were not retired from teaching (save for part time community college work), all this would be a hell of a lot tougher to pursue! |
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Terry Edwards
From:
Florida... livin' on spongecake...
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 10:54 am
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| Quote: |
| do you practice steel when the mood strikes |
My wife says so!
Terry[This message was edited by Terry Edwards on 26 September 2006 at 11:55 AM.] |
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Mike Shefrin
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 10:59 am
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| Both. I try to practice regularly but I love playing even more "when the mood strikes" which is often a result from just listening to some music that inspires me like Lloyd, Jaydee or Doug J. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 1:14 pm
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Pretty intros such as the one heard in the song called, "Look At Us" provides ample incentive to snuggle up to the steel. It was tabbed out for those who wished to compare notes, and to get close to the original sound. Some "rides" are just too neat for words. It seems as though the sky is the limit, in the study of the steel guitar. Anything catchy and new, should hasten the "shifting of gears", which invariably helps, in maintaining a constant interest in practice sessions. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2006 2:24 am
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It's stifling to be caught up in a condescending aura of concerted dissonance.... The drawing board awaits with a resolve. Cultivating musical achievement through regular practice, will entice a steel guitarist to become more adept in assorted techniques, which leads to better performances.
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 27 Sep 2006 5:34 am
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Practice?!
<--Maynard G. Krebbs |
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Roger Edgington
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2006 9:42 am
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| It's pretty much a mood thing for me.I might hit it every day for a while and other times I may not practice gor weeks. I do play every weekend sometimes 3 jobs and that helps keep me in shape. I can really tell the difference on the job if I practice much at all. I spend most of that time trying to work out new things. |
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Terry Edwards
From:
Florida... livin' on spongecake...
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Posted 27 Sep 2006 10:01 am
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| Quote: |
| condescending aura of concerted dissonance... |
If only my practicing could lead me to musical creativity as eloquent and stylistic as your writing!
Terry |
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Don Barnhardt
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2006 4:34 pm
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| Strictly when I'm in the mood but that's often. |
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Joe Smith
From:
Charlotte, NC, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2006 5:16 pm
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I practice more when I have a gig coming up. But it comes in spells. Sometimes I will sit for hours and play. Other days I may not touch the steel at all.
------------------
Relative minors are not kin folk
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Richard Gonzales
From:
Davidson, NC USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2006 5:59 pm
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I am always motivated, it is like a disease!
I have three catagories to address depending on my mood when I sit at the guitar. I will engage myself self in only one of them, two of them or all three.
1. Playing songs
2. Learning the guitar (different chord/note
locations)
3. Practicing technique (harmonics,grips,etc.) |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 28 Sep 2006 10:56 am
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Exquisite harmonies cascading into infinite splendor, much like an ethereal spring thaw, sparkling in the sunlight, as it slips over a rock face, on a lofty ledge. The steel guitar is all of those things, and more. Practice brings forth the sustaining values heard in accomplished musicianship.
B.H.[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 28 September 2006 at 12:01 PM.] |
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Ron Brennan
From:
Orlando, Florida, USA; Formerly, Edison, NJ
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Posted 28 Sep 2006 11:03 am
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What Bill Hankey said above!!
My imagination and sentiments exactly....TX
Rgds,
Ron
------------------
JCFSGC member 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2006 2:08 am
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I would like to thank those who have contributed to this post, and others. Thanks to: Tony, Rick, Mark, Andy, James, Terry, Mike, Charlie, Roger, Don, Joe, Richard, and Ron. It has been a great source of enjoyment checking in each morning, and trying to put faces to the writings that appear in different threads. It's the next best thing to a handshake.
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 29 Sep 2006 2:48 am
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Unfortunately you maybe motivated,
but life has other demands.
You must put all elements in priority,
and not wear yourself out in the process.
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2006 3:45 am
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David, interesting point, would you care to elaborate on your inferential comments? To me there is a world of difference in staring at sea water, as opposed to a beautiful mountain, with its natural beauty. Thanks...
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Hap Young
From:
Yuma, AZ, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2006 5:56 am
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| Bill, My guitar is set up all the time and I practiceone or two hours daily most of the time. Then I play twice each weekend. One day, I may learn how to play this thing. Regardles, I enjoy the time that I spend on the instrument, even though I cant put it into words as pretty as you do. By the way, I'm glad that you are feeling better. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2006 6:22 am
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Hap, thanks for keeping in touch. I know that you are an accomplished player, and anything "new" that you could add through practice, would be the "icing on the cake." Please let me know if you still frequently visit The Berkshire Hills. [This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 29 September 2006 at 07:23 AM.] |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2006 2:25 am
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Observing intently, melody preferences in other steel guitarists' repertoires, (in random practice sessions), is interesting. I wonder who might include any of the following list of songs, in a work up p. session?
1. "The Other Woman"
2. "Walk Me To The Door"
3. "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down"
4. "Tired Of Livin' This A Way
5. "I Fall To Pieces"
6. "Linda On My Mind"
7. "Wild Side Of Life"
8. "Harbor Lights"
9. "Golden Slippers"
0. "Storms Never Last" [This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 30 September 2006 at 03:27 AM.] |
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Jeff Colson
From:
Rockford Illinois, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2006 3:25 am
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I remember when I got my first Steel I was playing guitar 5 nights a week in a local band and not really working a for real job. I practiced sometimes 5,6,7 hours a day to get the steel going so I could play it in the band. When I finally started playing gigs with it I would still practice 3,4 hours a day trying to catch the elusive sound of Nashville.
After a couple of years of steady playing out my practice went to almost nothing, I found myself basically practicing when I played a job maybe I was burned out of practicing. I quit for several years and after recently getting back into playing (although not playing out) I find I can’t wait to practice even if it’s only for a ½ hour before I go to bed. I really don’t have anyone to impress or play for, but I want to play cleaner, faster more tastfull than I ever did.
I guess I just need the challenge and this Instrument provides all I can take and then some.
Jeff
[This message was edited by Jeff Colson on 30 September 2006 at 04:26 AM.] |
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