| Do you ever have to play steel and some other instrument too ? |
| Always |
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35% |
[ 25 ] |
| Sometimes |
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32% |
[ 23 ] |
| Rarely |
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10% |
[ 7 ] |
| Never |
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21% |
[ 15 ] |
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| Total Votes : 70 |
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| Author |
Topic: The Overworked Steeler |
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 30 Mar 2007 1:26 pm |
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Here's Basil Henriques playing at a C&W Club in Kings Heath, Birmingham, England, three weeks ago.
In addition to playing Steel they've got him playing lead guitar and many other instruments via MIDI.
A great performance, Basil. I hope they paid you twice !
How many other steelers are expected to play several parts ? |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 30 Mar 2007 1:42 pm
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Yep! I'm always going between guitar,and steel,sometimes a B-3..and every band I play with starts songs without me,and then they say "Sorry We Thought You Were Ready" and it's always while I'm just getting my finger-picks on.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Bob Watson
From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
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Posted 30 Mar 2007 5:40 pm
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I have played a lot of gigs where I play both Guitar and Pedal Steel Guitar on but I prefer gigs where I just play one instrument. I always feel better about my Pedal Steel playing when thats the only instrument I have to play on the gig. I've been playing a Rockabilly gig lately that I play Guitar and Non Pedal Steel Guitar on and I enjoy that more than gigs where I double on Pedal Steel. Nobody wants to pay you more for playing two instruments. There ought to be a law...
Last edited by Bob Watson on 30 Mar 2007 6:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 30 Mar 2007 5:57 pm
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Steel, electric or acoustic guitar, and banjo sometimes these days. I have played quite a few gigs on pedal steel alone the last couple of years. But sometimes guitar - or even, shudder, banjo - is what makes the tune. It's about what the tune needs, not what I feel like playing. I've been playing guitar a lot longer than anything, so in a way, it's kind of ironic that I don't play a lot more guitar. But there aren't a lot of steel players playing out here, so people really want steel. I'm not complaining.  |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Mar 2007 9:23 pm Steel & Tele
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Working a trio like we are if I want any lead guitar it's up to me to put it there!  So most gigs you'll find me with my Tele hanging around my neck also, every now and then some one actually pays enough for us to bring in a bona-fide "Tele Whanger" 
Larry
_________________
Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 3:47 pm
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| Bumped for Basil who hasn't seen it yet |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 4:55 pm
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Years ago had to double or maybe triple on steel,guitar,and banjo,but never got double or triple pay,Sold the guitar and banjo and stuck with my first love,the steel.Have not played anything but steel for about fifteen years except mandolin for my own pleasure.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 6:28 pm
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I played nothing but steel until a couple of years ago when I got a marimba. I never intended to play it with a band, but John Reese had other ideas. Now I carry the marimba for almost every Open Hearts performance.
It's sort of embarassing because I'm not very good on it.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 6:42 pm
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I play steel, switch off with a bass player who also plays keyboard and lead guitar.
I also play the harp and chromatic harmonica. Quite often I am asked to bring my big chord harmonica along to do a bit of a comedy sketch with the guys.
It's all a blast as far as I am concerned.
By the way Bob, how much does your marimba weigh? My sister's marimba weighs 186 lbs and barely fits into her van. |
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Stephan Franck
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 7:52 am
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actually...
When I'm in the audience, seeing band members joggle instruments in the middle of a song is one of my absolute pet peeves... I mean I really hate it.
I've never given it much thought before, but if I rationalize it, it might be because it focuses my attention away from the performence of the song, and focuses it on individual parts...
I guess I don't have a problem accepting a performence with arrangements that are different from the original, depending on how many/what kind of musicians are on stage. I'd rather commit to a heartfelt rendition of Honkytonk Woman by a cello and an accordion, rather than being distracted by "overworked musicians" running around because that one bar needs a couple of banjo rolls...
It just kills it for me.
Am I just being a jerk, or does anybody feel that way? |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 8:15 am
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I don't think I have ever seen all that many musicians running around on the stage to swap instruments during a song. I have seen a few guitarists do a roll or two on the keyboard while their guitar was still hanging off their shoulder but, that's about it.
What I have seen, but only as an entertainment thing, was a five piece band run around swaping instruments until each one of them had played everyone else's instrument.
If I am not mistaking, Don Rich of the Buckaroos could do this. |
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Eric Jaeger
From:
Oakland, California, USA
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 10:40 am
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It depends on the gig. I have a lot of instruments I'm lousy at but can practice and fake on if asked.
At the stratospheric level, I think The Band achieved a lot of their sound through the fact that almost all of them played multiple instruments:
Levon Helm: drums, mandolin, guitar, bass
Rick Danko: bass, fiddle, harmonica, guitar
Richard Manuel: piano, drums
Robbie Robertson: guitar
Garth Hudson: anything. I've seen him play organ, clavinet, sax, flugelhorn, accordion, trombone...
-eric |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 12:59 pm
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Alan, I didn't know you had taken some pics of that gig !
I started playing both instruments (within the same song)in 1970 when Des, Johnny Kelly and myself formed the Virginians Showband in Ireland.
The first pro band on the showband scene to have a full "Country' lineup. i.e. fiddle, steel gt, lead gt, piano, rhythm gt, bass and drums.
initially I'd switch from steel to lead guitar during the tunes to play harmony lines with the lead player. Later on prospective steelies looking for work with bands, cursed my name as I'd set a standard and yardstick whereby a steelie was REQUIRED to also play lead gt.
The majority of steelies in Ireland today play both instruments.
Back to what Alan said about the gig, I use an Axon
system. Check it out !! it's the "Canine Genitalia"
as they say over here.
| Quote: |
A great performance, Basil. I hope they paid you twice |
Nowadays I play for charity, so however much it is, goes to a worthy cause.
This year we (Bob Brolly and myself) are donating all our earnings to Diabetes research.
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 4:05 pm
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Steel, Guitar and Trombone -- often consecutively but never simultaneously.
_________________
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 5:13 pm
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| basilh wrote: |
This year we (Bob Brolly and myself) are donating all our earnings to Diabetes research. |
Yes, Basil, it does you both great credit.
As a diabetic myself, and on behalf of all diabetics, thank you. |
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Dave Harmonson
From:
Seattle, Wa
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 8:45 pm
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| At one time a few years back, I was bringing an MSA D10 steel, Fender 6 string steel, Dobro, Telecaster, Rickenbacker 12 string, and a mandolin. 58 strings to tune up. But, I guess I'm sorta nuts. I've cut back some now, but it seems I'm always bringing at least three of them. I guess I feel like if you've got 'em you gotta share. At least I don't have the Ricky 12 string anymore. |
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Marc Friedland
From:
Fort Collins, CO
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 9:19 pm
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I usually switch back and forth between pedal steel, a stack of 2 keyboards, and electric 6-string guitar. I don’t consider myself overworked as I love the position of utility player/color man, and being versatile and good at it goes with the territory. I’ve attached the same picture as I did in the Keyboard/Steel thread, because I feel it’s appropriate for both. The picture is of my set-up when playing a large venue, where I have my own riser.
Stephan,
The 5-piece band I play the most with actually includes in its act, a medley of songs where we all switch around instruments. Granted, if you were only listening without the benefit of the visual stimulus, of course it wouldn’t sound quite as good as when we’re all on our primary instruments. Based on the feedback we get from our fans and new audiences, we feel this creates a great deal of entertainment value, but I do understand why some musicians don’t feel it’s worth the trade off.
Marc
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Jim Walker
From:
Headland, AL
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Posted 17 Apr 2007 1:21 am
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I also play harmonica and once in a while the juice harp.
_________________
Show Pro D10, Session 400 |
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Tor Arve Baroy
From:
Norway
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Posted 17 Apr 2007 1:54 am Always, and lovin it!!
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I play different instruments with all bands I play with, and exept for hauling the crap around, I think its great. It makes my evening much more interesting.
On this picture I play with a band called countrymen, I play Mandolin, Banjo, steel and tin whistle with them.
If you go to www.baroy.no you can see some of the other bands I play with, lot of different instruments in each, (FOY : lydfiler means soundfiles, if you want to listen to something on the page.) |
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Steve Stallings
From:
Houston/Cypress, Texas
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Posted 17 Apr 2007 5:23 am
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I play steel and electric six string in the band I work for. I use to also play keyboards but I got really tired of the extended setup and managed to stop playing keys too.
_________________
Steve Stallings
Emmons Legrande II 8X5 |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 18 Apr 2007 1:56 pm
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Maybe a little "Off Topic" but nevertheless relevant,
| Quote: |
| As a diabetic myself, and on behalf of all diabetics, thank you |
I didn't know that Alan ...
That cheque for ÂŁ76,000 STIRLING was just from the Symphony hall concert, the years total was more like ÂŁ130,000 (About a quarter of a million US Dollars)
This year we may equal or pass that figure. "If the good Lord's willing and the Creeks don't Rise !!"
If we continue to raise that kind of 'matzah', I don't mind playing with both hands, both feet, and pass me the broom !!
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 18 Apr 2007 4:29 pm
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| basilh wrote: |
| If we continue to raise that kind of 'matzah', I don't mind playing with both hands, both feet, and pass me the broom !! |
..and if diabetes research continues at the present rate, thanks to funding from benefactors like you, we'll all keep our hands and feet. I need all my parts to keep those pedals moving ! |
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Michael Haselman
From:
St. Paul
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Posted 18 Apr 2007 6:55 pm
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See picture to the left. I've been playing all 3 since 1980. Keeps me pretty much employed and somewhat in demand.
_________________
Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff. |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2007 8:15 pm
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| I almost always play electric six-string and steel, most often as the only "lead" instrument. Very, very seldom have I tried to play both on the same song, and I've usually regretted it! If it ever works, it's only when I start on one, then switch to the other for the rest of the song. I can't play Tele with thumb and fingerpicks, and I can't play steel without 'em. Plus it's near impossible for me to play steel over a Tele in my lap, and the neck hits the leg of the steel. The guy who played with Buck Owens in the Eighties, Terry Christoffersen, got around that problem by using a Steinberger guitar, the kind with almost no body, hung high, so he could play steel under it. Smart idea. He played great on both, too. |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2007 8:24 pm so where do I vote?
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| Where do i vote? |
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