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Topic: steel playing levels |
Mike Archer
From:
church hill tn
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Posted 5 Jun 2007 5:44 am |
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i was sitin behind my emmons last night
and playing with tracks and such
and....thought....wow i need to move it up a notch so i dug into some new stuff and started learning some cool intros and speed pickin stuff
seems that ole fire flared up again to learn
i think this and practice and playing gigs is
vital to ones level of playing changes
anyone feel the same out there?
even older players like myself need to kick it up a notch
the reason i say this in my case is i use to remmber so much now its slow for me i get it fast but lose it fast as well age i guess |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 5 Jun 2007 6:15 am
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Mike,
Steel playing (for Me)has been a steady climb all these years.
It took me a long time to grab the basics and just when I thought I was going nowhere something clicked and I moved up a notch.
A lot of practise does pay off even though I sometimes do not notice the progress at the time.
I enjoy it very much and I bet you are younger than Me.
Best regards
Billy(65) |
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Bill Mayville
From:
Las Vegas Nevada * R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Jun 2007 7:42 am 65 years of age
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Hi Billy
You are the youngest 65 I have ever seen.
Talk about preserved.
One other thing.
The morning we met,and we did not go to breakfast
with you,I felt I really let you down.Well,what happened was ,since the small two strokes,my legs give me fits.I was in the main hall the night before for 15 minutes.
When my left ankle feels like the bone is coming though the skin,I have a lot of pain.That weekend A doctor only looked at it.Since it wasn't thru the skin he said good bye.
It has been bothering me not being able to say goodbye,and you are looking a lot younger that your age.I think you should put a picture of you next to your name.
Bill Mayville
_________________
Bill Mayville
06 Jackson Commemorative ,S 10
Black.For Sale . $18,000 Kidding |
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Mike Archer
From:
church hill tn
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Posted 5 Jun 2007 10:34 am reply from me 56 years old and much arthritis
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yes Billy thats so true
when i started out in 1983
i had a very fast take off because i was on the road and man i was on the steel every day at the clubs i was on fire and had a ball
after i left pro music in 2003 i slowed down
because of leg trouble and it took a while
to get back in shape even so with a real bad back
some days its just not in me but latey i have
begain to hit it and loving it
to the point now i could teach younger players  |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 5 Jun 2007 11:24 am
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| I'm still horrible compared to the good guys, but every time I sit down to the steel for a new practise session, I find I am less horrible than before. Not by much mind you, but even slightly is good. |
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Dennis Schell
From:
Shingletown, Shasta county, Kalifornia
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Posted 5 Jun 2007 3:40 pm
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There's SO much going on at once while learning PSG that I find myself frustrated at times with my slow progress. Both hands, both knees, both feet, 3 fingers with picks on 'em, no frets....arrrgh!!! Being a somewhat accomplished 6 string picker probably adds to the frustration level because there's music "trapped" in my head because I can't yet "think" in PSG like I can on 6 string if you know what I mean. But I expect that will eventually come around...(And the sooner the better!  )
In the meantime I try to console myself with "little victories" such as having good pitch in a practice session or volume control or getting through a tricky passage without tangling my fingerpicks or getting a nice smooth pedal/slide note or two. It's good to reach "some" goal each time at bat even if it's just some little thing like that. I guess that's kicking it up a notch for beginners..
I sometimes wonder if someone with NO prior playing experience doesn't progress faster! 
2 centavos,
Dennis
_________________
"Bucks Owin" |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 5 Jun 2007 7:04 pm
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just keep playing .. every day
_________________
Bo Borland
Rittenberry SD10 , Derby D-10, Quilter TT12, Peavey Session 400 w/ JBL, NV112, Fender Blues Jr. , 1974 Dobro 60N squareneck, Rickenbacher NS lapsteel, 1973 Telecaster Thinline, 1979 blonde/black Frankenstrat
Currently picking with
Mason Dixon Band masondixonband.net |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 6 Jun 2007 5:27 am
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Steel playing is the
Great Leveler.
No matter how hot you are on another instrument,
pick up the steel and your an infant again.
And they still call you kid till your over 50...
Similar to violin:
They say when you have played for fifteen years,
you are NOW a 'beginner', not a debutant.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Dennis Schell
From:
Shingletown, Shasta county, Kalifornia
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Posted 6 Jun 2007 8:48 am
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| David L. Donald wrote: |
And they still call you kid till your over 50...
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 (53)
Dennis
_________________
"Bucks Owin" |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 6 Jun 2007 12:27 pm
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Hatched August of '53, a very good month of a very good year...
Believe it or not Dennis, we are the pig in the python  |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 6 Jun 2007 3:12 pm
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Well,,
At 59 yrs. old I guess they can call me something besides "kid" now, but please, don't call me late for supper!!
Larry
_________________
Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2007 5:14 pm
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Well, I am 59 and been hacking at the steel for over 2 years now and I have obtained the level of a half fast player.............I think that's what the guy said! Something like that, anyway.
Wally |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2007 9:41 pm
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Wally,if it's half fast or half a--ed that's still 50 percent on a scale of one to ten.Not to bad at all,at this rate in two more years you might be a ten.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2007 10:29 pm
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Well kids I'm 62. been playing with my steel for about six months. What interests me the most is the mechanics of my steel. As I'm pretty machanicaly inclined I enjoy figuring out what makes it work.
That has helped me to learn how to play and change some things around the way i want them. The PSG to me is the most beautiful instrument I've ever heard.
I am determined to learn to play it well before I kick off. I like to figure out how to play songs with no other music, just me and my steel. Songs like Faded Love ect.and keep changing and playing them in different ways. I would love to take some lessons but the closes teacher is two hours away so I'm left to doing it myself. Now if I could just figure out what those gas pedal thingies are for??? |
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Robert Jones
From:
Branson, Missouri
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Posted 9 Jun 2007 5:24 am
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52. I'm never growing up because I'm always going to be a "Toys are us kid"!!!
Dennis I can understand where you are coming from since I started out on a 6 string also. My problem is I had all of these steel licks going through my head. I finally gave up and went out and bought a steel. No regrets at all. I've gone places that I may never ever get to see again in my life. My suggestion to you is to keep hacking at it. It's going to come around for you.
_________________
Mullen Royal Precision D10 Red Lacquer Pearl inlay 8&8
"Life is too short for bad tone."
https://mullenguitars.com/
http://www.bjsbars.com/ |
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Harvey Kimray
From:
Edgewood, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 9 Jun 2007 6:41 am
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I too am like Dennis as I have played Bass for 37 years and at the tender wrinkled age of 69 decided to try to play the PSG. After 2 1/2 years of driving my wife up the wall with practice several times a day. I will be playing in the public for the first time Sunday morning doing the Offertory Hymn. My thanks go to Jim Harper (my mentor),Erv Niehaus and his tabs which have helped me tremendiously,The Steel Guitar Forum and fellow steelers like yourselves with their sage advice and comments.
Derby 10, Peavey Nashville 400 and Profex II |
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Jim Harper
From:
Comanche, Oklahoma, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 9 Jun 2007 7:27 am
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| Harvey,Thank you for the kind word,s and we hope you have a great time tomorrow.I think i am a little part of you playing the steel guitar and that sure does help an old man who has played just about all my life. God Bless==Jim Harper |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 9 Jun 2007 9:54 am
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Harvey break a leg.
You'll do just fine.
DD
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Dennis Schell
From:
Shingletown, Shasta county, Kalifornia
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Posted 9 Jun 2007 10:02 am
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| Robert Jones wrote: |
Dennis I can understand where you are coming from since I started out on a 6 string also. My problem is I had all of these steel licks going through my head.......
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Exactly! When I was a young'un I was "learning" Don Rich and Buck but "thinking" Tom Brumley and Ralph!
We're coming from the same place amigo, 
Dennis
BTW, good for you Harvey! I'll be pullin' for ya!
_________________
"Bucks Owin" |
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Jim Harper
From:
Comanche, Oklahoma, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 9 Jun 2007 1:32 pm
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| Guy,s when i started all i wanted to hear was Little Roy Wiggin,s. I got me a 6 string Harmony in 1946 and i have been down this road many time,s and still going.==Jim Harper |
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Robert Jones
From:
Branson, Missouri
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 5:45 pm
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Hey thanks Bama,
Two years is not that bad, I'll let you know where I am in two years. Probably still be a half-fast player, but loving every minute of it. Wonder what them 3 pedals are for and also, there are four metal lever do-hickies a hangin down under the steel too?
Do you use all those things when you play??
Wally |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2007 6:03 pm
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Hi Wally been awhile glad your hanging in there,I mostly use the a and b pedals and those things that hang down that raises and lowers the E strings,I can play the maj,maj9th's,minors,6th's,7th's,9th's,aug,and dim,no better than I play that's enough for me.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 11 Jun 2007 5:53 am
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| If you can, play with as many different groups or pickers as possible. Helps your ear. Then you can try to fit what you know with their tunes... |
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Mike Archer
From:
church hill tn
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Posted 11 Jun 2007 7:30 am levels
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yes by all means playing with
other pickers is great for sure
im at this point playing tele with a group
and i love it and we have a fine steel player
but around here there are not to many groups
to begin with although i do get called for
sub work and sessions which is great
from time to time 
i have taken advantage of home time and
been woodseding a lot and working with tracks
and i also teach which helps you stay on the ball
too |
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