Are you a Real Steel player, or a "Wanna--be steel play

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

Inspired by Bob C's thread about 80% failure rate of those who attempt to learn pedal steel concept, My question is:

When do you consider yourself past the wanna-be stage, and now you are a "real deal steel player"?? Evil Twisted

My definition of a wannabee is nothing more than sommeone who wants to be---whatever. You have to be a wannabee before you can become an accomplished---whatever your goal is. So do not take offence at the term as used in this case.

SOOOOO, when do YOU consider yourself past the wanna-bee stage and you are now an accomplished steel guitarist??

Well, how do you know?? Evil Twisted

Me, I let those who hear me decide
what I am. Laughing

Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

Jame's put me down for both.
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James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

OK Bill, but first you have to answer the "How can you tell---" question.

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

i think that there is to much middle ground for a yes or no answer to this question
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Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

I think the term is misleading here so I won't do the poll right this minute.
A "wannabe" puts me in mind of the term "poser". One who wants to be something he is not and just poses with whatever his object of affection is - in this case the pedal steel- to show the world "Here I am. See? I am a steel player!!"

I think a more fitting description would be:
I am a steel player
and
I am an amateur steel player

Which in my case would be the latter

Michael Douchette · From: Gallatin, TN (deceased)

Inside, when I hear great players, I feel like a wannabee... but I pay my bills doing it, so I guess I'm a "real deal."

Never thought about myself like that, though. I'm just a guy that loves to play, and I've been blessed to be able to do it, with great players and friends that play other instruments, and make a living at it.

Ain't God good? (Insert thankful, praying smiley, if there was one.)
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http://www.steelharp.com
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(other things you can ask about here)
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James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Bent, you are so right. I will edit my post and title.

On second thought, I have no apologies for my terminology. I'm kinda proud to be a wanna-bee, my self. Razz

But I did clarify what I mean by "wanna-be", if you care to re-read my opening post. Cool

Please do not take it in a wrong way. Wink

billy tam R.I.P. · From: baton rouge, louisiana

James, I would have to put myself in the steel player category, but on the bottom end of that totem pole. What I wannabe is a great steel player but I doubt I'll live another 50 or 60 years.
Billy

Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

I'm a real wannabe.

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

I think the term is really misleading myself. The fact in my opinion is everyone wants to be something. But most will never be whatever! However, it is a goal form everyone at some point to be the best, yet most will never be able to make it! So the next best thing is for those like me great or even good at playing the steel. do it just to have fun and to make themselves happy doing it or trying it! And if one day can play one song and make just one person smile in being able to just play that one song is the frosting on the cake!

so be that wannabeeeee just for yourself! and in doing so if you can make others smile well you have accomplished more then you thought you would.

Dean from S.I. NY
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Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

James,
No apologies needed and certainly no offense taken. Strictly a difference of opinion on what a wannabe is.
No biggie.
Bent

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Well James, anything I do that is "inspiring" these days is allright by me...lol...

My answer is much like Mike D's...

When I hear a "real" player, I think to myself.. "my my we really DO suck awfully bad now don't we"... I am a wannabe at those times....

However, when others over the decades have heard me play, they smile, hoot and holler, shake my hand,ask about my gear, ask how do I get my unique sound, will I play on thier albums , never heard anythin so cool, etc, ...plus I've even heard my steel playing on the radio and tv a few times with various artists, so I guess I'm a "real" player...kinda....

Now thats not to say I am a great, proficient, good,average, inadequate or awful player... thats almost subjective... it just means that I can play it well enough to keep other listeners and musicians interested or even intrigued...

I would dare say many many of us here are in that boat.. When we hear the finest players, we feel inadequate, but in most other instances, we are the kings of our domain..

I'll sum it up this way, as I've summed it up before on these very pages...
If you can play it thusly...
In Tune,In Time, In Tone, and In Taste .then yes you are a for real steel guitarist, NOT a wannabe, and when you are playing it as stated, you ARE king of your domain... even its a very small domain like mine... bob

Mike Christensen · From: Cook Minnesota

Been playing pedal for two years.Dobro 25,so I have some type of background. I,m happy with my playing in that I am making steady progress.I have a deep deep love for my old LDG,I just love being with the guitar.I'm in a "new country" band,we play the little honky tonks around here. I feel pretty good about myself when people come up and say they really like my playing,even when they call my guitar a "keyboard",and when the foxy little hard bodies come up and shake it for me in front of my face,I'm just about old enough to be their grandfather,this is all fine.Then on my way home I listen to Brad Paisley and his player or Paul Franklin and his tone with Mark Knopfler and my self esteem and my guitar both shrivel like I do when I jump into a cold Minnesota lake

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

I'm not going to touch my guitar again until after I learn how to play.
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James R. Cole · From: Texas, USA

I'm definitely a wannabe. Just the other day my wife said "Ya might WANNABE playin' that outside."
Just kiddin. I do get excited though when she says she recognizes what I'm trying to play, even if it's NOT what I'm trying to play.

David Doggett · Posted 27 Nov 2007 10:02 am

I think you need a few more categories:

Wannabee = thinking about buying a steel and learning

Beginner = just starting out, can play a few simple songs (this stage can last several years)

Intermediate = can play pretty good on a bunch of songs, and can do something fair on trying a reasonably simple song for the first time (this is where I have been stalled for years)

Accomplished = knows good stuff for many songs, and can do good stuff on most any song played for the first time

Great, top pro = can play great on everything, can play stuff most players can't touch

I would consider anyone from intermediate on up a "real steel player." The top three levels could be an advanced amateur, semi-pro weekend warrior, or a full-time pro. These terms don't always match well with the "accomplishment" categories above, and aren't very useful. But few people seem to get into the top two categories without spending some time as a full-time pro.

Ron Scott · From: Michigan

Real player or wanna be. Don't know about that but if you can play what you like then that is what matters. I played out for many years and enjoyed it.I made money at it but had another job that paid the bills.Never really tried to make it big but I always respected the ones who did.I know to make a living in Nashville playing you have to be very good.(Michael Douchette) You also seem quite down to earth which I really respect.Ron
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George McLellan · From: Duluth, MN USA

Mike C., I for one, really like your playing ----- when I get the rare chance to work with you. I see Bill (the guy who puts on the Levelle show) every morning. From what he said about your playing last Saturday night, you certainly impressed a lot of people there. Way to go pardner!

Geo

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

Hmmmmmm,

Like Bob C. stated, here around Kingman, Az. I'm king of my domain,,,,,right behind Chuck Back, and Bill Bailey! Very Happy

Now there's a couple of fine players. Very Happy

edited for bad spelling.

Larry
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Michael Douchette · From: Gallatin, TN (deceased)

Ron, thanks. I'm just a working guy in the trenches that's blessed to do what I do, love what I do, and love to meet and talk with you guys.
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Mikey D... H.S.P.
Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a 10mm first.

http://www.steelharp.com
http://www.thesessionplayers.com/douchette.html

(other things you can ask about here)
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o54/Steelharp/

John McGlothlin · Posted 27 Nov 2007 1:57 pm

Well I have to be honest about it...I'm just a wannabe steel guitarist and a wannabe guitarist. I envy all the greats on pedal steel, I just can't seem to be satified with my playing...maybe I'm just too critical of myself, I have learned a lot in the past few years but that alone is not all there is to it.

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Im a guitarist. I wish i could play the steel. I cannot yet. Guess that makes me a wanna be steel player. i think someone here said anyone who starts on guitar is doomed to be nothing more than a wanna be steeler....whatever.

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

I've always been a keyboard player. I've done it all my life and I've worked pretty hard at it and I've been lucky to have even developed a decent fan base.

But, after all, I'm 52, and if I can't play by now, I never will. It's like driving a truck or cutting timber--two things I've done along the way to pay the bills. There's always gonna somebody out there who's better, but I've learned to use what I have for all its worth and I can usually handle any challenge that is given to me with satisfactory results.

Having recently moved into the Nashville scene, there are some good keyboard players there, but I don't feel ill-equipped next to them. I've seen others--some who are even playing with the artists--who don't really bring much to the table, but they somehow get the job done and they're working, so they must be pros. From that viewpoint, it's hard to be a wannabe if youalreadyis. Smile

But consider this: I can read, but I simply don't do enough of it any more to be good at it, and my eyes aren't what they used to be. So, does that make me a bad player? It does if you need me to read. But, if you want me to learn it by ear, read charts or play improvisationally, I have done that professionally for a long time. People even introduce me as being a great player, even though I am always embarrassed by that and feel that it is a stretch. But for what great skill I might have according to one person's needs or tastes, I might be a worthless neophyte in the eyes of someone who is looking for somebody who can read and perform Rachmaninoff note for note.

But then there is the pedal steel. I've had people tell me I'm good at it too, but when I go downtown and listen to guys like my good friend Randy Hess, or Mike Sweeny, or Gary Morse I feel like I'd be further ahead and like I'd be doing the world a favor if I just sold my steel. In fairness, I've never had the time to devote to the steel that I have to piano and organ, but when I listen to those monsters, I have to ask my self, why bother? God blessed me with the ability to have my way with the 88's, so why shouldn't I just be content to stick to something that I have taken sufficiently beyond the scope of being a mere wannabe? Because the steel guitar is the prettiest sounding thing this side of heaven, and it's the greatest musical challenge of any of the instruments that I attempt to play. So, as long as I wannabe able to play like the great players I mentioned, I guess you can call me a wannabe who's determined to be a gonnabe. Laughing

Bill Duve · From: Limestone .New York, USA

Well James M..
As you said in the beginning about being inspired by 80% failure rate I'll just copy my post from there over here.

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I think after about 6 months of messing around and another 6 of being helped by a pro I do what I would call fair, not good by any means but im happy to hear actual sounds made by the pros coming out of this thing I have worked so hard and spent so much money on, Most of those I relate to have played 40 years so where does failure start, I do not play well but im playing and have no intention of quitting so im not a failure (yet)

Scott Moon · From: Canyon Lake, TX

I'm a REAL Fiddle Player who wants to be a Real Steel Player.I've gigged out on Steel a few times over the past two or three years (when somebody is desperate and gives me a call) so does that make me Real or Wanna Be???? that is da question..... Mr. Green

Scott

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