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Topic: thoughts about the steel (probably a stir) from a new player |
Curtis Nicely
From:
Tempe, AZ
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Posted 10 Dec 2007 8:19 pm |
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I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about the steel, I have got just about every Jeffran Video, and a relative (Troy Porter) who has been very kind in giving me some advise about the steel. Now, I have played the guitar for a while (on and off for ten years, not really serious until about three years ago). So, as you can imagine, I know enough to get myself in trouble.
In some reading online and in some of the old steel guitar magazines, I read about the instrument that needs to overcome "stereo types" and various other hurdles that have been placed on it. I can tell you my whole reason for wanting to pick up the steel was probably one of those stereo types (I wanted to sound MORE country...) BUT my frustration comes in the form that my Grandpa's Steel (I inherited) is a universal that he built, now if that steel was a guitar, I could simply just tune the d@mn thing and move on. It took my 2 weeks of searching to find out after learning what the levers should do, that I can't find the codependent (SP?!?!) for HIS guitar. I had to buy another guitar with a simpler setup... I think that is probably the BIGGEST hurdle steel has, it is a very frustrating instrument to learn.
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Mullen G2, 1978 Homegrown uni, 1964 Twin Reverb, LTD. 400
I still can't play! |
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Curtis Nicely
From:
Tempe, AZ
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Posted 10 Dec 2007 8:25 pm
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I know quite a bit of music theory, I definitely am no stranger to country either. But, when I (with a good understanding) of how music works find the instrument difficult to wrap my head around, I could only imagine a younger fella wanting to learn, and then not even being able to tune the d@mn instrument... Or buying an instrument he can't play, that he will have to buy another just to learn...
Something my Grandpa used to preach to everyone (this is the stir part), is that the steel NEEDS to go to a "universal" tuning, one that anyone can pick up, that can play ALL kinds of music, without having to learn complex patterns on TWO necks. After recently playing (I can play a few tunes, got the A+B pedals down. In simple scales) I can say that this is quite possibly the hardest thing I have tried to do in my life, I hate that it's complicated by a lack of a standard format. Just my 2 cents from a newbie...
AND BTW, I LOVE MY E9th, now that I know how to tune it and use a few pedals...
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Mullen G2, 1978 Homegrown uni, 1964 Twin Reverb, LTD. 400
I still can't play! |
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2007 8:40 pm
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Curtis
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF PEDAL STEEL GUITARS
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proud parent of a sailor
Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!
Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick |
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Myrna Beasley
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2007 10:11 pm The "stir"
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Welcome to the fascinating roller coaster ride in which you begin taming your Pedal Steel Guitar(s). As somebody once said, "You've got gumption". It will serve you well in this adventure. Keep on pickin'.
MB
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Excel D10 |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 10 Dec 2007 11:45 pm
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If you buy a steel guitar from an established steel guitar dealer, they will steer you to a standard instrument with standard instructional material. There are only a few in the country, but they will talk with you over the phone and easily ship you the instrument, required accessories, and essential instructional material.
If you get "grandfathered" in, buy used from an owner, or buy from a non-steel knowledgable mail-order or walk-in music store, you could be in for a slow start and a rough ride. Sad, but true. It's still a bit of a cult instrument. There are a number of ways to get initiated into the cult. Some ways are not so great.
But, it's easier now to find the right dealers and teachers than ever before. You've come to the right place here on the Forum. Ask lots of questions, none are too dumb. Once you are a Forum member, all the advice is free. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2007 1:17 am
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Welcome Curtis,from Alabama,I had a Zum uni 12,a few years ago,wish I had kept it,if you understand just a little about the 9th neck and the 6th neck,it's not hard to learn to play a UNI,you have the best of both tunings on one neck,don't you know.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 11 Dec 2007 2:13 am
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Curtis, don't be alarmed. It's not uncommon to hear UNI players (12 stringers) get a tad frustrated. It is true that there is minimal stuff out there for these Instruments but also keep in mind in the the scheme of things the Pedal Steel Guitar is relatively NEW, 5 or 6 decades old. The common guitar has emerged into a 10 string ,3 pedal, 4 or 5 knee lever Instrument over the past 2 decades with a good deal of Instructional material and a great deal of commonality. It's getting better and better everyday as is evident in players posting things on the internet and in forums such as this.
Most UNI players started on a standard 10 string and made there way to a 12 string because they knew why they were doing it...
IF you have a knowledge of basic I,IV and V chords and can apply them on the fly in any key without thinking about it , the E9th Pedal Steel will not take you long to understand, the time will be more for the physical motions that are required.
good luck
tp |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 11 Dec 2007 6:11 am
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| Quote: |
| It's still a bit of a cult instrument. |
And just keep away from the "Electric Kool-Aid", even though sometimes this machine will give ya reason to wanna partake... |
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Curtis Nicely
From:
Tempe, AZ
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Posted 11 Dec 2007 10:15 am
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Thank you all for the kind words. I look forward to the next 5-10 years of frustration! 
At least it will give me something monumental to accomplish. 
And thank god for the internet, and all the things your great community has done to make this instrument easier to learn, I can't imagine what learning would have been like in the 50's or 60's. 
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Mullen G2, 1978 Homegrown uni, 1964 Twin Reverb, LTD. 400
I still can't play! |
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Steve English
From:
Baja, Arizona
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Posted 11 Dec 2007 12:03 pm
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I would think you have two of the best sources for any info you need relating to any steel guitar: Troy & Glen.
After I bought my first steel guitar in 1974, Glen was the one who told me 1) what the pedals/levers did, 2)how to tune it.
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Always remember you're unique..... Just like everyone else |
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