Smoothness: Is it in the hands of the player?

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I know we've discussed this before (maybe even beaten it to death) but here it is again.

A week ago I would have concluded that the smooth styles of some players is totally attributable to years of practice. I would have said that a master player would sound equally as smooth regardless of the guitar he was playing; however, my own smoothness improved noticeably, with the purchase of this new Mullen so I am beginning to believe that the guitar itself is responsible for at least part of smoothness.

What do y'all think?

Joe

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

On a pedal steel, it's also in the feet (and knees). Very Happy

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Joe, what you said could be taken in many ways. You referred to a Master, then to yourself. So in order to answer your question. It depends of whether or not you were calling yourself a Master beforehand, or?

I'll say this: A smooth player, will be a smooth player, regardless of what steel being played. That you can bank on. Master or not.

But it seems our own perception makes us all see things that (at times) aren't really there. Winking

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

A mediocre, no-name guitar, in the hands of a Master can indeed be expected to make smooth, effortless music up to a point.........

HOWEVER, IMHO, regardless of the g'tar and the player, a set of inferior, low-cost, brightly packaged guitar STRINGS for a $1.20........

or a badly deteriorated set of cheap-o packaged strings can create a playing situation that even an accomplished player will find extremely difficult to overcome.

EVEN if that Master Player is using the latest chrome plated, all plastic, super alloy picks along with a duper duper space age BAR of some kind, the bad strings will be a definite deterrant to good musical tones. The bar will likely drag thus hamper the deliver of smooth tones and dead string(s) will clearly mess up the musical dynamics of it all.

Just my tho'ts on the subject.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I bought the new "Smooth Box".

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

On pedal steel, some guitars have a smoother pedal travel than others. This isn't really by guitar brand - it's more about how well the guitar is set up.

Players who "know their stuff" will generally have a smoother playing axe because they tinker with adjustments to get it "just right".
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

Don Brown,
A Master I am not by any stretch of the definition... If I was, I probably wouldn't have asked the question. Didn't mean to insinuate that I am.

Ray and b0b,
What you guys said makes sense to me. I can see the strings having a big impact on the tone. This guitar has much less pedal / knee lever travel than any guitar I've ever owned. Probably due to the set up. That might be why I (think) I sound soother than I did before.

Joe

Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

Joe I practice all the time and have noticed in the last week or two that Iplay with less effort on my Emmons LeGrande III. It feels smooth and sounds smooth. I'll be getting my Mullen G2 soon. Actually finally getting it and it occured to me if I had just got it I might make the same assumption that it was the guitar. When it gets here I hope to have the same experience you have had. Don D.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I hope you do too, Don. But you might not notice as big a difference from your LeGrande.

Joe

Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

I've played a lot of guitars, and some of them seem to play smoother than others. Also, if I like the way an instrument feels and sounds, I tend to play better and enjoy myself more. It may or may not be the guitar, but if you like it, then the guitar might help.

Mitch Ellis · From: Collins, Mississippi USA

In my opinoin, it is, for the most part, in the hands of the player. The next two biggest factors would be the bar and strings. If a good player is using a mediocre steel, or a high-end steel that was set up for someone else, he can usually adjust pretty quick. But if you have a scratched up bar or strings that have the least bit of surface rust or either dead, or both, it's almost a constant fight. I have never understood how some people can spend thousands of dollars on an instrument, and then refuse to buy a set of 7-10 dollar strings when they need them. In my opinion, the strings are the life-line between the musician and his music.

Mitch

W. C. Edgar · Posted 13 Aug 2009 9:03 pm

My bar is scratched up, my strings are about 3 years old and I still play smooth as ever. Its not in the guitar or the bar or the strings its in your attack and technique. Emmons can make a crappy maverick sound like a high dollar guitar. Either you have the touch or you don't. Some people will never get it if they play forever and yet others have it come to them naturally. I used to think it was the guitar or the amp or how many knees I had on my D-10. Scotty said he heard a guy say once that he had a D-10 loaded with 9 & 10 plus a 12 space rack and 2 Nashville 400 amps and he still couldn't get that nashville sound. Duane Marrs told me one day in his shop that I had a touch that takes some folks many years to get and others never get. Thanks Duane

www.wcedgar.com

www.myspace.com/wcedgar

richard burton · From: Britain

A good volume pedal technique helps for smoother playing

There has to be attack at all times.

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

I bet you've been playing that new Mullen non-stop since you got it. Am I right?

Assuming I'm correct, Don't you think all that playing has a lot to do with your new found smoothness? If a new guitar makes you want to play more, that's great. And I'm sure that Mullen is a wonderful guitar. But don't kid yourself; there is no substitute for time spent in the saddle.

Franklin · Posted 14 Aug 2009 5:24 am

Assuming by smooth, your talking about very little pick noise when strings are played as is common with the sound of Byrd, Buddy and many others.

The smooth touch is 100% in the hands. A smooth touch is created by how you attack the string and your skill with the volume pedal. No guitar has any relevance in this area beyond inspiring you to lighten up your touch. That may have happened with the new guitar.

Maybe your fighting the new guitar less so you relaxed more? its the attack of the string that creates a smooth touch, not the guitar. The more you can relax your right and left hands is the secret to getting a smooth touch. When I tense up my touch becomes more harsh.

Paul

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

Very very true Paul, the more relaxed I am, the smoother I get and visa versa. I just never related smoothness to being tense, I just relate to making alot of mistakes when I'm tense, like playing at a Steel Show, my fingers just don't want to work, along with the rest of my body, until I get relaxed on the stage.
_________________
Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Precise tuning of the instrument is important, (duh), and proper ABC pedal adjustments in relation to the floor, should receive the utmost attention.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I really appreciate it.

Richard,
It took me quite a while to get a handle on the volume pedal. I understand what you are saying about that. Buying a Hilton was a good move.

Paul S.

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

Mr. Paul Franklin's words of wisdom---yes, if you are not relaxed, your playing will suffer--and sound "lacking".

For me to sound smooth, I have to feel that I am a part of my guitar--so familiar I don't have to think about anything but my music--thinking what I want it to sound like, then executing my attack to coincide with what I hear in my mind. It takes simple chair time--lots of chair time.

Your equipment is part of the equation --to a point. If you have reasonable equipment (not out and out junk) and practice, you will SOUND like you practice. If you have great equipment and seldom practice, you will sound like you seldom practice. The magic bullet is practice and more practice with the equipment you have. At least that's my short amount of experience as of August 14, 2009.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

James,
You are absolutely correct.
The way to achieve smoothness on the pedal steel is the same way you get to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice. Very Happy

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

To me, "smooth" is something that just comes with ultimate familiarity and being comfortable with the instrument. I've seen players that played smoothly with an instrument that I'd consider was "rough as a cob"!

A great player can maintain a smooth sound, even from a crappy guitar. But a crappy player will have very little chance of maintaining a smooth sound, even from the very best guitar.

I never blame the guitar for what I can't do. Neutral

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Maybe I misunderstood what you meant by "smooth". I took it to mean the evenness of the change when you press a pedal or knee lever, and the evenness of the volume when you use the volume pedal. None of this is "in the hands".

Just so we're clear, what would be the opposite of "smooth"?
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

What your dog says when you say "speak". Whoa!

Gary Lee Gimble · From: Fredericksburg, VA.

when we talk geetars, how smooth is smooth?

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

As smooth as a baby's behind. Very Happy

Forum Index > Steel Players	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic