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Topic: Steel guitar addiction? |
Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2010 6:38 pm |
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I've found, over the past several months of learning the PSG, that it has become somewhat of an obsession with me. If I'm not gigging out of town I play for several hours a day (I've always done the same with six string guitar, so that's not that unusual, I guess), or find myself writing or reading stacks of graph paper charts finding various ways to play through various jazz tunes while watching movies with my wife and dogs. I read the Steel Guitar Forum. I catch myself boring my poor fellow musicians on breaks at gigs with enthusiastic descriptions of pedal steel minutiae, not to mention my dear new bride, who has already suffered 8 years of being the partner of a fairly nerdy jazz guitarist and composer.
To make matters worse, there's the financial implications. I've just put down the deposit on a new MSA Studio Pro U-12. Granted, musical instruments are the main thing I spend money on, and I use them to make my living, but still....
I think I might be addicted to pedal steel guitar - better than other things I've been addicted to, I admit - but addicted, nonetheless. Is this normal? What is it about this strange instrument that make it so compelling? Is it simply because it's challenging? Or do steel guitar manufacturers coat the instruments with some untraceable substance that causes this reaction?
Please help...
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com |
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Rick Schacter
From:
Portland, Or.
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Posted 9 Jul 2010 10:13 pm Re: Steel guitar addiction?
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| Christopher Woitach wrote: |
Is this normal? What is it about this strange instrument that make it so compelling? Is it simply because it's challenging? Please help... |
Is this normal?...Yes.
Partly because it's challenging, but also because the instrument is full of "Ah-ha!" moments.
Enjoy your new addiction.
Rick |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2010 10:46 pm
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Hey Christopher...Glad you're addicted.
Nice stuff on your website!  |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 9 Jul 2010 11:47 pm
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I have a theory that the instrument satisfies the quest for improvement of both sides of the brain.
Both Artistic and Mechanical. |
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Carson Leighton
From:
N.B. Canada
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Posted 10 Jul 2010 1:43 am
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| It's the sound,,combination of pedals and knee levers,,raising and lowering the pitch of the strings...There is simply no end to those combinations,,and that's part of what keeps you going back....Carson |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 10 Jul 2010 3:13 am addiction
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Chris-like you, I sit and watch TV with the family, holding a pen and pad, so I can jot down music that comes to me
Joey- I think you're on to something there,left/right
brain activity
Carson-this instrument offers "limitless" possibilities, voicings, & movements. It's a fascinating addiction 
Rick |
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Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2010 5:42 am
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Rick - thanks for the kind words, man
I think you all are correct - the right/left brain combination is hard to beat. I think that's also what attracted me to jazz in the first place.
I also think that the expressiveness of the instrument touches some almost primordial part of my heart - very vocal, very "human", for lack of a better word
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2010 9:04 am
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| Kinda like a big video game/Rubik's cube with patterns and strategy like a chessboard that can sound like a tight vocal group if you play your cards right. |
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Barry Hyman
From:
upstate New York, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2010 6:19 pm
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It uses the left brain and the right brain plus the parts of the brain that are missing. That can be quite remarkably stimulating.
_________________
I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 13 Jul 2010 6:40 pm
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Christopher,
Steel guitar IS an addiction, plain and simple. We try to warn people before it's too late, but in your case, we didn't have time to get to you. We apologize.
By the way, if you haven't discovered it yet, you should visit www.SteelGuitarJazz.com. That will make things much worse. Enjoy.
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 14 Jul 2010 4:30 pm
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I am forming a support group called, STEEL-A-NON. It is for steelguitar addicts. My loving wife calls my steel "THE OTHER WOMAN". The steel guitar is a beautiful instrument. It does take a lot of hand-eye coordination, because you move your hands two different ways, you knees two different ways and your feet, two different ways. Once mastered, one will become familliar with the players styles when they are featured on their local radio station. I'll hear a song with steel on it and I name the player. Plus,according to my wife, I disect the song and point out to her when, the steel comes in and backs out. WE are all ADDICTS here. Hello my name is Tommy and I am a STEEL GUITAR ADDICT.
Tommy _ SMFTBL
PS It is a good addiction, that won't send you Hell, but It could bankrupt you, because you'll want to buy every gadget on the market to become a better player. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 14 Jul 2010 5:38 pm
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If you're the kinda guy who, while getting all warm and cuddly with the significant other, hears a great steel break coming on the radio, and goes and gets up and turns the radio up in anticipation, and then stands there with ear to the speakers, listening for every nuance and tone sparkle, and then turns back to pick up where you left off with the SO, and feels that her frown and scowl are "just the price you hafta pay...", the you are addicted.
_________________
Lawyers are done: Emmons SD-10, 3 Dekleys including a D10, NV400, and lots of effects units to cover my clams... |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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William Clark
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Posted 14 Jul 2010 9:06 pm
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| I discussed the same problem with my doctor. He told me to take two Sho-Buds and call him in the morning. Bill |
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Rick Schacter
From:
Portland, Or.
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Posted 14 Jul 2010 9:56 pm Victory Girl Decal
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| Tommy Shown wrote: |
My loving wife calls my steel "THE OTHER WOMAN". |
Funny you should mention that.
I ordered this decal and put it on my MSA Semi-Classic.
La Otra Mujer (The Other Woman).
I thought it was perfect.
The company was able to shrink it down to fit the front apron of my guitar.
Rick |
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Emmett Roch
From:
Texas Hill Country
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Posted 15 Jul 2010 2:23 am
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Ray, you just described me, because I've done that to every wife I've had.
A good woman understands that all talking is to stop until the steel ride is finished.
_________________
On Earth, as it is in Texas |
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Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2010 7:31 am
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Man, you guys make me feel a) better, knowing there are others with the same addiction, and b) worse, finding out that it's truly hopeless...
My wife, the greatest partner a guy could have, has been known to point out attractive women to me - "hey honey, check HER out", knowing that i'm probably going to look, anyway (being a guy). NOW she's started pointing out steel guitar, and even including songs with steel on them on mixed CD's she makes for car travel. Am I lucky, or what?
Jim - I love the steel jazz website, and yes, it makes it worse. You are personally responsible for me dashing off several times to the guitar saying "now how the heck did he do THAT?" Thanks, pal, for enabling my obsession - I hope to get you back, someday...
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 15 Jul 2010 8:11 am Addiction/Obsession?
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I was bitten by that same bug as a young teenager.
Steel guitar has been my constant companion for eons.
JERRY BYRD became my dominant focus when I first heard his version of "MOONLAND", in the late 1940's or early 50's.
There's not a day that BYRD isn't in my life, not to say I don't enjoy other players as well.
It's a difficult experience to try an ignore. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 15 Jul 2010 8:33 am
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| Christopher Woitach wrote: |
| Jim - I love the steel jazz website, and yes, it makes it worse. You are personally responsible for me dashing off several times to the guitar saying "now how the heck did he do THAT?" Thanks, pal, for enabling my obsession - I hope to get you back, someday... |
Don't mention it.
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Elton Smith
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2010 5:54 pm The subjet
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| I think playing music is an addiction in its self.I ve played six string lead guitar for over 40 years and some steel along the way.Dobro got me going with the psg.I am by no means a great steel player,but it seems theres not much mystery there in the six string.I love the psg, and work on every chance I get.My greatest thrill was the first gig I played steel on was to look up after the song ended and see a dance floor full of people.So the addiction contenues. |
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