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Topic: Pickin' up the Pedal Steel again and seeking advice |
Jon Guirl
From:
Millington TN, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2013 7:27 pm |
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Ok, background - grew up hearing the beautiful thing on the radio/records and always wanted to be a part of that sound. Bought a Sho-Bud Maverick from Pat Heller in Otto MO in 1984, and fooled around with it out in HI (I was military) and then stumbled across a tarnished beauty of a Sierra U12 at Island Guitars that I got for 500 and still own it today.
Just played and picked and tried to be Bruce Bouton back in the 80's (LOL) and played and fooled around with no real discipline or teacher, just stuff from Scotties, Winnies book, and Jeff Newman stuff. Still have it all. Got decent at it I guess and had fun entertaining myself.
I have been told I have pretty good tone and decent basic technique by Steelers who have watched me play.
I think my problem was 2-fold: I never really learned the neck or scales, I just wanted to be able to play 'that song' and did whatever to learn it by rote, and secondly I really never studied the neck, scales, and how to apply that with what I hear in my head. In other words, I guess I was a self trained monkey that could (roughly) play you whatever you wanted, as long as it was one of the songs I figgered out LOL. Bottom line I made the common fatal mistake of getting way ahead of myself.
Anyway - Got frustrated, bored with it, tired of it, or whatever 12 or more years ago and stuffed it all in a corner and tried to forget about it.
Watched some stuff on Utube (thank you Sarah Jory), the bug bit again, and watched some of the free Joe Wright videos on the Sierra website and really realized how many gaps there are in my knowledge of this thing and music.
I just wonder what kind of advice you guys could give me to structure my practice and playing and actually progress as a musician and steel picker going forward? I really want to fill in all those gaps and gain a real ability on this thing.
My first instinct is to start at the very beginning, like I never played before.
Any advice, encouragement, discouragement, good jokes, or whatever are welcome.
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Ray Anderson
From:
Jenkins, Kentucky USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2013 7:56 pm
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You pretty much covered all that you need to know and answered your own call. You've got the basic instructional material at hand. All you need now is the discipline to stay the course and learn the scales. I'm a 3 year Noob and I still drag out the instructions and go through them as if it were the first time that I'd seen them, on a regular basis. Each time I advance and find where I had missed something before. You won't beat Jeff's courses for learning. JMHO. Stay the course and learn the basics . Happy Steelin'  |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 6 Dec 2013 8:09 pm
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i've played 40 yrs and couldn't really tell you what a scale is or isn't...aside from maybe slowly counting out some notes.
just start fooling with it and stumbling on stuff. the best thing you could do, with your background, is just start playing with some friends. you'll be right back into it. you've already got a good steel.
funny you mention bruce boutin cause he just posted that it was time for him to start learning some stuff, too. |
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Jon Guirl
From:
Millington TN, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2013 8:42 pm
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Thanks guys - I guess the advice I am looking for is how do you best break old habits and start over re-learning things the proper way, or just figure out the gaps and lackings in my play, fill 'em in and take it from there? I really never learned how to work the neck, follow the chord progression, and play on the fly, I dang sure want to be able to do that!
Love hearing that Bruce Boutin is still out and at it, where did he post that? I loved him and Ray Flacke trading Emmons and Tele licks on Ricky Skaggs stuff, that is still some of the best picking out there to me!
And ya Chris, I got a good setup, I just need to fill in the void between my ears and spend the time it takes to do it I guess  |
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Jeff Metz Jr.
From:
York, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2013 3:22 am
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I found that getting a steel teacher really helped open new doors. You will be amazed at how differently you look at what you thought you were doing. Its all there in front of you, just take time to find it. Keep in mind that there is usually a way simpler answer than one might expect when it comes to the steel, or so I have found. Hope I helped. And BTW if you can't find a local teacher, I have just learned of Skype online lessons using a computer Web cam and a free software. Check it out, I am excited to try it myself. Thanks
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Mullen G2 SD10 , Lil Izzy Buffer, Goodrich 120 volume pedal, Boss DD-7, Peterson Strobo flip, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Howard Steinberg
From:
St. Petersburg, Florida , USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2013 1:15 pm
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It sounds like the most difficult thing here is evaluating what you know and what you need to learn. I'd think it would be worthwhile to have at least a few lessons to sort this out. If that's not possible , starting from the beginning should work. I'd think you would progress through the stuff that you know pretty quickly and could work on filling in the gaps. The Jeff Newman material would be good for this. Good luck. It sounds like it will be very do able for you.
Nice cat, by the way:)
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Justice Pro Lite (4-5), Justice D-10 (8-5)x2 , Quilter Steelaire, Hilton Pedal, BJ's bar. |
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