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Author Topic:  Practicing without a steel
J. David Carrera


From:
Los Angeles, CA
Post  Posted 8 Oct 2014 11:42 am    
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I'm going on the road for a few weeks and I'll only have my guitar with me. I really want to stay up on my pedal steel playing.

Anyone got any tips for staying up on their game without a steel in front of them?

I could probably fit a small lap steel in my bag. Does a travel lap steel exist? 10 strings would be best. I especially want to stay on top of blocking.

Thanks.
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Tony Dingus

 

From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 8 Oct 2014 4:13 pm    
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I remember seeing a picture of Paul Franklin with the top of an old Sho Bud ( basically a board with a neck ) practicing on the bus.

Tony
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Drew Pierce

 

From:
Arkansas, USA
Post  Posted 9 Oct 2014 5:18 pm    
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One of the best lead guitar players I know once told me he did a lot of his practicing simply in his head. He said he "visualized" all kinds of licks whenever -- and wherever -- they came to mind, including chord progressions and complex, up-the-neck single string riffs. He would do this in places like laying in bed at night, driving his car, sitting in the dentist chair, etc.
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Drew Pierce
Emmons D10 Fatback, S10 bolt-on, Zum D10, Evans RE500, Hilton volume and delay pedals.
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Chris Templeton


From:
The Green Mountain State
Post  Posted 9 Oct 2014 5:57 pm    
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I believe Buddy E. does this. I remember he said, "There's another crease on the cerebellum", which probably has to do with practicing with or without a steel.
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Joe Goldmark

 

From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
Post  Posted 10 Oct 2014 6:05 pm    
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I'll second Drew & Chris. I'm always surprised when I try and play an instrumental in my head that I have down cold, and find there's a passage that I can't visualize. I then try and refresh that lick so I can remember it next time I visualize. Anyway, this is a real good way to practice, something I don't do enough.
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Craig Schwartz


From:
McHenry IL
Post  Posted 11 Oct 2014 7:28 am    
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Flashcards work , all major chords and grabs up the entire neck,
kinda question yourself of what you already know
that you think is critical from A to G
just one flashcard example
A: open w/a& b,
fret 5
fret 8 a/f
fret 10 lower e's
fret 12 ab
fret 17
fret 20 af
Then pick B: etc...
For all the majors, 7ths, minors,
Never over think what you dont know,
that day will come
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Jerry Roller


From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
Post  Posted 12 Oct 2014 6:42 am    
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That practicing in your head can be a real problem though. It is hard to turn it off when you want to. It can be impossible to stop practicing in your head if you have had too much antihistamine.
Jerry
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Craig Schwartz


From:
McHenry IL
Post  Posted 12 Oct 2014 8:09 am    
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I havent been able to turn it off since I bought my first steel. Shocked please tell me how to do that!
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Craig Schwartz


From:
McHenry IL
Post  Posted 12 Oct 2014 8:10 am    
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I havent been able to turn it off since I bought my first steel. Shocked please tell me how to do that!
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SO MANY LURES, SO LITTLE TIME....
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Mark Wayne


From:
Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 12 Oct 2014 8:25 am    
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J., Try to get a lap steel, even a 6-string, so you can at least practice your right hand. If you can get a keyless lap steel it would take up minimal space.
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Mark Wayne Krutke
****markwayne.biz****
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