How do I jack my brain to think in Steelish?

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I have been playing slide and electric guitar for 35 years and steel for 4, and whenever I wake up with a lick in my head, whistle while I work, or hear something on a CD I automatically reach for a six-string to try to assimilate it. Even when it's a snaky violin melody or slide lick best suited for steel it seems like I can find the edges and corners of it more easily on a regular guitar, if you know what I mean. However, the process of having to learn something on one instrument for the sole purpose of translating it over to steel is tedious. I have to do the same thing with reading music. It would be a lot easier if my steel was tuned in fourths instead of the odd, skipping intervals of C6th, but that's not going to happen. Should I just lock all my six-strings in the closet for a year to force the issue? I'm afraid I might not learn much of anything at all that way, as the things I like to listen to go by kind of quickly, for the most part.

Damien Odell · From: Springwood, New South Wales, Australia

David, I do the same. I haven't been playing steel for long, so a lot of the time I end up sitting at the steel with a 6 string on my lap. I still find it easier to transfer stuff from my head onto 6 string, but I think the longer I play steel the more familiar I will be with it.
I know what you mean - I can hear a song on the radio with 6 string, and be able to know exactly what the player is doing....but not yet the case with steel

Damien

Terje Larson · From: Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden

I can play (and to some extent do play) several different instruments. Guitar, ukulele, mandolin, xylophone, bass... but I think and read on balalajka cause that's my main instrument.

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If you can't hear the others you're too loud, if you can't hear yourself you've gone deaf

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

David, about 6 or 7 months ago I was kinda going thru this same thing..torn between the Tele and the Steel..But the band I play in I am on Steel 99% of the time so I just dang decided to sit at the Steel and burn the hours in that camp.

I recorded about 5 practice tracks of tunes that we play at "severe" meter in the band and I gave myself 3 or 4 verses to solo over..all in a row.. I do this everyday..until my ears bleed..

I do play the 6 string a little bit but not long extended practice..although the band wants to do Hotel California..and we are going to twin it like the big boys.. I guess I have to get the 6 string out for a session of sorts pretty soon.

we can't do it all..

but we can still try..
t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 28 May 2005 at 10:28 AM.]

Dave Van Allen · From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth

it helps to have had a close encounter of the third kind...
alien abduction has it's plus side

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 27 May 2005 at 08:11 AM.]

Dave Horch · From: Frederick, Maryland, USA

Dave Mason - I couldn't really think in "Steelish" until I took the time to just play it and play it and work things out. In time, the tuning and possibilities reveal themselves (bit by bit). Now I'm fairly comfortable mentally translating what I hear to the steel directly (although I'm still easily stumped at times!). So, yeah, you just gots to pay them dues! Don't worry though, it *will* come if you give it a chance. Best, -Dave

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

David: I remember when I switched from lead guitar to pedal steel 30 years ago, I did just that. I quit playing standard guitar for about 2 years, that helped me to get my mind shifted into 'steel' sounds. I did drag it back out & played in one group where I switched back & forth from steel to lead. You do have to have a certain frame of mind for steel, you have got to think & learn what those pedals are doing to the strings. I have never once, not even for a minute, regretted taking up pedal steel. Its like you have had a 'speel' [or however you speel that] cast on your brain!! Keep at it, you will get there, we are all pulling for you!

Ernie Pollock

http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm

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Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Somebody please do a chemical analysis of DVA's coffee

Charles Turpin · From: Mexico, Missouri, USA

David when i switched over to pedal steel from guitar i had that trouble to. But yet it made things more simple for me cause i was brought up in an era of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens where the guitar was tring to do what the steel was doing and the Steel was doing what the guitar was tring to do. It was fun. But i gained from switching to steel cause the rock guitar players where playing all those fast licks reapeating notes over and over. Then i got to looking where my left hand wasn't as realy fast, as my fast hand. And switching to the bar with more notes under my hand helped. When i am still on my steel i think a lot of regular guitar if i do that i can get more done for some reason. I don't think your mind will ever split from the same instruments you have played before. But to me the steel gave me a challenge. A challenge i didn't have on the guitar. I never regreted changing to steel. cause of that challenge. There was things i couldn't do on the steel i could do on the guitar and with all the changes there is still things i cant do on the steel i can do on the guitar. But they are there somewhere hehehee. Try the "Claw" of Jerry Reeds hehehe. But what ever instrument you play it on it will be hard thinking one thing then doing it on the other.

i hope this answers it.

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