Timothy Kelly Sr
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 23 Jan 2021 2:52 pm |
|
I have been off the forum for about 8 months. I had a not so serious health issue and also preparing to move out of Pittsburgh, PA. Practicing my picking and playing has been put on hold during this time. I have forgotten what little that I learned.
My wife and I are temporarily staying with my daughter in Myrtle Beach, SC. Our final destination for a home looks like it may be Florence, SC. Are there any forum members near or in Florence, SC?
Most of my gear is and will remain in storage for another next 60 days. So I will attempt to practice and learn a picking technique. I am not sure if I want to go with a finger picking only, a thumb pick and finger picking or a thumb pick and 2 finger picks. So many decisions a beginner must make!
Once I get my amps out of storage I must decide which tuning to learn to play with. I have seen many You Tube videos on steel players. Several 6 string players recommended starting with Open E as an easy tuning to start learning to play simple 3 chord songs. Any help or suggestions will be graciously received.
Thanks and happy picking!
_________________
Tim Kelly
Previous: Rhythm Guitar Player
New: 6 String Lap Steel Guitar
Hobbies and Interests: Ham Radio, Astronomy, Bird Watching and Wine Tasting |
|
Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
|
Posted 23 Jan 2021 3:38 pm
|
|
My general recommendation on picking techniques...there are benefits to going with the "conventional" route at first (most common would be plastic thumbpick, two metal fingerpicks), get used to it (it will take time!), and then decide, later, if you want to branch out. Are there fantastic players who play with bare fingers, or flatpicks? Sure. Billy Hew Len was an amazing steel guitarist, but just because he lacked a left hand and had a prosthetic steel attached doesn't mean any of us would necessarily benefit from lopping our bar hand off!   I've had this sort of experience twice now...first with sitar, where I played "fingerstyle" with a sitting position that was easier for me at the time. Then I studied under a master who got my form correct...which while difficult at first, helped me out immensely in the long run. And then with steel guitar, the fingerpicks were really uncomfortable at first. But it wasn't long til they were not only comfortable, but kinda indispensible. That's just my opinion as a relative beginner (started in 2017).
Regarding what tuning...all depends on what you'd like to play. If you liked Hawaiian music I'd say C6 would be your best bet; bluegrass, I'd consider open G. An open tuning (1-3-5 triad based) is probably easier to start out playing chords on (minor chords are harder though). A sixth tuning like C6 is easier in my opinion to play melodies on since you don't have that large jump from the fifth to the root...and you get more chordal options (minor chords are possible without slanting the bar). 9th, 11th, 13th tunings...those are fun (especially for jazz!) but I can understand not wanting to start out there. A triad like open E open G (open anything, really), or 6th tuning like C6 would be a good place to start.
Good luck!
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
|
