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Topic: how long did it take you |
Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2003 8:34 pm |
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| i was just wondering , how long did it take some of you to get for lack of a better word "comfortable" with playing the steel. i try to practice 2 hours a day and progress seems painfuly slow |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2003 11:13 pm
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| To be honest, 25 years, but that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy every one of them. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 4:20 am
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I started when I was in my teens. I am now 71. I am still not comfortable.
Thank Jesus that is not the norm. And for some, it comes very quickly. So you have much to look forward to. I perceive you are young. If my perception is correct, you are blessed with many aids that diminish over time.
So relish in that blessing and set your eyes on heaven, and all will be good. I promise.
And may Jesus lead you with joy and comfort always,
carl |
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Wayne Baker
From:
Altus Oklahoma
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 4:57 am
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Calvin, I have been playing for about 20yrs. Without opportunities like other steel players in the area and Jeff Newman videos, I have had to struggle for about 18 of that 20 Yrs. I feel your pain man. If I can help in any way, please shoot me an email. I'll do my best to make your journey a little smoother than mine has been.
Wayne Baker
Future Steel guitar Wizard |
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George Wixon
From:
Waterbury, CT USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 5:43 am
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Calvin,
There was a thread on here a while back that someone had explained a time line on and I can't find it any where but basically it started at 6 months you could expect to be playing at this level and went on from there up to whaterver years. Perhaps the person who wrote this may remember it and provide the link to it.
George |
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John Lacey
From:
Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 7:31 am
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| After practicing and playing 8 hrs. a day for about 5 years I started to feel comfortable on the steel. Now it's like an old pair of shoes. |
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Ole Dantoft
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 7:48 am
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[This message was edited by Ole Dantoft on 26 February 2004 at 10:49 AM.] |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 8:29 am
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Calvin, it's been said before, but I honestly believe the fastest way to speed up your learning curve is get out anywhere anyhow with a band and play live. There's a real process that occurs in Jamming or gigging that just can't be simulated with tracks, BIAB, or playing with records. It took me some time to figure out that I was practicing too much stuff, not remembering enough, and when I took on smaller chunks and used those smaller bits of information playing live, it started to come together much faster. I still wish I had another 5 lifetimes just to practice!
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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 8:30 am
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I relaxed for the first 30 years , when I played . Then in the next 20 I got all tense when I started playing country. It was just learning a new style of playing with E9th, instead of E6th.....al
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 8:59 am
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I dunno... I guess I felt "comfortable" from day one at age 17.. I had been so intrigued by the concept that for two years prior to getting my first axe I had studied and gone to see every steeler I could, so I understood the principles; when I first sat down to my little 2 pedal 8 string Emmons student guitar it felt "right", like I had done it in another life or something, what I was born to do. I realize this is definitely not the norm as is Carl's continuing discomfort is not...
not to say I did it particularly well...even now 
but I had my first "gig" (2 songs with a friend's garage band) after about 2 months... and have never looked back.
The hardest transition was from my ZB S10 to my MSA D10- string spacing, and other odd discomfiture... another was when after a couple years of playing flat handed I started workeing to get a more "correct" hand position for palm blocking and at the same time going from playing with thumb and two picks, I added a third finger pick.
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 9:02 am
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| Calvin, between two and five years. Thats practicing at least six days a week at least two hours a day. There is no substitute for playing with a band because when and if you do it will take you another six months to feel comfortable playing with a band, even if you can play perfectly at home. These are the hard facts of playing steel. It is very difficult. |
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Ole Dantoft
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 9:08 am
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[This message was edited by Ole Dantoft on 26 February 2004 at 10:50 AM.] |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 9:13 am
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About 3 years. The free booze in the bars helped with the "comfort level" quite a bit. 
------------------
 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 10:02 am
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Whenever anybody asks me if the steel is difficult to learn how to play, I tell them NO...
It's impossible...  |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 10:29 am
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When it comes to steel guitar music, I guess I'm a non-conformist. Out here on the outer fringes of society, we seldom ever get any top rate players. Most of the working pickers are real fine; some have even studied with some real big names in the industry.
I'm mostly self taught and that has its limitations. Having started at age 7, lap steel; transitioned to pedal steel in 3/56;
then to the Emmons standard in 1972, I've been playing professionally since age 14 with some of the top local bands.
Throughout all of these years I was dependent on "records" for new "sounds" and whatever. I've learned more in just two years here on the Forum from other steelers than during the past twenty years on my own.
Practice: I now devote 15 minutes up to a couple of hours, depending on my music "mood". Rigid practice sessions often fail to develop much when it's just not in you to do so. BUT, do attempt to practice frequently.
Playing in bands does have its benefits but if you're really, really NEW, you can end up feeling like a real dummy if you're not up to "their" speed. I'd lean toward finding a good rhythm player/vocalist and spending as much time as possible with him/her........ All the others musicians can prove to be a hinderance, if you need to stop and figure out what you just did "wrong" and then, how to do it right, the next time. Two of you can accomplish this quite painlessly.
Rhythm tracks can definitely be helpful but also tend to lack "feeling" which can make what you do, sound less than what you'd really like to hear.
Keep following the FORUM, find an accompanyist and take it a song at a time. Don't try to get there too soon; don't over load your brain with too much. Take time to improve with what you learned your last practice session.
I learn something new each time I start to practice. Keep an open mind. Don't give up.
LOL to you. It's not going to be easy nor simple.[This message was edited by Ray Montee on 11 October 2003 at 11:32 AM.] |
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Ronald Moore
From:
Mindoro, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 1:10 pm
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| I've been playing since 1975 and I never thought much about being comfortable playing, but on the E9th stuff it's been quite a while, but on the B6th stuff (Universal tuning), I've noticed myself feeling comfortable with it in the last year or so. Most of the credit goes to Jeff Newman's three C6th videos. Ron |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 1:28 pm
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If you're "comfortable" then you're not doing something right  .
I'd go for what Carl Said.
Live playing is the best. At first it'll all sound real disconnected, and too loud. Later it'll sound the same way. About 20 years later you'll feel frustrated that you must use the same old licks, or you'll be "overplaying"
I can suggest an inline, easy to read tuner that when questions of who's in tune, and who isn't, arise, as they often will, you can easily hit a note or octave, and look down and know for sure. It'll happen a lot in live situations, and the steel is the most often blamed instrument. Actually the 6 string guitar is usually the worst offender. Try and stay away from them onstage. ( and off..) Trying to play both can raise hell with your intonation.
In all seriousness, the PSG is one of the few instruments that you can play by yourself for hours on end, and always enjoy wnat you're playing.
Always have a good "base" such as old "or new" Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, or other records to listen to for "recharging".
You'll do fine.
EJL |
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Ole Dantoft
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 11 Oct 2003 2:22 pm
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[This message was edited by Ole Dantoft on 26 February 2004 at 10:50 AM.] |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Oct 2003 7:56 am
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| I like what Ray M. said. I am also a beginner, and this makes good sense to me. I am playing in a band now, I trade spots on bass so I can get a little steel time, maybe 6 songs a nite. But, the guys I pick with are very laid back, supportive, and easy going. They make a point to let me try a little. After all, none of them wants to try to tackle steel guitar, so they take care of the "crazy"!! Am I comfortable with steel, Heck No!! But thats actually why I'm drawn to it. Just knowing few people would ever even atempt such a feat, is why I love tackling this instrument. But then again, I like living on the edge---that's when I'm in my comfort zone!! |
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