So, how did you learn to play steel?

Gary Meyer · From: Sacramento, California, USA

Hi, I am a new player and trying to get some perspective on the road ahead. I would like to know how players have gone about learning to play. Thanks in advance.

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Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

(Other than getting an Oahu Hawaiian Guitar from my grandmother in 1957, and never doing much more more than noodling with it, and playing guitar since I was 8..)

in 1977 I got Winnie Winston's book an inexpensive PSG, found a good teacher, and started playing live after about two years of lessons and practicing 4-8 hours a day. I was lucky enough to have a military duty that allowed me the time.

After 25 years of steady gigging, I find that I'm just learning a lot of things. Lots of stuff I've forgotten too.

Some thankfully..

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 22 June 2004 at 10:18 PM.]

Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

I guess I was a special case. I went to work for a guy who believed in my ability enough to send me to a teacher for a crash course. I took 20 hours wirth of lessons in three days. went right back to work and playing five nights a week, Another big boost i had was i worked five nights a week in a band where i was pretty well the only lead instrument playing almost nothing but classic country. It was a great arena for a beginner and got me off to an awesome start. Stayed at that job for eleven yaers. In that time I wrote two books for steel guitar, played on numerous sessions and just built and built and built on my playing.
Thanks to all that were involved...you know who you are hehehehehe

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

around 1970 or '71 I tried to order a Miller thru the music store I was working at..they never answered the phone.SO I just drove on over to NY and bought a Sho-Bud Maverick at Sam Ash in White Plains NY.

I screetched away for about 2 or 3 months with some Instructional stuff I purchased from David Jackson then a friend from NYC came over and showed me a few basic phrases and moves to add to 3 or 4 phrases that I did know.

Then I went back to Sam Ash and bought a Pro III D-10.

When I got home I joined a Country band..and poked around to find more licks..

Here I am almost 35 years later and I'm still pokin' around and screetchin' and I even get paid for it sometimes.

Is this a great Country or what !

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 23 June 2004 at 04:35 AM.]

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 23 June 2004 at 04:36 AM.]

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 23 June 2004 at 04:37 AM.]

Emmett Roch · From: Texas Hill Country

I found a black MSA D-10 Classic, pack seat, bars, picks, & two volume pedals in the Thrifty Nickel for $500. I took it home and stayed lost for a while. At the time, Roger Blythe and Jerry Fox lived in the same town as me, so I was able to get a little help here and there as their schedules permitted. Billy Green (Phelps back then) lived there too, so I went to see him one day and he gave me a lesson, but wouldn't let me pay him.

That was a good enough start that I probably should be a lot better than I am, but those guys got me to the point where the rest was up to me.

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

I wore out the Jimy Day "Steel and Strings," L.P. (No CDs in dinosaur days)and the Lloyd Green "Shades of Steel," L.P., and alittle later a few other steel records.

I listened to every country record, and watched a handful of steel players when one popped up somewhere. I asked lots of questions, experimented, and drove everyone nutts.

After 29 years I am still learning steel, everytime that I sit down to one.

Good luck with the steel, there is nothing anymore challenging, but you'll love it.

GOD bless

Woody

Reggie Duncan · From: Mississippi

Dad bought a pedal steel in 1971. I was 12.
He woke me up every Saturday morning, playing that thing. I would tinker around with it a little off and on. He came in one day and taught me to play "The Old Rugged Cross" and I picked it up pretty fast.
One Sunday morning, Tim Bell called our house and asked to speak to the Duncan that played steel. I said, "You are speaking to him!" (Well, I did play!)
He shared with me that he had a quartet and needed a steel player for an upcoming recording and to travel around on weekends.
I asked Dad and he gave me the keys to the car. Thank you, Tim! Thank you, Dad!
My early influences were Dad, Hal Rugg and Jack Smith. Jack recorded with my favorite gospel groups, The Goodmans and The Hinsons.
I was influenced by Sonny Garrish as he began recording for the Hinsons. Weldon Myrick's Opry days and recordings influenced me a lot, too!

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[This message was edited by Reggie Duncan on 23 June 2004 at 07:26 AM.]

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Reggie,

I can't imagine a time when you didn't play. You are amongst a select few that was born with that incredible talent. You have a touch and tone to die for.

Bless you dear friend,

carl

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

I started playing country songs on guitar at 12. Went on to play punk, new wave and roots rock. When I hit my mid-thirties I heard my roots calling and decided to play the old country and swing music I loved as a kid, a music I could age gracefully with. Got together with some like-minded fellas and the guitar player was obviously better than me, so I pulled out an old lap steel I got in a trade somewhere along the line and off I went. I'm self taught based on my guitar knowledge, listening to recordings and conversations with any steeler I could corner. Best of luck to you!

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

My story is similar to Scott's. I was a serious jazz/classical guitar student in early 70's Colorado. Some crazy friends of mine were getting into country music and were starting a band, but they were having trouble getting a steel player...so they pooled their money and bought me a shobud and promised me a new career.

I took one lesson from Dick Meiss, and was immediately gigging a few nights a week on bandstands around Boulder. Keep in mind that I was terrible, but this was at a time and place where I could get away with doing that. Neither me or my audience knew any better. I learned the high art of keeping my ears open and BSing on stage. Luckily for me, the only C&W record that I had was "Country Dance Time" featuring Buddy Charleton on steel. It was years later that I really got serious about practicing at home and learning the neck. I was very fortunate to learn the way I did, but I think now is a way better time thanks to b0b, Jeff Newman et all.

[This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 23 June 2004 at 08:07 AM.]

[This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 23 June 2004 at 08:24 AM.]

Bill C. Buntin · Posted 23 Jun 2004 7:21 am

Growing up in TX it was hard to not like country music. My Dad used to sneak me in to the Stagecoach Ballroom in Ft. Worth, TX in the mid to late 70's. Dennis Hromek (Strangers) had a band called "Country Express" with Cecil Johnson on steel. I was astounded by Cecil who had played with Wynette and Jimmy Dickens among others. I was hooked on steel guitar at that point but didn't get my first psg until 1993. I've not been sorry. Reece Anderson gave me a few lessons. The rest I've learned from Franklin's tapes, Doug Jernigan books, Buddy Emmons' books and countless hours of listening to Franklin, Hughey, Emmons, Curly Chalker, Jimmy Day, Mooney, Brumley. Those are my favorites. Just try to play clean and pretty. Know I still got a long way to go. But I love the instrument. Good Luck.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

If you're really curious, you can easily scan my bio at Ray's Page: jerrybyrdfanclub.com

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

I joined a band the same day I got my first steel, and I'm sure if I hadn't had that motivation, I wouldn't have gotten going as quickly. Besides seeking out any kind of instruction materials and particularly one-on-one instruction, I'd recommend playing with others as often as possible, and if you can't find enough live players where you are, get band in a box for your computer. Memorizing tunes and patterns can help fill up your lick bag, but there's no substitute for "just doing it" in a group situation.

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

Played my first paid gig on tele on my 21st b-day in 1999. Had that gig for 3+ years. The band split and I realized that 1) I HAD to keep playing and 2) there were a lot of guitar players out there. So, I got me a Carter Starter, struggled with that for a while listening to records, got the MelBay book. Found the forum, got the Zum (which my knees actually fit under), embarrased myself at a steel jam, and took a lesson from BigJim (need to do that more).

First PSG gig I didn't even play, I was just in a music video, but then the guy hired me to play for real (guess I looked convincing enough). Now, I've played every weekend for the last two months, and am booked solid for the next two months. I very much agree with MVA, I've learned more, and suprised myself more in the last two months than in the previous 1.5 years.

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Ben
Zum D10, NV400, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc.

Hook Moore · From: South Charleston,West Virginia

I started learning by playing with records.Looking for what I was hearing..
Hook

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HookMoore.com

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Gary
a good instructor is surely the best way to get started - what I found when starting out was when I tried to learn something that I heard the real guys were playing ! I would be so disappointed in my ability to sound the same as they - I was tempted to quit - But ! when I figured out that if I jest learn a song that I liked - one note at a time - and then added to it as time went by - and then adding a lick that I heard some one else do ! I ended up sounding like me NOT the other guy - and I learned what I call " hodgepodge " - {When Playing in a group }If you don't know the song that the singer is singing , you figure out the cord progression and a couple of the notes in the last line of the song and when its your turn ! play through the cords and through in the last few notes and every one thinks you played the break - I don't think this is what you call good advice , but it worked for me !
Just play you hart out and have fun ! thats what its about :] ;]

Rick Johnson · From: Wheelwright, Ky USA

I started playing is 1977. I played
bass guitar in rock bands and the
Eagles were my favorite group, I loved
the sound of the steel guitar. I got me
a Maverick and never knew anyone with
a steel guitar for about a year. Gospel
groups would come to church and I hooked
up with a couple of local steelers and I never looked back. Every steel player I
have ever talked with encouraged me.
That says a lot for steel guitarist.
Thanks to Jeff Newman's courses, I made it.
Investing in quality instructional
material is a real shot in the arm
when starting out.

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Rick Johnson

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Gary-There is quite a lot of my early musical history in my Website.

Good post. Interesting.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

I was nine years old when I first saw a steel guitar onstage in Myrtle Beach, SC when I was at a show called the Carolina Opry. At the time, I was still figuring out what instrument to play. I was amazed by the sound of the steel. By 1998, I'd decided I wanted to play the pedal steel guitar because I'd heard all these awesome steel guitar licks in different country songs.I play along with different country records. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I was a singer and a guitar player in my younger days, and didn't know any steel players. So I decided I'd become one. I ordered the only steel that my local music store in southern Alberta could locate that I could afford - an MSA Sidekick. That was in early 77 I think. I had only the faintest notion at that time of how the instrument worked, and had only actually sat down at one once or twice. I used the Winston book, and one of Scotty's books, and some stuff I ordered from guys like Tom Bradshaw. After a couple of years I bought a Sho-Bud, sold the Sidekick through the paper, and in doing so met a young guitar player with some local connections looking to put together a band. That was my first steel gig - the "Limestone Cowboys" in Kingston, Ontario (Kingston was and still is known as teh "Limestone City"). I then met a Kingston player named Tom Keates, who was a great steel player and gave me a few lessons gratis. I also got some pointers from Bruce Hamilton (now in the Vancouver area and a forumite), who lived in Kingston in those days.By the time I hit Toronto in 1980 I was getting gigs and stuff pretty regulary, but I found time to take some lessons from Al Brisco. And learned a lot playing 6 nighters, with Saturday matinees thrown in for good measure. But getting to the point where I could get by in a dance band I did just from working with the instructional material available back then.

[This message was edited by Bob Blair on 24 June 2004 at 07:36 PM.]

[This message was edited by Bob Blair on 25 June 2004 at 07:14 AM.]

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Al writes....

Gary-There is quite a lot of my early musical history in my Website,,,,,,,,

Al Your web site is not available,I tried to acess it but I wasn't able to.

I saw it once before and its really a trip through steel guitar history.

You fella's ought to check Al's web site.and see what it was like pioneering the steel guitar.

Good job Al

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Who said I ever learned how?? As I said before,"If ya can't dazzle with brilliance,baffle 'em with Bulls#*t!!"

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

wow ! i finaly caught up w: Smiley !

(ya'get a big bear hug man !)

back in 68 i got myself a lil Ol'Gibson br6 lap steel and just played a bunch of Blues on it.
later on my uncle, who had a musik store laid a SB Mav' on me cause he could'nt sell it
Winnie Winston's book got me goin'......

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 25 June 2004 at 07:50 AM.]

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I think the BR4's and BR6's were all a sunburst finish, and they were all solid mahogany. The BR9's came in an ivory or tan finish, and were either mahogany or maple. Though BR4's and BR6's were introduced about the same time, for a short while, the BR6's had a square neck. Most all you see nowadays are the round-neck variations.

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