| Author |
Topic: Learning PSG |
Beecher Allen
From:
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 24 Nov 2004 10:10 pm |
|
Would any of you Forum members be willing to
post a step by step list of the procedures you used
to learn to play the PSG?
I think it would be helpful to us Newbys.
Thanks, Beecher |
|
|
 |
Jennings Ward
From:
Edgewater, Florida, R.I.P.
|
Posted 24 Nov 2004 10:34 pm
|
|
THE FIRST STEP IN LEARNING TO PLAY STEEL GUITAR , BE IT PEDAL OR NOT, IS TO SEARCH OUT AND FIND A GOOD TEACHER FOR YOUR FIRST LESSONS,,,THIS IS VERY INPORTANT, LEARN WHAT TO DO, AS WELL AS WHAT NOT TO DO WHICH IS MOR IMPORTANT,,,,,BAD HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK, TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. BAD HABITS KEEPS YOU FROM LEARNING TO PLAY, AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE YOU WILL TRY TO UN LEARN THEM, THAT IS HARD AS HELL AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE CORRECT WAY.... TAKES 3 TIMES AS LONG EVEN IF YOU ARE A FAST LEARNER....iT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO PLAY THE STEEL GUITAR, BUT IT IS THE MOST FUN AND SATISFING THING I HAVE FOUND TO DO....GET STARTED RIGHT...SAVES MONEY, BIGF TIME...SORRY IF I SOUND LIKE I AM PREACHING TO YOU........ JENNINGS......
------------------
EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +
|
|
|
|
Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 12:20 am
|
|
I second what Mr Ward says.
It's SO esy to get started on the wrong foot.
Playing a half a year without any input could take years to undo.
So much of it is technique.
Try one and noodle around on it, to see if "it's for you", and if it is ( you'll know) right off the bat, find a teacher.
EJL |
|
|
|
CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 12:33 am
|
|
Welcome to this Great Forum Beecher 
Getting a good teacher is indeed the way to go
Winnie Winston's book "Pedal Steel Guitar" has been a mainstay for the last 30 years
it can be gotten from Scotty's Musik in St Lou or on ebay too
Buddy Emmons E9 Dictionnary & Basic C6 are good choices
can be gotten her on the Forum (instruction)or at http://www.buddyemmons.com
Jim Loessberg and Jeff Newman also have very good courses
last but not least:
Karlis Abolins Guitar Map is very handy http://home.comcast.net/~k.abolins/guitarmap.html
here's the forum thread to go w: it: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/006757.html
Best of Luck on yer Journey
when in doubt : ask the Fo'Bro's  |
|
|
|
Fred Justice
From:
Mesa, Arizona
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 3:51 am
|
|
Beecher welcome to the forum and welcome to Steel Guitar.
I see you live in Flagstaff,we have a very good steel guitar association here in the southwest that is based here in Arizona.The Southwestern Steel Guitar Association known as the SWSGA will be more than glad to help you in any way we can.We have three members living in the flagstaff area that will likly want to help you along your way.Look us up on the web at www.swsteelguitar.com or just call me at 928-402-4779 anytime.
------------------
Fred Justice
Events Dir.
SWSGA www.swsteelguitar.com
|
|
|
|
James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 5:39 am
|
|
| All the above. Join your local association, and get involved. Really pay particular attention to the developement of your pickin' hand. Playing steel is a real balancing act, so work all the parts that are in this equation, and eventually they will come together. Practice religiously, but most important of all----HAVE FUN!!! DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!! Now, go have fun. |
|
|
|
Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 6:44 am
|
|
| Beecher, You have been given some great advice. I would tell you as well it takes a lot of practice and time to achieve a quality level of steel playing. Some players have natural ability just as some athletes have natural ability which makes it a little easier for them. The first three months when I got out of bed I practiced for 3 to 4 hours a day. If you can get with other musicians and play it will help you tremendously. I sit down and played with records but playing with live music to a crowd raises the excitement of playing. James Morehead told you to have fun,fun and more fun. If it ever becomes where it is not fun playing you will suffer burnout most likely. One other thing I recommend is to video yourself playing with a camcorder if possible. Seeing yourself as well as hearing yourself can show you areas you need to work on. You have a big plus on your side many of us players did not have. There is a lot of material on the market today and then you have the Steel Guitar Forum. Look at this forum as much as you can. I promise you this forum is a blessing to all us steel players. |
|
|
|
David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 8:29 am
|
|
Beecher, defintiely get with Fred and the SWSGA.
This will be the best jumps start you could get.
All Crowbears TAB suggestions are great too.
I wish WE had a steel association here.... DRAT.
IT basically is CB, me and one guy near me. LOL Oh Well.
DD |
|
|
|
Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 10:36 am
|
|
Hi Beecher, and welcome to your first best resource.
| Quote: |
| Winnie Winston's book "Pedal Steel Guitar" has been a mainstay for the last 30 years |
and of everything else mentioned above is great advice.
You ask about the "procedures" that we used...
I didn't have a teacher available (or a forum such as this one) thirty-some years ago. I had played a lot of lap steel for several years and was pretty frustrated by the problems and limitations of bar slants so I knew what I wanted before I ever saw a PSG.
I was working as a janitor in a music store in Arlington, Virginia that had a nice blonde birdseye maple ShoBud Maverick - 3 pedals, no levers - and an anonymous Nashville session guy (wish I knew who it was now) came in and tuned it up for me. He showed me how to get the diatonic scales with the 3rd and 5th strings and that hooked me in - bought it the next day from my boss and took it home. Made an amplifier out of an old tube radio with a 6"x9" speaker on the floor.
I spent a lot of time with The Byrds' "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" (Lloyd Green and Jay Dee Manness do a bunch of outstanding work), John Sebastion's first solo album with "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" (Buddy Emmons makes that song work), CSNY "Deja Vu" (Jerry Garcia plays a lot of very accessible stuff on "Teach Your Children") and Gram Parsons' "GP" (Al Perkins and more Buddy Emmons).
Play, play, play, ask questions, listen and play some more. And remember, you can learn a lot from others about technique but ultimately you are the one who determines what your own style will be. Remember to listen to ALL the music that you like and find ways to incorporate it into your playing. I have integrated ideas from Mendelssohn to Motown, simply because it appeals to me as great music. Nobody ever became a great player by being just like somebody else.
That's my story and I'm happy to say I'm stuck with it. Best of luck in your new endeavor,
Dave
------------------
 Dave Grafe - email: dg@pdxaudio.com
Production
Pickin', etc.
1978 ShoBud Pro I E9, 1960 Les Paul (SG) Deluxe, 1963 Precision Bass, 1954 Gibson LGO, 1897 Washburn Hawaiian Steel Conversion
[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 25 November 2004 at 10:38 AM.] |
|
|
|
Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
|
Posted 25 Nov 2004 1:10 pm
|
|
In addition to all the great stuff mentioned above;
Step 0: Study the fretboard and memorize what major chord is at what fret with all pedals and knee levers untouched.
Like Open = E, Fret 1 = F, Fret 3 = G, etc.
Step 1: Practice
Step 2: Practice
Step 3: Practice
|
|
|
|
Beecher Allen
From:
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 26 Nov 2004 12:26 pm
|
|
Thank all of you who answered my post about
learning PSG. Your information is very
helpful.
Beecher |
|
|
|
Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 26 Nov 2004 2:33 pm
|
|
The wearing of picks too loosely, upside down, or on too many fingers, not crossing over the thumb and finger for playing notes, playing "down" on the strings, blocking with the bar hand, if at all, and use of the volume pedal as a "blocking aid'.
All habits an problems I got in a month before I found a GREAT Teacher. I suppose there are more, I only had a month to get as many as I could.
The ones I have after 25 years of steady paid bar gigs, I call my "style".
EJL
|
|
|
|
Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
|
Posted 26 Nov 2004 2:59 pm
|
|
The "bible" of pedal steel guitar was published by Winnie Winston back in the 1970's. For many of us, that was where we got started.
Click Here
Lee, from South Texas |
|
|
|
