"I Can See Clearly Now"

BJ Jenkins · Post by **BJ Jenkins** » 5 May 2008 5:02 am

Bill, Of course I understand every word YOU and Duane and the rest have said,
I ,am, however afraid that you are gonna Keep grinding on and some Picker with lesser lurnin than us will go off the Deep end...and commit Hari-Cari... with a Thumb Pick !!!
Careful muyfrin !
bj

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 5 May 2008 6:13 am

BJ,

"Haste makes waste"! It always pays to "look before you leap". I would enjoy delving into some of your thoughts that relate directly to how to go about keeping on a course of steel practice sessions. Do you practice daily? Weekly? Or when the mood strikes? I have a good buddy who moved to N. Carolina from MA. several years ago. He knows country music from day one. Thanks...

Keith White · Post by **Keith White** » 5 May 2008 11:59 am

Hi guys i have read thru the replies to this one and im confused now.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 5 May 2008 1:52 pm

I feel your pain Keith. You got further into the topic than most. A lot of them dropped out after the first errant comma. Then some more dropped out after a double plural. Some of us just started singin "I Can See Clearly Now". And of course as usual I will remain in order to maintain my insignificants.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 5 May 2008 2:12 pm

Keith,

Basically we're discussing how dedicated we've become over the years, and for my part trying to sort out how rewarding the final frontier of mastering the instrument will be. It's a long road to get to the "comfort zone" where playing becomes quite routine in all aspects of playing. One must consider where to turn after devoting the time to reach a point of considerable successes in playing the instrument. According to your writings you've traveled many miles to be involved in steel guitar activities. Please don't hesitate to voice your opinions in this thread.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 5 May 2008 2:50 pm

a long road to get to the comfort zone of 'routine'...you might as well kill yourself 'career wise' if this is the payoff!
i would hope that there is some excitement, challenge, and possible ecstasy to look forward to!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 6 May 2008 1:58 am

Bo Legg,

Someday you may discover that loyalty has the potential to FIZZLE. Unlike the little pets that we oftentimes adapt, (a puppy or kitten), fizzling is a big thing whenever we are connected to the task of learning. I know that by using any term that cites WE the people is more or less confronting. It is rarely found that the urge to make promises such as; "I'll keep at it until something gives", is followed through with the original concept of achievement. The excitement of becoming a steel guitarist in one's own right, FIZZLES like a wilted flower when the task becomes insurmountable. The steel guitar challenges those who pussyfoot in hopes of finding a better way to leap frog with less practice. The combination of FIZZLING and PUSSYFOOTING are at the roots of common mediocrities in one's playing.

BJ Jenkins · Post by **BJ Jenkins** » 6 May 2008 12:55 pm

Bill, When I was pickin a lot,I tried to practice some about every day.
Due to health issues ,I cant quite do that ,now.
My practice sessions Now are to help me learn distance" ,by feel due to Macula Degeneration. and Im getting used to it!
Thanks for asking.Where did your pal move to in North Carolina ?
I enjoy it when you stir it up.

Keep on Pickin !
Yo Habla Muy Poco Englise
bj

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 6 May 2008 1:53 pm

BJ,

My friend is settled into retirement as I mentioned earlier in a North Carolina town. For years he sang his heart out in central Massachusetts. He was a steel player's best friend on stage. I'll ask him if he minds if I mention his present location by phoning him. When we are young, most of our bodily functions are taken for granted. It's just one of the natural tendencies of enjoying our youth. Eyes can be extremely troublesome as we age, usually beginning at age 45 or 50. Floaters and presbyopia reveal the aging changes. I hope that modern science will help you in the future. This matter of finding time for practice usually involves keeping a few exciting goals on reserve that will tend to draw a player back to improving day by day.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 6 May 2008 2:05 pm

Bill, I except, without a second opinion, your diagnosis of fizzle as a term defining a symptom of lack of practice. Pardon the fragmented sentence structure and errant commas. The cure for writing cares as well as fizzling at PSG is too obvious to elaborate.
I personally like the Sesame Street approach …….flash cards

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 7 May 2008 2:20 am

Bo Legg,

I can't imagine where you located that depiction of loafing on the steel. Fizzlers are much more common than those who are true to actual requirements in becoming a class act steel guitarist. Loafers in the practice room wobble accordingly, and the wobblers become the mark of the unsteady during performances. Habits are difficult to change, even among the most discreet players. Going the distance is not a chancy adventure. It's found within a group of pickers who've patterned their lifestyles through a constant effort that effectively advances the will to try harder to take on more difficult musical arrangements. Many who would be extolled for achievements through practice, find themselves bogged down with too many irons in the fire.

Mark Edwards · Post by **Mark Edwards** » 7 May 2008 4:10 am

"I Can See Clearly Now" - I love that song.....would be a nice steel arrangement.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 7 May 2008 5:07 am

Mark, there likely are several nice steel arrangements. ..Lloyd Green has the nicest one in my opinion.

Keith White · Post by **Keith White** » 7 May 2008 8:16 am

Hi bill i now see where your all comming from now.Yes what i also have to remember is a lot of you guys make a living from this machine unlike myself i just do it for my own ends and the odd charity or church event. It is a long road to get there and i still have a way to go, but i will still keep trying and practicing ,having spent some 16000 us dollers on gear and equipment im not giving up untill they cart me out to that steel player in the sky.I will get as far as i can and take whatever is offered or available and do the best we can in the circles we mix within and may our good lord look after us allRegards keith white uk.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 May 2008 2:42 am

Keith,

16 thousand dollars is an impressive figure to spend on steel guitars, amps, electronics, etc. Although considering what a new steel and amp can cost at today's market prices, it would be easier to understand those staggering figures. Trying to save $$ by purchasing second hand equipment, is tantamount to a series of migraines, as the equipment can sputter at any moment and grind to a shutdown. There are those individuals who go into action and maintain the relics of the past, by replacing whatever is needed to restore the aged equipment to working order. Repair shops thrive on these breakdowns of used equipment. They're usually bogged down with more work than can be handled in reasonable time periods. All in all, the dream of keeping with a special sound can become quite a nuisance in draining the budget. Getting the show on the road with minimal delays, and trying to reserve the right to come out a few "bucks" ahead in this business of entertainment, would be my goal after all is said and done.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 8 May 2008 3:13 pm

Bill,
I always try to remember the lessons of the Prestiopesiolytic Man. Prestiopesiolytic Man, while attempting to better the misguided, and oft repeated, attempts of Pre-Prestiopesiolytic Man, was, as we all can clearly see, doomed to failure. The aforementioned attempts always failed due to the fact, amply demonstrated in many studies, that the Prepestiopesiolytic Man was unquestionably and forever ignorant of the inevitable descent into a pindlistic state of being, also known as pindlism. We must never forget these fundamental underpinnings, gentlemen.
I hope that this clears up a few things.
Duncan

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 May 2008 1:02 am

Duncan H.,

Wold you cruise your ship of knowledge into the port of Hankey? Something tells me that you may be withholding imformation on never-never land. I'm anxious to hear more of what you have in mind. Text references that support your purported messages, would be desirous. Thanks..

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 9 May 2008 4:26 am

I have a friend when he sets up his gear, I told him one day his setup cost about $10,000.00 he did not believe it. a Zum with 8x10, a walker setup $2,000.00, add a revalation ?, Pack seat with side car, several bars in the $90.00 range $200.00 tuners $345.00 foot pedals, add all this up and it is suprising how much we have in our gear.

ernie

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 9 May 2008 8:42 am

Duncan, THAT, is, very, funny!!!

If, he, stood up, the dig, might hit him, squarely, between the eyes!

SS

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 May 2008 12:47 pm

Ernest C.,

It's getting too tough to manage everything and keep smiling. Heaven knows that most people these days depend on their motor vehicles for transportation. If you own an undependable automobile, one that isn't to be trusted too far out of town, things have just worsened. My wife reminded me that our 4 cylinder Dodge Shadow was low on gas. She had an errand to run, so I stopped practicing to go and pump some fuel. I paid $365.9 for the precious fuel a mile down the road. The fuel indicator read a little below a quarter tank.. after a $10.00 shot, it reads a little a below a third of a tank. My brother owns his own construction equipment and business. He told me a few days ago that it would cost him $1500.00 to fuel up a couple pieces of equipment before starting a job. Who ever heard of such things? I don't smoke and I offer opposition for the good of man, whenever I'm pressured into coming in contact with the common smoker. Look at what the cost of supporting the health robbing habit ensues. They (the tobacco industries) can spot their victims a mile away. The price is continuing to climb to levels never imagined by working class people. Your mentioning of the cost of musical equipment is money invested in something that could represent tidy returns by playing out of the house for profits. There is nothing to fall back on for the common smoker, except lessons learned through expenditures.

Mark Edwards · Post by **Mark Edwards** » 10 May 2008 4:59 am

What does this have to do with "I Can See Clearly Now"?

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 11 May 2008 9:11 am

Mark Edwards...

What does this have to do with "I Can See Clearly Now"?

Bill..

They (the tobacco industries) can SPOT their victims a mile away.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 11 May 2008 6:28 pm

What does this have to do with "I Can See Clearly Now"?

"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"

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