Rootlessness..

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 17 May 2010 11:47 am

b0b,

The Steel Guitar Forum provides information originating from the most resourceful steel guitarists in the business of promoting and furthering the knowledge to beginning players. It has become a most valuable medium for attempting great strides in advancements, that would take many times as long to fathom as a closet player with fewer goals. I know of no other sources of generous information, such as that provided by the S.G.F. in preliminary searches. I've always appreciated the great efforts put forth by you b0b, and whomever assists you in presenting the voluminous entries according to the forum's rules. Thanks for the exceptional dedication to steel guitarists throughout the lands.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 17 May 2010 6:37 pm

The steel guitar is one of the most constant means of enjoyment that one may turn to during our happiest moments, or to help us make it through hard times. The crying steel guitar is a gift that will always fill those empty spaces called lonesomeness, should they occur. A wise man moves closer to music throughout his life. It never fails to help reshape future goals.

Duane Reese · Post by **Duane Reese** » 17 May 2010 8:21 pm

Bill Hankey wrote: A wise man moves closer to music throughout his life. It never fails to help reshape future goals.

I don't agree that a man whose goals are always shaped by his musical ambitions is a wise man.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 18 May 2010 6:18 am

Just maybe, by ignoring all else with the exception of creating exceptionally pleasing riffs and melodies, one may develop steadily, in rising to levels of class act entertainers. Intimidations that accompany great performances by such artists as B.E., P.F., L.G. M.A. etc., stalls creativity and originality. We haven't scratched the surface in our searches for reasonable explanations in determining differences that propel artists to such high levels of perfection, in shorter spans of time. Nosediving by becoming an ogler, is the shortest route to squandering the time required to rise above beginner's stages of learning the pedal steel guitar's many complex features. At times, even in band situations, the steel is sidelined. As of now, numerous individual reports show that the steel guitar is making headway, where it once was not much more than ambience, all of a sudden the realization comes winging in, that we need to focus on the steel guitar and try to resist ogling practices.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 18 May 2010 7:58 am

Thought for the day: Everyone in life, feels like a peanut when compared to someone special! Watching P.F. does this to me! Don't laugh, just sit down and show me how he does it!

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 18 May 2010 9:28 am

Bill, How often do you post or read the Pedal Steel page or Steel without pedals? Thats where the real meat is,and where most learn something about STEEL GUITAR. A place where the Pro.help out. Maybe you could add something at times and help some of us to become a better player. Joe

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 18 May 2010 10:07 am

Joe,

My greatest gift to a society of reformers, would be if given the chance, to demonstrate the ease and enjoyment derived by ridding your steel of the common fretboard. My enjoyment would never allow me to revert back to what is deemed standard. One of the most exciting moments occurred when I first experimented with The Hankey Upright Fretboard. Some of the other discoveries include a five string grab that until now, I haven't seen. Speaking of societies, the popular flat pick attacks have moved to finger styles and thumb picks, from my earlier days as a beginner. Transitions over the years are many.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 18 May 2010 10:27 am

Bill could you post some pics of your guitar with the upright fretboard,and what brand of guitar is it?

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 18 May 2010 10:44 am

Mr. Bill you say [listening to Paul, Big E,Reese,etc stalls creativity and originality. What a brilliant observation,I salute you sir for your unusual mental keenness and alertness.A person with such great intellectual powers as you would have been a great help to me 50 years ago when I was wasting my time listening to Noel Boggs,Leon,Herbie,Don Helms,Little Roy,etc,. $:\$ too late now. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 18 May 2010 10:50 am

Bill Hankey wrote: Intimidations that accompany great performances by such artists as B.E., P.F., L.G. M.A. etc., stalls creativity and originality.

Bill, I don't think so!
These players' contributions certainly fosters creativity in us all. And you say it stalls?
How can you?

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 18 May 2010 10:51 am

Stu,

A link has been displayed at least a few times since I've adapted the HUF. The same link shows the "Lucky 7" 3rd string cushioning effect in the same photo. The visual advantage of the HUF, increases the playing ease, many times over old standards. One day, I plan to employ a professional cut of a most presentable concept.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 18 May 2010 11:17 am

Bent,

People in general tend to magnify such things as manifestations of greatness in other pickers. Words of caution are in order, resulting from experiencing this unusual phenom personally. Tequila sunrise may mess with good judgment, as it did in Shelley's recording. If not, there seems to be a tendency to overrate as a forerunner to accurately determining actual levels of proficiencies.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 18 May 2010 11:35 am

Bent Romnes wrote:
Bill Hankey wrote: Intimidations that accompany great performances by such artists as B.E., P.F., L.G. M.A. etc., stalls creativity and originality.
Bill, I don't think so!
These players' contributions certainly fosters creativity in us all. And you say it stalls?
How can you?

First of all Bent, I don't believe anyone should ever say "in us all". Nothing has the same effect on everyone, every time.

Not that I agree with, understand or even care about 99% of this, but in all fairness in this case, Bent I believe what BH is saying here is that to be intimidated by a great performance is the problem, not the listening to one. I can agree with that. There are times when listening to a great player inspires me, and other times intimidates me to the point of great depression in the knowledge that I'll never in my life come close to equaling that player. That is a very negative and harmful attitude, even if it might be true... and I think this is what Mr. Bill is saying in that statement. Then again, I could be wrong.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 18 May 2010 11:49 am

To see a photo of the HUF and the Lucky 7:

Click Here

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 18 May 2010 12:09 pm

I have removed some of the off topic nonsense from this topic into another topic.

I have also deleted some meaningless posts, and some mean-spirited ones.

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 18 May 2010 12:11 pm

Lee Baucum wrote:To see a photo of the HUF and the Lucky 7:

Click Here

Oct.12 2002, The year Bill, invented the HUF and Lucky 7. Good date OCT.12.Remember 1492. Now back to Bill- In 8 years how many players do you think use the HUF and Lucky 7. How many have you sold,can one buy one from a steel guitar dealer,whats the cost. Bill do you still use it or did you sell it to some poor steel guitar player.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 18 May 2010 12:44 pm

Jim Phelps wrote:
First of all Bent, I don't believe anyone should ever say "in us all". Nothing has the same effect on everyone, every time.

Jim, I disagree. The only thing I should have added was "to a larger or lesser degree" To use the word "stalls" is showing disrespect for the Masters in that we imply that their playing is way above our heads and that they hamper us instead of helping us....i.e. "stalling us"

I can use an example of my idol, Lloyd Green. I know I can never achieve anything near his level but does that discourage me or stall my creativity? No it doesn't. If I didn't have a master to look up to, then I would stall pretty quickly.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 18 May 2010 1:01 pm

Bent Romnes wrote:
Jim Phelps wrote:
First of all Bent, I don't believe anyone should ever say "in us all". Nothing has the same effect on everyone, every time.

Jim, I disagree. The only thing I should have added was "to a larger or lesser degree"

How anyone can disagree with that is amazing. So, "to a larger or lesser degree". Ok. There are people who are just crazy about something, say, pedal steel, or country music, or pickles or the color blue or ANYTHING, and others who absolutely detest it. That to you, is nothing more than "to a larger or lesser degree"?

Bent Romnes wrote: To use the word "stalls" is showing disrespect for the Masters in that we imply that their playing is way above our heads and that they hamper us instead of helping us....i.e. "stalling us"

Again you missed the point that I even tried to clarify, that letting ourselves be INTIMIDATED by great performers is the problem that causes the "stalling", etc. Not the Masters themselves. Feeling intimidated is within US, not the players and thus this statement does not disrespect them at all.

And in fact, I think some artists DO play above SOME people's heads. So what. Have you ever heard "you can't please everyone?"

A musician plays what he or she feels, and some will love it and some will hate it. Some other musicians will be inspired by it, and once in a while someone will be a little bummed that they will never be as good, but will probably get over it. If they don't, they will certainly not learn and improve their playing as if they would not let it intimidate them and let it move them to practice. I think that's what Bill was saying and it in no way disrespects the artist. It's just the way it is.

Bent Romnes wrote:I can use an example of my idol, Lloyd Green. I know I can never achieve anything near his level but does that discourage me or stall my creativity? No it doesn't. If I didn't have a master to look up to, then I would stall pretty quickly.

I, I, I, I.... That's YOU. You are not EVERYONE. You clearly believe that everyone is exactly like you. They are not, and they don't need to be. Try and understand that.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 18 May 2010 1:54 pm

Jim Phelps wrote: There are people who are just crazy about something, say, pedal steel, or country music, or pickles or the color blue or ANYTHING, and others who absolutely detest it. That to you, is nothing more than "to a larger or lesser degree"?

Bent Romnes wrote: To use the word "stalls" is showing disrespect for the Masters in that we imply that their playing is way above our heads and that they hamper us instead of helping us....i.e. "stalling us"
Again you missed the point that I even tried to clarify, that letting great performers INTIMIDATE you is the problem that causes the "stalling", etc. Not the Masters themselves. Feeling intimidated is within US, not the players and thus this statement does not disrespect them at all.

Bent Romnes wrote:I can use an example of my idol, Lloyd Green. I know I can never achieve anything near his level but does that discourage me or stall my creativity? No it doesn't. If I didn't have a master to look up to, then I would stall pretty quickly.
I, I, I, I.... That's YOU. You are not EVERYONE. You clearly think that everyone is exactly like you. They are not. Try and understand that.

Jim, I guess we are shooting over each others head, not really homing in on what the other guy is trying to convey. Sure, I'll admit that I don't always get my point across.
Anyway I was talking strictly about steel players,and to put likes/dislikes of blue or pickles in the mix just further confuses what I was saying.

Of course, it is ME, Jim. I speak for myself and I thought that would be understood without having to put IMHO etc in. I mean, it goes without saying.

What Bill was "trying to say" can certainly be interpreted several ways. Therefor, my interpretation of "stalls" is just as valid as the next person's.

Never once did I imply that I was everyone, Jim. We get on here and we speak for ourselves, that is kinda understood without having to verbalize it every time, no matter if we type 100 "I's"

That was quite a judgment there, to say that "I clearly think"... You do not know how I think any more than I know how you think.
Yep..I am trying to understand. Boy, am I ever.
Are you?

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 18 May 2010 2:01 pm

Bent, the first thing I said was, "Nothing has the same effect on everyone, every time", and you disagreed with that. That by itself says more than enough about how you think.

It appears that the rest of my reasoning was a waste of time so I see no point in going any further.

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 18 May 2010 2:08 pm

Bent Romnes wrote:
Bill Hankey wrote: Intimidations that accompany great performances by such artists as B.E., P.F., L.G. M.A. etc., stalls creativity and originality.
Bill, I don't think so!
These players' contributions certainly fosters creativity in us all. And you say it stalls?
How can you?

I don't know why,But I'm intimidated by Steel players that think they know so much about steel guitar and say this and that, should be working on there own playing.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 18 May 2010 2:19 pm

I agree Joe, but once in a while anyone can be right about something.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 18 May 2010 2:21 pm

Jim it should have been self explanatory that I agreed with that line, because everybody knows that nothing has the same effect on everyone. You and I know that. I thought it was clear enough what I was disagreeing with, and that was the usage and our interpretation of the word "stalls".

"It appears that the rest of my reasoning was a waste of time so I see no point in going any further."
Discussing points and opinions are never a waste of time.
But for gosh sake, I also think it is time to carry on.

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 18 May 2010 2:24 pm

Jim Phelps Vs. Bent Romnes

Debate was clarifying nuances of each other's point of view.

Bottom line:

Both are winners:

It was far easier to understand each others fine points of view than anything BH writes on this forum.

Good one guys.....

TX

Rgds,

Ron

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 18 May 2010 3:39 pm

Ron,

In the process of claifying nuances, would it be practical to assume that the "big" initialed pickers are very close to the top "rung" of a 100 rung ladder of The Ultimate Picker? If Buddy is on rung # 93, we can only assume that Paul F. is somewhere in those last upper top 10 rungs. At times I wonder who that MSA player is. The one waving from far above our heads, trying to avoid stepping on the fingers of a dozen or so most likely pickers who became stalled after a mad rush to reach P.F's level of mastery. The imagined ladder is chockful of pickers; some sharing the same rungs. This ladder is not made from flimsy aluminum. It has been constructed in man's eye from sturdy steel beams, and plated with gold. Four pickers can stand side by side, allowing ample room for moving upward. Buddy referred to the difficulty of hooking a finger on a buck's tail in full flight some time ago. I would reason he had his eye on the top rung of the golden ladder. His statement made me stop my practice while trying to arrive at the true meanings of his words.