The Single Best Tip For Playing Steel Guitar

[Joe Rogers]

What in your opinion is the single best playing tip you have ever gotten from another player/course? I am talking the one thing that turned on the lights for you and allowed exponential improvement in your playing??

I would like to share two of my faves. The first is what I consider the best piece of advice I have ever received. In several of Paul Franklin’s instructional courses he mentions the art of picking hard when practicing. I’m talking hard like you are going to break the strings. This one exercise alone does wonders for control. It is like lifting weights for the muscles in one’s fingers. It not only develops speed picking, but the slow playing chops as well. This tip has been like gold for me. I highly recommend Paul’s courses.

The next best advice I have gotten was totally unspoken. Pee Wee Whitewing organized a jam in Lafayette, Louisiana one night. Bobby Garrett was in town visiting and had told us that he hadn’t touched a steel guitar in years. Pee Wee was in a jamming mood, and wanted to pick with Garrett, so they borrowed a Sho-Bud from Milton Guilbeau to be the “guest” guitar which was set up next to Pee Wee’s guitar. At that point in time I had only been playing for about a year and a half and was still a very timid player. After a LOT of coaxing, I got up to play. When I sat next to Pee Wee, I witnessed an attack like I had never seen in my life. It was much like a bull rider proving to the animal who was boss. In that 15-20 minute period it dawned on me that a steel guitar was not going to passively lay down and give me what I wanted to hear. If I wanted to accomplish what my ears wanted to hear, then it was up to me to pull it out of the beast. I could have taken a year’s worth of lessons and not learned what I picked up in 5 minutes of watching Pee Wee's attack.

One last thing. When Garrett said he hadn’t touched a steel guitar in years, he meant it. He was obviously extremely frustrated at not being able to pull off licks that at one time had been effortless for him. Something definitely happened to him that night. He came back months later with a brand new MCI and burned EVERYONE who got on that jam stage that night. At that point in my life, it was truly the best steel playing I had ever witnessed.


Joe Rogers

[Larry Behm]

Play every note as if it were the last note you would ever play. Better make it count. Are you here to do something or just have something to do.

Larry Behm

[Eric West]

Yup/ hard as you can/ picks out on your fingers and clamped down so you need to get used to them. Also pick UP on the strings especially with the thumb, wearing out the arm side of the blade first, and cross over everything with the thumb and middle.

Also BC told me to play as if your life depended on it, because sonner or later it might. It did on more than one occaison. Once in a biker bar, and once in Calgary.

He also told me that if it doesn't sound right to you, then you have no business playing it in public until it does.

Also, to learn things AFTER you decided who you want to take lessons from EXACTLY the way he teaches it to you or you're wasting both yours time.

He told me that more than once..



EJL

[Kevin Hatton]

Get a drink holder.

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

The best tip was something our fellow forumite Tony Prior wrote.

"Learn the guitar, not licks."

Amen Tony.

[Paul Sutherland]

Learn the melody to every song. When you can play the melody using single notes, learn to play it using two and three note chords.

(I don't claim to always follow my own advice.)

[Olli Haavisto]

Play it like Ray Charles would sing it. My advice to myself whenever I see overplaying on the horizon...

[James Martin (U.K.)]

I have always done what Paul suggests. I try to keep it simple,recognisable,uncluttered and melodic. By the way Joe, fingers don't have muscles.

[Bill Myrick]

" Don't" -

[Joe Rogers]

James, I am certainly not a doctor, but wikipedia states the following:

Muscles of the fingers can be subdivided into two groups: the extrinsic and intrinsic muscle groups. The extrinsic muscle groups are the long flexors and extensors. They are called extrinsic because the muscle belly is located on the forearm.

The intrinsic muscle groups are the thenar and hypothenar muscles (thenar referring to the thumb, hypothenar to the small finger), the interossei muscles (between the metacarpal bones, four dorsally and three volarly) and the lumbrical muscles. These muscles arise from the deep flexor (and are special because they have no bony origin) and insert on the dorsal extensor hood mechanism.


Joe Rogers

[Billy Carr]

Hughey once told me to feel what I play and it'll eventually carry over to the folks that are listening. John was so right. If I can touch one person in a crowd, that's what I go for. Nothing flashy, just pure and simple with a few goodies here and there. As far as starting out in 71', it was the Neil Flanz Sho-Bud Instruction Album that was my jump start, so to speak. After that and later on, I started studying some of Jeff Newmans C6th courses, along with a course by Hughey and I had one in the 80's by Franklin I studied a lot from. Of course, my favorite thing was the midnight ET jamboree which was followed at the time by the Sho-Bud showcase, I think was the name of the show. I was a teenager then and listened every Saturday night trying to learn from the big boys. PSG has come a long ways since then.

[Randy Beavers]

Hey Joe, good advice! I remember watching the Buckaroos when I was starting out. I couldn't believe how hard Tom attacked the strings. That was part of his sound.

For the last several years I hardly ever turn an amp on at the house. I just listen to the guitar acoustically. This causes me to really dig in and pick hard, which I feel gives me a better work out.

Another thing I've notice from practicing this way, when I do turn an amp on I try to make it sound as close to what the guitar sounds like acoustically. I think the guitar sounds beautiful without all the reverb and delay cluttering it up.

[Kenny Martin]

Steal all the licks you cab from Joe Rogers!

Drink Crown Royal watchin Joe Rogers youtube clips!

"Steel Joe Rogers licks"!

After many drinks of Crown Royal email Joe and ask him how he played the lick you stole from him!

Seriously, play it always from the heart with as much emotion as you can! Feel it like Joe!

love ya man!

[James Martin (U.K.)]

Hi Joe, I was quoting what I heard on the TV a couple of days ago when the host made that statement to one of the panelists - which surprised me. The muscles ( he explained ) that operate the fingers are to be found in the forearm and palm of the hand the fingers themselves have no muscles. But, whose counting, we all know what you meant, I was just being pedantic and awkward,my apologies.

[Barry Blackwood]

Here's the skinny on the fingers according to seymourduncan.com.

No one has muscles in their fingers at all. All the muscles that control your fingers are in your forearm and hand.

[Brett Day]

A lot of players and non players over the last ten years I've been playin' have told me to practice hard, don't quit playin', practice hard, and play from the heart. This advice applies to not only me, but all of us steel players, no matter what level we might be on. Also, play what you're feelin' inside. I've also learned from many players to not worry about mistakes practicing or onstage.

Brett

[Mark van Allen]

Great thread! The "Pick hard" one is good advice, I got it from Mike Smith. But if I had one thing to pass along to any steel player it would be: Learn and live the Number System from your guitar through the music.

[Joe Rogers]

James, no apology needed. I had to find out for myself, I knew something got stronger in those extremities.

Randy, your acoustical practicing tells me two things:
1. You have a guitar that resonates well
2. You still have a lot of your hearing left.
Seriously, I have practiced that way a few times, but your mentioning it being the norm of your practice routine is making me rethink that one. Thanks!

Kenny, you're out of control again....back in the cage. Just joking!!

I appreciate ALL of the replies. I figured there would be some good nuggets uncovered, little did I realize I got way more than I bargained for. Great responses!! Thanks!!!


Joe Rogers

[Paul Crawford]

"Just because you can doesn't mean you should."

[Hook Moore]

Practice,Practice,Practice and more Practice.
Hook

[Dick Sexton]

From Jeff Newman: "If you want to make a noise with that thing, take your right hand off the strings. See, your palm blocking."

[Murnel Babineaux]

Develop total control over your instrument, because it can control you without trying...

Tell your steel guitar. "Hey?? I'm da man !!

Murnel

[Stephen Gregory]

Incorporate more "blue" notes when soloing, bend more pitches with the bar rather than the sometimes hokey sounding pedal pulls. Advice given to me by listening to great horn players.

[Paddy Long]

"Learn when not to play" !!!!

Buddy Emmons told me this little gem when I met him in 1982 at Jeff Newmans school ... it has always stood me in good stead.

[Brett Day]

Great thread! The "Pick hard" one is good advice, I got it from Mike Smith. But if I had one thing to pass along to any steel player it would be: Learn and live the Number System from your guitar through the music.

One steel player I know of that picks hard-well, there's two-Paul Franklin and Randle Currie with Brad Paisley.

Brett