Hello from Hong Kong

Danny Chung · Post by **Danny Chung** » 2 Aug 2012 7:59 am

Hello everybody

Danny here in Hong Kong.

I haven't met any other steel players here so it is possible I might be the only person in HK who has a pedal steel. Country music isn't exactly popular here.

I got into country music and hence the pedal steel through listening to the Byrds.

After realising that trying to emulate a pedal steel on a guitar, even on a B-bender, was ultimately a futile gesture, in late 2010 I bought a pedal streel from Scotty's Music in St Louis.

As such I've been learning the pedal steel on my own since early 2011.

I'm using Winnie Winston's book, Rob Haine's DVD and listening to the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Lloyd Green, the James Burton and Ralph Mooney record, Hank Williams and Buck Owens, and Youtube, of course.

A bit of slog so far especially going through Winston's book. It's heads down and get on with it. Having 2 kids and a better half who takes a dim view of me taking some time off from family life doesn't help either.

I'm currently having a go at playing the licks in Forest Rodger's book pedal steel licks for guitar on my pedal steel. Very useful as I try to work out the easiest way to play the licks without too much movement of the bar.

My set up: a GFI SM with 3 pedals and 4 levers, Goodrich H10K volume pedal, Peterson Strobo Flip and, er, a Marshall Valvestate Model 8020.

Anyway, this is very nice forum and I'm very pleased to take part in it.

Regards

Danny

Dan Burnham · Post by **Dan Burnham** » 2 Aug 2012 8:33 am

Danny,
Welcome to the forum, a great place to be. Remember, the best were at one time beginners. Have fun and welcome to the forum family,

Dan(BMI)

Jim Hollingsworth · Post by **Jim Hollingsworth** » 2 Aug 2012 8:56 am

Welcome to the Forum Danny! I too started playing steel because of the Byrds & the Burrito Bros. so I can say you have a good start. Just keep plugging away & you'll find endless enjoyment from it!

Jim

Jim Hollingsworth · Post by **Jim Hollingsworth** » 2 Aug 2012 8:56 am

Welcome to the Forum Danny! I too started playing steel because of the Byrds & the Burrito Bros. so I can say you have a good start. Just keep plugging away & you'll find endless enjoyment from it!

Jim

Chris Dorch · Post by **Chris Dorch** » 2 Aug 2012 4:06 pm

Welcome aboard!

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 2 Aug 2012 5:27 pm

Welcome matey, Start jamming brother!!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 2 Aug 2012 5:42 pm

Welcome to the Forum and the great community of steelers, Danny!

Danny Chung wrote:

I'm currently having a go at playing the licks in Forest Rodger's book pedal steel licks for guitar on my pedal steel. Very useful as I try to work out the easiest way to play the licks without too much movement of the bar.

Now, I must say, this strikes me as somewhat backwards. If I understand you correctly, you are trying to copy, on pedal steel, a guitarist trying to copy a pedal steel. Did I get that right?

Oh, my new friend, you'd be MUCH better off learning it from the source and not from the cheap imitation! After all, you're now playing the real thing! So, yes, study from Winnie's book (as many of us have done) and other material you can find out about here, all written specifically for pedal steelers (not for pedal steel wannabes).

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Jim

Sam Conomo · Post by **Sam Conomo** » 2 Aug 2012 7:39 pm

just take your time and enjoy the ride ,it wont be over the a while yet.
seeya ,
sam.

Danny Chung · Post by **Danny Chung** » 3 Aug 2012 6:30 am

Hi Jim

Thanks for the encouragement.

Yes, I realise it sounds backwards, trying to play pedal steel licks from a guitarist who was trying to emulate a pedal steel. A bit like the stoning scene in the Life of Brian, men pretending to be women who were pretending to be men....

Anyway, since I already have the book, I'd might as well use it as a reference for no other reason than to force me to try to locate the notes and see what works easiest at different locations.

Rest assured I won't be relying wholly on that book. It'll be Winnie's book, however long it takes and a whole lot of listening to steel on records. I must say the Steelradio.com is a great resource. I play it all the time using ITunes.

Danny

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 3 Aug 2012 3:50 pm

Hi Danny,

Check eBay and pick up a copy of Lloyd Green's "Hit Sounds." That will open your eyes to country steel guitar at it's best, and there will be some stuff that you can cop too.

Joe

Howard Smith · Post by **Howard Smith** » 3 Aug 2012 4:15 pm

Good to hear from you Danny.....Sounds like you got a nice setup. People in China are probably wondering where those "Alien Sounds" are coming from. I would say you have over come being a product of your environment.

HS

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 3 Aug 2012 5:25 pm

"ahh soo",,,,welcome to steel guitar and its' players.
BB

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 3 Aug 2012 8:41 pm

Danny,Welcome from Alabama,USA. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 3 Aug 2012 9:02 pm

Hi Danny, Welcome to the #1 Steel Guitar Forum!
I believe that China is the next wide open market to pedal steel.
You keep on doing what you are doing...playing and promoting the steel guitar over there. I somehow have the feeling that pedal steel might be a big hit.
Good luck!

Check out my website, below.

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 4 Aug 2012 2:51 am

Welcome Danny. Yep just what Jim said!!. What has helped me get into full 'songs' has been Doug Beaumier's book of pedal steel songs. Its got the CD for reference and arrangements are starightforward and are popular songs! You won't learn 'theory' as such ( Winnie's book will do that) but for feeling like you are achieving then this is great IMO.

Just a thought!

Enjoy the journey - I know I am!!!

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 4 Aug 2012 4:00 am

Danny, many years ago I set in with a band in some joint on Austin Road, there in Kowloon. The front man had a six-string steel on a stand; I did one song and he asked me to do another, then sit down. There were a lot of American Sevice Men in the audience and I had them on their feet. That used to be a heck-uv-a party town.

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 5 Aug 2012 8:38 pm

Hi Danny...I wonder if you have tried fitting the steel into any of the more modern music produced in China. A friend who recently visited China brought me back a few CD's at my request, and I think the steel might fit in very well...perhaps not so much with traditional Chinese music but with the more current pretty, melodic love songs I have heard.?? Gerry

Billy Cardine · Post by **Billy Cardine** » 5 Aug 2012 9:08 pm

Hey Danny, I love the Life of Brian reference. Good one.

I'm kind of mostly an acoustic player, but these guys put up with me anyways. This is a great place to share and learn.

All the best from North Carolina, Billy Cardine

Ray Mangrum · Post by **Ray Mangrum** » 6 Aug 2012 3:18 am

Good Morning Danny,
Welcome to the Forum!!! I would suggest you get some of Jeff Newman's,Doug Jernigan.s and the Forum material. There is some really good material at Mickey Adam's site that will help you with dexterity and music theory related to the Steel. Happy pickin!

Tom Franke · Post by **Tom Franke** » 6 Aug 2012 4:57 am

Danny, welcome to the forum. As a fellow basic learner, I understand the challenge of the instrument and the value of this forum. You are part of a musical family, even if it is distributed across the world.

Now I don't assume just because you are in Hong Kong you know or care about traditional Chinese music. After all, it is American music that brought you to the pedal steel. However, in case that is an interest I've had the chance to hear some of it played live by Chinese folk ensembles, and it is striking how the traditional stringed instruments use various techniques to slide between the notes. And a similar vocal technique is evident in Chinese opera. This leads me to think you may be in very good territory for the eventual acceptance and spread of the steel guitar.

Well, maybe you will be a pioneer on pedal steel in Hong Kong, or maybe you just want to play for your own enjoyment. Either way, you have to get the basics down (as I do), and ain't it wonderful that we have all the great books and internet resources to help us. Keep it up and compose a love song for your wife. It might make her a bit more supportive of your practice time. I look forward to seeing you on the forum and asking some of the questions I didn't think to ask but really need to know. There is a real treasure trove of knowledge here.

Duane Dunard · Post by **Duane Dunard** » 6 Aug 2012 8:48 am

Hi Danny, Welcome to the Forum! Consider yourself part of a very special group of friends.

Bill Bassett · Post by **Bill Bassett** » 11 Aug 2012 5:15 am

Welcome to the Steel Guitar Forum.
Some time ago, back in 1997 when the forum was new, I met a fellow who lived in Hong Kong. Steve Shellum is his name. We would chat for hours on ICQ. One thing led to another and because my wife and I had always wanted to travel, in 1998 we went there on vacation. First stop was Tokyo and a visit with forumite Tom Quinn and a tour of Fuzzy Steel Guitars (Excel), then on to Hong Kong where we met Steve Shellum. I have wonderful memories of the trip of a lifetime. Steve let me play his Jerry Douglas model Dobro at an unforgettable jam with a bunch of Irish musicians on a Rooftop garden on Llama Island.

I just googled Steve Shellum, looks like he's still in HK.

Bill Bassett
Rimrock AZ

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 11 Aug 2012 5:42 am

Danny, Your posting has made my day start off well. Seeing someone form overseas join the forum and playing steel does my heart good. There is so much available today to help an individual out that is learning. The internet is a great asset with all kinds of videos and instruction material. I highly recommend this forum to other steel players as well. Play with other musicians as much as possible but do not get into trouble with the wife. Hopefully one day you can come to the states for a steel show here. I would be honored myself to meet you.

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Hello from Hong Kong

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Look up an old friend of mine