Help Me To Learn To Play Please!

Darrell Hendrix · Post by **Darrell Hendrix** » 20 Mar 2004 8:22 pm

I need help please. I have been trying on and off since 1980 to learn to play the pedal steel. I do pretty well for a few months and then get aggrivated with it and call it quits. I have never had a one on one teacher. It's tough to try and learn all by your self. I have searched for years but cannot find a teacher anywhere in my area. I would be most grateful if someone could recommend a 'mail order' course that I could take a look at. The learn to play video tapes are nice but do nothing for me. I need something that would start me off slowly with the basics and build as time goes by just like a real live teacher would do. I would like a course that has rhythm tracks or something similar to practice with. Point me in the right direction please!

Bob Wood · Post by **Bob Wood** » 20 Mar 2004 9:34 pm

Darrell,

Have you tried Jeff Newman. Jeff is, and has been one of the most successful PSG teachers in the history of Pedal Steel Guitar. The only problem is..., you may have to go to him for lessons, and he is near Nashville, Tenn. Heres a link to his web site. http://www.jeffran.com/ The last time I checked, he was giving one-on-one lessons at his school. That would probably be your best bet by far, but there are other teachers out there too. Maybe one in your area of the country. You started in a good area by asking in this forum though. Be patient,and maybe some of the other Forumites here may have other ideas for you too. ......................Bob[This message was edited by Bob Wood on 20 March 2004 at 09:35 PM.]

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 20 Mar 2004 11:01 pm

It's a lot easier to "QUIT" or "hang it up" for six months at a time.....than it is to stick to it, and work on it each and every day. Most of us that have been playing for very long, have experienced similar feelings from time to time and yet, the vast majority of us, if honest, will admit to you that we are still learning each and every time we sit down to play. It's not a push the red button kinda of program here. It's a lifetime struggle; it's lonely; it takes a red hot burning desire, one that doesn't falter from day to day; your efforts will often be unappreciated by even your closest family members/friends. BUT, once you get where you're headed, no one but YOU, can take any credit for your musical success.
Now get in there and practice, practice, practice.

Ad Kersten · Post by **Ad Kersten** » 21 Mar 2004 12:44 am

Hi Darrell,

If you go to Online Steelers, you will find several players in Nebraska that might be able to help you out, even in your town! The information might not all be up to date but you can surely give it a try.
Here is the link: http://www.onlinesteelers.com/stateslist.cfm?cmnStates=NE

Succes,
Ad

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Zumsteel S12U

Yo, Man! homepage

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 21 Mar 2004 1:02 am

Darell, it can be much the same with all instruments,
you plateau for awhile and then eventually hit another level.
But you can't let it stop you when your on a plateau for awhile...what SEEMS like too long.

Sometimes we need time for finger memory and the brain to assimilate the disparate elements of playing.

Buddy Emmons's courses are very good, especially for C6, but also E9.
You never specified which or both.

Jeff Newmans intros and Turnarounds is very good.
Mel Bays chord chart for E9 is very usefull, avaiable from Scottys music as well as many other learning materials.
Russ Wevers talk tapes are good, I have used one.
Doug Beaumier has a lot of stuff with casette and CD.
Herby Wallace has a lot also.
Doug Jernigan has some fine materials also.
All of the above I have had contact with.

But also don't forget Rebl Ricky and Jeff's web site.
TONS of tab and clips of the intros and solos

Maybe a local steeler will see this and contact you.
If not, just work some good tab REGULARLY.
Get Band In A Box and set up paterns and play over them.
Good luck[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 21 March 2004 at 01:11 AM.]

Chippy Wood · Post by **Chippy Wood** » 21 Mar 2004 1:31 am

Hi, Why not try Mike Sweenies postal courses.

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Ron (Chippy) Wood
Carter S10/Pad

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 21 Mar 2004 2:02 am

Darrell, I've been playing PSG for 29 years. I can't say that I really felt good about my playing until I had been doing it for about 5 years, but never the less I had fun mixed with frustration for those first 5 years. I used to play guitar on a gig with Jimmie Crawford, one of the best steel players in the world, and everytime I came to the gig he would be practicing some idea or lick he had just come across and he would be filled with wonder and enthusiasm. After witnessing this I came to the realization that no matter how good you get, there is always something more to learn, it is a life long endeavor. One of my favorite experiences in life is when I am playing the PSG and I am "on". This doesn't always happen, but the times that it does overwhelmingly make up for the times that it doesn't. Stick in there, it is definitely worth the trouble.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 21 Mar 2004 2:11 am

Bob's right for sure on two major points.

Ya ain't always goona be 'ON" no matter how good you are.

The best players are ALWAYS in the woodshed, even just before a gig.

On the gig, play what you know, and maybe take a few chances, if inspired.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 21 Mar 2004 3:59 am

Jeff Newman. Period. If he can't get you playing, nobody can.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 21 Mar 2004 5:31 am

(Here is some reversed psychology

)

Darrell, can I buy your guitar?

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 21 Mar 2004 8:03 am

I found it was an exercise in patience to learn to play as poorly as I currently do.

You have to kind of stick it out... I think what is making it harder possibly is that you are doing it long enough to see some improvement, and then stopping for long enough to lose it all...

I think perhaps the best thing to do would be to mix some instruction one-on-one with a teacher. I don't do that often, but it helps a lot when I'm stuck on things.

And last of all, try to enjoy the process for itself. The road isn't just about the destination, as cheesey as that might sound.

Good luck.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 21 Mar 2004 8:15 am

Darrell, many good pointers so far
if you really want play this darn thing you've gotta stick w: it no matter what.
i started w: Winnie Winston's book- (great book)
Jeff Newman and Buddy Emmons courses w: tab and back up tracks are great
playing along w: records gets your ear training together
it is essential to get out and play or jam w: others so you're not alone w: your instrument
do look up "online steelers" and check out who's around and contact them
Musik is Life, if you don't live it
it won't come out of your instrument

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Zum D10 9/7-ShoBud Professional D10 8/4- Gibson EH150 - Nashville1000

Steel what?

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 21 Mar 2004 9:00 am

Darrel,

With the exception Of Jerry Byrd or Buddy Emmons, which IMO were both born with a steel guitar in there hands, I venture to say that every player out there has more or less felt the way you do.

It is not uncommon to go from euphoria to looking for the chain saw and back. This is part of it. And it does not help one bit that we chose one of the world's most difficult instruments to master.

What is particularly perplexing is to hear or better, SEE one of the pros make it appear sooooo effortless, then get on a high feeling, "I can do that"; only to go home and try it. Yeah right

But I promise you, if you stick with it, the frustrating times will become less and the pleasure times will become more.

So bubba it is in YOUR hands. Practice, practice, practice are true words of wisdom. May Jesus lead, guide and direct you in your noble quests,

carl

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 21 Mar 2004 9:15 am

Carl;

Chuck Lettes
3215 Farmdale Road
Englewood, CO 80810
303-797-1134

I took snail-mail lessons from him early in the '90s. He will help you with works other than C&W. One of the first pieces he had me learn was _Sentimental Journey_ If you do get with Chuck you won't regret it.

Sherman

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 21 Mar 2004 9:18 am

My apologies to Carl Dixon and Darrell Hendrix. I meant to address the previous response to Darrell.

Sherman

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 21 Mar 2004 10:53 am

Darrell, can you tell me how many sharps and flats there are in a C major scale without looking it up?

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 21 Mar 2004 1:49 pm

I have played two set backing up Chuck Lettes and he is a great player.
And writes a lot of TAB.
So I will second him also as a teacher.

(Kevin... all of them... if you're playing blues

)
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 21 March 2004 at 01:52 PM.]

Darrell Hendrix · Post by **Darrell Hendrix** » 21 Mar 2004 3:56 pm

Sounds like a trick question! Lets see....C major scale would have no flats or sharps! Sorry...I cheated. I had to ask my wife. She is the real musician in the family. 17 years of piano lessons. I've been playing bass for close to 40 years but never bothered with all that theory stuff.
This is great. Thank you all so much for the words of wisdom and encouragement. I don't feel so alone in the battle now. I thought I was the only one that was having a hard time.
Sounds like a week in the woods with Mr. Newman is just what I need. Wait...that did not come out right. What I need is to attend one of Jeff Newman's week long one on one sessions at his school. I attended one of his 2 day seminars way back in the early 80's in Texas City, Texas when I lived in Galveston, Texas. I'm not hurting for a good instrument. I have a Pro 1 3x4 that I bought used from Herb Remington in Houston. Duane Marrs built it back in the early 70's. I shipped it to him a couple months ago and he did a complete set up and adjustment on it. Now I'm positive that there is no way I can blame all my problems on my steel for sure!
Like ya'll said...Get after it and stay after it. Thats what I'll be doing!
Thanks!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 21 Mar 2004 5:41 pm

Darrell, yes it was a trick question! Still I would say that the number one thing in learning to play pedal steel is knowing interval theory for scales and chords. Its like memorizing the multiplication table when we were kids. Once you can relate interval theory to the fret board, tunings, knee levers and pedals it all starts to lay itself out visually in front of you. I had a teacher when I first started that only taught licks. No theory and no technique. I quit him after two months. It was a waste of time.
I think that visiting Jeff Newman one on one is a great way to go. Jeff is a very methodical teacher and can advise you on your difficiencies. Its money well spent. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 21 March 2004 at 05:42 PM.]

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 22 Mar 2004 6:21 am

Joe Wright approaches teaching technique as a separate area, which on a complicated instrument makes a lot of sense to me. He has you isolating physical moves and getting them into your muscle memory. I've found his right hand exercises to be very beneficial. In his "My Approach" he also talks about ways of thinking about the pedal and knee lever changes, scales and tons of good material.

Jeff Newman's materials teach you patterns and positions, and they are full of great stuff that get you playing right away, but he doesn't discuss what the notes are in relation to the chords. It's a different style of teaching, and very effective in getting you playing, but for myself, the "outside knowledge" of what the notes are is crucial to making the ideas universally applicable, and not just a series of licks.

I'm not making a value judgement, because everyone has different learning styles. Having been a non-theory guitarist and learning theory later, I feel like I had a lot of light shed on thing with theory, and also learned things that I think would have taken a lot longer to figure out otherwise...

You have to decide a path- whether to play the instrument as "sounds", or to know what the notes are and how they relate to the chords of the moment.

Music is music, regardless of instrument, so if you learn the language of music and apply it to your instrument, you may have a more complete and applicable way of hearing things and seeing them on your instrument.

The pedal steel is known as one of the most challenging instruments to play for good reason, so if it feels difficult, that just means you are paying attention!

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http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff.

JAMES BANKS · Post by **JAMES BANKS** » 22 Mar 2004 6:46 am

Darrel, I went thru the same thing. I first started playing about 20 yrs ago. I gave up and sold my steel. I decided I would work at being a better guitar player. I was not happy until I got anouther steel. I bought some Newman Courses and attended his seminars for 8 yrs in Dallas. Then my wife gave me 3 days with Jeff at his Top Gun school for a birthday present. He worked me over trying to teach me all he could in 3 days. I wish I had stayed 5. He told me before I left not to expect to be greatly improved when I returned home, let it soak in. About six months later, I started to play things I never played before. My wife actually comments on my playing now, she no longer tells me I sound like a cat in sever pain. Call Jeff, it will be worth every dollar it cost you.

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Zumsteel SD10, Nashville 400, Profex 2, T-60 Peavey, Gibson 335, Vegas 400, Fender Super reverb.

[This message was edited by JAMES BANKS on 22 March 2004 at 06:58 AM.]

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 22 Mar 2004 6:49 am

There are players who do not know a note of music and they are incredibly good musicians.

There are players who read music fluently and are incredibly good musicians.

But the best scenario is the player that reads music AND plays by ear and is incredible at either. It does not get any better than that.

If one could ONLY do one, IMO I would have to give the ribbon to the person who plays only by ear.

carl

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 22 Mar 2004 7:21 am

When I get to thinkin' about how good (or bad) I play the steel, I can get pretty depressed sometimes, to the point of wanting to put the poor thing out of it's misery....

Then, as a comparison, I think about how much worse I am with a golf club, and then I feel pretty good again...

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 22 Mar 2004 8:16 am

Hi, Darrell, I tried emailing you twice but my message bounced back. Did you receive it? Good luck steve

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 22 Mar 2004 8:22 am

Remember, No pain no gain!....