How many guitar masters "master" pedal steel?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 Jun 2016 8:28 pm

Aw shucks, thanks Jim and Christopher. I suspect I'm becoming more a "Jack of Both Trades" but probably still the only thing I'm a "master" of is "Acceptable Tone".

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 27 Jun 2016 7:28 am

Well, while I'm hardly a "master", I play jazz guitar well enough to say - you are really sounding great these days!

Steel - I say you are!

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 27 Jun 2016 9:21 am

I didnt see johnny davis and buddy fite on the list...both great players on both instruments !!

Fred Rogan · Post by **Fred Rogan** » 27 Jun 2016 9:55 am

I don't know how good a steel player he is but Eric Clapton has been a student of pedal steel for years and I know he is a pretty good guitar player.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 28 Jun 2016 10:50 am

A ways off the beaten path, FAR from traditionalists - Steve Howe, David Gilmour.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 11 Jul 2016 3:22 pm

Didn't GE Smith (Saturday Night Live) play a little bit of steel? Seems I caught him one evening playing steel or lap steel?

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 11 Jul 2016 4:53 pm

Joel Paterson

Ronnie Acton · Post by **Ronnie Acton** » 12 Jul 2016 3:32 pm

I was wondering would Barbra Mandrell qualify?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 12 Jul 2016 3:35 pm

Ronnie Acton wrote:I was wondering would Barbra Mandrell qualify?

Funny, guitar is just about the only instrument that I have not seen her play but I wouldn't doubt that she could pick one with the best of them.

Jim R. Harrison · Post by **Jim R. Harrison** » 12 Jul 2016 5:02 pm

I see my friend, Larry Lenhart posted earlier - he's pretty good with both axes!

Another friend who is excellent on both is Jeff Bradshaw from Leslieville, AB. See my photos below.

Gary Watkins · Post by **Gary Watkins** » 12 Jul 2016 6:54 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:
Ronnie Acton wrote:I was wondering would Barbra Mandrell qualify?
Funny, guitar is just about the only instrument that I have not seen her play but I wouldn't doubt that she could pick one with the best of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2M_J16z9sk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTcdGtmTik0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9y8_nO3KxY

Eddy Dunlap · Post by **Eddy Dunlap** » 12 Jul 2016 10:12 pm

Bill Cunningham wrote:I once heard that Tommy White can really shread heavy metal.

Yes! Truth be told, there are a lot of master steel guitar players that are amazing guitarists too. The ones that come to mind that haven't been mentioned(except for one) are Steve Hinson, Russ Pahl, Dan Dugmore, and yes, like Bill Cunningham mentioned, Tommy White. All of these gentlemen are exceptional electric guitarists and are very musically diverse as well as being pedal steel giants!

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 13 Jul 2016 3:21 am

Mickey Adams
Buck Grantham

Don Drummer · Post by **Don Drummer** » 15 Jul 2016 2:09 pm

I taught myself to play some hollow body Jazz stuff in the '90's. My ex and I had a swing band called Ghost Town Swing during the "Daddy Band " swing revival. We were not a daddy band as such. We recorded a CD that featured Andrew Sisters harmonies and I can be heard playing Rythmn and lead. Its on CD Baby and also has some C6th on it. It was not intended but used as a last resort to finish the project. It has the almost famous Al Jeter on tenor. Due to health issues Jeter could not finish. I played solo and trio work at the Greenbrier resort for a spell until that feature slowly faded into the sunset. My solo work was wallpaper and I enjoyed the freedom of mainly playing the changes that suggested a tune. It was fun

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 16 Jul 2016 10:08 am

A ways back in the bebop days, it seemed customary for horm players to be adequate on piano, at least there are some recordings with a "surprise" Miles Davis or Sonny Rollins tickling away. I wonder if it shaves a finer point to ask: What sort of instruments can someone with a good ear, a store-bought or home-taught understanding of theory (AKA "how to get there from here"), and decent study habits, learn well enough to get by, fairly quick? The harder crossing points fall between FAMILIES of instruments, like stringy things vs. blowy things. Electric guitars and basses have got to be towards the top of the list of things that are easy to get an acceptable tone out of with a bit of work; timing's either there, or... "needs work?" Moving to electric bass for most people just means "play less notes!" Or in sad cases, "Just go AWAY!"

I know the standard substitution for guitar players of "Why I can't read music" has something to do with there being more than one way to play some notes (isn't that an advantage?) but have you ever tried to actually FIGURE OUT a saxophone or trumpet? There are like open tones that are sort-of dependant on how hard you blow and... other stuff(?), and there are valves that modify the open tones but it's all closter-flocked and mish-mashed together in the most horrible ins... well, "just go away!" was MY BEST IDEA EVER.

I actually think it's kind of cute how many steel guitarists are ANTI-six-stringers, like they're (esp.) really good mandolinists, bass players, pianists etc. Maybe it's something of an achievement in Nashville to NOT play guitar?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 17 Jul 2016 10:48 am

It's nice of Mr Cohen to include me on his short-list - thanks, Jim! However, while I consider myself a decent guitar-player, as a steel player I fall squarely in the 'just about employable' category.

I'd add Danny Mohammed to the list - I watched him play guitar and steel in the same song (!) in a YouTube video where he was accompanying Daryle Singletary. He's pretty darn good at both.

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 17 Jul 2016 1:20 pm

Thanks Jim Harrison for the compliment, but these guys listed are way out of my league ! Between slow and fast, I am kinda half-fast

Dave Magram · Post by **Dave Magram** » 17 Jul 2016 2:10 pm

Don't forget Buddy Emmons...

"In 1958, Emmons quit Tubb's band and moved to California. Eight months later, he returned to Nashville and rejoined the Texas Troubadours as the lead guitar player for the next five months, at which point he returned to the pedal steel guitar chair in the band."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Emmons

-Dave

James Jacoby · Post by **James Jacoby** » 17 Jul 2016 11:43 pm

Nobody mentioned Don Felder, or Bernie Leadon, of the Eagles.I know Don played some PSG, and I'm pretty sure Bernie did too. Both great guitar pickers, also. -Jake-

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 9 Dec 2016 9:37 am

John Fogerty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkNjKVxtIZM

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 9 Dec 2016 11:45 am

Our fellow forumite Mike Johnstone is another master of both instruments.

kevin ryan · Post by **kevin ryan** » 9 Dec 2016 5:36 pm

Travis Toy.... he's one Bad-Boy

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How many guitar masters "master" pedal steel?

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