If you can't play "Song Title" you can't play stee

[Ben Jones]

Ive never even heard Bud's Bounce or Sleepwalk.

[Jim Sliff]

Ive never even heard Bud's Bounce or Sleepwalk.

Nothing wrong with that. If it's not stuff in your style there's no reason you would need to...or want to!

[Bob Carlucci]

I dunno, I am a fair player, and I almost never play the melody... was never really asked to.. at this point, probably couldn't even with a gun to my head... bob

[b0b]

Now for songs I'm in agreement with Mr. b0b and the other steeler's posting. You need to play the ever popular with the public, "Steel Guitar Rag," "Bud's Bounce," and "Sleep Walk." People identify with those and sooner or later, and most likely sooner they will request either.

But again, that assumes a "style". Would you say "you're not a steel player" to someone who can't play those tunes? Before saying "yes" - what if that player was, say...Chuck Campbell?

I would be very surprised if Chuck doesn't know SGR and Sleepwalk. He seems to me to be very well educated in all aspects of the steel guitar.

As for "Bud's Bounce", I've never had a request for it. I think it's more of steel culture thing - the general public doesn't really know the tune.

[Alan Brookes]

How can anyone dispute what the duck says ????!?

[Mike Wheeler]

Yep, Jim's a real Quacker Jack guy!

[Jim Sliff]

b0b, Chuck may very well know those songs - I was just using him as a well-known example of someone who normally plays outside country, that's all. I could have just as easily said RR, but that always seems to turn a thread into a new controversy...

The whole point was that no specific song knowledge define whether or not you're a "pedal steel player". They can only determine whether or not you know those songs.

I've heard a few absolutely stunning musicians over the decades that admitted they could not play a single instrumental - but in a band context they could "play the song" flawlessly, always complementing the singer and other players, and pulling out stunning solos.

Some players just don't LIKE to play instrumentals.

[Stu Schulman]

Ben,You don't have to know any of those songs,I have gone years without playing "Steel Guitar Rag" until this couple asked for it recently,They were nice folks so I played it,otherwise I would have told them that I didn't know it.

[Charles Davidson]

Played Steel guitar rag and Sleepwalk tonight,proberly will tomorow night to,as long as the patrons ask for it,To keep from getting bored playing the same tunes over and over,I may play them a little different,and play a few verses in E9th,then switch to C6th,I have maybe a dozen versions of the Rag from all the big players,from Bobbe doing it in minors,to LLoyd doing it like a really SLOW ballard.I heard a famous jazz player comment Take any song play the first chrous close to the melody,THEN improvise all you want,the listener can relate to what you are doing then even if you improvise.

[Charlie McDonald]

Partita in D.

[Pat Burns]

..."Teach Your Children"..

[Doyle Mitchell]

The wipeout thing is funny, I actually have a record here somewhere called Steelguitar Wipeout, the steel is playing steel guitar rag and the drums are playing wipeout! It would be a good show tune if the steel and drums took the time to work it up. I dont remember who is on the steel but it is quite impressive as a show tune, weird but impressive.

[Doug Beaumier]

Steelguitar Wipeout, the steel is playing steel guitar rag and the drums are playing wipeout!

WOW, I recently had a request to play Steel Guitar Wipeout! This post is the only other time I've ever heard of the 'song'. I'm trying to imagine the combination... I do play both of those songs in my band, but I can't imagine combining the two.

[Bill Cunningham]

For the Shriner, American Legion, VFW, etc gigs, (the 65+ audience) I think Coconut Grove and Hawaiian Wedding Song are staples equivalent to Sleepwalk and SGR.

[Dennis Schell]

Don't forget to learn Sleep Walk because that is one of the few steel tunes most people know, though most have no idea what made that kind of noise!...

Yes, 23 chorus & verses of steel guitar rag for sure.... just before the beer break.

If you can do those two and whack on the "A" pedal a lot for every other tune, you'll fool most folks into thinking your a great steel player.

I think you're on track...

Some folks seem to think a PSG is some kind of "keyboard" device, after all, you're sitting down! The "older" crowd, if they request any steel guitar songs at all, will always seem to pick SG Rag or Sleepwalk....(Altho' some people, seeing a PSG on stage, immediately associate that with Buck Owens music and will ask for his tunes all night. Maybe that's a "west coast thing"...)

However, I think you if you whack the "B" pedal and THEN the "A" pedal all night you'd fool more folks.....

Dennis

[Ben Jones]

Stu, Steel guitar Rag is one of the few I know. I dont care for the tune itself too much, but Im glad i learned it cause there are some good blues licks in there if you twist em a bit.

[Andy DePaule]

Really I was kind of just joking, but I do think that most people have little or no idea what it is we play.
Even many musicians know little about it.

I do think Sleep walk is the only tune they (General Public) often know on the "Hawiian Guitar" that we play.
I'd guess about 5% of them do in fact, "Know" we are playing a Hawiian guitar or an Organ.

In a C&W setting the number of people who know of a steel is higher, I'd guess maybe 15%.... What do you think???

I do belive that outside our small SG group, very few know and can name tunes like Steel Guitar Rag, Buds Bounce etc...
But in a C&W bar/dance hall they have heard these tunes before and quite a few do know when it is "Not quite right".

[Doyle Mitchell]

I found the old record with steelguitar wipeout on it, it was by Bob White, looks like from the 60s 0r 70s. Crazy man, but a crowd pleaser for sure, Doug , I will email you the thing so you can play it live at your next gig. Its a little scratchy from age but still hilarious to listen to. Does anyone know Bob White personally? Looks like he was playing for Hank Thompson in 1957. a great steeler for sure. The album was titled Steel Trek and Jeff Newman gave it his seal of approval on the back.

[Charles Davidson]

I don't regret learning all the old standard steel instrumentals YEARS ago,things like The rag,Remington Ride,Bud's bounce,Speading West,Last Date,Harbor Lights,and of course Sleep Walk,Most bands I have played in over the years like them and I get to play 3 or 4 of them a night,I learned them all on E9th and C6th so I could mix them and keep them from always sounding alike and too repetitious.You new players learn as many as you can,somewhere along the line in your career they WILL come in handy.

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

Are we talking about songs the public wants to hear, or songs that other steel guitarists want to hear?

The only songs I’ve ever had requests for from the public are Sleepwalk and “The song you play on the steel guitar” (SG Rag.) The general public doesn’t know, and couldn’t care less about Remington Ride or Boot Hill drag or an instrumental version of “A Way to Survive.”

Last month at the Mesa show, the performance that got the biggest response was Doug Livingston’s rendition of a Bach piece. I’m sure Doug can play all the old chestnuts as well as anybody, but he did something new and different, and received a standing ovation for it.

I’ve seen a lot of performers receive standing ovations at the end of their sets in the past, but Doug received a standing ovation in the middle of his set for the Bach piece.

Maybe we all should all think about that.

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

Does anyone know Bob White personally?

Bob passed away a few years ago.

[Charles Davidson]

Mike the old saying[Location,Location,Location]is true,In the smoke filled redneck honky tonks I play in [and yes I love them]A lot of the patrons know all the tunes I mentioned above,and request them,I don't know any classical pieces[wish I did,]A steel show is different from a honky tonk,in the club you have very few critics that would understand or appreciate a piece of classical music.[would proberly say What the hell was that now play the Panhandle RAG].

[Les Anderson]

I have always thought "Steel Guitar Rag" was somewhat analogous to "Chopsticks". I'd seriously doubt if there's any steelplayer who hasn't at least attempted it.

I think Donny has hit it pretty close. The Steel Guitar Rag is identified with the steel guitar as much as Sleep Walk is. I know that if a person doesn't know me and requests a song it usually one of three, Steel Guitar Rag, Sleep Walk; or, "Something Hawaiin"

For those who know me or have been to gig that I have played at the number one request is Maria Elena.

[Stu Schulman]

Ben,There are a whole bunch of steel guitar instrumentals that don't fire my rocket...and most of them are listed here already.Sometimes I'll show up at a jam session and someone always wants to hear Bud's Bounce,Panhandle etc.and I would rather play a version of "Aint No Mt. High Enough".I can play those songs but something in my brain doesn't want to play them.The bottom line is that you should be having fun with it.

[Jim Cohen]

I agree Stu. Somehow, I've made a career out of never playing Steel Guitar Rag, Sleepwalk, or Mansion on the Hill.

Okay, so it's a very limited career...