Win Or Lose

[Bill Hankey]

Adapting oneself to the art of playing steel guitar, broadens new interpretations of how to approach the instrument with unskilled hands. From the first moment an anticipatory novice dons the picks, and clutches the bar, that wave of inherent doubt floods the thinking process. The challenges facing students on their first day of practice amounts to an initiation period to overcome a lack of confidence. I'm wondering how vivid the first day memory exists, within the minds of forum members. In other words, what were you thinking?

[Tony Prior]

I didn't care about all that stuff, I just wanted to play the dang thing !

I did start with the wrong bar though, I had a Stevens Dobro Bar .

I still have that Bar and the first set of National picks somewhere around here.

Like many, I started playing Pedal Steel after years of Guitar and Bass, so the music part was not really an issue. I think a friend called me and told me what the tuning was and the basic grips and I went from there.

[Ray Minich]

"Oh man, this is gonna take a long time...". "OK, lets see if I can find me some chords...".

[Ray Minich]

Duplicate post due to [ID 10 T] error...

[Dick Wood]

I was a little ahead of the game as I had been a bass and guitar player for several years so for me it was more learning the mechanics,technique,string grip/pedal, knee lever relationships etc. but I do remember wondering if would ever learn to play it.

[Herbie Meeks]

Bill
Would it help to explain where, and how the old pro's and Hall Of Famers started pickin the Steel
they could not start in the middle of the row
that did not exist back then
I would think it would be a hard row to hoe, if I had to start out following todays steelers
in the middle of the row they have started

HM

[George McLellan]

"D**n!, ya gotta be an octopus to play this thing.

Geo

[Al Terhune]

On my first day, I spent about an hour picking each string at every fret through the 12th, with and without pedals and knee levers, to find out which one sounded "good" for the key of G for a baseline. So I didn't really have an immediate intimidation. My main purpose of learning the steel was to improvise playing to original songs as opposed to learning established songs. I'm kind of working in reverse, because now, ten years later, I want to actually be able to play old hymns and radio songs on my steel for an hour or so for fun, so that I can spend more time behind the steel. Knowing the scales/chord patterns, though, and most of their positions, allows one to play almost anything if you spend time finding it on the board.

[Barry Blackwood]

"Alright, show me how to play Four Wheel Drive."

[Bent Romnes]

I'm wondering how vivid the first day memory exists, within the minds of forum members. In other words, what were you thinking?

Very vivid indeed...
I remember going to the customs office to pick it up. The customs official, Ronald, happened to be playing in a band and promptly offered me a job! I did work with that band but as a bass player.
I remember running in to a work buddy on the way home. I took the steel out of the case, sat on the bumper of his car, laid the steel across my legs and demo'd the thing for him right then and there!

Lack of confidence? Are you kidding? I was 24, delirious about my new acquisition and all was well with the world!

[Ben Jones]

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... t=thinking

[Barry Blackwood]

Hmmm. I guess this is just a summer rerun .....

[Mark Treepaz]

I remember thinking, "Now, what did I get myself into?". Not being one to give up on things, I just said to myself, "Well, I'd better get started. This thing isn't doing any good just standing there looking good." (I was referring to the guitar, not me!) I then got started and took it from there.

[Tamara James]

"Alright, show me how to play Four Wheel Drive."

More like, "alright, show me how to play 18-wheel semi-truck going the wrong way on a one-way street in New York city." Ya gotta just keep on goin'

[Bill Hankey]

Thanks Tamara for your reply! It reminds me of the time that I made a mistake after leaving The Blue Star Bar and dance establishment in Saugus, MA. I was driving a maroon early model Cadillac, and turned left down a one-way highway. I hadn't traveled more than a quarter of a mile when three vehicles with high beams, side by side loomed ahead. With not a second to spare, I crammed the shift in reverse, and roared back to the entry in the nick of time. I still believe that the no entry sign was not in place.
That was one scary experience. Looking back on the beginning of my involvement with pedal steel is 20/20 hindsight. Going back in thought, is a long trail of learning, up to the present day. I'm at a point where practice and study have filled my "tool" chest with appropriate "tools" to entertain. It takes some doing to get a handle from day one.

[Colin Mclean]

I was thinking, I'm gonna kick this thing's a$$, it doesn't know who it's @#$%'n with!!

Seriously. Ask my wife, I must have said those very words 2 or 3 times.

Then again, my over-confidence is likely due to the fact that I've played guitar for almost 20 years, and consider myself pretty accomplished at it. I can also sing and play piano, drums, bass...I tend to try to play at least something on every instrument I come into contact with. I figure, the same twelve notes are in there somewhere, I'll find 'em!

Now I realize how much I don't know and can't do, and I'm looking for a teacher.

[Calvin Walley]

i thought :
it looked so easy when i watched others play it hmmmmmm ??????

[Bill Hankey]

Thanks to each person who've shared their thoughts of the day, when they registered gainful interests in taking up the steel guitar. The song that the elders would sing at times, when I was a child, entitled; "Its A long Way To Tipperary", reminds me of the road to becoming an accomplished "steel" player. All is not lost, however, because each stepping stone encountered while trying to work up the pinnacles of successes, (that are most definitely extensive), are layered with delightful discoveries. Discoveries that bring a satisfaction not realized in the pursuit of related instruments. There is one important sacrifice, or aspect, that should be pointed out before stepping into the time consuming learning process. Upon reaching the point or pinnacle of becoming a well-rounded entertainer, many thoughts of time slipping away may invade your slumber, as you actually fall asleep at the steel. Getting into the "nuts-and-bolts", or nitty-gritty of involvement with win or lose, isn't easy for the prospective onlooker. It's impossible to familiarize within the mind, the complexities of steel guitar development, by scrutiny or other means, not related to vigorous practice sessions.

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

I thought "Woah, this thing is totally insane. I like it."

[Bill Hankey]

Mike,

What are the particulars of the Big "E" platform? Do you know? (Just kidding) Of course! Who else?

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

Mike,

What are the particulars of the Big "E" platform?

A knee lever in every home, No changer finger left behind, and "Read My Lips. No more car accelerators and fishing line."

[Charley Wilder]

It wasn't a big deal because I am self taught. I had played guitar for about six years already so the hardest thing for me was to find out how to tune the thing. How to hold the Stevens was just common sense. (except for Tut Taylor. I was just amazed the first time I saw him play!) So I put on the picks and away I went. I remember well the first day. I played about three or four hours. Or played at.... might be more correct. I was just hypnotized by that sound. Still am.

[Bill Hankey]

Charles,

Playing steel isn't like getting behind the wheel of a new car, or trying out a new fishing reel. Both of which tend to fascinate to lesser degrees with the passing of time. Of the very few activities that "accelerates" with time, may be referred to as the steel guitar. The fervor grows with each passing day, until a serious player is bound to those repetitious series of practice sessions, that extend well into the ages of retirement. I can remember reading the hoaxes labeled on breakfast cereal boxes while brimming with anticipation to get back to my steel. Whomever is elected president would do well to serve notice on hoaxes in general.

[Ray Riley]

I remember I was trying to play and my dearly departed Mother said, Joe, she called me Joe, " what are you trying to play. I said "In the mood", she said it goes ...;..;;...;l ok I got it now I said. Tab just don't have that timing!!!!!!!!! I forgot to mention that they will put on my head stone, "well he is all done practicing,if he would have just started earlier, two years old , he just ran out of time." But it's been great fun.

Thanks Mom

[Bill Hankey]

Ray,

Perhaps you may agree that the general public would be lucky to be aware of 1/1000 % of what is happening within a one mile radius of their positionings. Bless your mom, and stick to your practice in memory of your mom.