Help

[Ricky Davis]

Hey Ash; best advise I have gotten on that subject is to; turn on any music and just practice with alot of different songs. Don't copy what the steel is; if there is any; just practice following along. When you have the chord progression down; then simply try and move from one chord to another with a lick or phrase you know. The main thing about backing up a song is to know the progression and move from one chord to the other; without getting in the way of the singer. When your confident about the song; then try and answer the melody of the singer with a lick or pass to the next chord. Intros; outros and solos are a whole nother story; but to be a good back up steel player; you need to hear in your head the song in advance; and that comes with playing to alot of different songs at home and getting to know and hear all the different chord changes in any song. I hope that helps some.
Ricky

[Jim Cohen]

Jeff Newman also has an excellent course called, I think, "Music to Back Up By" that teaches the basics of how to back up a singer. As Ricky mentioned above, one of the keys is to play fills in between the vocal lines (not on top of them!)that may get the band to the next chord, etc. If there is another soloist in the band (like a lead guitarist), then you would most likely want to take turns doing the fills. For example, you might do all the fills on the first verse, then he does them on the second verse, then back to you for the first chorus, etc. That way it doesn't get too monotonous. Check out what Jeff has to offer at http://www.jeffran.com . In my opinion, it's the best of the best.