New young steel players

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 10 Jun 2002 5:16 pm

Please fix the margin!

Guys and Gals are finding out today Steel fits all music. It's a good thing for everyone to hear steel in all music.
We applaud new young players playing steel!

Theresa[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 10 June 2002 at 06:18 PM.]

Brian Lethert · Post by **Brian Lethert** » 10 Jun 2002 6:23 pm

I started around 1986 when I was about 17years old and a junior in high school. Ricky Skagg's album with 'Highway 40 Blues' and 'You've Got a Lover' got me hooked.

I couldn't afford a steel at all. I found a Sho-Bud Pro I D-10 8x4 for $650! It was on layaway for close to 6 months. I spent that time studying the tuning and pedal/lever changes and made up a huge pile of chord charts. NOTHING was going to stop me from being a steel player. I wanted a steel more than a new car.

I drove through Hendersonville that summer and stopped in at what I think was called Steel Guitar World at that time, but I had developed such a bad case of laryngitis that I couldn't ask any questions. Very disappointing.

I think that the commitment required to achieve any level of proficiency at the steel is the greatest barrier to the instrument.

Plus, a large number of people pick up an instrument because of the 'cool' factor. How many college bands could get their friends to come and watch them play country?

You can play guitar in a minute compared to steel and get a lot of mileage out of it, even if you're not that good. Bad tone? Buy a new stomp box.

(No flames please, I'm a guitar player also)

When people ask me why I took up the steel, I tell them that I loved the sound more than I hated listening to myself practice.

I think steel players are a lot like classical musicians, in a way. You become obsessed with mastering an instrument - it becomes its own reward.

Sorry for the long post - I'll be quiet now.
BL

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 10 Jun 2002 6:31 pm

While checking out the "Alt.country" scene here in Philly, I've found quite a few young people who dig the pedal steel guitar. It's gonna make a comeback. I really believe it's right over the horizon. A lot of young people are getting into earthy, acoustic forms of music. The kid's are alright and they're getting tired of all the disco/hip hop crap being shoved down their throats.

Regards,
HH[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 10 June 2002 at 07:33 PM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 11 Jun 2002 12:10 pm

Larry Schubert · Post by **Larry Schubert** » 12 Jun 2002 12:23 am

I am 26 and I play steel ou here in ca there is some guy I have heard about about 30 min away but other than that thre is no body I used to play headbaging music but then I got more in to up right bass and eraly rockabilly.. theat then led me in to old country hand sr and the mademe notice Jerry Byrd I grew up on mondercountry but it was jerry bird and ralph mooney and of corse budy cage that really got me to want to play... Now hear I am doing a folky gig with a budy fromg church just him singin playing acoustic guitar and me on steel really raw I like that. just gose to show you eaven punk rockers grow up some time.

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 14 Jun 2002 2:05 pm

Good deal Larry. The steel is being exposed.
Brian, you mentioned about trying to get college students to hear you play country - there are steel pickers that play jazz etc. Again, the steel can do anything the player wants it to do - jazz, pop, rock, classical. And I heard Doug Jernigan doing blue grass with Jim & Jesse. Needless to say, it was great! As I mentioned before, I dig the 60's Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Connie Smith.

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 14 Jun 2002 7:10 pm

Unfortunately there might be an alternative affecting the non-sight reading steel player, at least the country steel player: I have gone through Brent Edstrom's book (450 pages)-- MAKING MUSIC WITH YOUR COMPUTER (and CD)in which he demonstrates a computerized country steel song. It is a very realistic example even with the high frequency treble, glissandos, and slurs. It really fooled me. I thought it was for real. So if the recording steel player does'nt sight read, the keyboard man may be asked to come up with a tailor-made solo; it only takes a couple of minutes. HJ

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 15 Jun 2002 7:08 am

I wonder where you guys get your information ? Whenever I do a run of gigs in the young indie rock scene I consistantly bump into young new steel players. These are college radio type rock bands. They are coming up with some nice stuff and fitting the instrument into the music with no problem.

Over in Brooklyn there seems to be a around hundred new guys dragging whatever sort of steel they have on stage. I run into or hear about a couple more everytime I play the clubs and bars over there.

Get out there and have some fun playing !
At least go out and check into whats going on around your town. I know it sounds crazy but young people still like live music and are still having fun. And if you want to treated like a hero by a bunch of adoring fans bring your steel with you !

Bob

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 17 Jun 2002 5:54 pm

Bob,I'm glad to hear that your area is doing well. I might move there. How many nites per week are you pickin? I'd like to hear what the players are pickin. I hope that the steel catches on to others in that area (NY).

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 18 Jun 2002 8:21 am

Brooklyn is sorta like a land of a thousand singer/songwriters. Also there are piles of bands that would have been punk rockers 10 years ago that are into a retro c/w scene.

I have no idea how to describe the indie scene. Find some relatively sociopathic kid with a lap top and dyed black hair and have him define Emo

Look into what Greg Leisz has been up to if you want to see a big place that steel guitar is going outside of Texas and Nashville.

If any of you guys are really concerned with the future of steel guitar you should get out there and do some playing

Bob

Ted,
Its funny that you are thinking about moving here. I'm always getting ready to move to Texas !