Nashville steel guitar players

Jordan Beyer · Post by **Jordan Beyer** » 28 Jun 2018 4:15 pm

I checked out every bar in downtown Nashville, out of them all, I seen 3 pedal steel guitarist, an NO nonpedal. To me, it seems steel guitar has died. Are all you pickers hiding? Where can I find some good steel guitar?

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 28 Jun 2018 4:34 pm

Steel guitar is not dieting.

So many players on the road and in the studio’s. They have to make a living.

Jordan Beyer · Post by **Jordan Beyer** » 28 Jun 2018 4:40 pm

I didnt mean die as in overall sense, I just meant as in the face of nashville. Walking through, i would have no idea the steel guitar is even conected with country music unless I knew better. It was a suprize to me

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 28 Jun 2018 5:25 pm

It's a very trendy business, and right now steel guitars are not in high demand for commercial country music.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 28 Jun 2018 5:29 pm

Paul Sutherland wrote:It's a very trendy business, and right now steel guitars are not in high demand for commercial country music.

This. I was in Bakersfield a few years ago and went to the Crystal Palace on a Saturday night. The band was excellent, but no steel and no fiddle.

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 28 Jun 2018 7:48 pm

Jordan,
We also play on the outskirts of town. Many players don't want the hassle of Broadway, but others that are very good, don't mind.

What days of the week did you go? At the Opryland area you can usually catch 3 to 4 steelers at the bars there.

Ron Hogan
Nashville, TN

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 28 Jun 2018 8:52 pm

We're there. Maybe not the numbers we'd all like to see but there are plenty of us downtown and, like Ron mentioned, elsewhere as well.

What's actually dying here is country music as most of the bars really just have rock bands. But in the bars that book country music, you'll (thankfully) still see a steel player on the bandstand pretty often and, unlike me, a whole lot of them are terrific.

Mitch Ellis · Post by **Mitch Ellis** » 28 Jun 2018 9:01 pm

Paul Sutherland wrote:It's a very trendy business, and right now steel guitars are not in high demand for commercial country music.

And hasn't been for years.

Jordan Beyer · Post by **Jordan Beyer** » 29 Jun 2018 5:25 am

Im acually down here for the weekend. I was really excited to see some players live, as I have only seen one other steel guitarist in my whole life (18 years, lol)

Floyd Lowery · Post by **Floyd Lowery** » 29 Jun 2018 5:40 am

It seems to me there is a lot more Country Music with petal steel and fiddle in Texas. Top quality pickers as well. Also some great new Country songs.
Their recordings (IMO) are produced much better than Nashville.

Jordan Beyer · Post by **Jordan Beyer** » 29 Jun 2018 6:00 am

Floyd, ive heard that too.due to the fact that behind close doors, nashville is turning "pop country" I dont know how true that is, but yes you are right, and I agree

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 29 Jun 2018 6:25 am

Not a lot of steel or traditional country on lower Broadway. Go check out Nashville Palace and Music City Grill, they're right next to each other and usually have plenty of steel.

Jordan Beyer · Post by **Jordan Beyer** » 29 Jun 2018 6:34 am

Thanks Scott, ill do that!

Bob Ricker · Post by **Bob Ricker** » 29 Jun 2018 7:27 am

I think there are more steel players than ever young, old, tall, short, there are many.

You have to remember there are all types of venues in Nashville and surrounding towns, corporate events at many hotels, conferences, dances and parties of all types. Many clubs as someone mentioned aren't directly on Broadway. Plus it just depends what night of the week and who is playing where. It takes a lot of partying to hit both sides of the street on Broadway these days and many establishments have two or three levels.
There is also recording on all levels from master scale, limited pressing, demos, and other, and players that fit into every category.
Then road players for artists both new and old, and players that play in venues in surrounding towns such as Hendersonville, Gallatin..etc

Bob Ricker · Post by **Bob Ricker** » 29 Jun 2018 7:55 am

Monday night is usually a good night to hear pedal steel in town. The night clubs, Third and Lindsley and the Station Inn both usually have great players on Monday nights. The Music Valley Drive area has the Midnight Jamboree and clubs that almost always have steel players. Places like the Long Hollow Jamboree usually has a steel player.
I met some out of town guests a week ago at the Nashville Palace, late afternoon, and the act was one solo artist accompanied by a steel player.

If you are here this week end (June 29-30) there is a Little Walter event at City Winery Saturday night, could be a who's who of players, better check it out online, jump on it to get a ticket. May need to check into Time Jumpers are playing Friday(tonight) at Third and Lindsley and if there are tickets available.

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 29 Jun 2018 10:13 am

Bob Hempker is playing tonight at John A’s by the Palace.

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 29 Jun 2018 10:27 am

Wayne Dahl plays Saturday night in Gallatin at Last call saloon.

I play tonight.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 29 Jun 2018 12:30 pm

I’m sitting here getting ready to play at Layla’s and listening to Mike Fried play steel with Tom Buller. Bruce Bouton is playing across the street at AJs. And there are the shows Ron mentioned (and more).

I promise there’s still plenty of steel guitar to be heard here. Really.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 29 Jun 2018 7:44 pm

It was good meeting you, Jordan, and getting to chat a bit. Sorry I had to break away to get my gear ready to move.

Hoping you found still more of us to hear and talk with.

Jordan Beyer · Post by **Jordan Beyer** » 29 Jun 2018 8:07 pm

It was great meeting you too chris. And I understand, I enjoyed it. I had a good time this evening (listening to the bands outside the bar, due to my age, lol) I had to leave earlier than I wanted, but I liked what I heard. Thanks for talking to me and letting me connect with another steel player. Its something I do not get the oppertunity to do very often, but really means alot. Thanks JB

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 30 Jun 2018 5:20 pm

Fred Treece wrote:
Paul Sutherland wrote:It's a very trendy business, and right now steel guitars are not in high demand for commercial country music.
This. I was in Bakersfield a few years ago and went to the Crystal Palace on a Saturday night. The band was excellent, but no steel and no fiddle.

I have been informed by a confidential source that some GREAT steel guitar playing can be heard at the Crystal Palace several times a month. I just happened to be there on a night when there wasn’t. It’s also a pretty cool place to just drop in and visit, btw.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Jul 2018 11:30 pm

Jordan Beyer wrote:I checked out every bar in downtown Nashville, out of them all, I seen 3 pedal steel guitarist, an NO nonpedal.

20 years ago when I first moved to town, there was steel guitars and fiddles in every bar on Broadway any time of a day, any day of the week, Big Jim Murphy, Doug Jernigan, John Hughey just to name a few, and I know that for a fact because I was down there myself... today’s country music scene , and steel guitar presence in Nashville is a far cry from what it was 20 years ago, and I have a pretty good idea what is gonna look like 20 years from now...

Ron Hogan · Post by **Ron Hogan** » 6 Jul 2018 11:28 am

If anyone is in Nashville on the 21st, come out to the Texas Troubadour Theatre. I'll be working two shows with Tony Booth and Darrell McCall. Plus some others.

Ron Hogan

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 6 Jul 2018 6:17 pm

Ron that’s that’s a must see event im sure I’ll see u there

Darrell Criswell · Post by **Darrell Criswell** » 6 Jul 2018 6:31 pm

I went to clubs to listen to music at clubs in the 70's and 80's. It seemed like anytime you saw a neon sign you could go inside and hear a good steel player. When I first started listening bands played at clubs Monday through Saturday night. Then Tuesday's became an off day almost everywhere. Now you are lucky if you can hear a band play at a club Friday or Saturday night. For a while all the activity shifted to steel shows of which you could stay busy going to. Now there are only a few left and it seems like the age of attendance make me at 65 a youngster. There is still a lot of steel and dobro on movie and tv background, but the glory days of steel I am afraid are gone.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Nashville steel guitar players

Nashville steel guitar players

Re: Nashville steel guitar players