Advice for a Newbie

[Will C]

Alex, welcome. I just wanted to add to the encouragement. When you are close to it you can't see those tiny little increments in progress, it's too gradual. But when I go back to things that really challenged me two years ago, and I find they make perfect sense and seem to just flow off your fingers, that's when you realise the progress is happening all the time. Keep the faith, brother! All the advice you have received here is spot-on.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Donny's point about the VP is a good tip. Also try doing it this way - plug the guitar straight into the amp, set a suitable volume there and play with your foot on the (now by-passed) pedal. You will soon know if you are relying on it to cover picking problems and once you have that under control you can start using the VP for one of it's main purposes, that is, to maintain the sound level as the guitar's sustain diminishes.
Will's encouragement tells a vital tale. Progress is usually made in a series of "plateaux". You will seem stuck for ages not quite able to do something, then suddenly your hands/brain get the message and you move up to the next level. This never stops through life as long as you play or practice.
You also have Basil offering help: he's such a wealth of knowledge that he can answer most questions; and even question most answers!
Suitable amps have been covered many times on the forum. Try as many as you can, particularly bass and keyboard amps. Used keyboard amps are often cheap and have a "flat" and clean response that seems better for steel than the bias that regular guitar amps have towards overdrive.
You definitely came to the right place.

[strontium90]

Thanks for all the advice...is there anyone out there in County Down, Northern Ireland...that plays or knows about them...even Belfast...if I could talk to someone in real life, I'm sure it would be helpful...

Anyways, I've decided to post a video of my crap playing after 10 days so yous can see where I am


I suppose I can only improve...note my makeshift stool and a boss me50 for a volume pedal....Pedal Steel on a shoestring

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Alex you are not far from Lisburn where Ted has a Steelies meeting every month and there are plenty of players in your area Ted knows them all!
I have been over and played at Ted's meeting a couple of times they are a very friendly crowd and will help you.

[strontium90]

That would be brilliant John...if you could find out for me where and when it is, I would definitely go....I'm sure I could learn so much just from talking to others...Thanks in advance...

[Ollie]

Teds the man you want.I as a beginner had a few lessons from him. A true gentleman. If you look up Rainbow music you'll find him

[Nick Bidmade]

Tony - "plateaux" - very classy. Hints at a grammar school education!

It's very true that returning to previously 'too difficult' moves/tab can help to measure the progress one is making. I use the Winnie Winston book occasionally to gauge progress against my ability to make music from the dots on the page. I do seem to be making some kind of progress!

[imiddle132]

I had the same problem with the seating of finger and thumb picks. Like you, I had to stop after about 30 minutes of playing because of the discomfort of the picks.
That wasn't because I wasn't used to, particularly, using a thumbpick - away back in the day in my early years of playing bass guitar, I used a thumbpick for fast numbers. The big difference was, I had my index finger to support the pick! You don't have that in playing pedal steel.

The answer?? Change the pick. No, not just the brand, but the whole concept.

I found these advertised on the USA Steel Guitar Forum, bought some, and can't use the excuse anymore that I can't continue practising because my fingers hurt!

http://www.saddlethumbpicks.com

[cranog]

I also just began on a Carter Starter - would love to know where to begin. I've been playing guitar for 30+ years, and can play a little lap steel. But have no idea where to begin with pedal steel. At this point, I'm more interested in learning chords. Any tips would be most appreciated! Thanks.

[Nick Bidmade]

Blimey! Not easy to get you started directly - but

Get hold of a copy of Winnie Winston's book.

Check out YouTube - there are introductory videos.

Where abouts are you? There may be individuals close to you who could give you some pointers - or there may be a local group of steel players who meet regularly - there are groups in London, Glasgow and North Yorkshire that I know of.

There's also lots of info here - trawl through back pages.