Advice for a Newbie

[sledge36]

Hi Alex, I'm from Belfast and bought my steel a couple of years ago. I too am a guitar player and know about chord construction and theory. This will help you immensely in the long run, as will fingerpicking techniques.. I ploughed through instruction books and the Sierra Steels intructions and found I could only go so far and could get no further. I got frustrated and I didn't go back to the steel for over a year.
To cut a longer story short, I got in touch with the great Ted Nesbitt, Ted lives in Carrickfergus. For the past month I've been going to Ted for one-on-one instruction. I can't recommend Ted highly enough, what the guy doesn't know isn't worth knowing, I learned more from him in my first lesson than any other source. It will take a considerable time to sound any way semi musical but what I've found in my short journey is that the breakthroughs do come with practice and more practice and when you start making those sounds it is mind-blowing.
Like any instrument a lot of it is building muscle memory and having the patience to start slowly and not to try to run before you can walk, the fingers feet and knees will tell you when you're ready to speed it up a wee bit just as the brain will tell itself it's time to do a particular technique properly or it'll never get a rest. I strongly advise that you get in touch with Ted and take it from there. Another thing, no instruction video or book can tell you what you are doing wrong, that's so important in itself. I can only say, that as a newbie myself, one-on-one, especially for this instrument, is solid gold. As for picks, persevere, they are a very personal thing .
You will get the best of advice on this Forum from a lot of guys who all know what they are talking about, these guys have a wealth of knowledge you simply couldn't pay for. my tuppence worth is just from a newbies perspective, nothing more. It is my understanding that there are a good number of players in the County Down area, I'm informed that at this point in time there are only a couple of players in Belfast, four in Carrick and others dotted around the six counties. Ted will cetainly be able to get you fixed up somewhere. Good luck on your journey and enjoy every minute.

[Zebedee]

Alex,
Looking at your video, I would say that you are sitting too low to be in a comfortable playing position.

If you can get something a couple of inches higher to sit on, you may find that your picking hand is more comfortable, and your ankles will also thank you for being better placed to press pedals / operate the volume pedal

[Basil Henriques]

Call me anytime I'm available to help. just a phone call away. 07800-646-645.
I can answer most questions..

Still available Alex, and what's more.. FREE Gratis and for nothing.

[Ted Nesbitt]

Hi Alex, give me a call on 07717 470859 I will give you all the help you need.

Ted