The British Steelies Society

Just wandering what learning path you guys followed when first learning to play and generaly what your practice regimes are.
I started with the Jeff Newman Courses which were great and I still find it beneficial to go back over them from time to time.
I have for the past twelve months or so been trying to figure out scales in first the open then the closed positions (I mean pedals Up/ Pedals Down).
Working out where the Root notes are then going from there.
I 'm now trying to figure out how to Join them up (the scale positions).
I rehurse regularly with a couple of Mates playing along with backing tracks of a variety of material.
Not much Country (Sadly) but then I feel that will help me be more versatile in the end.
Is this a good path or is there a better way way ?
When Practicing I'll work through the Tunes, Practice scales and try to work out melody's from the scales.
Not too good at that though, I'm better if I can get the sheet music.
Any Thoughts Guys?

Picked up a great saying from a Film the other day "It'll all be alright in the end and if its not yet right then its not yet the end"
I like that, just thought I'd share it with you.

Great saying Shaun, I had been playing lap steel with a band for about 2yrs before going to pedals, so I went directly into learning intros, turn arounds and endings, and don't stand on the singers toes. It may not have been the best way to learn, but it was straight in at the sharp end and a steep learning curve.

If I hear a pedal steel solo/lick that I like, I'll try to learn it.

I've never bothered learning scales, life's too short, and I don't know what a scale is anyway.

If I can get the solo/lick down, even if I'm not using the same pedals/levers/strings/frets as used on the solo I'm trying to learn, I'm happy

I'm pretty sure Richard & John know a lot more about scales than they are letting on.. I've watched your vids guys!

Shaun, I seem to recall reading a quote of Lloyd Green recommending that when you learn a phrase you should see how many different ways and positions you can play it. I try to do this and I find it helps me get familiarity with the neck.

what i've found useful is to take a position.. like Emaj at 7th fret with pedals down.

then ask myself how do I get a:

- iv chord (in this case Amaj) (i can go up 1 fret and pedal A and raise Es, or up 3 frets and lower Es, or down 2 frets with pedals up)
- v7 chord (B7) (pedals up and lower 2 by a 1/2 tone, or up three with raised Es or down 3 frets with Es raised and B pedal down)
- ii chord (F#m) (down 2 with A pedal down only, or up 3 frets with Es lowered)
- relative minor or vim chord (C#m) (same position with B and C pedals)

i then do the same thing using other major chord shapes as starting points

ie staying with Emaj, using the following as starting points and looking for the same chords as above but near to the starting point
12th fret, pedals up (root on string 8)
3rd fret A lever and Es raised (root on string 10)
5th fret E's Lowered (root on string 10)

I''m do the same thing with minor chords as the starting point, and also useful progressions like ii/v/i

there's nothing very new here but being systematic has helped me to get it more like second nature.. the less i actually have to use my brain the better

I learned to use scales years ago, they were called Avery and came in pounds and ounces. Didn't help much with steel!!!!

Hi Guys,

Thanks Guys, Interesting comments all round, I think I've probably used/still use most of them at one time another.
I guess theres many paths, which one you take is down to what works for the individual at the time.
Throughout my Guitar / Bass playing career I've always loved studying and using theory so its natural for me to go that way on Steel.
Unfortuately my ears are crap, I'll play something that sounds good to me until someone points out I'm not in key, usually they're right.
I would probably be playing in a related key meaning most but not all of my notes will fit, which is why it sounds OK to me.
At least, using theory, I know the notes I'm playing will fit in with everything else.

Anyone needing to have a go at scales and the like, go see here, interesting.