How many of us play with an American accent?

[Ken Byng]

I had a great lunch time session recently with friends Gerry Hogan and Brian (BJ) Cole. We chewed over quite a few topics, but one point of view from BJ I found to be really interesting. I am a great admirer of BJ's work, and his very individualist style and musicality. He was a little dismissive of British steel players who he considered play 'with an American accent'. I told him that I considered that I am certainly one of them. His main point of view is that the steel guitar is capable of so much more than country and swing. I can't disagree with that premise, but I think that it is difficult not to be influenced by some of the great players from the USA, and that that influence will probably manifest itself in ones overall playing style.

How many of us will own up to play with an American accent?

[bob adams]

I'm country, that was my influence growing up (country and southern gospel) long before we had 'The Players' ... My quest has been to bring out the emotion, yes that can be done in jazz especially with a blues flavour, but so many playing that genre do it 'mechanically' and that's when I see people turn and start a conversation rather than be enthralled with what's happening on stage.

Yes I'm country but I'm not owning up to it............. I'm damn well proud of it!!

Chris Thile on bluegrass Mandolin is simply 'out of this world' but now he is going classical and receiving many accolades for work on 'Bach' etc. I could listen to his country playing for hours but I doubt I could on Bach! .......... Don't mean I can't talk propa mind! ...... 'when a huv tae!

Good topic Kenneth!

[Barry]

This is the first topic I can fully agree with Ken and with a short comprehensive statement..... As for playing in an American Accent,which is what I would hope to achieve in finality because that's what I like to hear in country music....Surely that's what attracted us to the instrument in the first place!!
Nice one Ken.

[Uncle Roy]

Well I cannot find any thing wrong with playing with the so called American Accent as most of us older folks grew up with American country or country gospel as did Brian Cole and was influenced by the only players we heard on records being American steel players. Many of our good players here in the UK do play other styles of music as well but most started with the American accent. strange comment to make Mr Cole!

[Danny Mitchell]

I would love to ,hopefully one day, play with 'An American Accent' with more than a hint of the 50th State thrown in.

As to Mr Cole's comment, I think the steel guitar is firmly rooted in Country (from Bud Isaacs to our very own, young Mathew Jut) and, to a lesser extent, in Jazz. So most people come to it from these directions, and it's still a relatively new instrument! I don't think it's had time to permeate other musical genres, but I'm sure players like Robert Randolph will be attracting young rockers and Mr Cole himself, with his ventures into ambient and classical areas, will be appealing to players with a different approach.

It's all gravy.

It's the American accent for me but at the moment it's more parliamo Glasgow.

[Jif]

Well...

I don't come from a Country background, that doesn't mean I don't like Country music, there's a lot of Country music I've heard recently that floats my boat. But I've always liked the sound of the pedal steel and I do believe it can be used in other styles other than Country and Jazz. To what extent it can be used in other styles is open to question.

For example, I've heard it being used recently in a few commercial "pop" songs, usually as a sort of ambient sound, nothing too fancy but it's there. For me I think that is downgrading the potential of the instrument, sure it's a nice piece of ear candy but there's so much more! I have heard it used quite well by Sigor Ros (Icelandic band) though it may have been BJ Cole playing as I believe he has played with Bjork? There is also a track by Crowded House with a nice piece of pedal steel on it. Robert Randolph I would probably like better if I was in my 20's, some great playing but just a bit too energetic and over the top for me.

I don't think you could ever take the Country out of the pedal steel even if you wanted to though, imho I think it is inherent in the makeup of the instrument and the way it has been developed over the years by Country and Jazz players alike. I liked the bit in the Gary Carter interview where he said something like, that even if your intention is not to ultimately play Country music, from a musical viewpoint it makes sense to learn how to play Country music on the pedal steel as that is where the real experience and knowledge of the instrument resides. Perhaps though it could be developed from there into other styles. I would like to try getting it into traditional Scottish Country music or the modern equivalent, I think it would sit well in there and could be used to it's full potential. Maybe I should contact the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and see if they need a pedal steel player

So do I play with an American Accent - I don't really care, I just want to learn to play it well whatever the style. Incidentally anyone who plays the blues or rock n roll, plays with an American accent.

[Ken Byng]

I wasn't knocking Brian's statement. Far from it, I found it to be interesting and thought provoking. He isn't having a poke at players who play country, just saying out loud how he feels. He would like more players to explore different musical avenues with the instrument. I am too old to change my style of playing at my age, but some of the newer players may be inclined to experiment.

[jonshack]

BJ was the first player I heard as a youngster that made me aware of the beauty and range (and existence!) of the instrument and I'm fortunate enough to know him a bit and have had a few lessons from him - so I don't find his comments at all surprising. I can think of no other player that has recorded across more musical genres with more different sounds: pop, rock, folk, jazz, classical, ambient, avant grade and country (just look at this one small corner of his CV: http://www.bjcole.co.uk/sessions/countr ... .htm#LJ_CA). He's far from against pedal steel in country music, but he's worked his entire career to make sure it isn't LIMITED to one genre.

Or one sound. Let's face it there is one overriding, dominant "voice" to the pedal steel, the one you hear at steel shows, solid state, super clean, big bass, mids cut, loads of presence, digital delay or reverb.

Without wishing to put words into his mouth BJ has also expressed his frustration with the "one neck for country, one neck for swing" concept, which is the dominant way of thinking about and teaching the instrument. Fair enough, who needs limitations?

Well I'll be honest I quite like limitations. I'm never going to be on BJ's level as a musician, I play out-and-out classic country music in my band and that will be the main thing that I love to do until I've got anywhere close to mastering it (which I don't predict will happen). I like to think that DOESN'T mean my mind is closed to other genres, sounds or turnings however and thankfully BJ opened my mind up to all that good stuff from the very beginning.

Jonathan

[Nick Bidmade]

Nicely put, Jon.
This instrument is hard enough and 'mastering' (HA!!) one style is going to take the rest of this lifetime and I can only wonder at the musicality and invention that pedal steel players bring to newer forms of music. It takes a full mastery of the instrument, I think, before one can branch out into newer forms of music.

[andrew marson]

The piano is a fairly venerable instrument and is at home in any style of music you can think of. I can see no reason why a relative newcomer such as psg should not follow suit. Let it flourish where it will.