by Nick Bidmade » Wed May 24, 2017 7:17 pm
If this thread is still alive, I'd like to add my thoughts.
I'm relatively new to pedal steel (6 years), thanks to a Sho-Bud I bought from John Davis. I now play a Ben-Rom.
I'm self-taught (and it shows!).
I went to the last Great Barford session that John arranged (2012). I went without my steel guitar as I'd just had surgery and couldn't carry the guitar.
On the day I recognised that John was carrying quite a responsibility for maintaining discipline, keeping everyone interested, choosing the tunes/learning etc and he did it with great aplomb.
Despite having no guitar, I took some paper notes and tabbed out a couple of things. Raining in My Heart was one of the tunes John presented - and I still play it pretty much as he described.
I was then responsible for setting up the South London group, where we pretty much played 'round robin' tunes to a BIAB backing. Ok as far as it went... but not much learning. Matt Park was a regular attender in the early days and I don't think we utilised his skills and knowledge enough. I remember asking him to explain his set-up and I thought there was a lot we could have picked up from him, but 'learning' didn't seem to be what people wanted.
I then moved up north and after a while arranged to meet with Tony Russell Davis, Keith Glendenning and Derek Evans in a regular session at the Buck Inn. They all were regulars at the annual North East Steel Guitar Festival, held each August at the same venue. Again, the main focus in our group meetings is on 'round robin' tunes played to backing tracks.
I have also attended one NESGF annual 'bash' at the same venue, where players have a 20 minute 'slot' to play their own 'party pieces' to their own backing tracks. There are some fantastic players at these events.
However, (and what I'm really getting round to) is what I want from a session with more experienced players is to come away with some improvement in my playing. I get a little of this in our regular meetings, but I got nothing from the annual event. Yes it's great to hear good players, but with no opportunity to learn from these players, it seemed to me to be a pretty redundant experience. I can hear great players via my own CD collection or YouTube.
The best experience for me was the Great Barford session - and I didn't even have a a guitar with me! Seminars, led by an experienced player willing to share his knowledge and experience, leading a session with some discipline and expectation of 'good behaviour' must surely be the best way forward for beginners and more experienced players alike, in my opinion. There is some mileage in the regular meetings playing along to backing tracks (although there is a lot more we could do to share how we each approached a tune, voicings, grips, pedals up or down etc) but what leaves me a bit cold is the annual 'showcase' - it's a bit sterile, like going to an art gallery - look, but don't touch.
I recognise and acknowledge the great contribution people make towards making any of these events a success.
I'd love to go to Dallas one year (fat chance!) but I wouldn't want to sit all day listening to players, no matter how good they were! At least there would be product stalls, manufacturers etc to enjoy and to break the monotony.
That's my two-pennyworth. I hope it provokes some debate.
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