Borrowed Angel - rough and ready...

[simon_f3]

Well, I feel like I've made a bit of progress over the 6 months I have owned this guitar, though it may not show too much! Here's my current attempt at Borrowed Angel - apologies for the various clams but I am still convinced this represents improvement since last time I posted anything

Huge thanks to the various forum members who provided backing tracks, by the way - I chose the key of D because that's the one that JD showed me how to play it in and I didn't want to confuse myself

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Sid, that is amazing considering how long you have had the guitar, you now need to get advice from a real "player" I don't think my input has done you any favours but your determination is evident......well done young man!!(

[GuitarMathew]

Sweet, you're doing really good!!
Maybe an advice from another young man, just have fun to play right now. Technique like blocking and picking will come in time.

[Ken Byng]

You've got a great right hand Sid - better than a lot that I've seen on this site. You are definitely going to be a formidable player.

[Danny Mitchell]

A vast improvement right enough, Sid. 6 months in You're obviously loving it
Thanks for posting.

[simon_f3]

Thank you all for the positive comments!
Yes, indeed I am loving it and trying to squeeze in as much seat time as I can I think with a bit of furniture rearrangement I can soon leave the guitar permanently set up with an amp, as most of my current practice of steel as well as 6-string is unplugged, which leads to a lack of precision in the right foot... But I feel like I've got over the first hurdle, and can now make reasonably nice sounds come out of the beastie, which always leads to a desire to do more practice and really try to polish up some of the more tricky parts. I have neglected scales practice over the last few months, so think I may get back into those to build some blocking and volume pedal skills. So much to do...! But it's a wonderful journey and I am currently feeling motivated to keep pushing myself. I'll aim for another video over the Christmas holidays, which should give me time to practise
Thanks again - the support from this forum is exceptional

[Stan Steel]

Hi Sid cracking good job!
I’ve been trying to learn this wonderful instrument for just over a year now, but I’m nowhere near the level you have reached. I fear I have to button down to the 7p’s. You’re an inspiration to us old young-uns, keep up the good work.
Thanks, Stan....

[Jif]

Well played Sid, you're well on the way to taming the beast

You're right, practice, practice, practice is the key to developing the complex muscle memory that pedal steel demands. A few years ago I set aside an evening a week where I did nothing but finger exercises. This consisted of going through an exercise regime put together by Joe Wright which involved different picking patterns across all the strings on the neck then back again. I supplemented this by doing each exercise on open, then repeating the exercises going up the neck with bar one fret at a time up to the top of the neck then coming back down to open one fret at a time. Repeating this for each picking pattern. I then started to try working my volume pedal at the same time on each note played.

Very boring but it didn't half help with bar positioning and right hand technique, using palm or finger blocking to try and make each note ring independently.

[Alan Cook]

Sounds great Sid.

[simon_f3]

You're right, practice, practice, practice is the key to developing the complex muscle memory that pedal steel demands.

As my guitar teacher always said, "Practice makes permanent; only perfect practice makes perfect!" I try to split my time between exercises which I know are good for my technique (the Joe Wright stuff is excellent) and trying to learn tunes so that I can just enjoy playing the guitar. That seems to work OK at present, though I go through phases... As long as I am learning, I am happy - and this is the most addictive instrument known to man. There should probably be some kind of health warning