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Is the pedal steel guitar a dying instrument?
Posted on 12/27/14 at 1:27 pm
Posted on 12/27/14 at 1:27 pm
Its heyday was probably in the late 60's and 70's when it was an essential instrument of country music and was even used extensively in rock acts who had a rootsier bent, like CS&N, Neil Young, Van Morrison, etc.
But now it's not even a featured instrument in popular country music, just with the more alternative country music artists.
I play guitar, and I don't regret it. But I do regret not picking up another instrument when I was younger. I know a million bedroom rock star guitarists like me, but guys who primarily play bass are fewer, and drummers are even fewer than that. But I don't know if a single guy plays pedal steel. If you told me that there were less than 10 pedal steel players in this state, I wouldn't be surprised.
But now it's not even a featured instrument in popular country music, just with the more alternative country music artists.
I play guitar, and I don't regret it. But I do regret not picking up another instrument when I was younger. I know a million bedroom rock star guitarists like me, but guys who primarily play bass are fewer, and drummers are even fewer than that. But I don't know if a single guy plays pedal steel. If you told me that there were less than 10 pedal steel players in this state, I wouldn't be surprised.
10
Posted on 12/27/14 at 1:33 pm to Fontainebleau Dr.
Robert Randolph
Roosevelt Collier
Larry Campbell
^ current premier players, IMO
Jack White has a good one in his band. Not sure what his name is.
Roosevelt Collier
Larry Campbell
^ current premier players, IMO
Jack White has a good one in his band. Not sure what his name is.
Posted on 12/27/14 at 1:49 pm to Fontainebleau Dr.
There are way more capable drummers than bass players. Great bass players are worth their weight in gold.
Posted on 12/27/14 at 1:52 pm to kingbob
quote:
Great bass players are worth their weight in gold.
Would TheDoc qualify as a great bass player?
Posted on 12/27/14 at 2:26 pm to HeadyBrosevelt
One of my college buddies, Cody Russell, does pretty well as a pedal steel player. Currently in the Drunken Hearts out in Colorado. He has lots of gigs though. That being said, he can play banjo and other instruments as well.
Posted on 12/27/14 at 2:41 pm to Fontainebleau Dr.
quote:
But now it's not even a featured instrument in popular country music
Because it's
"bad rock with a fiddle" - not really country music.
The banjo is hurting, too, as is the mandolin. Frankly, the affordable syntesizer and inexpensive sampling machines have lowered the value of musicianship across the board.
But, these things come in cycles - they said drum machines will kill off the drummers, but they're too tough to die (I mean, really, unless you've just got a crazy badass bass player, the guy you want watching your back in a fight is probably the drummer - if you can keep him sober
- the most physically fit member of the band - and would be about average if he was on the crew.) 
Posted on 12/27/14 at 2:42 pm to Fontainebleau Dr.
I know a few pedal steel and lap steel players around BR. wish I knew how to play them. they look fun.
Posted on 12/27/14 at 2:55 pm to monsterballads
quote:
I know a few pedal steel and lap steel players around BR. wish I knew how to play them. they look fun.
Yeah they do, but I think the upkeep is high on them (those strings are tight and wear fairly quickly) and it's a fairly demanding instrument from a technical and a physical standpoint, or so I am told.
Posted on 12/27/14 at 4:38 pm to Ace Midnight
I know several touring steel players and i'm just in awe every time I see them play live
Posted on 12/27/14 at 5:25 pm to kingbob
quote:
There are way more capable drummers than bass players. Great bass players are worth their weight in gold.
Not gonna say it is tough to find a solid bassist....but a competent good drummer is tough as shite to find. It's easier to "get by" as a drummer but tougher to find a good one IMO.
Disclosure: I'm a drummer but I used to play guitar in a few bands. A good drummer can do way more for you than bassist.
Posted on 12/27/14 at 8:26 pm to Srbtiger06
Eric Heywood 
Posted on 12/28/14 at 9:20 am to TFTC
An ex-boss of mine had one stashed away in his closet that he never used and he let me borrow it for a few weeks once. I got down some basic chords and bends but not much else. Tried to get him to sell it to me but he was convinced he'd want to try it again someday.
Here's the thing about pedal steel. It's like the most difficult, demanding instrument there is. I've heard it said that if you want to become an average player, you literally have to approach it like it's your full time job.
Here's an interview with my favorite player. He touches a bit on how difficult it is.
Since I got my Hummingbird, I hardly play my D-28 and I've been contemplating selling it and buying a Stage One pedal steel. They're the recommended name for beginners but I'm having trouble pulling the trigger.
Here's the thing about pedal steel. It's like the most difficult, demanding instrument there is. I've heard it said that if you want to become an average player, you literally have to approach it like it's your full time job.
Here's an interview with my favorite player. He touches a bit on how difficult it is.
Since I got my Hummingbird, I hardly play my D-28 and I've been contemplating selling it and buying a Stage One pedal steel. They're the recommended name for beginners but I'm having trouble pulling the trigger.
This post was edited on 12/28/14 at 9:33 am
Posted on 12/28/14 at 11:33 am to Fontainebleau Dr.
I play a 6-string lap steel (a little bit) and shite that's plenty hard enough for me. I can't even fathom how hard a pedal steel is with many more strings not to mention pedals and knee levers that change notes on the fly. It's a great instrument in the hands of a talented player though.
This post was edited on 12/28/14 at 11:33 am
Posted on 12/28/14 at 8:01 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
Yeah they do, but I think the upkeep is high on them (those strings are tight and wear fairly quickly) and it's a fairly demanding instrument from a technical and a physical standpoint, or so I am told.
I've always heard its one of the hardest instruments that one can attempt to learn. Don't know how true that is though.
Posted on 12/28/14 at 8:09 pm to Fontainebleau Dr.
quote:
Is the pedal steel guitar a dying instrument?
Nope. It will always be in somewhat rarified air, but that's a good thing.
Posted on 12/29/14 at 11:10 am to VOR
A lot of bands I see have one they use on a few songs. It's alt country or indie stuff though.
Posted on 12/29/14 at 11:25 am to Zappas Stache
Posted on 12/29/14 at 11:36 am to PPL
Posted on 12/29/14 at 1:18 pm to Fontainebleau Dr.
quote:
Is the pedal steel guitar a dying instrument?
The steel has always had very limited appeal and was/is a mainstay in the country genre.
Is it dying? I don't think so. It isn't so prominent right now because country is in a temporary transition to a semi rock mode. This isn't the first time this has happened. The genre went through the same transition in the 50s and early 60s when rock performers were crossing the charts but country music will always go back to its roots.
The pedal steel isn't going anywhere.
This post was edited on 12/29/14 at 1:19 pm
Posted on 12/30/14 at 5:53 am to adono
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