Can I still use my old faces?

Chris Morano · Post by **Chris Morano** » 11 Jan 2003 9:57 am

After playing guitar professionaly most of my adult life I decided to take up the steel after donating my left hand middle finger to the scrap pile back at the wood shop where I work.

I have been able to transfer alot of my skills but I was wondering about some of the guitar faces I have carefully crafted over the years. Though I think I can still get away with the "Am I really this good" look of astonishment that I reserve for particularly fast picking, is there a place for the power chord overbite? How about the pain of sustain grimace or the ecstasy bend?

I am just a beginnner so would appreciate getting some help from you old pros out there so I don't get off on the wrong foot. Thanks for your help.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 11 Jan 2003 10:06 am

Chris, you'll have to learn one new face now that you've switched instruments.
The "Man, that overplaying, too loud, out-of-tune lead guitar player is driving me nuts" glare is pretty fundamental. Although it is often used in conjunction with the forementioned Middle Finger, I'm sure you'll find a way to adapt.
-John

Tony Orth · Post by **Tony Orth** » 11 Jan 2003 10:10 am

In my band there are only two faces to remember:

1) Frown = means "Man, you really screwed up

2) Smile = means "Man, I really screwed up

Tony

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 11 Jan 2003 11:30 am

There is only one face for steel players. Browsing through back issues of the PSGA newsletter or Carter's Photo Album will confirm that. It's the look of intense concentration, with a bit of a frown.

Use any other face, and no one will take you seriously as a steel player. I used to smile when I played, until I realized that it actually hurt my playing. Practice the correct face in front of a mirror every day for a few weeks. Once you get it down, practice using it while you play. You'll be surprised how much it improves your playing.

Oh, and ignore the photo in my sig. That was a posed shot. The one on my homepage is better.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 11 Jan 2003 12:26 pm

Guitar Face Examples.

Joe Wright does a routine about "Guitar Face". He demonstates the "Serious Country Player" look while playing a Ray Price classic, then demonstrates the "Contorted Rock Player" look and plays some distorted Lenoard Skinard riffs.

Then he talks about what would happen if the player mixed them up. It's hilarious to watch "Heart Over Mind" being played musically straight, with the "Rock-Faces".

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 11 Jan 2003 12:47 pm

Use any other face, and no one will take you seriously as a steel player.

Well, Buddy E. smiles a lot and I´m sure most of us take him very seriously as a steel player...

[This message was edited by Joe Henry on 11 January 2003 at 12:48 PM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 11 Jan 2003 2:40 pm

Chris don't get rid of your Guitar faces..along with the new Steel face which is looking at the Guitar player in disgust for trampling all over your space you will need to rehearse and memorize your new Steel face which you will need while listening to the Band Leader telling you they don't need the Steel anymore !

My personal favorites are the Power Chord and 4th finger bend faces...

tp

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 11 Jan 2003 3:55 pm

I make frequent use of the "blame shifter scowl" if I'm having intonation problems. I usually aim it at the bass player because in general they are not able to fire me.

Bob

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Jan 2003 4:19 pm

That same scowl worked good for me last week combined with leaning/scrunching down and trying to look under the steel. The implication was that there is something--lord knows what--under there that, in the voice of Hank Hill, 'just ain't right. Combine that with, when someone asks you 'how many strings do you have there' (on my S-12) you say, in wonderment "I...don't...know!? They will share your amazement at the improbability of the instrument.
Unfortunately my most common face is the b0b frown combined with a double chin-pulled back into chest-looking down at strings-I'm way too busy to look sexy let alone cool demeanor.

Mike Delaney · Post by **Mike Delaney** » 12 Jan 2003 7:23 am

Its been suggested to me that I put a paper bag over my head...sure does get hot in there.

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 12 Jan 2003 7:46 am

This one seemed to come naturally to me.

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 12 Jan 2003 9:49 am

Go to your local video store and rent the American Roots Music tape. Check out the face Bobby Koeffer uses as he solos for Bob Wills.

Ian Finlay · Post by **Ian Finlay** » 13 Jan 2003 7:00 am

I quite like the Speedy West "I can play this good and not even look at my hands" face. Works nicely if the guitar player can manage "I can play like Merle Travis and not look at my hands either" face.

Drummers should affect the "please help me carry this lot downstairs after the gig" face.

Ian