Worst advice/instruction you ever got?

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 5 May 2003 9:49 am

Besides music I am into other hobbies too and therefor I wisit other forums like this one. In a particular sport forum somebody asked the this very question and it triggered some intersting responses...

As for steel guitar... to me it is tablature.
I don't want to go into arguments (now) about my reasoning behind this statement that I'm sure may shock some and raise disagreement.
I just wonder what YOU find/found to have been the worst advice or instruction you ever got?

... J-D.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 5 May 2003 10:13 am

When I talked to a steelplayer here in Holland, 25 years ago, about picking up pedal steel:
"Don't do it , far to difficult for you" .Since 24 years he's full of shit 'cause I take a reasonable part of the sessionwork...

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Click on the pic!

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 5 May 2003 10:25 am

There are a few contenders here.

First:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Don't worry about what other people play. Don't try to be like them. Develop your own style.

-Chronically Unemployed Steel Player-
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OR

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Quit Stirring the Pot. We've got enough problems.

-Guy doing 40 years in the NV State Pen-<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I know your paycheck's short, but if you stick with me, I'll make it up to you on the next job. Think of us as "Family"

-Unknown s# bird-<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not to forget..

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Run. You can get over the fence with those handcuffs on. We'll help you.

-Buddies at a keg party that got busted-

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Best advice?

Don't throw trash out of your car window with your name on it. Airplanes either.-The Judge-

Further

Go tell her how you feel. She probably won't slap you. -I forget-

MOST importantly playing wise..

Go home and learn how to play Bud's bounce without "making parts up" or you're wasting both of our time. -Bud Charleton-

This one might mean little to some, but it's indeed the best of my life.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> You have to realise that there are people that are worse than you, and you have a responsibility to stay away from them as much as you can.

You must learn to make at least one friend everywhere you go. Not Everybody, but at least one. Pick them carefully.

-My Paternal Grandmother-<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

EJL [This message was edited by Eric West on 05 May 2003 at 11:37 AM.]

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 5 May 2003 10:33 am

The worst advice I recall was about blocking. A world famous player advised that there is only one correct way, and I should avoid any other styles.

Luckily I did not buy his story. Maybe there is only one way that works for him, but I use a wide variety of blocking styles.
(Pick, Palm, Left Hand, bar lift, and more).

As far as Tab, I'd like to hear your comments. I feel it's one of many tools. It's great as long as you don't over use it. Learning a tune by ear, then writting the TAB, is a great learning experience too.
[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 05 May 2003 at 11:36 AM.]

Kurt Graber · Post by **Kurt Graber** » 5 May 2003 10:51 am

I think that same world famous player threw my dunlop picks away saying I should only use nationals.....Yea Whatever, after analyzing the situation, I made the right decision to stick with my dunlop picks and develop my right hand technique. It's your hand, not the magic picks!!!!

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 5 May 2003 1:27 pm

The best advice I got was to use my thumb and second finger to pick single lines with although I see a lot of top name guys use the first finger and I'll never understand how Doug Jernigan plays with that right hand style of his. He's amazing. If he can play like that it's got to be whatever works for you.

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 5 May 2003 2:17 pm

The best advice,
"...don't give up your day job."

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kd...and the beat goes on...

John Bresler R.I.P. · Post by **John Bresler R.I.P.** » 5 May 2003 3:35 pm

"You've been playing a D-10 too long, a Universal will never work for you. It's too hard to learn".

25 years later I switched due to one arm being longer than the other, a bad back, etc.
Wished I'd used my own judgement.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 5 May 2003 5:11 pm

What Kenny D. said........

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Bill Ford

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 5 May 2003 6:53 pm

Lets see....about 1957, taking 1st six string guitar lesson. The teacher said, "Whatever you do, do not tap your foot or move your body to the music.

If you MUST do something, wiggle your big toe inside your shoe.

His name was Loyd Nollinger, and I bet Slim Seymour remembers him, maybe even Bobby.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 6 May 2003 6:31 am

Those chords are too complicated.
Write something simpler to solo over.
Write shorter melodies.
This doesn't sound like jazz.

It's not popular music don't do it.
Just play roots on bass.
The tritone should never be used no matter what.

Too many sus chords.
You can't write a melody inside the chord progressions.
You can't use electronic and acoustic instruments.
If you haven't memorised 100 standards in all keys, you can't play jazz.

Don't learn chords till you know scales.
Don't learn scales till you know some chords.
Stop singing.

You can't write anything new in Bluegrass, the best is already writen.
It'll never sell.
I don't understand it, do something else.
The style is ONLY like this!

Best advice ;
Learn everything you like, and a few you don't that have useful logic, and then forget it and play as you play.

TAB is a useful road map, but not the end all and be all of steel. A useful tool.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 06 May 2003 at 07:32 AM.]

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 6 May 2003 8:33 am

Run. You can get over the fence with those handcuffs on. We'll help you.

Funniest thing I've read in weeks. Thanks, Eric!

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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band

Tony LaCroix · Post by **Tony LaCroix** » 7 May 2003 7:46 am

"Best advice ;
Learn everything you like, and a few you don't that have useful logic, and then forget it and play as you play."

Mr. Donald, this is the type of advice that keeps me going; I couldn't agree more.

An old bluesman once told me, in an effort to explain why so many young jazz students can't play blues, "To begin playing the blues, you have to forget everything you ever learned about music." I believe he was right.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 7 May 2003 3:53 pm

Mr. LaCroix... geez ain't we formaly here

I can definitely agree with that bluesman... blues must be from the heart.

But it helps to have some logic in your hands that just sorta arrives when needed and not when thought about.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 07 May 2003 at 04:55 PM.]

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 8 May 2003 3:37 am

Worst and most prophetic advice from a Democratic Congressman in the 1964 election:
"You vote for Goldwater and we'll be in war in Vietnam." Certainly right; I voted for Goldwater and I was in deep poo poo in RVN in 1965. Remember that?

Best advice, relative to steel guitars, from Sonny Curtis in 1968: "E-9th isn't the only tuning on a country sounding steel guitar. Try this." Or words to that effect. Been playing it ever since. I really jumped out of the box and stretched the envelope on this one.

Fred

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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 8 May 2003 5:14 am

The worst advice I have EVER received was when I first got my Pedal Steel. It is a Sho~Bud Pro I and I went over to this "other" pedal steel guitarists house. He was going to show me how to set it up and tune it and some chords and stuff like that. I asked him about how to tune the raises and lowers of the pedals and knee levers. I told me to avoid the "things" sticking out of the end plate at the changer, and that I just shouldn't bother tuning the pedals! YES! Don't bother tuning the pedals! Anyway, I quickly doubted his advice and I packed up my gear and left!

HA

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Jim West · Post by **Jim West** » 8 May 2003 5:39 am

"This instrument is real easy to play"

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 8 May 2003 6:09 am

told me to avoid the "things" sticking out of the end plate at the changer, and that I just shouldn't bother tuning the pedals! YES! Don't bother tuning the pedals!

Mark, did this guy actually USE his pedals? LOL!
This is in the running for absolute bottom advice for PSG'rs.
Next week the course in slide for the tone deaf.

ET, JT, No T... you decide[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 08 May 2003 at 07:10 AM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 8 May 2003 10:41 am

Irrelevent advice, "If you keep pickin' it, it wont heal."

So I quit pickin' it. But after almost 25 years I still had the itch. So I got my pedal steel out from under the bed and started pickin' it ag'in.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 8 May 2003 12:09 pm

I took a couple of piano lessons from an internationally semi-famous jazz player back when I still did stuff like that (play piano). At one point I asked him how he dealt those times onstage when you're just not feeling it, just not being on, in the zone, etc. that night. He told me that if I couldn't always play with inspiration, from the heart & soul, anytime, every time, then I should probably do something else rather than be a musician.
I was young enough to take this to heart and be depressed by my lapses. It took me a bit of time to realize that this guy was an ignorant, arrogant, full of shit bully who had no business teaching. Bad teaching borders on criminality.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 8 May 2003 3:37 pm

Best advice I ever got.....never fry bacon in the nude...

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 9 May 2003 12:39 am

And of course the never to be forgotten
Turn LEFT now, now, now... 15sec. or maybe right?

Tony Harris · Post by **Tony Harris** » 9 May 2003 3:24 am

British jazzman Ronnie Scott titled an album with his best piece of advice - "Never Pat a Burning Dog"!!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 9 May 2003 8:49 am

Worst advice I ever got onstage: "Just follow me, I'll walk you through the changes."

Worst advice in real life: "Go in there with an attitude, show them who's boss. IRS auditors get real intimidated when you act smart-ass with them."

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 9 May 2003 1:03 pm

Best Advice:
"Always wear the same shoes"