how do you practice?

John Pelz · Post by **John Pelz** » 9 Apr 2004 8:32 am

Yesterday I picked up a Peavey Delta Blues amp for my non-pedal steel; I picked up the steel (1952 Fender Dual 8 Pro) just a couple weeks ago, and this is my first experience with a steel guitar of any sort. In other words, I'm a beginner.

So now that I've got my set-up set up, as it were, I want to get together a practice-routine. I've been watching A.B. Traynor's recent posts in this section, and that's gotten me wondering: how do you practice? I'm interested in hearing anyone's particular routine. What do you practice? Since I'm a complete beginner, it only makes sense (to me, at least) that a good portion of my practice-time right now should go towards digital dexterity-- picking non-adjacent strings, say; picking chords with the middle strings; getting a well-articulated sound with those metal fingerpicks, with which I'm still trying to get accustomed; etc. I bet that doing arpeggios wouldn't hurt, either. How do you practice?

I'm completely prepared to figure out on my own how scales are laid out on the non-pedal fretboard, but if anyone can point me towards any web-pages that might have scales laid out, I wouldn't complain.

Are there any "chord books" out there for 8-string non-pedal steel guitars? To be honest, I've spent enough money recently on getting my rig together, so I'm not too keen on spending more $$$ just now on instructional material. So if anyone is aware of any websites that might show some scales and 8-string non-pedal chords, that'd be right up my alley...
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I see that A.B. Traynor's post, "Topic: Theory and sightreading" got bumped up while I was writing the above. Looks like there's good info in there that I'd missed the 1st time around, and that some of my questions may have already been covered in A.B.'s thread. I'll definitely be reading that thread in detail ASAP. I'm still interested in hearing anyone's specific practice-routine, though, & just what areas they cover during practice-time...[This message was edited by John Pelz on 09 April 2004 at 09:38 AM.]

Don Benoit · Post by **Don Benoit** » 9 Apr 2004 5:03 pm

I do nothing but scales, finger rolls, banjo rolls, alternate finger thumb crossovers, etc for the first 15 to 30 minutes. After that, I practice stuff that I know then tackle new stuff.

When I practice scales, I do them up and down over two octaves using triads, harmony along and across the strings. There is a lot to learn there!

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 10 Apr 2004 8:46 am

Just curious --

What is the difference between a "finger roll" and a "banjo roll?"

Also, while we're speaking of the word "roll," I've heard Ralph Mooney's style described as a "rolling chord" style.

I really like Mooney's style and I listen to him a lot, but I still haven't figured out what the term "rolling chord" refers to.

Can anybody point out an example of a rolling chord, or maybe explain it? I've been curious about that for a while. Thanks

Don Benoit · Post by **Don Benoit** » 10 Apr 2004 3:33 pm

To me, a finger roll is like picking strings 876, 765, 654, 543 in succession, either forward or backward with the thumb, first finger and second finger. A banjo roll might be:
Thumb string 5
1st finger string 3
2cnd finger string 2
thumb string 4
1st finger string 3
2cnd finger string 2
thumb string 4
2cnd finger string 2
thumb string 5
1st finger string 3
2cnd finger string 2
thumb string 4
1st finger string 3
2cnd finger string 2
thumb string 4
2cnd finger string 2

With this banjo roll, you have to press the right pedal and knee levers for the right chords. You can use this on parts of many fast tunes. To make it sound like a banjo, take a cheap plastic lighter and use it as a bar on the plastic part![This message was edited by Don Benoit on 10 April 2004 at 04:35 PM.]

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 11 Apr 2004 4:32 pm

Don -- thanks for the info. I'll have to try some of that stuff.

Marty Holmes · Post by **Marty Holmes** » 21 Apr 2004 3:29 pm

My suggestion to you is to practice what you listen to the most of.In my case it is blues, country,gospel,and western swing.Get you a cd player and try to play along with some of the music that you like.Start out with something simple.I would suggest this to any new begginer,also try to create your own style.Just my $.02

Cody Johnson · Post by **Cody Johnson** » 21 Apr 2004 3:49 pm

Bobbe Seymour has a how to practice video out. Call him and ask about it. www.steelguitar.net

~Cody J.