Playing Music and Emotional Feelings
By David J. Stewart
September 2011 | Updated September 2015
Music
involves feelings and emotions. It is difficult to play music when you are
sad, worried, upset or unhappy; however, if you can learn to play your
guitar anyhow during these times (or at least during some of these times),
it will help you to keep going. Jerry Byrd says that performing on the steel
guitar is an extension of one's personality. That is so true!
You won't find a more passionate and expressive instrument than the steel guitar. In my opinion that holds especially true for the pedal steel guitar, since you have more tools to express yourself (i.e., knee levers and floor pedals). I was thinking this week about all those poor miserable souls who never heard the awesome beauty of a pedal steel guitar for 5,900 years of human civilization. I thank God, I thank God, I thank God, that I was born during this time period.
Jerry Byrd teaches...
“Finally, don't experiment! Forget trying, or even thinking of trying, to impress anyone with how many notes you can play in two measures. Use as few notes as possible, but play every one with meaning and intent. You have arrived when every person in your audience gets the feeling that you are playing only for them. All music is, in the final analysis, is a melody with feeling. It's not what you play, but what you say. And don't play around either. Work!” —Jerry Byrd, “It Was A Trip On Wings Of Music,” by Jerry Byrd (1920-2005); © 2003, p. 114.
Wow that's great advice! Jerry is so right! Use as few notes as possible. Play every note with meaning and intent. If performing for a large crowd, focus on just one person and play diligently for them. It's not what you play, but what you say musically. Musical expression is everything.
I was listening to a pedal steel guitarist on YouTube performing this week. He was teaching a steel guitar seminar. I won't mention his name. He is a fantastic player. He can really razzle-dazzle the crowd with his hand dexterity, knowledge and speed. Yet, the tone just wasn't there. The heart-to-heart connection wasn't there. I admired his skills, but I wasn't moved by his performance at all. I have seen this lack of tone in my own playing over the years. Thus, I am committed more than ever before to improve my tone.
When I hear Lloyd Green perform on his pedal steel guitar, I am ALWAYS moved in my soul by his artistry. Lloyd plays with attitude, articulating every note, using various eyebrow raising techniques, and his tone is superb. It's not magick. I began performing pedal steel guitar in 1992. In the first 5-years I was blessed to purchase several hundred steel guitar instrumental albums. In hindsight, less than 5% of those recordings really moved me. Honestly, I never listened to 95% of those albums more than a couple times. They're nice, but the soul connection is not there. Tom Morrell's steel guitar performances move me. I can listen to his playing again and again and never get tired of hearing it. Tommy White's performances move me. Jerry Byrd's performances move me. Randy Beavers' performances move me. Jimmy Day's performances move me. Half the battle of learning to play pedal steel guitar is getting the sounds embedded into your mind. That's why I recommend listening to lots of steel guitar to get the sounds into your mind. Particularly, listen to the artist(s) that you want to emulate the most.
As fast as Lloyd Green is (and he truly boggles my mind with his accuracy and speed), he said back in 1992 at a Texas Steel Show that he wasn't as fast as he used to be. I've never liked playing fast myself, but in order to play the intro on a song like Midnight Sky (Lloyd is performing steel) by Nick 13, you've got to have impeccable timing, which most players don't. So it's a good idea to start working on some related practice picking patterns. Hey, learn Lloyd's Three Picks (which steelers love and play in Holland more than any other song) and you'll develop your timing, guaranteed. A lot of people don't realize that Lloyd Green (even to this day after 71-years of playing steel guitar, since age 7) still practices at home by doing simple picking exercises). It is very important to stay in practice and maintain your skills. Lloyd runs for exercise, eats right, doesn't smoke or drink alcohol, and it all helps him stay the best at what he does. You may not have known this, but Lloyd is also left-handed, yet he plays a right-handed pedal steel. Amazing!
Here's a brief clip of Lloyd Green performing the classic song, “Secret Love” from his beautiful 1977 “Ten Shades Of Green” album. At 20 seconds into the song you can hear Lloyd using a noticeable amount of vibrato. Most steel players, including myself, have played for years without applying these little techniques that make the difference between a nice recording verses a work of art. I am bringing this detail to your attention so that you, as well as myself, will regularly make a conscious effort to go the extra mile so-to-speak in our performances.
Also, don't fall into the trap of allowing a double-standard in your performances. It would be quite easy to put forth less effort and feeling into our performances at home, than we would in a public performance in front of a large crowd. As Jerry Byrd wisely said, When you've gotten as
“One's music should be an extension of his personality. If it isn't, then you are lying musically, because you aren't expressing what you feel about the song and the word 'playing' applies. If music is an art form - and it most certainly is - then shouldn't you, as an artist, be making your own musical statement?” —Jerry Byrd, “It Was A Trip On Wings Of Music,” © 2003, p. 109.
I recommend that you get a camcorder and record your songs and upload them online for the world to see. I used to make tapes and CD's of my music to share with others (but like Jesus learned with the ten lepers, only one came back to thank Him). Whereas I used to give away music and feel bad when people didn't respond at all, I now feel good uploading my music because I KNOW some people (particularly fans of steel guitar) appreciate and listen to my music. The world is a big place and there's over a billion webpages out there! Your music will get much more exposure online by those who have an interest in steel guitar. I think it's a shame that so many wonderfully talented people never make any recordings of their music and it all dies with them. I also have been trying to explain to other players how I do certain techniques, so they can learn from me.
