My Biggest Fears Learning Steel at 68

Really nice contribution. Spot on. Put the fire in the belly. I’m 70, been playing guitar for over 6 decades. 25 years ago Mike Aldridge gave me a Dobro lesson and the hook was set. I traveled Dobro to, 6 string lap, 8 string lap , then went through a rough period of fixer uppers for a pedal steel. My point is, “ it’s an adventure””!

I played slide since I was 16, took up pedal E9 when I saw Garcia do it. Few years later, my music changed and switched to blues and dobro. I was pretty snappy, but at 70, left index finger stiffened up. I considered going back to E9, but instead, expanded dobro to 8 str and do more lapsteel. Currently working on 7 tunings, which is insane. I should just work on C6, but having so much fun. After two years, my memory and general thinking is totally better. If I hear something compelling, I'll. Take it out, but as a mental workout, can't be beat.

Great video. A perfect summary. Picking up the steel is a challenge (at any age!), but it’s also great fun and rewarding from day one. 🙂

Hi Bill, Great! I´m 78 Jears old, but now I will start learning Pedal Steel! Your Video was the Button to start this! Thank you!! All my Best! Jo

That was really thoughtful and well presented Bill. Pedal Steel guitar just sound fantastic and are a joy to listen to. I decided to just keep things simple and stick with getting as much music out of a 6 string instrument. That was my choice! Your decision to go the pedal route is a great choice in my opinion. Age has nothing to do with it and fun has everything to do with........ Go with it and enjoy the journey. The fun is in the learning! Mike

Great presentation and information for future steel players. Well done!

I started playing 20 years ago, stopped, and now back at it at 65!

Great video Bill......you really addressed the common & basic concerns of seniors getting into pedal steel guitar........you're never too old.......you may (or probably) never get to the point that you want to but it's really more about the journey than the destination......Tony Bennett just passed away and performed into his 90s......Stephane Grappelli performed into his 90s.......besides, what the hell else are we going to do, push a shopping cart around Walbaum's?????.......which brings me to the concern of the physical aspects of moving these monsters around.......marry a woman who is in good shape........

I learned it at 63...did 10 hours per day for 100 days and then got on stage with my alt-country band...played for 6 years, then, like Jerry Garcia, decided it was too hard for the lifetime I have left...gave up for 7 years and just played lap steel/dobro. BUT....just bought my old pedal steel back and started up again, and couldn't be happier!

Got mine at age 42 in 2011, my regret is that I didn't get one earlier in my 20s but then ordering online was far less developed.

Physical issues aside, what are your goals? You don’t have to carry it or even put it in the case if all you want is to have fun and learn a little. Do you play any other instrument well , do you have any knowledge of music theory, intervals, chord structure? Williams makes a professional steel so you really won’t have to mess with the mechanicals unless you break something. Enjoy its

I'm learning too. I bought one for my 60th birthday but am only now at 66 putting in the hours. It helps that I've been playing guitar for 50 years. Nice video! Did you know that playing a musical instrument uses more areas of the brain simultaneously than any other known human activity, so is good for maintaining mental agility in later life?