Modern CCM for steel

[Cody Coombs]

Hi all,

I’ve had the opportunity to play my steel on sundays for a little while now, it’s certainly a whole new ball game compared to the country style playing. I’ve been keeping an open mind with how I approach my phrases and passages, although I would like to have a wider repertoire.. especially over the minor chords. I’ve sort of stuck with the Ben Keith and “Americana” approach with some single note runs or lots of pads and swells. Using the B and C pedal a lot, and lowering the E’s to get those minor chords sure seems to hit the sweet spot on the minor chords.

One example, say the 6 minor; I hit the BC pedal and slide down two frets with the E lower lever and hit the A pedal on and off.

For any of you all that are playing this style, what do you think when you’re playing? How do you go about your phrasing? I could sure use some tips, advice and ideas on this style of playing.

Thanks and happy holidays to you all!
Cody

[Ben Thomas]

Hi Cody,
I’m glad to see that you posted this because I think you’re asking about and involved with such an important area where PSG can be extremely beneficial, which is in church in a modern worship music/CCM context. Just a couple of scattered thoughts:

Travis Toy’s excellent Travis Toy Tutorials has an inspiring, long video on playing with CCM where he talks about and plays multiple rounds with Kari Jobe’s “Revelation Song”. If you’re not a member I think it’s worth signing up for a couple of months just for that, but I think you’d find many other useful resources for some other non-country concepts.

If you don’t have a lead guitarist you may find that a lot of the atmospheric, single sustained note “texture” sounds would be very easy to replicate on PSG with some washy reverb or Andy Timmons-like delay. Those would fit almost anywhere and you’re not stepping on anyone else.

Hopefully something there helps.