The Steel Guitar Forum

It has crossed my mind a number of times to do that but felt it would be hard to find the correct classical string gauges to accommodate the tunings? Roy Roy, I played mine with C6 tuning for a while by buying 2 extra strings & throwing away the 2 thickest ones. 2 'D' strings: 1 tuned to 'C'; a...

Hello Alan. I only check in here now & then. Just read your post. I have the same set-up as you: Classical guitar with nylon strings, & raised action for playing steel. I have it tuned open G, D G D G B D. Mostly I play baritone ukulele these days, but every few days I pick up my old guitar ...

I tell people that I play blues on my nylon string guitar in the steel guitar STYLE. It seems the logical way of communicating the idea to people. I certainly don't know any other way of explaining it. People seem to readily understand that. I'm using a Shubb GS bar & my guitar is laying across ...

G'day Allen. Yes, I'm a strange one, and I know it. They say it's only insanity if you don't know it! As a musician I'm kind of a 'Jack-of-all-trades-and-master-of-none." Started out doing formal training with a teacher when I was a young fella, playing clarinet, but an injury put an end to tha...

Are there any nylon string "steel" players or instruments out there??? Yep. But don't mind me. I've been on a bit of a journey as has Mike. I've played a number of different instruments before getting into lap steel guitar around the age of 60. It's a lot to start to learn such a challeng...

Did you call it a SLIDE?!? Run for cover ! Quick!!!

Mike, You're a great contributor to the advancement of we 'learners'. I really appreciate the clips you post & the time & trouble you take to help those of us who struggle to learn. I went to Soundcloud, or what ever it's called, some months ago, when Kekoa asked me to post some music. The t...

Really cool, Mike

We need to be ready to take the time to explain to anyone who shows an interest in the instrument that we all love to play so much. Hopefully that will promote it and generate even more interest and help to keep "Steel Guitar" alive. I agree wholeheartedly Danny, "if they show intere...

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet." That's Shakespeare.

Aaaaw shucks Ma...We was just havin' some fun

Wayne, I've got the Thesaurus working overtime looking for a new name. So far I've come up with "Slither Zither." Give me some more time...

Well, some use the term "bottleneck guitar" as you're aware. I just find "slide guitar" saves going into a long explanation about what we make music on, with people who don't really care anyway. When I told folks I played "steel guitar" they replied, "Oh, it has st...

Speed bumps should hereafter be designated as "Velocity Impediment Devices"

Sure, it's on the snake's belly, but it's all in the name of komyoonikayshun.

I have to say I play SLIDE guitar, or no-one has any idea what I'm talking about. "Hawaiian" means you surely must play Hawaiian music; "Steel" means it's made from an ingot; as for "Non-pedal lap steel", they'd wonder what you're smoking! Maybe I've got dumb friends...?

Hi Richard. Point taken for sure. It's just that Niels doesn't seem convinced.

Niels Andrews wrote:Somebody has too know this!

Go to youtube...type: Matt Monro Softly As I Leave You...could be it. This song was done by Elvis too, but Matt did it best.

Wow, such a response from folks here. Music & the pursuit of it holds so much passion for people! I'm not surprised at the amount of folks with a story, & I'm sure there are many more lurkers out there who don't have the words to tell us about it. The feeling shown has moved me, I can tell y...

Hello Jana, Well you sure came through some difficulties. Your story is amazing, congratulations!!! You should certainly be proud of your achievements. I didn't realize what I was opening up when I began this page. Andy, Thanks for your kind words. Everybody has been great. I started the page with m...

Kekoa, just re-reading your question above, minor 7th tuning is better for jazz & blues because jazz is suited to, & often played in 7th chords. C6 is a country tuning, seems to me. And bar slanting is required to get some chords. Mike Neer plays jazz on C6 with a C# instead of a low C, but ...

John Dahms, Ron Whitfield, Dana Blodgett, Tom Pettingill, Kekoa Blanchet, Mike Neer & Andy Volk, thank you all for the understanding reception to my post. I know steel is a subject close to people's hearts around these parts. I understand the history of the instrument is important. I know too th...

A modification I made to my classical guitar was to turn the tuning pegs over by switching them from side to side so they can be operated from above while the guitar sits on my lap. You should see people's eyes open wide when they see it! There I go breaking the rules again...

Kekoa, if'n I pressed the right buttons you should have 2 answers in your inbox. Let me know if you don't get them. All this tech stuff gets a bit out of control. Chris

Hi Kekoa, Try "Money Can't Buy Me Love"... (E) I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend If it makes you feel all right (A) I'll get you anything my friend (E) If it makes you feel all right (B) I don't care too (A) much for money (E) Money can't buy me love bridge... (E) Can't buy me love. Ev...