The Steel Guitar Forum

Anybody have an e-mail address for Lorene Ruymar? I can be e-mailed at rckelly@uiuc.edu.
Ryan

I have a question concerning the use of the steel guitar in non-Hawaiian genres in the 1920's and 30's- genres like hillbilly and Race recordings. Do any of you have any information as to how players like Cliff Carlisle and Bob Dunn obtained their steels and how they learned to play. It is likely th...

Anyone know what the first recording with steel guitar on the mainland was and when? Many were made in Hawaiia. Phillipines and Europe prior to those made in NY and Chicago.
Ryan

A few weeks ago I posted a topic about the characteristics of the sound of Country music, but what about the visual aspects? What does a country band look like? What is one likely to see when seeing a Country band? Are there certain characteristics that set it apart from other musical styles? Thanks...

How many of you steel players also play Spanish style? For those that do both, can you discuss the thought process that is involved when making the change or how your approach may vary from one to the other. This is an important subject for my thesis research. Thanks for you input.
Ryan

I just got a 1950's National electric steel (6 string). I am new to the electric world and don't know what guage strings to use, and whether or not to use nickel or steel. I will probably use a C6 tuning.
Ryan

Michael, the history you present does make sense and I have read that myself. What I have trouble with, I think, is the term "inventor." Perhaps if the term "Popularizer," if that's a word, were used instead it would be more accurate. The history of the pedal steel shows how seve...

I have been bothered by the Kekuku story ever since I heard. I don't doubt that he was one of the earliest inventors ot eh steel guitar, if not the first. What I am curious about is why there seems to be this recent push to make him the lone founder, or as its icon. This is strange to me because it ...

Can anyone suggest a good source for transcriptions (tablature preferred) of Sol Hoopii tunes. In particular I am looking for Hula Blues and Farewell Blues.
Ryan