lap vs. pedal

Dion Stephen · From: Kansas, USA

well here i go, can a guy get a job that would normally goto a pedal steel with a lap steel? i'm sure 1 could but i guess this comes from watch country music shows & it just seems like i always see pedal steels & not lap, unless it's blue grass but then it's resonators. are they 2 different beasts or do they collide somewhere? just very confused.

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

Dion,

If you learn how to play your steel nicely, people will want to hear you play anywhere, whether it's lap, pedal, or resonator. Take a plunge!
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My equipment:

One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Many tone movement effects that are very easy on pedal steel are very difficult without pedals. This is why I consider lap steel to be the harder instrument to play well.
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Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

I suppose anything's possible, but most country bands who hire steel players now are gonna want the pedal sound. You'd have a better chance of getting in alternative country or rootsy rock type bands. Or any band that was open minded enough to try something different.

Another avenue is Hawaiian music where non-pedal steel is usually used. Also check out some of the sacred steel players like Aubrey Ghent. His "Can't Nobody Do me Like Jesus" is amazing.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Yeah, I learned many years ago and it still seems to be the case today; if you want to succeed and stay busy in the country music field, don't show up with a non-pedal steel under your arm! I'd really like to, but; I'm too spooked to even try it, even with it's apparent recent revival in interest!
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George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Y'know, when you listen to all those great c/w recordings of yesteryear, long before the pedal guitar came along in c/w, the steel players were featured in solo choruses. Each had their own great style and sound. Pedal c/w today seldom if ever features a solo chorus, and it seems when you hear one pedal c/w, you've heard them all. JMHO of course.

Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

Good point, George. Someone once pointed out that the steel guitar's period of greatest popularity was the era before pedals. Interesting, huh?

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

I play non-ped in a country band & I mentioned to the
front man that next year I was going to change over
to an S10 pedal . the reaction was , He thought it would
not work out for we have the sound he wants with Non-ped .

figure that
Hick

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Bob; Maybe I should have moved to Wa. years ago, but; I'm too old and it's too late now for me! I'm at the point now where I don't even care any more! I just play at home for my own amazement and satisfaction! (But, only once in a great while.)
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

"BIG JOHN" Bechtel plays mighty nice non-pedal steel.
(His pedal work is excellent also). I think most of us agree the non-pedal solo styles of c/w yesteryear, each in their own way, were unique and exciting. Just listen to the great solos of Joachim, and guys like Jody Carver to fully understand what I mean. I think the one person with perhaps one of the largest collection of c/w recordings, (CCJOHNSON) will fully agree that the steel guitar, as far as solos are concerned in c/w lost out when pedals came along.

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

I do a few jobs around, that request I bring the no pedal guitar. For Hank, Lefty, Carl smith songs. Mostly nice party music, on the patio. I dig it.

I am practicing more and more on the no pedal necks, working with a band that may morph from new to old.

Who knows?

Dion Stephen · From: Kansas, USA

why did hte music of the late greats change so much with the intro of pedals? is it due to the similar ways their built i.e. construction wise, like say the different sound a Strat or Les Paul are both guitars but sound vastly different, do pedals sound alot alike? i'm a novice but country music sounds alot alike to me.

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

Most Poular music sounds alike to me no matter what the genre. I think it's because it is all written according to formuli that are known to make money in large amounts.
To hear the more interesting sounds you have to get into the niche markets.
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Amor vincit omnia

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

I really think pedals took on the roll of backup ONLY...(no solos) in contrast to the old days when the steel guitarist always had an opportunity to show his stuff with a great solo interspersed with the vocal. Another problem came along with the advent of the keyboard in modern c/w. The pedal steel was allocated the back seat from that point onward.
JMHO of course.

Dion Stephen · From: Kansas, USA

popular music does sound alike for the most part didn't mean to pick on country. just got done listening to junior brown on the computer radio & well junior brown NICE!

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I don't know for sure about years preceeding the 70's, but; at least from 1970 up until even now, if a band has a steel and a keyboard and it became/becomes necessary to downsize for economic reasons, or whatever; the steel in either form (Non-Pedal or PSG) has always been the first to go! It also seems to be the last one added to a group nowadays! If I enter a club and don't see a steel guitar in the band, I leave immediately! I guess I'm just narrow-minded, but; in my mind, if there is no steel, it's not a complete band and no reason for me to hang around!
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

I totally agree with you John. I wouldn't hang around if there wasn't a steel guitar in the band.

Seems like Hank Williams was the first singer to feature the steel guitar and set it as the signature sound of his music.

Roger

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Many working Steel players play both, that way they can cover any musical situation.

You can always start your own band - as long as you own the PA and book the jobs, you're the boss.
That way if you need to downsize, you can drop the drummer or the chick singer. Laughing

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

I guess we have hijacked Dion's post , but I think there
is as much room for non pedal as there is pedal . Cindy
Cashdollar comes to mind .
here's the deal with the " Northwest country Boys "
we are a bunch of old pharts , but that has not stopped us
from playing our music . during the summer months we have
12 to 15 paid gigs a month & this month we are the Headliners
for an event in Port Angeles - All I'm trying to say is , if you
want work ! its out there - Pedal or No pedal .

As for Dion question , if you want to play steel , just do it !
there is a lot to overcome with either stile of steel . Our UK
steeler Basil said " pedals are harder to learn but easier to play
Non Pedal is easy to learn but difficult to play at a level . I agree
with him on this !
Anybody can play steel , I'm living proof of that . Embarassed

Hick

Roy Thomson · From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada

Recently my Pedal Steel has been gathering dust
and I am working on integrating Lap and Pedal
sounds on an 8 string (non pedal) tuning.
In my approach it takes much work and patience
and a pick blocking requirement in addition to
palm blocking of course.
Here's an original tune concocted over the past
few days and it's played unaccompanied so all the
notes and moves are as clear as possible.

Link:
http://www.freefilehosting.net/download/MTg5MDU=

Marty Smith · From: California

I always get asked to play the old way with no pedals, they say that all the pedal players sound the same amd rareley "Take Off". It's good for me because I've allways played non pedal. When I use my old Sho Bud I use the pedals for chords like some of the real early players. I can play slants that sound like a pedal change. I don't like the Nashville sound much anyway.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Gerard Ventura · From: Texas, USA

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

At a recent outdoor festival I attended, I traded away my Morrell 8 string to a young man who was very interested in learning to play. I told him that his girlfriend who was learning bass was likely to get plenty of work. But most people who saw my instrument either thought I was a country music player (which I'm not) or had to ask me what it was. We had not walked a dozen steps farther when someone looked at the Morrell and said, "What's that?"
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Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

I occasionally play a blues gig and they prefer the bisquit board. Better tone for that style of music in my opinion. I can break it up better. And they say the pedal is too twangy???? Whatever. hehehehehehe
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