Translating Dobro Technique to Lap Steel

Keith Cordell · From: San Diego

I have been working to get the sound in my head to come out of my lap steel. I am not a Hawaiian steeler, so traditional technique is not a concern. I am wondering how many players have tried to translate dobro pull-offs and bending techniques to rock and blues lap steel? I have been experimenting a lot lately with string bending behind the bar, which I got from a dobro player and using pull-offs for fast runs and staccato riffing. Maybe there are some other dobro derived techniques that I should add to the repertoire...

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Jerry Douglas is probably the best example of someone translating Dobro tunings and approach to lap steel. I notice that he does less of the fire and brimstone hammer/pull licks and goes more for a singing sound. There's a nice clip on YouTube of Jerry playing steel with an Irish band.

Here's an album with a killer Douglas steel solo as well as a lot of other fantastic playing (and they have one for $1.86!):

Link to CD on Amazon.com.

And check out the streaming cut #19 on this classic ...

Link to CD on Amazon.com.

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

it is probably because I know no better, but I play my lap steels in the same manner as my resonator. the reso is lap style. perhaps that is why.
I noticed that managing the string vibration is critical to not having unwanted noise or chatter.
I damp and mute quite a bit. except during fast single note runs up and down the neck.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

From my experience going from dobro to a 6 string lap steel in the same G tuning, will lead to using dobro techniques.....

however, going from 6 string G dobro to an 8 sting C6 or in my case a 9 string C6......I tend to automatically not lift the bar as much and refrain from heavy picking, pull offs, hammer ons,....except for the ocassional effect....

I think the music has much to do with it also.....what are you playing on G dobro?....bluegrass, blues,....and acoustic music where you have to pick harder to be heard....

if you're playing Hawaiian, swing, jazzier tunes,....I think that 6th sound delegates a much more subtle touch......

Terry VunCannon · From: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

Hey Keith...check out our All Blues group doing "Hideaway" on http://www.myspace.com/terryvuncannon ...the dobro type pull-offs & hammers are the way I play that song...I practice parts like this on dobro, then move them to lap steel...Terry V.

David Doggett · Posted 6 Nov 2007 9:50 am

I don't see any problem with translating most Dobro techniques to electric steel, especially if you use the same tuning. The main problem with hammering on the open strings is that you are mostly limited to the open tuning key. You see Jerry douglas on stage with a whole slew of resos, so he can play his style in several keys. And that is one of the reasons steelers went to tri and quad necks before pedal steel came along. Electric lap and pedal steel styles were developed in bands playing in many keys, for which you have to learn the smoother technique without the open strings. But if you play by yourself, or call the keys in a band situation, why not use the open string style as much as you can?

Using a grooved bar helps. For playing rock and blues on my 12-string universal pedal steel, I like the Shubb-Pearse #2, which has a groove but also a semi-bullet on one end. The Sacred Steelers, even with pedal steel, do a lot of open string stuff, and use grooved bars.

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

I gotta marrs rgs for playing my dobro stuff with a LOUD live band. I also have a bobro pedal. Both these things add the reso sound to the lap steel. Use a stevens bar or the like. I use the paul beard nickle g tuning strings for reso as well, because the thick strings take the bar pulloffs better than thin IMO. Thin always sounds to ..uh..well thin to me. Dobro is a thick sounding thing

Dobro capos work well on my string spacing for other keys. I use the Jerry Douglas flux capo with good results
_________________
GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

I've always considered myself an electric dobro player. It's the only way I play. Way back when I went to steel from dobro just for volume so I could play with an "electric" Country band. About the only things I can add are things you probably already know. Do a lot of single string scales, pentatonics mostly, and a lot of single string period. And I block with my left hand except for open strings. And check out John Dow's courses if you haven't already! And have fun!

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