learning non pedal steel
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 9 Jan 2008 5:26 pm
- Location: Vermont, USA
learning non pedal steel
hi everyone
I just purchased my first lap steel to learn how to play.
not bad at 58 years old kinda slow
anyways i was wondering what the best tuning is it is a 6 string rogue.
Also where is the best place for instructional material.
just recieved georgeboards dvd not impressed
can anyone help an old vermonter
I just purchased my first lap steel to learn how to play.
not bad at 58 years old kinda slow
anyways i was wondering what the best tuning is it is a 6 string rogue.
Also where is the best place for instructional material.
just recieved georgeboards dvd not impressed
can anyone help an old vermonter
-
- Posts: 85
- Joined: 23 Jan 2007 2:42 pm
- Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 9 Jan 2008 5:26 pm
- Location: Vermont, USA
-
- Posts: 85
- Joined: 23 Jan 2007 2:42 pm
- Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Contact:
If I may suggest, use a C6 tuning, it's the same intervals for the top 6 strings as the higher-pitched 8 string E6 tuning Don Helms used with Hank Williams Sr.. Also seems to be the most popular tuning with the great Hawaiian-style players here on the SGF.
DeWitt "Scotty" Scott's excellent book (with CD) "Basic C6th Nonpedal Lap Steel Method" (Mel Bay) would be a fine place to start for a good grounding. Also helpful might be Cindy Cashdollar's "Learn to play Western Swing Steel Guitar" DVD (Homespun) and of course the Don Helms "Your Cheatin' Heart" song book/CD.
DeWitt "Scotty" Scott's excellent book (with CD) "Basic C6th Nonpedal Lap Steel Method" (Mel Bay) would be a fine place to start for a good grounding. Also helpful might be Cindy Cashdollar's "Learn to play Western Swing Steel Guitar" DVD (Homespun) and of course the Don Helms "Your Cheatin' Heart" song book/CD.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 9 Jan 2008 5:26 pm
- Location: Vermont, USA
- Andy Sandoval
- Posts: 5176
- Joined: 22 Jul 2004 12:01 am
- Location: Bakersfield, California, USA
- Contact:
- Rick Alexander
- Posts: 3904
- Joined: 12 Jun 2004 12:01 am
- Location: Florida, USA, R.I.P.
- Contact:
Hi Leo, welcome to the forum!
To learn the basic techniques of non-pedal Steel Guitar - STEEL GUITAR BASICS DVD
To learn to play 12 songs with 130 how-to videos on 4 DVDs, a backup tracks CD and chord charts included - PIECES OF STEEL
You can see and hear samples from these 2 courses on my YouTube channel - http://youtube.com/rickalexander47
Then there's
TUFF FUN TAB - 12 songs tabbed out by the Legendary Herb Remington - includes CD with 2 versions of each song, 1 with Herb playing Steel and one with the rhythm track.
To learn the basic techniques of non-pedal Steel Guitar - STEEL GUITAR BASICS DVD
To learn to play 12 songs with 130 how-to videos on 4 DVDs, a backup tracks CD and chord charts included - PIECES OF STEEL
You can see and hear samples from these 2 courses on my YouTube channel - http://youtube.com/rickalexander47
Then there's
TUFF FUN TAB - 12 songs tabbed out by the Legendary Herb Remington - includes CD with 2 versions of each song, 1 with Herb playing Steel and one with the rhythm track.
-
- Posts: 3911
- Joined: 18 Mar 1999 1:01 am
- Location: MINNESOTA (deceased)
-
- Posts: 461
- Joined: 11 Jul 2005 12:01 am
- Location: North Carolina, USA
-
- Posts: 7549
- Joined: 9 Jul 2005 12:01 am
- Location: Phenix City Alabama, USA
Welcome, Leo. C6 does seem to be the most popular place to start. I can highly recommend Rick Alexanders' learning materials - particularly the Steel Guitar basics DVD, lots of close ups of all the basic techniques you will need regardless of the tuning you end up using.
Also check out Ron Whitfields' site for detailed description of the fundamentals, as taught to him by the great Jerry Byrd.
All the best Leo, just be patient with yourself and you will be steelin' in no time!
Also check out Ron Whitfields' site for detailed description of the fundamentals, as taught to him by the great Jerry Byrd.
All the best Leo, just be patient with yourself and you will be steelin' in no time!
The more I learn, the less I know!
-
- Posts: 260
- Joined: 31 Oct 2007 6:44 am
- Location: New York, USA
join the club Leo
Well Leo, I just started myself at the age of 60! I've play guitar and piano for years. However, my mother at age 79 just sent me a month ago a national 6 stringer that she bought in 1954, she never learned how to play it and being she sent and gave it to me, guess I got to! I ordered Rick Alexander's matterial and GeorgeBoards material and being I got Georgeboards material first tunned to C6. However going through his material now for 3 or so weeks, I'm ready to change tuning to A6 and go through Ricks material. Both are very good! In the first week I had the major and minor chords down in C6. Very easy! cannot tell ya bout the A6 tuning yet but that will be next.
I'll also tell you that if you don't know tabs, start now and get to be able to read tabs a I am finding that most steel guitar players go by tabs. If you know nothing about tabs go to: http://www.zentao.com/guitar/tab/
or just do a search learning guitar tabs! that will get you several pages to look up and to learn. Very simple to learn the basics a little longer to be able to read and play
Dean from NY
I'll also tell you that if you don't know tabs, start now and get to be able to read tabs a I am finding that most steel guitar players go by tabs. If you know nothing about tabs go to: http://www.zentao.com/guitar/tab/
or just do a search learning guitar tabs! that will get you several pages to look up and to learn. Very simple to learn the basics a little longer to be able to read and play
Dean from NY
I'm new and just learning - I know nothing!
- CrowBear Schmitt
- Posts: 11624
- Joined: 8 Apr 2000 12:01 am
- Location: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
- Contact:
Welcome to this great forum Leo
it's better than the county jail & the chain gang here
in case yer into the blues, you could try an open E tuning
from High to Low
--string 1 : E
* string 2 : B that you can tune up to C# (6th tone)*
--string 3 : G# that you can tune down to G (minor)
* string 4 : E that you can tune down to D ( dom7)*
--string 5 : B
--string 6 : E
* i like to use both of these, tuned to them changes
it's better than the county jail & the chain gang here
in case yer into the blues, you could try an open E tuning
from High to Low
--string 1 : E
* string 2 : B that you can tune up to C# (6th tone)*
--string 3 : G# that you can tune down to G (minor)
* string 4 : E that you can tune down to D ( dom7)*
--string 5 : B
--string 6 : E
* i like to use both of these, tuned to them changes
-
- Posts: 115
- Joined: 27 Dec 2007 4:08 pm
- Location: Colorado, USA
Hi Leo. As a fellow older beginner, I can identify with your remark about "kinda slow". I started on the dobro at age 50 about a year and a half ago -- with no previous musical experience and the learning seems painfully slow. It sure is gratifying when you actually get a new lick or phrase in a song though!
I really enjoy listening to Cindy Cashdollar play, but her teaching material moves too fast for an absolute beginner like me.
I found some great stuff from jaybuckey.com for the dobro but it's all in open G. He has alot of play along tracks in a lot of different tempo's.
I haven't seen the same kind of offerings for the steel anywhere -- the play along tracks all seem pretty fast.
Bill
I really enjoy listening to Cindy Cashdollar play, but her teaching material moves too fast for an absolute beginner like me.
I found some great stuff from jaybuckey.com for the dobro but it's all in open G. He has alot of play along tracks in a lot of different tempo's.
I haven't seen the same kind of offerings for the steel anywhere -- the play along tracks all seem pretty fast.
Bill
- Roy Thomson
- Posts: 4386
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
Hi Leo,
I just put some short video clips on
Youtube that deal with beginner
right and left hand positioning,
blocking etc. you may find helpful.
I do custom lessons for C6 lap steel via email
as my time permits. I also have some
C6 Tab book with 20 songs and matching
CD. Check my Web Page Re: ClicTab below.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=steelinroy
All the best.
I just put some short video clips on
Youtube that deal with beginner
right and left hand positioning,
blocking etc. you may find helpful.
I do custom lessons for C6 lap steel via email
as my time permits. I also have some
C6 Tab book with 20 songs and matching
CD. Check my Web Page Re: ClicTab below.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=steelinroy
All the best.
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel
Here is a link to 62 different tunings used in Hawaiian music. Experiment.
http://dancingcat.com/skbook-tableofcontents.php
http://dancingcat.com/skbook-tableofcontents.php
- Terry Farmer
- Posts: 530
- Joined: 28 Jun 2002 12:01 am
- Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
And here's another way to learn. I just signed up for Reece Anderson's no pedal lessons on this site. http://www.musictexasstyle.com/ They are beginner lessons so far, with more advanced installments coming in the future. I like Reece's approach to teaching. I'm 58 years old myself and decided to start learning my instrument from scratch all over again. I've been "noodling" for a few years and not really progressing. I see now that there are some essential basics that I didn't spend enough time on in the beginning. Mastering the basics before trying to learn a bunch of songs is the way to go. Good luck and have fun learning!
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 9 Jan 2008 5:26 pm
- Location: Vermont, USA
-
- Posts: 455
- Joined: 19 Apr 2005 12:01 am
- Location: Texas, USA
Learning lap steel
You can't go wrong with learning materials from Rick
Alexander or Roy Thomson. Both have some great lessons. Rick's are mostly for A6, but if you use C6 with a 5 on top everything will transfer. You will just be in a different key. Billy
Alexander or Roy Thomson. Both have some great lessons. Rick's are mostly for A6, but if you use C6 with a 5 on top everything will transfer. You will just be in a different key. Billy
- David Simenson
- Posts: 58
- Joined: 12 Jan 2008 10:03 am
- Location: Merced, California
- Contact:
Hi from another new lap steel player
I'm in the same spot, Leo. I just bought my first lap steel a few weeks ago. I'm using the C6 tuning for 6-strings. I'm just a few years younger than you. I've written an arrangement of Wayfaring Stranger for C6. Check it out on my website at http://www.elite.net/mtc/steel.htm. I'm working on a gospel tune now. I'm joining a country band (we're still looking for a drummer).
Good Luck,
David Simenson
Good Luck,
David Simenson
-
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 6 Mar 2007 2:15 pm
- Location: New York, USA
just learning
used C6 tuning on my 8 string. A,C,E,G,A,C,E,G.
works for me. picked up a lot of CDs from this form.
helped a lot with backup.
works for me. picked up a lot of CDs from this form.
helped a lot with backup.