New to Dobro

Alex Cattaneo · Post by **Alex Cattaneo** » 6 Mar 2013 7:45 pm

So I finally got a resonator. Where do I begin? I have been a professional musician for over 20 years, playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele and lately, mostly pedal steel. So I guess I'm looking for proper technique and vocabulary. Also, I like to learn about instrument maintenance. What are the best methods out there?

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 6 Mar 2013 8:18 pm

For setup and maintenance, Paul Beard has a great video out following how he sets up and fine tunes resos. Way worth it.
There are a number of past threads here about instructional material for different styles.
For basic orientation, applying theory and understanding the layout and potential of the G Tuning, I have to recommend my Dobro Theory and number system course, as I recorded it with just these questions in mind.

M J Scott · Post by **M J Scott** » 6 Mar 2013 9:23 pm

You may also want to visit the ResoHangout. Lots of info there all related to the reso and mostly the squareneck although there are a few round neck folks there too.

Not trying to upset forum members here, but always good to have multiple resources

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 6 Mar 2013 10:50 pm

I just asked the same question...

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=241809

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 7 Mar 2013 5:18 am

Rob Ickes has an excellent 2 DVD instruction set available from Homespun tapes. Reso-nation is the Steel Guitar Forum for dobro enthusiasts. Dobro takes a completely different attack than pedal and lap steel. You need to get a different bar than you are used to using, one that you can grip for those fast hammer ons and pull offs which create those fast licks everyone likes on the dobro.

It has taken me a long time to rid myself of my dobro playing when playing lap steel. It is a different animal.

Bill Mollenhauer · Post by **Bill Mollenhauer** » 7 Mar 2013 7:32 am

I will second Mark Van Allens CDs as a place to start. They are all audio, no visuals so you might have to write some things down to understand them. This is good though because you have to think about the information. You cant gloss over it and move on.

Look on the Stewart McDonald site for dobro setup info also. Its not rocket science. If you are going to put new strings on it, you are 1/3 of the way to setting it up. Just mark everything as you are taking it apart so you can get things back in their original position and if you have a problem ask here on the forum. If you can set up a banjo you can set up a dobro.