What's the first song you learned on lap or non-pedal steel?

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 4 Jun 2017 11:45 am

Having a nostalgic day again. Remembered the first song I learned on steel guitar in 1949.
Red River Valley on my 1949 Silvertone Lap Steel. My memory is that I learned from an old
tab version which my dad had made. Later, in 1950, my brother, Joe, and I played Red River
Valley at a high school talent show before an audience of maybe 1,000. We were pretty
nervous, didn't win, but had a lot of fun. I don't ever remember playing before that large an
audience again.

Photo of me, left, and Joe, right, on stage at the talent show. Joe is playing a 1948 Silvertone Lap steel.
Notice we both played with round bullet-nose bars. I still have my bar which is 2 3/4 x 3/4 chrome plated steel.

C. E.

William Hoff · Post by **William Hoff** » 4 Jun 2017 1:18 pm

A very crude attempt at Mercury Blues, David Lindley version. Very inspiring piece.

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 4 Jun 2017 1:30 pm

"I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes", on an old, black Stewart arch-top with a raised nut, in standard Dobro tuning. I was hooked on day one.

Nic Sanford · Post by **Nic Sanford** » 4 Jun 2017 2:34 pm

Believe it or not, a very simple version of Red River Valley. I also took some open E bottleneck stuff I was trying to learn and transferred it to the lap. Such as, a horrible attempt at Ry Cooder's cover of Vigilante Man, and the vocal lines from Sam Cook's Bring It On Home. Never got those right, but I still warm up with them before practicing.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 4 Jun 2017 2:51 pm

Wabash Cannonball.
On a brand-new OMI 60-DS.

Joe Snow · Post by **Joe Snow** » 4 Jun 2017 2:57 pm

Home on the Range. Oahu lesson #1.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 4 Jun 2017 2:58 pm

"Panhandle Rag" on a double Stringmaster, in about 1991

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 4 Jun 2017 4:31 pm

'John Hardy' on a Silvertone Flattop tuned Spanish with a nut riser and a Stevens bar. I have played that song on guitar for as long as I can remember so I just picked it out in the new tuning with the 'new gear'. I started out with visions of the bar flying across the room and denting a wall or breaking a window, but I was doing pretty good it seemed to me in a couple of hours. The thumb-pick and finger-picks were not new to me either. I still play that one from time to time, often as a part in a Carter Family Medley.

Joe Burke · Post by **Joe Burke** » 4 Jun 2017 7:16 pm

You Are My Sunshine

Joe Elk · Post by **Joe Elk** » 4 Jun 2017 8:00 pm

The Bells of Saint Mary's I May have to revisit that I have not played in years!
Joe Elk Central Ohio

Levi Gemmell · Post by **Levi Gemmell** » 4 Jun 2017 9:05 pm

I second "You Are My Sunshine."

Lee Holliday · Post by **Lee Holliday** » 5 Jun 2017 12:02 am

it may have been little Red Rooster but Rolling in my sweet babys arms seems more likely.

Lee

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 5 Jun 2017 1:26 am

Everything Is Gonna Work Out Fine by Jerry Douglas, worked out by ear. Love the photo of you and your brother, C.E.

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 5 Jun 2017 1:32 am

Sleepwalk for me. Although, I am still working on it. Seems I can never play it the same twice! It maybe a life long endeavor.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 5 Jun 2017 2:38 am

Amazing Grace

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 5 Jun 2017 5:27 am

"Steelin the Blues" in 1968 on a Fender quad...sounds crazy but that was my first steel and tune...I was 21 and teaching guitar in the studio where I learned to play guitar and heard the owner teaching that tune to a steel student...that was it ! I had to learn that ! I STILL cant do that tune justice after all of these years !

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 5 Jun 2017 6:17 am

First song I learned on steel guitar?

"Aloha Oe" in A low bass.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 5 Jun 2017 6:19 am

Elmore James.....It Hurts Me Too.........Open E

Andy Henriksen · Post by **Andy Henriksen** » 5 Jun 2017 6:56 am

Other than a few originals played with a technique that only slightly resembled anything remotely proper, I think Merle Haggard's "Swinging Doors" was probably the first.

Of course, Merle's version is PSG (Mooney, I think), but there are plenty of great melodic licks that translate fairly well to non-pedal, including the intro and solo break. It's still one of my favorites to play with a band - I love the trade-offs between steel and armpit guitar.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 5 Jun 2017 7:25 am

Sleep Walk was the first song for me, about 1970.

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 5 Jun 2017 7:31 am

Doug Beaumier wrote:Sleep Walk was the first song for me, about 1970.

Good to know. Hope everything else falls into place

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Jun 2017 7:54 am

"Beginner's Waltz" in A high bass on an acoustic Oahu guitar.
One like this:

Butch Mullen · Post by **Butch Mullen** » 5 Jun 2017 8:59 am

steel guitar rag

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 5 Jun 2017 9:15 am

In 1939 on my brand new acoustic Hawaiian guitar with the pink & yellow cowboy scene on the front,- it was a single sheet of Bronson music titled "Nearer My God To Thee". Played it a couple times in church. Then went on to
bigger and better things. Didn't get my first Fender (6 string) Champ until about 1951. Those were the days.
Wally

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 5 Jun 2017 4:13 pm

Doug Beaumier wrote:Sleep Walk was the first song for me, about 1970.

I say we get Doug to do a "Sleepwalk" video for Youtube and post it. Anybody with me? I for one would love to hear him play that song.

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What's the first song you learned on lap or non-pedal steel?

What's the first song you learned on lap or non-pedal steel?

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