Telling the Story of the Guitar

Charles Dempsey · Post by **Charles Dempsey** » 31 May 2005 8:14 pm

Well, whatever this Emmons thing is, it's a pleasure to play it, and I hope one day soon to play it well.

I favor the guitar label, but it bothers me not the least if it's descended from a harp, a guitar, an oud, or a cheese slicer.

Doesn't every kid about six wrap rubber bands around a cigar box, use a pencil for a bridge and nut, and walk around the house going "Twang!". I did, and mine was a guitar.

Charlie<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Charles Dempsey on 31 May 2005 at 09:22 PM.]</p></FONT>

Bruce Burhans · Post by **Bruce Burhans** » 31 May 2005 8:20 pm

I'd like to thank everyone for a rip-roaring
discussion.

Funny thing is, my only real intention was to tell
everyone where to find a quality radio essay that did
justice to the pedal steel. Public Radio is heard
all over the world...

Guess I better watch them little side remarks...

(or keep a hardhat nearby)

Bruce in Bellingham

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Sho-Bud S-10 Pro-I 3+5 -- http://tinyurl.com/65rcv

Wooden Steels Rock!

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 31 May 2005 8:34 pm

This is in no way an effort to qualify or disqualify the correct terminology but, I seem to remember Gibson in their earlier years of making pedal steels had a model they referred to as a "Harp." I stand to be corrected if I am in error. Next time I want to buy one of these "whatchamacallits," what should I ask for?

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Bruce Burhans · Post by **Bruce Burhans** » 31 May 2005 8:47 pm

Kenny Dail,

A pedal cheese slicer?

I'm outta here.

Bruce in Bellingham

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Sho-Bud S-10 Pro-I 3+5 -- http://tinyurl.com/65rcv

Wooden Steels Rock!

Hans Holzherr · Post by **Hans Holzherr** » 1 Jun 2005 3:35 am

Bruce, here's the left hand technique for the Chinese Zither (after player accidently drops bar)

http://www.tcfb.com/guqin/notation3.html - from the very URL you posted

Hans

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 1 Jun 2005 5:24 am

"parallel convergent evolution"

That's what I was trying to say?!

But what I really want to know is: if my lap steel is made of wood, why is it called a steel?
If I play it badly, can I think of it as a harp?

What guage strings should I use if I decide to use it as a cheese slicer?
Will Monterrey Jack mess up the pickup?

So much to learn, so little brain!

I actually thought this was a pedal steel:
<a href='http://usera.imagecave.com/charliethemo ... .jpg'><img src='http://usera.imagecave.com/charliethemo ... g.jpg'></a>
Charlie

Vern Wall · Post by **Vern Wall** » 1 Jun 2005 9:34 am

If the strings are perpendicular to the soundbox it is a harp, whether plucked, bowed, or hammered. If the strings are parallel to the soundbox it is a zither, sitar, chitar, kitar, or guitar, but only if it's plucked. If it's bowed it is a violin, and if it's hammered it is a dulcimer or a piano.

Instruments that don't have soundboxes are called whatever they resemble, and all these names are freely interchanged until nobody really knows what anything is called any more. The PSG could as well be called a psaltery, except that the biblical connections might not be right for everybody.

Alan Shank · Post by **Alan Shank** » 1 Jun 2005 4:49 pm

It's interesting, isn't it, that this Forum topic is "Pedal Steel?" Perhaps we could just leave it at that. I play (sort of) the pedal steel. I'm (sort of) a steel player.
Etc.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 2 Jun 2005 5:14 am

"If the strings are perpendicular to the soundbox it is a harp, whether plucked, bowed, or hammered."

I'll buy that. Thanks, Vern.

BTW, you are correct; the piano evolved from the hammer dulcimer.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 2 Jun 2005 5:38 am

What I can't call it a
20 string Horisontal Hawaiian Pedal Harp anymore?

Y'all''re ruining my day here...!

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 2 Jun 2005 9:31 am

I'm thinking Vern nailed the music school answer. Last night I asked my pedal harpist friend, Ellen Teppar, about this question. She immediately replied that a harp has strings perpindicular to the sound box. She said, "Mine's a harp, yours is a guitar." I felt like I was in 3rd grade again playing doctor. I got all flustered and had to have another bourbon and water.