"Aloha Oe" by me

[Brad Richard]

Well, I've had my Rogue RLS-1gb lap steel for a bit over 3 months and decided to try to make a video. My playing sure isn't perfect, but I'm trying!

https://youtu.be/_VJfWJj2aTY

[Bill Groner]

Very nice Brad. You put me to shame. I bought a Rogue last week and like it a lot. It looks like you modified your original Rogue?? Did you?

[Joe Elk]

Very Nice Me.
Joe Elk Central Ohio

[Kirk Francis]

well done, brah!

[Brad Richard]

Thanks for the comments, guys. As a newbie, I really appreciate it.
Bill- Yes, I modded it. I just didn't like the short scale so I used a georgeboards kit to get 22.5" (I made my own nut/bridge, but used the gb's as templates. That worked out great). I also put in a Bill Lawrence L290S pup I had in a different guitar. What do you think of the tone?

[Bill Groner]

I thought you did great on the modification and the playing. The tone sounded great. I don't know if I got a fluke Rogue, but mine sounds really nice and that is the way it was straight out of the box. I also like the 21" scale. All my other lap steels are 22.5" but I think for me at least, I like the 21" better.

[Brad Richard]

Yeah, I may have jumped the gun a bit. I just didn't like the feel of it. I didn't realize I could use heavier strings to get the slack out. On the other hand, I HAD to replace that fretboard. It's the worst one I've seen on any instrument! To me, it was unplayable.

[Jim Schofield]

Nice Brad, I don't know these, I guess maybe lap steel "standards" but certainly recognise them when I hear them so that is another one to add to my list of tunes to learn when I get a lap steel up and running.

[Andy Volk]

Really nice job, Brad! Even as a beginning steeler you were able to put some feeling into your performance which is what we all want to do. I suggest you now think about incorporating some basic palm blocking into your playing. This will help you better control when notes and chords ring out and sustain and when you shape the melody by controlling that sustain. Here's some info I include in a couple of my books ....

[Brad Richard]

Thanks, Andy. I appreciate the info and I'l be studying it!
Actually, I was trying to palm block, but I've still got a ways to go.

[John Porcellino]

Really nice job, Brad! Even as a beginning steeler you were able to put some feeling into your performance which is what we all want to do. I suggest you now think about incorporating some basic palm blocking into your playing. This will help you better control when notes and chords ring out and sustain and when you shape the melody by controlling that sustain. Here's some info I include in a couple of my books ....

Andy, thanks for posting that! I've been trying wrap my mind around palm muting since I started, and this is what I needed to get me going. What book is that from? I'd like to get a copy! (Now, how in the heck to you do harmonics!?!?)

[Andy Volk]

John that info is Exploring C6th (lots on harmonics in there too) and also Exploring Open D. www.volkmediabooks.com.

Playing Harmonics well takes some practice but give it time and you'll get it down. It's just one more cool thing about playing lap steel.

[John Porcellino]

Thank you Andy, I'm amazed at how friendly and open-minded people are here about us beginners. I'll check out your books!

[Bill Groner]

I'm sure it's because they all remember how it was when they started.......not an easy path.

[Andy Volk]

John, the greatest players in the history of the instrument all started out trying to figure out how to conquer the simplest first steps on this beautiful but confounding instrument. I was helped by so many people when i started out who gave me advice, linked me with other players, freely gave out secrets that took years to learn, and once, even sent me a vintage Bigsby volume pedal free of charge that I was too ignorant to keep. I feel a strong obligation to freely share arrangements, ideas and generally give back. You'll find many, many players here that share this same view.

If you do a search, you'll likely find many of your questions have been answered here multiple times but please feel free to ask anything and folks will jump in to help you.