Anyone care to join me?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 15 Jul 2012 2:29 pm

Non-pedal is kind of like non-smoker. I don't smoke, and I have never smoked, but I'm not a non-smoker, any more than I'm a non-burglar, a non-murderer, a non-rapist, etc. Someone who smokes is a smoker; the non terms specify what someone doesn't do, and there are a lot more things I don't do than I do do.

A steel guitar or electric Hawaiian guitar is just that. If you're going to say non-pedal you might as well also add non-resonator, non-acoustic, non-keyboard, etc.

Do harp players suffer the same problem? Is a regular harp classified as non-pedal harp to distinguish it from the orchestral harp, which has pedals ?

Then what about the dulcimer? There are two completely different types of dulcimer, one that you play on the knees, fingering from above, and the other that you hit with hammers. But no-one ever calls a plucked dulcimer a non-hammer dulcimer.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 15 Jul 2012 3:36 pm

A lap dog is a dog that can sit on your lap......a lap steel is a steel that can sit on your lap......I make no bones about this.......

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 15 Jul 2012 6:49 pm

Alan Brookes wrote:Non-pedal is kind of like non-smoker. I don't smoke, and I have never smoked, but I'm not a non-smoker, any more than I'm a non-burglar, a non-murderer, a non-rapist, etc. Someone who smokes is a smoker; the non terms specify what someone doesn't do, and there are a lot more things I don't do than I do do.

A steel guitar or electric Hawaiian guitar is just that. If you're going to say non-pedal you might as well also add non-resonator, non-acoustic, non-keyboard, etc.

Do harp players suffer the same problem? Is a regular harp classified as non-pedal harp to distinguish it from the orchestral harp, which has pedals ?

Then what about the dulcimer? There are two completely different types of dulcimer, one that you play on the knees, fingering from above, and the other that you hit with hammers. But no-one ever calls a plucked dulcimer a non-hammer dulcimer.

Took the words right out of my mouth, Alan. The terms are, "Steel Guitar," and "Pedal Steel Guitar." You talk about what's there and not about what isn't.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 15 Jul 2012 6:50 pm

HowardR wrote:A lap dog is a dog that can sit on your lap......a lap steel is a steel that can sit on your lap......I make no bones about this.......

My post above notwithstanding, I think this attitude is the appropriate one for this subject matter.

Mike Ihde · Post by **Mike Ihde** » 15 Jul 2012 8:34 pm

When we see a big old D'Angelico Emperor, we say it's a Jazz guitar. When we see a Gibson Flying V we say it's a rock guitar. When we see a Telecaster we say it's a country guitar. So what's wrong with saying ours is a Hawaiian guitar. As with all the aforementioned guitars, it certainly doesn't mean that's the only kind of music you can play on it but it speaks to the tradition of what has "usually" been played on it in the past, thus their reputation.
If you say Hawaiian Guitar, I think most non musicians will think of hula dancing and a guy sitting down and sliding around his steel. That's fine. All you need to do then is say "But of course you can play any kind of music you want with it." and you're all done.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 16 Jul 2012 7:21 am

Communicating with the general public, both pedal and non-pedal should be designated as, and called, Steel Guitar.
For this forum, topic headings should be:

Steel Guitar
Steel Guitar with Pedals

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 16 Jul 2012 8:49 am

I agree with Rick. Non-pedal has overtones of a loss of something. Pedals are an add-on. Lack of pedals is not a subtraction, unless you assume that the pedal steel is the standard by which others should be judged, which it is not. The term non-pedal should be completely eliminated. It sssumes that pedals are normal, and an instrument without them is somehow lacking.

b0b, please change the headings to those which Rick suggested. They make sense.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 16 Jul 2012 11:59 am

For me, "Steel Without Mercy" would be more appropriate...

Tom Franke · Post by **Tom Franke** » 16 Jul 2012 3:23 pm

Interesting topic, for sure. I think some tolerance and respect toward the general public may be in order. Why should the average person know about all the different varieties of steel guitar? Or even of "guitar" which must have dozens of variations.

FWIW, my brother is an anthropologist who plays the oboe. The general public doesn't generally know what he does or what he plays. He seems to take it in stride, though. (And for those who know the difference, he's a cultural anthropologist, not a physical anthropologist.)

So, I'm ready to give the general public a pass. I do think it's useful to make these distinctions within the community of players, though. I'm going to go with "steel guitar" and "pedal steel guitar" and explain more if the situation calls for it. I'm also going to stop using "reso" and call a Dobro a dobro, which I think most of us do anyway when Gibson doesn't have the trademark police around. (And, in case they're watching--i do own an actual Dobro ).

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 17 Jul 2012 5:56 am

Many people ask what kind of guitar I'm playing - "what do you call that thing?" I tell them it's a steel guitar. Sometimes that satisfies them, other times they ask "is that a pedal steel guitar?" Then we start the conversation about different types of steel guitars. Usually they find it interesting. Sometimes they don't. If it's a real music fan or musician, the conversation can get very involved and it's a fun way to spend the break between sets. Other people don't care too much about it, and just say "that thing's cool," and that's that.

Regardless, I don't think terminology is worth the getting worked up. WE know what it is. It's a steel guitar. Subsequent conversations to explain further are usually fun, unless you're a jerk about it.

Danny James · Post by **Danny James** » 18 Jul 2012 5:29 am

Hey Ray, my friend, I notice in your pictures, it looks like your sitting in the cockpit of an airplane. Now is that a J 3 piper cub, a 47 Luscomb, a 180 Cessna, or a 747 jumbo jet? Or do you just tell someone who asks, that "I fly an airplane"?

It's very hard to tie an explanation of the instrument we love to hear and play to a single name. It just doesn't work for me. I bet it doesn't work for you either.

Watch out for those speed bumps, or are they air pockets when your flying your aero-plane?

Joking aside I wish I had been able to afford to keep on flying after I soloed in a Piper J 5 super cruiser "airplane" more years ago than I care to admit. (long story there too.)

Now back to the subject of steel guitars, which I had to explain to a friend who had never heard of one, that mine is not made of steel, and where the words "steel guitar" originated to the best of my ability. It seems I just can't get away from the explanations, which give me the open door and opportunity to promote the "Steel Guitar". Actually I enjoy doing that, providing the person is sincerely interested.

How about you?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 18 Jul 2012 8:44 am

Most of the public think a steel guitar is just a guitar with steel strings, as opposed to a classical with nylon or gut strings.

After performing a couple of numbers on a Weissenborn at an English folk club, a gorgeous young lady came up to me and complimented me on my slack key guitar playing. I didn't have the heart to mention that I've never played slack key in my life.