The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been watching lots of great videos on You Tube and comparing the different ways these great pickers grip the bar. It seems that there are two broad categories. Some hold the index finger straight along the top of the bar and some have the index finger along the side of the bar, next to the thumb.

I'm particularly intrigued by Bobbe Seymour's flawless execution of both forward and reverse slants. Furthermore, his vibrato is just beautiful. He places his index finger on the side of the bar, pointing down at the strings, almost forming a circle with his thumb.

Another thing I've noticed is that many of those who place the index finger along the top of the bar tend to roll the bar back and forth, while those who have the index finger next to the bar tend to slide the bar back and forth, when adding vibrato to the notes.

I would like to hear your opinions on the pros and cons of these two techniques of gripping the bar, along with any other observations or comments you may have on the topic.

Lee, from South Texas

Lee
have you ever noticed Joe Savage playing , he kinda wiggles the bar back and forth, Joe is a super player . and i have tried to copy the way he does it but its just not in me , i always roll the bar instead of sliding it.
but man can Joe play doing it his way

I never thought about it, but here's a close up of my left hand. This is from the same picture as my avatar.

I hold it like this. I tend to slide the bar more than roll it for trem but I do both. Rolling produces better sustain on the slow stuff IMO.







JW

Lee
Being a "late bloomer" attempting to play the steel, I have observed over many years of watching players of this magnificent instrument and their vastly different ways of holding the bar. The most interesting thing is to look at the size of the individuals hand. I believe this is the governing factor on bar grip. A very talented local steel player friend of mine has a smaller hand and I can't begin to get comfy with his bar grip. Another area player has very large hands and hence another unique grip on the bar. My grip looks like Jim's (pictured). I'll bet tho, the two use quite different techniques. I anchor the bar against my hand at the base of the index and middle fingers. Actually holding the bar with the middle finger and the thumb. for the most part the first finger just rests on the top. I've seen bar grips like mine, but with larger hands I've seen the players using the anchor point as the pivot to make the tremelo. I cannot hold the bar that loose. Most of the major players I've observed at the convention in St Louis have subtle but very characteristic differences in bar grip. After shaking hands with many of them, notibly John Hughy, Buddy Emmons, the late and great Jeff Newman just to name a few, the hand differences are significent and hence the bar grip. It also contributes to their unique sounds. God Bless America! Bernie

I hold the bar with my index finger on top of the bar thus allowing me to have my middle finger on the side of the bar. This also allows me to pick the bar up with my thumb and finger when I play songs such as SGR.
I was taught to roll the bar but it doesn't work for my so I slide the bar for the tremolo effect.
Don

With both hands, so I don't fall down after drinking all night.

Thinking about it (I don't have a bar (much less a guitar) with me at the moment), I think my index finger is just for stability, and the middle finger is the one that really does the work (heh). I hook my thumb on the base of the bar. This is probably due to doing so many slants in C6 lap steel, I want that control.

I tend to slide, rather than roll.

I think I heard,,,or read somewhere that Bobbe's left hand had a disagreement with a (?) skill saw,,or,?? If that's true I wonder if we should all run our hand under one,,,cause man he does the smoothest (along with Billy Robinson,,,and Big E) slants,,,

Jeff Newman said to roll the bar,,,that's what I try to do,,,and keep that right hand knuckle pointed up,,,as a matter of fact,,I've been noticeing lately,,that the players that get the most comments for their great tone,,,(and we All know the tone is in the hands!!) have their right hand almost straight up and down. Now that I'm very comfortable with the peaked knuckle,,,I've noticed my tone is much better when my hand is more straight up and down.

Sorry,,,I shifted from the left hand to the right hand,,,just sharing my observations,,,

With regard to Bobbe's grip on the bar, it would be difficult to roll the bar. His whole hand slides back and forth when he is adding vibrato.

With his index finger pointing down the way it does, it provides the perfect fulcrum for reverse slants. You can just push down the base of the index finger, where it joins the palm, and it slides the butt of the bar out and to the right. The index finger holds the center of the bar in place and the nose turns to the left.

Maybe Bobbe will "chime" in.

Like This!

..sometimes I don't, and I drop it.

Sonny Jenkins wrote:...I think I heard, or read somewhere, that Bobbe's left hand had a disagreement with a (?) skill saw,,or,?? If that's true I wonder if we should all run our hand under one...

...after you, Sonny. Show us how it's done !