The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm having trouble holding on to the bar, especially after slanting. Any tips or tutorials on how to master control of the bar as well as how to properly grip or hold the bar would be greatly appreciated. I'm using the Dunlop 919, 3/4" diameter, 2 3\4" length.

Thanks,

George

I got myself a black Phoenix. The thing sticks to my fingers like glue.

I have to wet, then dry my hands to have the best chance of hanging on to the bugger.

Watch the semi-recently posted videos of Jerry Byrd, posted by Jerry Gleasin, on the Na Mele program to see how THE master did it.

I'm a beginner at this and ordered a Dunlop 920. It's a little heavy for me. 7/8"dia. x 2-7/8long & 7.5oz. I'm dropping down to a 5.5oz.Dunlop. I think i can hold and lift it easier. C.R.

One thing that helps on slants is having a deep pocket for the left thumb. esp on reverse slants.

The Red Rajah and Back Phoenix are sticky to the touch as mentioned above. I think they have that deep pocket for your thumb, also.

I like to remove the logo on the thumb end, to get a deeper pocket.

A bit of rubbing alcohol will remove the slick feelin' on a steel bar.

That's all folks!

The Broz-O-Phonic has the indentation on the end for slants and is a nice weight too. Click Here

Of the four bars pictured the double ended Burden is the easiest for me to do slants with. The deep pocket on the original Brozophonic hindered me as I felt my thumb was hanging up in it. The light weight, 3.4 oz. of the Tribo-Tone Manoloff makes it very easy to hold on to. The bars pictured are from left to right, 3 X 3/4 Red Rajah - 5.1 oz., 3 X 3/4 Jim Burden - 5.3 oz., 2 7/8 X 3/4 modified Brozophonic - 4.9 oz., 3 X 3/4 Tribo-Tone model "M" - 3.4 oz. My favorite? Whichever one I use long enough to get used to. I could live with any of them as my only bar. The modified Brozophonic is very similiar in length and weight to the Dunlop 919. Live with what you've got and practice, practice, and more practice will get you there. Then when you're comfortable doing slants experiment with the different bars that are available.
Jude

I can without doubt recommend the "Tribotone" It sticks like the proverbial s**t "To a blanket" !!

I think that's a UK colloquialism, it basically means what you think it means !!

Tribotone is by far the slipiest and stickiest bar slipiest on the strings (And virtually Noiseless) and the stickiest in your hand..

Thanks for the above post Baz. I spent 4 yrs with Australians learning how to talk Aussie and now I'm learning to talk Brit. If only I could teach more folks to talk Mercan. Keoki Lake is my finest student however at times I have a hard time understanding his thick Canadian brogue. CC