The Steel Guitar Forum

Howdy All!!

My name is Mark. I just joined the Forum this weekend. After wasting the last 30+ years playing fretted instruments (Swing/Blues guitar) I finally built a (very) rough 8-string lap at home about a month ago. I bought the Cindy Cashdollar CDs for a primer and have been having a GREAT TIME! I do have a couple of questions, though.

1) I play guitar 50% of the time with a flat pick and 50% of the time with my fingers. I was having REAL trouble using finger picks, so I have abandoned them in favor of my bare fingers. Is this an absolute no-no? Has anybody gone this route before?

2) Can you guys give me the low-down on flat wound vs. round wound strings? I've played round wound on my big body guitars my whole life. I see a lot of steels for sale have flat wound strings on them. Is that the way to go? FYI - I am shopping for a vintage D8 console (Fender, Gibson or Richenbacker).

Thanks a bunch!
Mark.

Welcome to the forum and steel guitar, Mark.

Lot's of steelers use only fingers to pluck, so do what works for you, but do try to get it on with the picks, as Jim mentions. It shouldn't be a problem.

Flats are quieter and give a spookier sound, which I prefer.

Check out the steel conventions and thier patrons for dbl. neck deals.

I have been at this for about 3ish years, and I despise the sound from metal picks. I sometimes use plastic picks, mostly my fingers. If you like something, I see no reason to sweat it. I just like the sound better.

welcome to the best forum around.
I started lap steel a few years ago. I use my flat pick and middle finger on lap slide. thatis how I play my stand up guitars, so I decided not to change. I have no problems. I haven't been critisized for playing that way.
use what works for you. I did not want to reinvent myself.

oh, I forgot to mention...I like using half rounds.
they really are smooth and sound nice.

Hi Mark,
I feel like an old timer on this forum now - I joined yesterday, though I've been playing steel for quite a few years now. I started using flat wounds but soon found I preferred the sound of round wounds, they cut through and sustain better.It depends on what sound you want to make. As my technique improved I found that the string noise of the round wounds dissapeared. I also found using finger picks awkward at first, but after a year of putting them on and taking them off I began to feel comfortable with them and can't play without them anymore. I think the answer is to persevere with them and then make your own mind up. We're all different, we all sound different - that's what makes life interesting.

Bill

Mark - What part of California do you live in?

Hi Bill,

I'm in San Jose.

Hi Bill,
I also have been playing guitar for years. I have tried playing with finger picks many times and I just can't get used to them. They are awkward to play with as they disconect my sense of "feel" from the strings, and... they hurt. Many say that it is worth the work and pain in order to get the "sound" of playing with finger picks, but I prefer the sound of playing with my bare fingers so I have decided to stay playing with my bare fingers.

Just my 2 cents.

Fred

I spent 40 years training my right hand to play guitar properly and had to utterly destroy my technique to get used to finger picks when I took up steel. I tried playing without them, but without picks my hand was in the wrong position for effective blocking except with the finger tips. (I've found STOPPING NOTES is an issue guitar players new to steel usually are unfamiliar with due to the poor technique most guitar players get away with.)

I'd stick with the picks. Only took me 3 years to feel at all comfortable!!!

My answer to bothof these questions is that it's a matter of personal preference. My advice is to experiment a little bit and find out what you like best.

Hello Mark,

I am also relatively new to steel guitar.

I've been playing regular guitar for over 45yrs. I use a flat pick for 75% of the time and just thumb/fingers for the rest.

When I started in on the steel I had a great deal of difficulty getting used to finger picks. With that said, the more I used the picks I became more accustomed to the feel. It was not easy at first, I know what you are going through.

Now I have no problem. Suggestion: Rick Alexander, who has contributed to this forum, has an excellent tip. He shows how you can use those little pads people use on eye glasses (to cushion the bridge of your nose). He uses them to pad the insides of the finger picks, nice tip.

I also have found the Cindy Cashdollar videos very helpful. Also, you might what to check out Rick Alexander's web site:

http://rickalexander.com

He has some very helpful instruction, well worth checking out.

Hang in there, the steel guitar is a wonderful instrument well worth the effort. Believe me I've logged many months practicing. There are rewarding times that make it all worthwhile.

Later, Bill

When I started playing lap I used flat wound stainless Black Diamond strings and a thumb and 2 finger picks. After brief tries on electric standard guitar playing "Telestar" and "Wipeout" with flat pick, settled on acoustic guitar with thumb and 3 finger picks. For the last 35 years I've been playing lap, mostly country, country blues, R&B These days I use round wounds because they're to my ears better suited to the stuff my group is playing. I switch back and forth between using a thumb and 3 picks and no picks. With a group, I find it better to use picks-the sound stands up better. I usually prefer playing without them when alone. There are a bunch of things you can do in either condition that you can't do in the other- I can't do a "Churchlick" (swiping the strings with the backs of my fingernails for backbeat) in picks-they go flying across the room. Just this Saturday I was in the local music store eyeing new finger picks. They had bells and whistles, slots and holes, and aerodynamic computer-designed features, and cost about as much as my first guitar. I found myself thinking, "Maybe these would make it better.....".

Rick Alexander does have some great tips. This is a very generous forum.

I guess overall I'm echoing everybody else: experiment, play a lot and find what you like. Invent your own style.

OOOOPS!!!

Almost forgot!!!

Bobbe Seymour has excellent instructional videos for non-pedal steel. Highly recommend!

http://www.steelguitar.net/

Check out his site.

!!!

Thanks All for your wonderful input. Since my plan is to gig eventually, it seems as though I should get used to the picks if I want to do this "right". I think the best approach might be to introduce those darn things one at a time. I'll start with the thumb pick tonight! Of course now I'm going to have to learn to play my fretted guitars with a thumb pick as I expect that I will be playing both type of instruments at gigs. Too bad I can't afford $10k for one of those things that Junior Brown plays!

Hi Mark,

I'm also new to the forum and lap steel guitar. One thing I have learned from reading the posts here is that there is really no right way. Members of this forum are creative and are always trying out new things. Now I am the furthest thing from an expert, but what I like about this forum is that folks don't get hung up on right and wrong ways. They support and encourage you to experiment and find techniques and styles that you are comfortable with. If you don't get used to finger picks, don't worry about it! Good luck!

Greg

I'm also new to the forum and lap steel guitar. One thing I have learned from reading the posts here is that there is really no right way

Not correct, there IS an accepted norm for most of the aspect of playing, just deviating for the sake of expediency isn't sufficient reason to ignore the accepted path.

edit

Excellent tip!!!

Thank you George!!!

Another reason this forum is such a wealth of information.

Head on over and check out:

http://www.georgeboards.com

Excellent source for steel guitar instruction.

Mark, the videos that Bill mentioned are at http://youtube.com/rickalexander47

The "nose-pads" video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGscybFcRxE

Excellent tips George! I am truly inspired now. I'm going to work on this all weekend. Wifie's just gonna have to cook (for a change) and do her owe damn laundry this weekend!

Thanks Rick - I've already been all over your youtube lessons.

Viva la Forum!!

Flat wound/tape wound strings sound dull on most guitars, steel or regular. I don't know why they make them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cyQB3gE ... re=related


Mr Seymour thumbpick only.