The Steel Guitar Forum

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I am Paul Kemper, a new member and a relatively new lap steel player.

I say relatively new as I am attempting to re-learn this beautiful instrument after a 54 year hiatus. About 1954 I was 14 years old and taking lap steel lessons from Professor Gelb in Redwood City, CA. After discovering girls I put the guitar and amp away and then sold them at a yard sale in 1993. Sure wish I had kept them, but I never dreamed I'd ever be playing music again. Now, in retirement, I play 6 string acoustic guitar in a local band and want to introduce the sounds of the lap steel guitar. Yea, I know you did the math, and yes, I am 68 years old but I'm determined to learn again.

I wish I could remember the tuning Professor Gelb taught, I believe it was E7 but I'm not sure. He used the Oahu Hawaiian guitar course but I no longer have any of the material. Anyone out there know what tunings they taught beginners back in the early 50's ?

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and I look forward to learning a whole lot more from the generous members of this forum.

Regards,
Paul

Hello Paul and welcome back to the steel guitar and also welcome to the SGF.

I'm an old geizer (71), and I took lessons in 1948 an 49 and have played ever since. I also discovered girls, but selected only those who would accept my steel guitar!!!!!!!

It was probably either the E tuning as follows:

E,B,E,G#,B,E

or the A tuning as follows:

E C# A E A E low bass tuning, or


E C# A E C# A high bass tuning.

All above are high (thin) string to low (thick).

If it was the A tuning. my guess would be the "low bass" version as that was common.

The low bass tuning allowed you to get an E7th chord by playing the open 4th and 6th string with for example, the bar tilted on the 1st string 10th fret.

This allowed you to play the Oahu music unaccompanied. The high bass tuning is used when you're playing with a band and you are not accompanying yourself.

Will be glad to help further if desired.

Geo

GIRLS ???? You mean to say there was actually something else besides the steel guitar ? Of course you young bucks were probably sex maniacs !

1928 was a good year !

Girls ??? Yep, I married one and she is still my bride 49 years later.

Regarding the E tunings, is the 6th. string E an octave lower than the 4th. string E and two octaves lower than the 1st. string E?

Thanks,
Paul

Welcome, Paul. Yes, the E's are an octave apart and the open E tuning should sound like an open E chord.

Welcome Paul. I know what you mean about being away from music for a long time. I was away for over 40 years and I'm struggling to re-train on the steel, and I'm an old guy too, 76.