Steel Bar & String Technique

Johnny Baker · From: Southport, Fla

I see some doing it and I some, like me, not doing it. Which is right, which is wrong, or does it
really matter? Does slow you down to do it or does
it make you faster not doing it?

What I am talking about is moving your bar back and
forth as you move it up and down the fret board.
You are covering only the strings you play or you
cover all the strings all the time.

I have yet to see any instruction on that, you
thoughts.

Ray McCarthy · From: New Hampshire, USA

Moving the bar down to play the lower strings lessens the chance of buzzing. I'm training myself to do it but sometimes I just forget. It's not automatic yet for me.

Johnny Baker · From: Southport, Fla

I forget, most of the time. I can do it, some.

Bob Kagy · From: Lafayette, CO USA

Johnny, it's considered good technique by some to do that for a couple reasons.

The sweet spot is the upper 1/3 of the bar (toward the treble strings). And it also brings the possibility of doing middle finger bar hand muting which can be useful.

Jeff Newman and Joe Wright to name 2 teachers taught this.

Obviously you can't do it when you're playing say strings 3 5 and 10 at the same time.

Hope this helps.
bk

Tim Heidner · From: Groves, TX

I think it's a way of "muting" the strings you aren't using.

Dave Magram · From: San Jose, California, USA

Every professional steel player I've seen uses this technique. It gives you the best tone with the least effort, and helps in muting with both the left thumb and the left middle finger.

The best way to learn is by watching a really good steel player, and YouTube offers many chances to do just that.

Check out the bar-hand technique of the late, great Hal Rugg on what I consider one of the hottest steel solos of all time--
"George Jones and Tammy Wynette - Milwaukee Here I Come"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pQObXNIQvo

Hal's solo starts at 1:58. He does it all, including a bar lift near the end.

- Dave

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

You don't have to push so hard when just using the end of the bar..
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Franklin · Posted 16 Aug 2010 5:21 am

Its done mostly for tone and fretting accuracy....It helps, as Ken pointed out, with intonation by not having to push down as hard......The bar should not have much downward pressure at any given time to prevent detuning.....Paul

Bob Kagy · From: Lafayette, CO USA

Nice YouTube quote Dave.

Tim Heidner · From: Groves, TX

That was great! Why did he fan his fingers behind the bar like that?

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

Tim Heidner · From: Groves, TX

Ah So!!!

I'm gonna have to try that! Mr. Green

Johnny Baker · From: Southport, Fla

I saw it, it smoke, my my my that guy was flat out
picking it.
Seriously, I appreciate all the fine input and I have
been striving more, in the last few days to learn
that and make it part of all my playin.
As I said, I am an amatuer and probably always will
be, but I do enjoy making the music, even if I am
the only one who likes it. Shocked

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I am currently running a Simmons SD10, Peavey Nashville 400 that's packing a 15" BW, Peavey Delta Fex effects processor, and a Match Box. Best rig I've ever run and the sound is truly incredible.

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

TTT
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