The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey guys (and gals) my name's Ryan Hulin I'm from Oklahoma I've always been in love with the sound of the steel guitar especially when Don Helms plays and man can that guy play!!

I picked up the lap steel instead a month back because there's a lower price point to it and I don't have to rack my brain with thoughts of pedals & levers!!

I'm playing a cheapo depo Morrell lap steel 6 string model I got off eBay for $100 (and a prayer). It's a actually a decent instrument for learning on I think. I play in C6 mainly because the instructional DVD I have teaches in that tuning and I know where all my chords are and what not. I would like to meet other steel players so if there's anyone on here in Oklahoma give me a shout I'd love to jam and play with other steel players.

That was kind of a long intro I guess, so I'll stop now. I look forward to meeting some of you nice folks and learning as much as I can about this beautiful instrument.

Hi Ryan. Welcome aboard. It s great forum. Not in Ok but I would think you will find someone. You said you love Don Helms so you should get the Mel Bay Don Helms steel guitar song book. All the songs tuned to E13. It comes with a demo track backing track of each song on cd. Good luck and have fun.

Wow there's really nobody in Oklahoma? That kind of bums me out. I wouldn't mind it but on the one hand I don't want to drive all the way to Dallas to meet other steel guitar players. Technology being what it is today surely it's not out of the question to have a Skype session with another steel player.

You might write to George Piburn of George Boards steel guitars through his web site or through the forum. He is in Oklahoma and knows the local scene. Has great instructional material and might be able to help connect you.

James

Thanks James I'll look him up!!

Welcome Ryan. I live in Oklahoma, about 100 miles from Tulsa but I strongly suggest you contact the Oklahoma Steel Guitar Association with Wayne Morton as president. The club meets the 3rd Sunday of the month in Owasso and I am sure there are members of the club that can get you started in the right direction ! Welcome to the wonderful world of steel guitar...you will find alot of helpful and knowledgeable folks on here ! try the link below

http://www.theosga.org/

Hi Ryan,
I don't know where you ar in Oklahoma but the Arklahoma Steel Guitar Club meets the first Sunday of the month in Muldrow, OK. we're about 10 miles from Ft. Smith, AR. You can email me through the forum. We have a lot of players here that can help you. I sent you a PM through the forum also with a phone number.

Have a great day!!!

Hal Stackhouse
Muldrow, OK

Technology being what it is today surely it's not out of the question to have a Skype session with another steel player.

Or Skype lessons from a professional who is a professional steel guitar teacher who happened to play with Asleep At The Wheel and who played professionally in Hawaii. His name is John Ely and he knows his stuff.

http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/lessons/lessons.php

Welcome to the forum. I might also comment that the Don Helms book mentioned can be played just fine on a six stringer as he does not use all 8 strings on the tab in the book. This actually winds up being(E6th): E G# B C# E G# (low to high). You will need lighter gauge srings to tune to this tuning though. I think you have started with a good tuning (C6) it is very versatile and there is a ton of good educational material available for it, much of it free on the internet.

Don- I might very well contact that gentleman about Skype lessons his rate per hour isn't bad at all and I think it would really help in my journey with this instrument to have one on one personalized instruction with another lap steel player.

Jim & everyone else- I got the Don Helms book from Mel Bay last night (the electronic version) and LOVE it and I know I have a ways to go in the Don Helms repertoire in the book but I got a good chunk of the Your Cheating Heart intro down last night haha

On a related note I never realized how simple some of Don Helms backup licks are as a matter of fact what was cool was some of the backup licks he plays I already knew I just didn't realize I knew, you see I also got Troy Brenningmeir's (I think that's his last name) collection of lessons he has for C6 and I found that many of the licks and improvisations he taught were ones that Don used.