The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi Guys, I'm new here. it's probably been asked a million times but I just need to ask again.. I Need advice on learning an 8 string lap steel. I've been a guitar player for about years and know my chops. I've dabbled with steel and can finger pick it flatpick it, and make some chord shapes. but what is your guy's opinion on me learning, I really want it to be c6 cause that's the sound.. but if there is a random c13 video or book. that would be better. thank you ~~Julian~~

It depends in the style of music you want to play but, just going off your photo, stick with C6 and get Cindy Cashdollar’s Western Swing steel guitar DVDs. Steve

Seeing that you like Junior Brown, you might enjoy learning this tune by Buddy Charleton that Junior plays. Follow the link in the info section of the video for the tab.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E3KTNIzzYs

thanks a bunch guys!

C6 is a great tuning. Forumite Doug Beaumier has two great c6 song books with audio CDs available at www.play steelguitar.com. They are for six string but would be fine on you 8 string upper strings (c e g a c e) of course. Honestly they have been the most helpful thing for me getting started, but I do play several other instruments. Someone totally new would probably want a more from the ground up approach. The Mel Bay -Dewitt Scott course would be good for this as is the Cindy Cashdollar material that Steven mentioned. You will find most beginner material to be for 6 string C6 so it wouldn't hurt to consider starting with six and working into the 8 string as you advance. I've been playing for almost a year now and am just beginning to get the itch for the other two strings.

I'll second Cindy Cashdollar's DVD's. They are not for absolute beginners but if you're musical, hold the bar and picks correctly, you've got all you need to appreciate these recordings. Honestly they're the only dedicated training DVDs for the 8 string C6 that are easily available particularly outside of the US.

The structure is good, booklet well laid out. Lots of tips about soloing and fills, all in small snippets. I've never tried Dobro but if I ever do, I'll buy Cindy's Dobro dvds on the strength of her Steel course.

Rick Alexander's YouTube site has soom good material but they're not structured educationally, more like looking over the shoulder of a great player. Mike Neer and Doug Beaumier are also on YT and ready to take you to the next level - usually on 8 string too.

\ paul

I’d also recommend you check out Troy Brenningmeyer’s C6 basics lessons. Check out his samples on youtube. Steve

Yes I forgot about Troy...very good material available in bite sized pieces.

Cindy Cashdollar. DVDs...Great lesson material..I've learned a lot from them..

gonna get on the cindy cashdollar bandwagon with the rest. steel is not my first instrument, i understand theory. bought my d-8 last november and i've just been getting basic technique, licks, and a few songs under my belt.

today, i finally ponied up the money for the cashdollar homespun lessons and i'm already thinking about the steel completely differently.

she spends some time on the very very basics before diving into playing, which i found helpful.

also, it's now available via digital download for cheaper. homespun has a really awkward digital interface through which you initially view the content, but if you download the material and print the tab, it's just fine.

10/10, highly recommended.

Stephen Baker wrote:I’d also recommend you check out Troy Brenningmeyer’s C6 basics lessons. Check out his samples on youtube. Steve

i've also bought a couple of his lessons. the dobro material is quite good, but i found the steel stuff kind of lacking. you can tell his heart is more with the dobro, imho.

i would recommend his c6 material to the absolute beginner. he's very good at breaking it down, whereas cindy seems to assume more of you.