The Steel Guitar Forum

I have played what is often called "finger style" guitar all my life on an acoustic guitar. (ala Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, etc.)
I just bought myself a new lapsteel guitar for Xmas, and I hope some one can direct me to sites or sources for anyone who plays this style on the lap (or pedal) guitar.
Thanks in advance for your help
Felix

You might be able to pull up an old video on You Tube by Bobby Seymour.
He could play in that style.
Erv

Forum member Roy Thomson wrote a great book on finger style pedal steel. It used to be available through the forum’s store but I haven’t seen it lately. You might try contacting Roy directly. He also put out a book of arrangements in the Leavitt tuning that is excellent.

Hi Felix...
This is not easy but it shows what can be accomplished on a 6 string lap steel tuned E-C-A-G-E-C HIGH TO LOW.

https://soundcloud.com/roy-thomson/clas ... -lap-steel

Give me a shout if you wish. I may be able to help further. It's a great style to play.

Roy

For acoustic stuff, there's Ed Gerhardt, Kelly Joe Phelps, and many others. Mary Flower has some instruction materials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baCAqlk8_eg
Forumite Andy Volk's book on open D is another good place to start.

My post gave me names I have never heard of, but are exactly what I was looking for. So far, Youtube and internet are leading to some good sources your answers supplied.

And a surprise bonus for me, I went to the local used record/tape store,(yes, they still exist) and presented all the names you all supplied, and I walked away with a cassette tape " A Tribute to Travis" by Bobbe Seymour. Very rewarding and entertaining, but a bit intimidating - this guy is perfection.

Thanks again
Felix

Sent you a PM with resource info

Felix,

Here is another example of 6 string C6 Thumbstyle.

https://soundcloud.com/roy-thomson/lil-isa-jane

In Key of C and thumb plays Root (C) and fifth (G) that's strings 6 and 4 throughout.

Wish you all the best.

Roy

I might be oversimplifying, but if you play fingerstyle fretted guitar, you're already ahead of the game when moving to lapsteel (over people accustomed to a plectrum). There are some folks who play barefingered, and most play with fingerpicks and thumb picks, but the mechanics between the two are very similar.

There's a few who play lapsteel with a plectrum...and one of our own, Steve Cunningham, who at least in this video is playing with bare fingers and a pick...hot stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT0MywqQWIA