| Author |
Topic: Newbie strings question |
Thomas Bray
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 15 Feb 2022 6:56 pm |
|
When you get a new (to you) lap steel, that has good strings on it, how can you tell what key the strings are for? The only way I can think ofbis to pull out my micrometer and compare them to a chart.
That being said, is there a chart somewhere on the web that shows the suggested string diameters for each string for whatever tuning you choose?
Sorry if these are rudimentary questions. I don't even play guitar, and I admittedly never tried to absorb the scores of lessons I took my kids to in their music education pursuits! |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 15 Feb 2022 9:17 pm
|
|
String gauge chart is here,
https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php
As for determining what the guitar was tuned to, it’s impossible to know for sure, but there are a few tuning families and you can make an educated guess based on the heaviest string on a six string lap steel.
If it’s noticeably skinnier than a guitar E string, it’s probably set up for C6 or A6
If it looks almost the same size as a guitar E string, it’s likely set up for Dobro tuning GBDGBD, or similar.
If it looks quite a bit heavier than a typical store-strung guitar, it’s probably set up for open D, open E, or possibly low-bass G, DGDGBD.
There are so many tunings that it most likely was not strung to exactly any of the above, but the thickness of the low string can guide you to what’s possible with the strings it came with.
Electric lap steels are very tolerant of tuning mistakes. Strings break before the instrument gets damaged. This is NOT true for acoustic instruments!
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G6 – e G D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
|
|
|
Thomas Bray
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 16 Feb 2022 9:05 am
|
|
| Thanks Allan, this site is a godsend. |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 18 Feb 2022 4:34 pm Re: Newbie strings question
|
|
| Thomas Bray wrote: |
| . …I don't even play guitar, and I admittedly never tried to absorb the scores of lessons I took my kids to in their music education pursuits! |
Hey Thomas, I just noticed this last bit. If I were to recommend a tuning to start out with, for someone with very limited musical background, it would be “high bass G”, aka “Dobro” tuning. G B D G B D from low to high/thick to thin/closest to your body to closest to the audience.
This open G tuning is widely used, has a lot of learning material available, and because it is an open major chord, you can start playing along to backing tracks on your first day.
If you search YouTube for “blues backing tracks in G” everything you strum on the open strings, barring across the 5th fret, 7th fret and 12th fret will fit somewhere in the song. Everything you single string pick barring the 3rd fret will also usually sound OK.
For a Dobro tuned lap steel, Here is the basic 12 bar blues progression in G, using fret numbers (4 strums on each)
0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 7 5 0 7 repeat.
Most of the zeros can be replaced with 12
Using Nashville numbering (good for any key) the same progression is
111144115415 The Nashville numbering system is how most musicians quickly communicate chord changes.
That, combined with some YouTube instruction for Open G Lap Steel should be enough to get you started.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G6 – e G D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
|
|
|
Thomas Bray
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 18 Feb 2022 9:16 pm
|
|
Awesome! I appreciate the advice. I'll check it out in the morning. I tell ya, I have NO idea how I'd figure out anything with this instrument if it wasn't for the inter-web and this site. I think the finding out the basic information is the steepest part of the learning curve (hopefully), madebmuch more level by reaching out here.
I picked up this really cool practice amp called a Spark 40. Won it at an online warehouse auction, new, for $130, will pick it up Tuesday.
It'll take me awhile to figure out all it's bells and whistles, but I've got nothing but the time the good Lord gives me to get the hang of the learning how to play first, anyway. |
|
|
|
Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
|
Posted 20 Feb 2022 2:34 pm Re: Newbie strings question
|
|
| Thomas Bray wrote: |
When you get a new (to you) lap steel, that has good strings on it, how can you tell what key the strings are for? The only way I can think ofbis to pull out my micrometer and compare them to a chart.
That being said, is there a chart somewhere on the web that shows the suggested string diameters for each string for whatever tuning you choose?
Sorry if these are rudimentary questions. I don't even play guitar, and I admittedly never tried to absorb the scores of lessons I took my kids to in their music education pursuits! |
Most of the major string manufacturer websites have a note/gage/tension chart covering individual notes. but scale length makes a difference, so you may have to go up or down a few gages.
It's really not that critical - look at different sets that are for notes that are close, then experiment - higher or lower tension and in the middle plain vs wound feeel and sound different. just find what works for you - there's no right or wrong on lap steel!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
|
|
|
