Thoughts about trying Dobro

Tommy Gibbons · Post by **Tommy Gibbons** » 28 Apr 2011 10:48 pm

How hard would it be to play dobro after playing PSG (E9)? My playing ability on a good day is almost at intermediate level, if that helps. How would the E9 help in playing dobro? Or, would it?

I've never even held one. I just want to learn.

Should I just stick to the E9 and hopefully progress there?

I would really appreciate your opinions and comments!!!

Thanks,

TommyG.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 28 Apr 2011 10:56 pm

picking and intonation will be pretty close. Way different bar technique tho. I went dobro to pedal. you pick it up easier than a guitar player would. Go for it!

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 28 Apr 2011 11:44 pm

Tommy, I just did what you wanna do except my dobro is tuned to C6th, here are a couple vids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0fdvdQOS1g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW_2NnIWD0o
I still have some learning curves to deal with but what else is there, allowing wifey to get over with honey do list(s)

You'll also find loads of dobro info here,
http://www.resohangout.com/forum/

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 29 Apr 2011 12:27 am

Jerry Douglas told me once that he stopped playing PSG because it messed with his dobro hand position. However, if you don't intend to learn to play like him you could probably have a lot of fun with both...

Ray McCarthy · Post by **Ray McCarthy** » 29 Apr 2011 1:34 am

I just recently acquired a dobro (Rogue resophonic guitar). It's tuned to G major. At first my feet were looking for pedals every time I wanted that 1 to 4 change, but I got used to moving the bar instead. It's a simple tuning and you should be able to play simple things in no time. The more complex stuff will require some instruction and, like anything else, practise

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 29 Apr 2011 4:51 am

I had never devoted much energy to resonator or indeed any non-pedal alternatives. A few years ago I got my first Weissenborn-style instrument, and I am expanding into resonators as well and it has opened up whole new musical doors for me. And I think it has made me re-think lots of what I was doing on pedal steel as well. The brain is the most important musical instrument of all, and you can't go wrong by learning new things.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 29 Apr 2011 7:56 am

well here's my take, and I always have a take..

DON'T DO IT !! I repeat DON'T DO IT...

unless you never wanna come back home !

It's a road you may not come back from. The Dobro is an addictive Instrument and extreme fun to play...

DO it..!!!

Just don't get locked into the open chord as the "1" chord...the open chord can be the 4 or the 5, which opens up the fretboard immensely. Well, actually , it can be any relative chord you want it to be, many players focus on the open as the 1 chord which will limit opportunities. Music, scales and relative positions are the same as your Guitar, Steel or Bass.

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 29 Apr 2011 2:57 pm

http://www.lessonswithtroy.com/dobro_lessons/

The above link has some great downloadable dobro lessons...

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 29 Apr 2011 3:21 pm

Hi Tommy. I was playing pedal steel for about 10 years before buying a dobro in 1988. The tone color of the reso is delightful. Nothing else will scratch that itch.

About the only thing in common is the method of using a bar for fretting and a similar picking motion. If you understand the chord math, i.e. the 4 chord is 5 frets up from the 1, and the 5 is 7 frets up, or 5 frets down, which is one of the things that pedals can simplify, the rest is totally different.

You could put any tuning you want on it of course. If you are in love with lightning fast bluegrass runs, hammers and pull offs and those type of tunes in the style of Josh Graves, Jerry Douglas, et. al., I would submit that at least 90% of folks that pursue that style go with the standard hi G tuning. GBD,GBD low to hi.

Be advised that tone,volume and feel varies greatly among models and brands. It's hard to know what you want when first beginning, so it might be prudent to make an under a thousand dollar instrument like the Gold Tone with Beard setup, or perhaps the Regal Black Lightning RD52 your first investment. You may eventually want to upgrade, but never downgrade.

Good Luck and enjoy your resophonic journey

Mike Jones · Post by **Mike Jones** » 29 Apr 2011 3:26 pm

Just do it, you will fall in love with the sound. After my steel , I love my bro. It makes you think different.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 29 Apr 2011 3:33 pm

Troy is great for downloadable lessons and there is Jimmy Heffernan, a superb player and gifted teacher.

One of the first things Jimmy will tell you during one of his workshops is that the dobro is a "right handed instrument." In other words, to get the tone out of the thing you need to dig in and pick pretty hard to "load" the cone.

You will be "penalized" with too light a touch that might be used on pedal steel.

http://www.jimmyheffernan.net/

And here is his new companion site, with beautifully rendered downloadable teaching videos:

http://www.jimmyheffernan.com/

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 30 Apr 2011 12:00 am

I dont use bar slants or open string bar hammer-ons on PSG very well, but Im working on it.
The resonator is a lot of fun to practice both on.
Without pedals, the focus is all on the bar and picking technique.
Plus, I just love the way it sounds!

Clete

Carson Leighton · Post by **Carson Leighton** » 30 Apr 2011 2:35 am

They are a wonderful instrument..I played dobro before pedal steel and I believe it actually helps your bar hand...Playing the dobro can be addictive though, but so is the pedal steel....It never took me away from the steel and I still play both instruments after many years...I say go for it....Carson

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 30 Apr 2011 8:31 am

I started playing some dobro a few months ago and have found it to be a huge challenge ! I love the tone of my Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature model ,and have found it to be top shelf in tone , sustain ,volume and great to look at . Mine has the fancy inlay in the square neck . I really like the dobro and i hope to incorporate it into my live performances soon . I think it opens doors for you musically ! Go for it ! 0ne thing i have found is that you can take it wherever you want to and you don't need a amp. Front porch picking is what you can do without upsetting your neighbors !

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 30 Apr 2011 1:20 pm

Once you learn the basic positions for dobro, you'll probably be able to get around a banjo pretty well too.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 30 Apr 2011 1:38 pm

Brett Lanier wrote:Once you learn the basic positions for dobro, you'll probably be able to get around a banjo pretty well too.

Aargh! The horror, the horror!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 30 Apr 2011 2:12 pm

the acoustic universe is a beautiful organic medium.
i'll be playing my dobro when the poles shift in 2012 just in case i have to go...more portable ...closer to god

...but up til then i'll be playing the steel, too!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 30 Apr 2011 2:52 pm

Yes, Chris I'm anxious to hear what will happen when the shift occurs while playing my Clinesmith. WWJD? (What Would Jerry Do?)

Especially for those new to the dobro, check out Jerry Douglas in a solo medley of two songs: Sir Aly B/Route Irish, last January in Dublin, Ireland:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgurEfqPUCI

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 30 Apr 2011 3:30 pm

what can you say about that...neato..!

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 2 May 2011 7:38 am

for good tone, pick it hard!

Mike Daly · Post by **Mike Daly** » 2 May 2011 4:33 pm

For me personally, I think playing the dobro has made my right hand stronger and more accurate. I agree that to get a good tone out of the dobro one needs a strong and consistent attack. Without a volume pedal and an amp, your playing is much more exposed to all your failings as well as your strengths. I have found that for me, my playing on the steel has benefitted from a stronger attack as I use tube amps which seem to respond alot more to the attack of the strings than a solid state amp. Have fun with it......It is all music to enjoy....

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 3 May 2011 11:33 am

Tommy,
Lots of good advice here!!
What are you waiting for?? !
Go for it! You will love it!

Good luck on your dobro journey!!

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 3 May 2011 1:04 pm

As I'v gotten older I find that it's much easer to carry the Dobro for just a song or two. I'm more of a Dobro owner than player for sure but it is a lot of fun. I seem to take more a lap steel approach. I"m finally making myself play with a real Dobro bar rather than a round steel bar and starting to experiment with bar pull offs etc... This a song we did on a local TV show last summer, one of those no rehearsal throw it together a see what sticks kind of thing... I play a Beard Mike Auldridge Dobro..

By the way, thats my wife LaTronda singing....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmEMDo_G ... re=related

baxter vaughan · Post by **baxter vaughan** » 3 May 2011 2:43 pm

wally, great pick'in and a fabulous song!

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 3 May 2011 4:07 pm

Wally great tone from your dobro . I loved the song it was inspiring to me . Great harmony on a great gospel song . I have been playing Gospel Music since 1977 and i still like to play it . I get about the same tone from my dobro and it's sweet . God bless you guys . Gary Preston ( President The Ohio Steel Guitar Association ) .