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Topic: Newbie to lap |
Tim Kowalski
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2021 8:06 am |
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Hi - I mostly play guitar and bass. I am able to play basic fills and backup on PSG. (Not a melody player)
I purchased an 8 string lap steel a few years back hoping to learn some simple fills and licks. The idea was to have something portable for impromptu jams etc.
It seems to be much more difficult to make any sort of connection between guitar and lap steel, whereas there was a sensible crossover between guitar and PSG. (Carter Starter video) I feel totally lost and lack basic understanding.
Can you players offer some recommendations on how to approach this instrument? I'm not looking for a Hawaiian sound - more along older country stuff.
What tuning would be easiest to learn on? I would like to have tuning that offers minor chords.
Should I take a couple of strings off and try 6 string to start?
Recommended on-line lessons/books?
I need help turning on the lightbulb.
Thanks for any help.
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Bad wine is better than no wine. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Dec 2021 8:52 am
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Many guitarists switch over to lap steel successfully but there are a few fundamental things to understand. Many aspects of playing a standard guitar cross-pollinate to some extent but it is a fundamentally different instrument in how it deals with sustain and moving from note-to-note or chord-to-chord.
Many people find the E tuning family a good place to start because some of the string relationships are identical. For the music you want to play, I'd recommend C6th because of the number of man, min, dominant etc. inversions available and the logical way the tuning is laid out. Here's a page from my Exploring C6th book that might be helpful. Buddy Emmons' advice about thinking about tunings in terms of intervals can be very helpful when you're newly exploring a tuning. Think about what changes and what stays the same when you change tunings.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 3 Dec 2021 10:09 am
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Here’s C6 for 8 strings, and E9.
C6 – A C E G A C E G
E9 – E G♯ B D F♯ G♯ B E
C6 is the most common tuning these days and has the most learning material.
E9 with the root on top and bottom might be easier for a guitar player to conceptualize, and has a lot of chord types under the straight bar.
If you’re an experimenter, you’ll find a lot of tuning ideas on my tuning web page (URL in signature)
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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David Venzke
From:
SE Michigan, USA
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Tim Kowalski
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2021 12:07 pm
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Thank you for the replies. It sounds like C6 is the way to go for now.
Andy - The intervals of the C6 open tuning is very enlightening. Buddy's comments on intervals also gives me some encouragement. I have developed an ear for intervals on guitar, so that should help. Would you recommend your Exploring C6 book to a beginner?
Time to tune up and spend some seat time!
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Bad wine is better than no wine. |
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