making a lap steel sound like a pedal steel

James Mitchell · Post by **James Mitchell** » 24 Aug 2010 3:33 pm

I have both a 6 string and 8 string lap steel. what are techniques to make a lap steel sound more pedal like?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Aug 2010 4:05 pm

1. Good accurate slants with sustained notes.
2. Fast bar moves.
3. A quick, clean right hand with good pick and palm blocking.
4. A tuning with a thin string on top.
5. Lots of practice!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Aug 2010 4:14 pm

6. Pulling the string behind the bar using the fingers of your left hand. (Billy Robinson is a master of this technique and can really make it sound like a pedal steel.)

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Aug 2010 4:33 pm

I once created a tuning specifically for this purpose. I can't remember what it was exactly, but the first 4 strings were:
1. B (lower than string 3)
2. G# (lower than strings 2 and 3)
3. E
4. C# (I think)

I had to really play around with the gauges, but when I got it right I could use my middle finger to grab those strings and pull them and it would be in tune every time. I could also push the nose of the bar down on the top strings causing them to raise in pitch. It was all very effective. I abandoned it, though, just because....
There were a lot of possibilities, though.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 24 Aug 2010 4:36 pm

Roy Thomson and Bill Hatcher with his Leavitt tuning can play some really cool pedal steel soundin stuff on lap steel. Click here and scroll down to Bill's three links to hear some. Click Here

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 24 Aug 2010 6:54 pm

Ditto on all of the above.

James, I recently posted a "speedpicking" clip on C6 lap steel that you might find interesting. It sounds kind of 'pedal steel-ish'

Audio ---> Click

Tablature ----> Click

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 24 Aug 2010 8:05 pm

here you go. you can get some great pedal sounds from the non pedal

http://www.mediafire.com/?59jtbwwdmj4

James Mitchell · Post by **James Mitchell** » 25 Aug 2010 1:43 pm

thanks!!!!

Roman Sonnleitner · Post by **Roman Sonnleitner** » 26 Aug 2010 5:52 am

7. a volume pedal (for adding "endless" sustain)

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 Aug 2010 6:22 am

As Mike said ... the master ....

http://www.mikeihde.com/brobinson.htm

Be sure to check out Mike Ihde's book while you"re there!

Adrian Wang · Post by **Adrian Wang** » 26 Mar 2013 3:50 am

Indeed, lap steel sounds like pedal steel.

How do I make my E9 pedal steel sound more Hawaiian?

Bryant Aycock · Post by **Bryant Aycock** » 26 Mar 2013 6:42 pm

Chris Scruggs in Nashville. He is one of the best!

Keith Cary · Post by **Keith Cary** » 26 Mar 2013 8:54 pm

Doug, that's wonderful, superb!

Gary S. Lynch · Post by **Gary S. Lynch** » 27 Mar 2013 1:11 am

Some great posts..
Bill, could you elaborate on the tuning and string gauges in your clip..
very nice!
Thanks!

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 27 Mar 2013 1:13 am

Bill, that is absolutely stunning. Do you use 2 necks and what is your tuning?

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 27 Mar 2013 1:19 am

Here's Chris Scruggs proving it can be done effectively...

Just need to work out what he's actually doing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H88ENMGmWQc

Jouni Karvonen · Post by **Jouni Karvonen** » 27 Mar 2013 2:22 am

Cindy does it, too.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xm7vpFCfBk

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 27 Mar 2013 3:44 am

This is an interesting thread. I'm recording an original country song right now which has a prominant pedal steel part and I'm finding all of the comments above to be true. Fast right and left hand technique, accurate slants, etc, and along with that I find pick attack/volume pedal timing and technique is important. I use a guitar compressor to gain a bit of sustain along with a reverb plugin for effects. The one thing I haven't quite got yet is that sweet pedal steel tone so any advice on that would be welcome.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · Post by **Jean-Sebastien Gauthier** » 27 Mar 2013 4:49 am

Wow! I was looking for a pedal steel thinking its necessary to get this sound! I now stop looking for a pedal steel and keep learning non pedal, this instrument is amazing!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 27 Mar 2013 5:14 am

... now you could make a donation to the Forum with some of the lots of money you just saved!

Bill Mollenhauer · Post by **Bill Mollenhauer** » 27 Mar 2013 7:17 am

After watching all the links, I think I would like to give the slants a try. The Billy Robinson one was the eye opener.

Is it easier with a bullet bar or can I use a Stevens type? I tend to slide the bar a lot instead of raising it anyway.

Thanks, Bill

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 27 Mar 2013 7:23 am

Thanks Keith, I'm glad you like my lap steel speedpicking demo. It IS possible to play this style on 6-string lap steel, but the licks and options are much more limited than on pedal steel.

JW Adams · Post by **JW Adams** » 27 Mar 2013 2:18 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... AeYTrj9rj4 i am a new player and was wondering is this lap steel or pedal it was recorded in 1955

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 27 Mar 2013 6:27 pm

Dito Jim C.
On a particular song or two I used to de-tune the high B a whole step down to A on my GBDGBD Dobro and yank it up to B with my ring finger to get the most used PSG lick.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 27 Mar 2013 7:39 pm

JW Adams wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... AeYTrj9rj4 i am a new player and was wondering is this lap steel or pedal it was recorded in 1955

No pedals on that... sounds like a Fender Pro. C6.

The Steel Guitar Forum

making a lap steel sound like a pedal steel

making a lap steel sound like a pedal steel

you're right ...these do sound very pedal steel

speed picking