Just bought my first lap steel

[Madison]

Just a cheapy.
Like $100
Playtech LS100.(awful name)
But, mahogany,actually seems pretty well built.
 
Never been much interested in one til now.
Wow, this thing is pretty neat.
The bar is a bit tricky and not sure how to rest my picking hand yet.
Any players out there give me some advice, good sites to check out?
Seems there is a million different tunings, etc.

[Willabe]

Hey Madison that steel looks real nice to me. Looks like it's got a P-90 type of pickup? Which I like for a lap steel.

I don't like playing them with a bar, I use the round bullet style. You can get them with the traditional single round end or the newer double round.

You'll get used to where your picking hand goes, takes a little time.

I've never gotten used to playing them with finger picks though I really want to. I just use my fingers which to me sounds real good, fat, round, warm, just like playing slide on an electric. But I'd like to have the option of getting the high end sparkle/chime of metal finger pics for some things.

Yeah there's a ton of different tunings, I just use good old open E (D) but open A (G) is nice too for some things.

Look at this;

String                  High to low

    1.            E    (1)             E    (1)
    2.            B    (5)             C#  (maj 3)
    3.            G#  (maj 3)      A    (1)
    4.            E    (1)             E    (5)        
    5.            B    (5)             A    (1)
    6.            E    (1)             E    (5)      

So in E/D Maj. triad is on 4-3-2 strings, order is 1-Maj3-5.

In A/G Maj. triad on 4-3-2 strings, but the order is 5-1-Maj3.

But if you do this shift;

    1.            E    (1)            
    2.            B    (5)                        E    (1)              1.
    3.            G#  (Maj 3)  <Maj 3>   C#  (Maj 3)        2.
    4.            E    (1)         <1>         A    (1)              3.
    5.            B    (5)         <5>         E    (5)              4.
    6.            E    (1)         <1>         A    (1)              5.
                                                     E    (5)               6.

Now all the note intervals line up again as far as the slide lick patterns over the frets. The hich is in the 2 top string intervels, E/D goes 5-1 and A/G is Maj 3-1.
 


                  Brad      
                
                    

[Madison]

Hey Willabe.
Thanks for the great info.

The P-90 seems to have a pretty nice tone to it.(I don't have any guitars with p90s either so this is sort of a first in many ways)
Other steels have Tele type pups right?
Why do you prefer the p-90s?

The bridge on this thing has a really sharp right angle I am about the grind off because it hits my hand.
I also thought about adding a piece of wood or something to the front so the palm of my hand is the same elevation as the strings but I'll wait to see if I just get used to it.

I don't like picks either.....plus I'd loose them.

Pardon. I meant I bought an Ernie Ball bullet type but I hate it already.(I just about drop it when elevating it).
I just ordered up a Shubb-Pearse SP1 and a very beginner's book.
Got any good books to recommend?
Doesn't seem like there are many out there.
I almost feel like I'd need a DVD to watch.

I've only had this thing for a day and can't put it down once I start playing it.Certainly a whole different world.Been looking for something new.
I am only messing with the C6 tuning at the moment.
Trying some Don Helms stuff (waaaay outta my league and I know not much about country music in general but learning)
Somehow I keep wanting to play the Looney Toons theme!

I need to study more about the triads, etc
That second example with the shift looks totally easy going.
I will try it.

Peace.

[Willabe]

Hi Madison,

Sorry I took so long to post back.

I don't know that I prefer P90s to any other pup, but I do like them. It's just that my Gibson lap steel has one.

I have a Heritage Les Paul that has bucks in it that I use for bottle neck slide. I do want to get something that's mahogany body/neck with P90's in it for bottle neck slide. I look at it like their in between a single coil Strat and a buck.

Bonnie Raitt and LeRoy Parnell sound great to me playin slide on a Strat with single coils.    

Sorry but I don't know of any good books on slide. LeRoy Parnell has a DVD out on slide. I like it. All I did was take what I knew from playin bottle neck and applied it to a 6 string lap steel.

Glad your having so much fun with it!



                      Brad                  

[Madison]

Thanks for all the info.

I'll take any I can get at this point!

[smackoj]

I used to play an MSA beginner type pedal steel guitar. Aside from kinda knowing what melody you are trying to play/hear, there's no substitute for practicing technique 'til your hands are sore. The fleshy part of your hand (hold your pickin' hand up, that fat part on the bottom just below your little finger) rests on the strings somewhere close to the bridge/saddle. Find an area that makes the best sound to your liking. That part of your hand is what you mute the sustain with and keep the other strings from ringing. You kinda rock your hand fore and aft to expose the string(s) you want to play then drop down to mute the notes as the tune progresses.

There are several good on-line steel guitar mags and forums. They probably post ads for dvds, literature etc. But, again, you must play a lot to master the hand techniques needed to sound good.

Yes, metal or plastic finger picks hurt at first, but they are of value after you get relaxed to the feeling.

adios, Jack D

[SILVERGUN]

I learned everything I know from this one video:
http://www.amazon.com/Arlen-Roth-Lap-Steel-Guitar/dp/B001ZEHRY2

Good stuff to get you movin pretty quick

[Madison]

I used to play an MSA beginner type pedal steel guitar. Aside from kinda knowing what melody you are trying to play/hear, there's no substitute for practicing technique 'til your hands are sore. The fleshy part of your hand (hold your pickin' hand up, that fat part on the bottom just below your little finger) rests on the strings somewhere close to the bridge/saddle. Find an area that makes the best sound to your liking. That part of your hand is what you mute the sustain with and keep the other strings from ringing. You kinda rock your hand fore and aft to expose the string(s) you want to play then drop down to mute the notes as the tune progresses.

There are several good on-line steel guitar mags and forums. They probably post ads for dvds, literature etc. But, again, you must play a lot to master the hand techniques needed to sound good.

Yes, metal or plastic finger picks hurt at first, but they are of value after you get relaxed to the feeling.

adios, Jack D

Great info, thanks a lot.
Do you ever use your finger tips on your picking hand to dampen strings?
I have having real problems making the strings shut up.
I kind of get the idea of using the fat of the palm when going from low strings to high but the opposite is real trouble.
I'll keep at it.

[Madison]

I learned everything I know from this one video:
http://www.amazon.com/Arlen-Roth-Lap-Steel-Guitar/dp/B001ZEHRY2

Good stuff to get you movin pretty quick

I noticed this video for sale.
Wasn't sure about it but I'll take your word for it and order it.
Thanks.

[Willabe]

Do you ever use your finger tips on your picking hand to dampen strings?

I do. And the fat pad on the bottom of the finger too.

I have having real problems making the strings shut up.

You just have to keep at it until you get it. It will come to you sooner or later. Take your time and relax, play slow at first, not many notes. As you develop your technique you can speed up as needed. 


                   Brad        

[SILVERGUN]

I learned everything I know from this one video:
http://www.amazon.com/Arlen-Roth-Lap-Steel-Guitar/dp/B001ZEHRY2
Good stuff to get you movin pretty quick

I noticed this video for sale.
Wasn't sure about it but I'll take your word for it and order it.
Thanks.

Not the greatest video, but definitely a lot beter than no video for me.

[SILVERGUN]

Here's my killer rig....lookout!!

I have the luxury of resting my pick hand on that tone-bar over the pickup
Somebody told me this was Rickenbacker from the 30's, but I don't know......vol. knob is Radio Shack 2010

[Madison]

Cool amp too.
I have one very much like that on the shelf.

Here is a steel I just picked up.
A Teisco from the 50s or 60s.

[Willabe]

Looks nice. Hows she sound?


                Brad       

[SILVERGUN]

Now I'm jealous....that thing has got more vintage MOJO than mine

[Madison]

Now I'm jealous....that thing has got more vintage MOJO than mine

She's pretty kool fer sure.

[Madison]

Looks nice. Hows she sound?


                Brad       

I don't know.
Check it out.Here
http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=14627.msg139398#msg139398
I suck!LOL