modern lap steel tabs

Sergio Pernas Velo · From: Spain

Hi! I'm an absolute beginner at lap steel, and I'm looking to learn one or two songs to keep my interest as I practice all the drills, scales and the like. As of now, I need at least a tablature to give a song a try, my ear does not do that work yet Laughing

After reading a couple of long threads on the modern-old subject (like this one) I found myself not being able to find any tabs on the styles I like the most (leave aside Ben Harper, please). I love music by Fred Kinbom and Thomas Oliver, for example (Fred, I know you are around, please, don't feel obliged to anything Smile

) and their "cinematic" feeling. Also covers like the ones from Barbour, Kaler and Jenkins, but that's another road completely.

So, why aren't there more "modern" or "contemporary" tablatures? Is this something that happens with all new music? Or is it simply that I am a newbie that can not find his own tail?

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Sergio Pernas Velo · From: Spain

Yes, Brad, I think there's no profit to be had in this case. It may have to do with my ignorance of the songwriting process, but I assumed there should be a "writing down" of the song at the end of the line. As I said, I don't have any first-hand knowledge on it.

Songs... I'll really love being able to play "Oil" from our fellow forumite Kinbom or "Oxy" by Thomas Oliver. I have no clue about their difficulty, though Smile

Jerry Hendrix · From: Manistee, Michigan, USA * R.I.P.

Well, part of the deal, is everyone is using a different tuning. & the 6 string /8 string..
Kinda like the custom stuff the pedal guys do..
It would have to be decided what sort of standard to use..once that was done, would there be enough people
interested to make it worth while ?? Sad

Jerry Hendrix, Manistee,Mich.
D-10 S-1o & 7 string Dobro..

George Piburn · From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico

A best place to start is to send Fred K a PM (private message) through the forum, find any of his posts and there will be a click at the bottom or you can look him as a member.
Make sure to be logged in before you do any of this.

If Fred has tabs for his works you are in good shape , and I am certain other forum members would like the Tabs as well.

Please keep the information you get posted for everyone. Very Happy

Best Regards

George Mr.Boards

Sergio Pernas Velo · From: Spain

Yes George, that was my idea, to ask in the forum so that the information, and the conversation if it arises, to be publicly available.

In any case, I'll ask Fred directly, and of course I'll keep you posted.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Sergio, the most important thing is to find out how these folks are tuning their steel guitars. Fred's music relies heavily on his tuning (which I think is G minor). Ben Harper uses D and E tuning and also has some modal tunings. Once you know the tuning, it becomes easier to figure out on your own.

Once I could hear certain clues in the music as to tuning (open strings, etc.), it became much easier for me to transcribe.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Jerome Hawkes · From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

agree with Mike - really, once you know the tuning being used, its really pretty straight forward to transcribe any tune fairly close - but a lot of modern players have unique tunings that will often change from tune to tune depending on the mood they want.
i know from my own learning that when you are new to the instrument, its all scrambled eggs, but getting in there and figuring it out with your ear is really beneficial. it really does get easier the more you do it - the first few will be painfully frustrating. focus on one player til you 'get' their vocabulary.
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'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II

Fred Kinbom · From: Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.

Sergio,

Thanks for your message and your interest in my music. As I wrote in my reply to your PM, I don't have any software for writing tablature (suggestions, anyone?) but I just read Mike's reply here and he has a very good point, so I thought I'd give to the basic chords for "Oil" here as a start.

Like Mike wrote, I use G minor tuning mostly, on 6-string lap steel:

D-G-D-G-Bb-D, low to high

Here is the chord sequence of "Oil":

Verse 1 (intro)
|Bb |Gm |Dm | |
|Bb |Gm |Dm | |
|Bb |Gm |Dm |C |
|Bb |Gm |Dm(7) | |

Verses 2 & 3
|Bb |Gm |Dm | |
|Bb |Gm |Dm | |
|Bb |Gm |Dm |C |
|Bb |Gm |

Chorus (2nd chorus double)
|Dm | |Gm |Bb |
|Dm | |Gm |Bb |

Chorus ending
|Am |Dm | |

Outro
|Dm | |G |Gm |
|Dm | |G |Gm |

Here are the chord shapes (note that I don't always pick all the strings in the chords):

Bb X33300 - in the chorus I play it with the 5th in the bass too (333300) and the third and fourth times the Bb appears in the verse it is played X333X3.
Gm X00000
I also play 6th and 7th Gm chords as part of the melody:
Gm6 X00002
Gm7 X00003
Dm X77777
D7 0X0220
C X5XX6X
Am X22222
Outro:
G X000X9
Gm X000X8

I hope that will get you started - here are two videos where you can see fairly well how I play it, including some important muting of the second string from the top:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSUBuY3lHfY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9g2Y-VL5ok

All the best,

Fred
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www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium

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