| Author |
Topic: What's the first song you learned on lap or non-pedal steel? |
C. E. Jackson
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 11:45 am |
|
Having a nostalgic day again. Remembered the first song I learned on steel guitar in 1949.
Red River Valley on my 1949 Silvertone Lap Steel. My memory is that I learned from an old
tab version which my dad had made. Later, in 1950, my brother, Joe, and I played Red River
Valley at a high school talent show before an audience of maybe 1,000. We were pretty
nervous, didn't win, but had a lot of fun. I don't ever remember playing before that large an
audience again.
Photo of me, left, and Joe, right, on stage at the talent show. Joe is playing a 1948 Silvertone Lap steel.
Notice we both played with round bullet-nose bars. I still have my bar which is 2 3/4 x 3/4 chrome plated steel.
C. E. 
_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels |
|
|
 |
William Hoff
From:
Missouri, USA
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 1:18 pm
|
|
| A very crude attempt at Mercury Blues, David Lindley version. Very inspiring piece. |
|
|
|
David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 1:30 pm
|
|
"I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes", on an old, black Stewart arch-top with a raised nut, in standard Dobro tuning. I was hooked on day one.
_________________
David K |
|
|
|
Nic Sanford
From:
Oklahoma
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 2:34 pm
|
|
| Believe it or not, a very simple version of Red River Valley. I also took some open E bottleneck stuff I was trying to learn and transferred it to the lap. Such as, a horrible attempt at Ry Cooder's cover of Vigilante Man, and the vocal lines from Sam Cook's Bring It On Home. Never got those right, but I still warm up with them before practicing. |
|
|
|
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 2:51 pm
|
|
Wabash Cannonball.
On a brand-new OMI 60-DS.
Last edited by Jack Hanson on 4 Jun 2017 8:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Joe Snow
From:
Argyle,Texas, USA
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 2:57 pm
|
|
| Home on the Range. Oahu lesson #1. |
|
|
|
Cartwright Thompson
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 2:58 pm
|
|
| "Panhandle Rag" on a double Stringmaster, in about 1991 |
|
|
|
Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 4:31 pm
|
|
'John Hardy' on a Silvertone Flattop tuned Spanish with a nut riser and a Stevens bar. I have played that song on guitar for as long as I can remember so I just picked it out in the new tuning with the 'new gear'. I started out with visions of the bar flying across the room and denting a wall or breaking a window, but I was doing pretty good it seemed to me in a couple of hours. The thumb-pick and finger-picks were not new to me either. I still play that one from time to time, often as a part in a Carter Family Medley.
_________________
"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
|
|
|
Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 7:16 pm
|
|
| You Are My Sunshine |
|
|
|
Joe Elk
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 8:00 pm
|
|
The Bells of Saint Mary's I May have to revisit that I have not played in years!
Joe Elk Central Ohio |
|
|
|
Levi Gemmell
From:
New Zealand
|
Posted 4 Jun 2017 9:05 pm
|
|
I second "You Are My Sunshine."
_________________
Commodore S-8
John Allison S-8
JB Frypan S-8
Sho~Bud LDG SD-10
1966 Fender Super Reverb |
|
|
|
Lee Holliday
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 12:02 am
|
|
it may have been little Red Rooster but Rolling in my sweet babys arms seems more likely.
Lee |
|
|
|
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 1:26 am
|
|
Everything Is Gonna Work Out Fine by Jerry Douglas, worked out by ear. Love the photo of you and your brother, C.E.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Last edited by Andy Volk on 5 Jun 2017 2:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 1:32 am
|
|
Sleepwalk for me. Although, I am still working on it. Seems I can never play it the same twice! It maybe a life long endeavor. 
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Last edited by Bill Groner on 5 Jun 2017 5:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 2:38 am
|
|
Amazing Grace
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
|
|
|
Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 5:27 am
|
|
"Steelin the Blues" in 1968 on a Fender quad...sounds crazy but that was my first steel and tune...I was 21 and teaching guitar in the studio where I learned to play guitar and heard the owner teaching that tune to a steel student...that was it ! I had to learn that ! I STILL cant do that tune justice after all of these years !
_________________
Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
|
|
|
David M Brown
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 6:17 am
|
|
First song I learned on steel guitar?
"Aloha Oe" in A low bass. |
|
|
|
Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 6:19 am
|
|
Elmore James.....It Hurts Me Too.........Open E
_________________
Four Pettingills and a Clinesmith Aluminum. Fender Blues Junior. Quilter Mini-101. |
|
|
|
Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 6:56 am
|
|
Other than a few originals played with a technique that only slightly resembled anything remotely proper, I think Merle Haggard's "Swinging Doors" was probably the first.
Of course, Merle's version is PSG (Mooney, I think), but there are plenty of great melodic licks that translate fairly well to non-pedal, including the intro and solo break. It's still one of my favorites to play with a band - I love the trade-offs between steel and armpit guitar. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 7:31 am
|
|
| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
| Sleep Walk was the first song for me, about 1970. |
Good to know. Hope everything else falls into place 
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 7:54 am
|
|
"Beginner's Waltz" in A high bass on an acoustic Oahu guitar.
One like this:
 |
|
|
|
Butch Mullen
From:
North Carolina, USA 28681
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 8:59 am
|
|
| steel guitar rag |
|
|
|
Wally Pfeifer
From:
Illinois, USA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 9:15 am First Song
|
|
In 1939 on my brand new acoustic Hawaiian guitar with the pink & yellow cowboy scene on the front,- it was a single sheet of Bronson music titled "Nearer My God To Thee". Played it a couple times in church. Then went on to
bigger and better things. Didn't get my first Fender (6 string) Champ until about 1951. Those were the days.
Wally |
|
|
|
Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
|
Posted 5 Jun 2017 4:13 pm
|
|
| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
| Sleep Walk was the first song for me, about 1970. |
I say we get Doug to do a "Sleepwalk" video for Youtube and post it. Anybody with me? I for one would love to hear him play that song.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
|
|
|
