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Topic: Guitar vs Lap Steel By The Numbers % Worldwide and Thoughts |
Terry VunCannon
From:
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 7 Feb 2022 8:45 am |
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Current estimates say there are over 700 million guitar players in the world. Meanwhile, there are around 40 to 50 thousand steel guitar players in the world...that makes us at about 0.005 % of the world's stringed zone. Some of these are lap steel, others are pedal steel. While we are few in numbers, I feel we offer something so different. I am proud to say, in a world of guitar players, I play lap steel guitar.
Thoughts...
Last edited by Terry VunCannon on 12 Feb 2022 10:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 7 Feb 2022 12:24 pm
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And then there is Hawaiian Guitar! 
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 7 Feb 2022 2:36 pm
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I have to admit, I get bored with the instrument sometimes, but that boredom keeps me digging and growing. I think that is what I enjoy about it most because there is a huge frontier of music that hasn’t been explored yet on this instrument. Breaking out of the norms is not something that is going to endear you to many listeners, but I think it will contribute to the longevity of the instrument….eventually.
Like I always say, problem solving is a huge part of playing steel. |
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Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 7 Feb 2022 3:51 pm
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When someone finds out I play an instrument and they ask what I play, I just say "I play the guitar".
I really got tired of trying to explain what a lap steel is and watch their eyes glaze over.
However, I love the darned thing(s) and the most enjoyable part of my day
usually involves sitting at one of my guitars in my music room making what might accidentally sound like music.
I'm not very good but I am pathologically persistent.
It's fun, relaxing and it keeps my brain from petrifying.
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 7 Feb 2022 4:19 pm
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I think that lap steel is a niche instrument, and that suits me just fine. It’s a cool change from blues harp in a blues band, and it has to be one of the greatest instruments invented for experimental and extemporaneous music.
I’m happy to leave the “normal” guitars to the rock and rollers, and to the strum and hum crowd.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – G B D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D (re-entrant)
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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Mike McBride
From:
Indiana
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Posted 7 Feb 2022 5:22 pm
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| Allan Revich wrote: |
| I think that lap steel is a niche instrument |
I agree. The trombone is also a niche instrument that works in some musical situations and not in others. I feel the same way about steel guitar, banjo, violin, piano, harmonica and the mandolin.
Some sound good in bluegrass some don't. Some sound good in hard rock some don't. |
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Mark Mansueto
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 11 Feb 2022 7:58 am
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I play guitar and lap steel and what I find interesting is that I get a LOT more comments about my lap steel and my lap steel playing than I do about guitar. My conclusion is that there are SOOOOO many guitar players that people are just more interested in seeing and hearing something different. And many people have no idea what a lap steel guitar is and when I play many think it's a pedal steel.
I could list a whole bunch of reasons why electric guitars are more popular but for me I was drawn to guitar when I saw my heroes playing them (Beatles, Stones, etc, etc).
_________________
https://markmansueto.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/65dQ3EyZC2RaqawA8gPlRy?si=dOdqc5zxSKeJI9cISVVx_A |
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 11 Feb 2022 1:10 pm
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I like that I can say with confidence that I am ranked among the top 40,000 - 50,000 lap steel players in the world!!
_________________
https://www.MasterGuitarists.com/ |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 11 Feb 2022 1:22 pm
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| There's no 'versus'. I play and care about both steel and standard guitars. They're all guitars. The dividing lines are largely in our own heads. The fact that most guitarists can't play with a bar, or even a slide, is a result of their own limitations - again, most often in their own heads. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 11 Feb 2022 1:44 pm
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| David DeLoach wrote: |
| I like that I can say with confidence that I am ranked among the top 40,000 - 50,000 lap steel players in the world!! |
Ah, a glass is half full man! I agree with David. That is a great way to look at it.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Steffen Gunter
From:
Munich, Germany
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Posted 12 Feb 2022 5:09 am
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I’m struggling with the steel guitar for almost 10 years now and although I was a musician before it took me at least 3 years not to sound just ugly. The following years I made progress but slowly and I’m still far from mastering this instrument (if ever). So I think that many people pick up the lap steel but lose interest after a while. It’s just too difficult and one really has to want it no matter how long it takes. It’s about passion for the thing itself and music. It’s not the right thing if you are after applause, fame and other things young musicians think do matter in life. Standard guitar is the better instrument for these guys and fits better in their musical genres.
Second thought: My main instrument is the saxophone or saxophones. It’s passion too but completely different. Here I can play beautifully or let the air burn – action and wildness if I want it. But only monophonic. The steel guitar is giving me relaxation, beauty of harmonies as a polyphonic instrument. And I love composing with the steel guitar, t’s inspiring – every different tuning is giving me ideas for nice changes and melodies. As a young man I wrote riff-based songs, today I built songs from changes I like. So it’s a perfect addition for me. Sometimes I rehearse a lot with the saxophone and don’t touch the steel guitar for days. Then I need a rest from playing sax (can be frustrating too if you’re aiming high) and love spending time with the steel guitar.
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My YT channel: www.youtube.com/user/madsteffen |
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Samuel Phillippe
From:
Douglas Michigan, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2022 8:59 am
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| David DeLoach wrote: |
| I like that I can say with confidence that I am ranked among the top 40,000 - 50,000 lap steel players in the world!! |
Thanks Dave I never thought of it that way....me? one of the best 40-50k pedal/lap players in the world?...Wow, and i just started playing (pedal).....mama look at me now. |
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Terry VunCannon
From:
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2022 10:38 am
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| I agree Dave, it is not really "VS" lap and guitar. Just by the numbers of players. I edited the Header per your thoughts. Thanks. |
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Mark Mansueto
From:
Michigan, USA
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