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Topic: Newbie to it all? |
Jeff Brown
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 12:18 am |
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Hi Guy's
Not just a newbie to the forum so after posting in the wrong section? and being guided to this one, I'm also a newbie to music and the lap steel, so I'm looking for some help in learning how to play the lap steel, being based here in the UK we don't seem to have a great outlet of supplies here as you do in the USA, so I bought a cheap lap steel from ebay as I don't fancy or can't afford paying a fortune for something I know nothing about but it is an instrument I have always wanted and wanted to play.
Any pointers tips or advice for a beginner is most welcome? I'm all ears to listen to the pro's.
I've looked at loads of video's on Utube and their not for someone as green as the grass out side like myself.
Thanks for reading guy's and I apologise to the Mods if I have posted in the wrong section. |
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Ray Langley
From:
Northern California, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 1:37 am
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Welcome to the forum, Jeff!
What style or type of music would you like to play on your instrument?
In that style(s) which artists do you admire most?
Answers to the above questions will generate some suggestions as to tunings and string gauges, etc.
_________________
Bluesman's Epitath: "Didn't get up this morning"!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/LapSteelGuitar/ |
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Roger Palmer
From:
Rossendale, UK
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 2:31 am
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Hi Jeff,
Welcome to the forum.
There are a few of us on here from the UK.
Like Ray said, once we know what music you are into/or would like to play we can point you in the right direction for tunings and resources |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 3:59 am
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Thanks for the welcome Guy's,
I like country music also the Hawaiian style music but like I say I know nothing about music or the steel apart from what I have seen on utube, I have joined your yahoo group Ray so I'm looking forward to it all.
My lap steel should be delivered today so I'm like a little kid on his birthday at the moment looking out for the post man lol I have a small practice amp so I'm ready to begin annoying the neighbors lol
Thanks Roger I'm happy to see some UK members at least you may know of some local suppliers as the postage from the states is sometimes more than the item your buying so local sources will be handy. |
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James Kerr
From:
Scotland, UK
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 4:00 am
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Jeff,
Welcome to the Forum, I'm from the UK too, you will find plenty of help here to get you started.
James Kerr
Scotland. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 9:12 am
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Welcome Jeff from Alabama,happy picking. DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Jim Waldrop
From:
Alabama, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 10:01 am Welcome
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Welcome from Alabama again Jeff. You have chosen a worthy pursuit. You will never run out of things to learn with the steel guitar.
_________________
Georgeboards D8 Twin Princess, Fender Custom T8, Fender Stringmaster T8, Pre-war Rickenbacher 7string bakelite, Clinesmith D8 pedal steel, Clinesmith T8 non pedal steel, Simmons Genesis PSG, Simmons D10 psg, Peavey NV 112, Fender 65Princeton Reverb, Roland Cube |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 10:06 am
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Thank you for the warm welcome guy's its very much appreciated.
Well my new toy arrived this afternoon and I must have sounded like a drowning cat lol,
I've been looking on utube again this afternoon and I like the sound of C6 tuning can anyone tell me how to do this? or is there a tuner available for the C6 tuning.
I have to pop out now so I'll pop back later and do a good search of the forum, thanks for your help guy's.
Jeff |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 11:56 am Re: Newbie to it all?
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| Jeff Brown wrote: |
| I'm also a newbie to music and the lap steel |
If you've never played an instrument before then I would highly recommend you find a teacher. A steel teacher would be best but if that won't work, a standard guitar teacher should be able to help you out at least a little.
It's difficult to describe the C6 tuning without some basic musical knowledge. In order to tune the guitar, you'll want to get an electronic chromatic tuner (like a cheapie Korg, about $15). If you know someone who plays guitar, let them tune it first. Or take it to a music store and tell them how you need to tune it. Here are the pitches for the open strings, low to high:
C-E-G-A-C-E
On a standard guitar, the low C is located on the 5th string at the 3rd fret. The high E is the open first string.
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 12:00 pm
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| Hi Jeff, check your email. |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 12:06 pm
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Thanks Guy's I don't think there is much chance of getting a steel teacher around here but I can get a standard guitar teacher, also our music shops have closed down due to the resection 
Andy thanks for your email I have returned a reply to you.
Thanks again guy's every tip is useful to me at the moment. |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 12:44 pm
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Welcome to the forums Jeff  ... I'm not much of a player myself, but the most important thing is to just have fun with it.
Like any instrument, it can take a lifetime to master, but the basics come quick and the fun is instant.
_________________
Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
Follow me on Facebook here |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 12:50 pm
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Thanks Tom, You should have seen me today when I seen the post van pull up out side my house lol I was like a kid at Chrismas time.
Within 10 minutes I was up stairs with it pluged in and making a real noise with it lol next door no to please though haha. |
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Chris Drew
From:
Bristol, UK
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 12:53 pm
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Hi Jeff.
Welcome aboard!
You're not alone... there's UK steelers out there man!
Whatever tuning you go for, as Twayn said, a "chromatic" tuner is best.
With one of these you can choose whatever tuning you like.
You may need to check what gauge strings you have on there, to see if they're ok for the tuning you want to use.
Depending on what's on there you may find that some strings may end up too slack or tight.
Best bet is to get a set of strings that you know are right for C6.
You can order these from this very site!
There's lots of instructional material out there for C6, for example "Basic C6th Non Pedal Lap Steel Method by DeWitt Scott" ( book & CD ) can be found on Amazon etc, but there's lots more to choose from!
I'm sure any of the helpful & knowledgable folks on this forum will pipe in with advice for you regarding what they'd recommend.
Also backing tracks to play along with might be a good idea.
I'm not sure how helpful "regular" guitar tuition would be for someone learning Steel Guitar... check with the tutor first & ask how familiar he/she is with the techniques involved.
For thumb & fingerpicks try stringsdirect.co.uk.
What guitar did you get? Did you get a bar & picks with that?
A Steel Player will usually take some time to find the "right" bar, and may choose to play with or without picks...
For "Hawaiian" style, a bullet bar & plastic thumb & 2 metal fingerpicks is the usual setup.
The best advice I can offer is to relax & enjoy the journey!
Steel guitar is addictive and fun!
_________________
www.hollowneck.com |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 1:08 pm
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A big thank you Chris, I see your from Bristol I'm where they build the Apache helicopters here in Yeovil.
I bought my first one ever this week from ebay (cheapy)it didn't come with a bar or picks I bought them separately from ebay, I bought the wrong bar I think because its for sticking on your finger but its good enough for the minute to practice with, I bought finger and thumb picks and I look more like a witch than a steel player lol come to think of it I sound like one as well lol
I had a email from GeorgeBoards today and I have been looking at their beginners DVD's also where can I buy a chromatic" tuner from?
Thanks guy's for all your help and advice I really do appreciate it. |
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Chris Drew
From:
Bristol, UK
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 2:27 pm
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Hey Jeff you can find chromatic tuners at prettymuch any guitar shop, online, ebay etc.
I got a Korg CA30 but there's others out there.
The difference with these chromatic tuners is that they autodetect the note you're tuned to & tells you if your're sharp or flat.
You're not restricted to standard tuning, you just need to know what the notes of the tuning are, for example C6 being C,E,G,A,C,E (thickest string is a low C, thinnest string is the same high E as standard tuning)
Those "regular" tuners you don't see much any more, where you had to select the string you wanted to tune to in "standard" EADGBE tuning.
As for bars... well you'll probably try a bunch out before you decide what's right for you.
I've found that they're generally overpriced over here, I usually get mine from the good old U.S of A via ebay, even with shipping they often cost less that they do over here!
Search ebay for "tone bar"...
Although it's aimed more at acoustic steel playing, there's some relevant tips & stuff on hollowneck.com...
_________________
www.hollowneck.com |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 2:34 pm
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Thanks Chris
I need a fool proof way of tuning so the one like your Korg CA30 sounds ideal if I can get one? Are they on ebay, I think your right about the bars the best ones and the best priced ones on ebay was from the USA.
I'll have a look at the hollowneck.com now to see if it can teach old dumbo here a trick or two.
Many thanks for your help I really do appreciate it from you all. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 11 Mar 2009 3:22 pm
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Jeff welcome to the world of Hawaiian Guitar, You're most welcome to the forum. If I can ever help you in any way, don't hesitate to contact me.. either by Forum PM or e-mail at basil@waikiki-islanders.com, or landline +44 (0)781-687-2166 or 0182-770-4110
For a UK and European perspective on events and players you should also check out http://www.chanos-isgf.org/ESGForum/
BTW Sounds like you need a little help regarding the basics, like the correct way to wear the picks and hold the bar..
Have you Skype? if so call me for some free help: basil-henriques is my Skype name.
Basil |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 2:49 am
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Many Thanks Basil I just joined the UK and European forum so I'll have a good look tonight when I'm left aloan lol.
Your right about the little help regarding the basics like I said I know nothing about lap steel or music so this doesn't help me trying to learn from scratch.
Thanks for your number I've Jotted it down I don't have Skype sorry. |
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Jeff Brown
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 6:29 am
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I think it's ideal for what you want, the metronome is an added bonus. Give me your address and I'll Send you a CD of a recording of the open strings so you can learn to partially tune by ear and then use the tuner to fine tune.
You do know the picks have the blade part under your finger and not above the nail as an extension ?
BTW Don't buy the Maplin one. |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 6:39 am
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Thank you Basil PM sent
Thanks for the tip on the picks, I did have them on the wrong way lol |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 6:42 am
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You see .. I'm psychic !! 
Been there, done the, got the tee shirt, it reads "When climbing the ladder to success make sure that "Cess" isn't sitting at the top waiting for you"  |
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Jeff Brown
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 6:47 am
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The wife did pass comment on how nice my nails looked  |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 6:48 am
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Welcome, Jeff! There are a lot of UK based steelers both here and on the European Steel Guitar Forum, as you've already found. A very good resource for learning to play lap steel (other than a teacher) are the many videos found on YouTube. Check out RIck Alexander, Martin Gross or any of the other frequent posters here to get some good tips.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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