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Topic: making a lap steel sound like a pedal steel |
James Mitchell
From:
Alabama, USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2010 3:33 pm |
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| I have both a 6 string and 8 string lap steel. what are techniques to make a lap steel sound more pedal like? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 24 Aug 2010 4:05 pm
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1. Good accurate slants with sustained notes.
2. Fast bar moves.
3. A quick, clean right hand with good pick and palm blocking.
4. A tuning with a thin string on top.
5. Lots of practice!
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 24 Aug 2010 4:33 pm
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I once created a tuning specifically for this purpose. I can't remember what it was exactly, but the first 4 strings were:
1. B (lower than string 3)
2. G# (lower than strings 2 and 3)
3. E
4. C# (I think)
I had to really play around with the gauges, but when I got it right I could use my middle finger to grab those strings and pull them and it would be in tune every time. I could also push the nose of the bar down on the top strings causing them to raise in pitch. It was all very effective. I abandoned it, though, just because....
There were a lot of possibilities, though.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2010 4:36 pm
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| Roy Thomson and Bill Hatcher with his Leavitt tuning can play some really cool pedal steel soundin stuff on lap steel. Click here and scroll down to Bill's three links to hear some. Click Here |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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James Mitchell
From:
Alabama, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2010 1:43 pm you're right ...these do sound very pedal steel
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| thanks!!!! |
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Roman Sonnleitner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 26 Aug 2010 5:52 am
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| 7. a volume pedal (for adding "endless" sustain) |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Adrian Wang
From:
Singapore
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Posted 26 Mar 2013 3:50 am
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Indeed, lap steel sounds like pedal steel.
How do I make my E9 pedal steel sound more Hawaiian? |
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Bryant Aycock
From:
Pikeville, North Carolina
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Posted 26 Mar 2013 6:42 pm
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| Chris Scruggs in Nashville. He is one of the best! |
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Keith Cary
From:
California, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2013 8:54 pm speed picking
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| Doug, that's wonderful, superb! |
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Gary S. Lynch
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2013 1:11 am
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Some great posts..
Bill, could you elaborate on the tuning and string gauges in your clip..
very nice!
Thanks! |
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Brian Henry
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Posted 27 Mar 2013 1:13 am
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Bill, that is absolutely stunning. Do you use 2 necks and what is your tuning?
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LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN GEORGIA |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Jouni Karvonen
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Mark Mansueto
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2013 3:44 am
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This is an interesting thread. I'm recording an original country song right now which has a prominant pedal steel part and I'm finding all of the comments above to be true. Fast right and left hand technique, accurate slants, etc, and along with that I find pick attack/volume pedal timing and technique is important. I use a guitar compressor to gain a bit of sustain along with a reverb plugin for effects. The one thing I haven't quite got yet is that sweet pedal steel tone so any advice on that would be welcome.
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https://markmansueto.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/65dQ3EyZC2RaqawA8gPlRy?si=dOdqc5zxSKeJI9cISVVx_A |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 27 Mar 2013 4:49 am
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| Wow! I was looking for a pedal steel thinking its necessary to get this sound! I now stop looking for a pedal steel and keep learning non pedal, this instrument is amazing! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Bill Mollenhauer
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2013 7:17 am
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After watching all the links, I think I would like to give the slants a try. The Billy Robinson one was the eye opener.
Is it easier with a bullet bar or can I use a Stevens type? I tend to slide the bar a lot instead of raising it anyway.
Thanks, Bill |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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JW Adams
From:
Davao Philippines
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2013 6:27 pm
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Dito Jim C.
On a particular song or two I used to de-tune the high B a whole step down to A on my GBDGBD Dobro and yank it up to B with my ring finger to get the most used PSG lick. |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2013 7:39 pm
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| JW Adams wrote: |
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4AeYTrj9rj4 i am a new player and was wondering is this lap steel or pedal it was recorded in 1955 |
No pedals on that... sounds like a Fender Pro. C6.
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New FB Page: Lap Steel Licks And Stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195394851800329 |
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