need some help

George McLellan · From: Duluth, MN USA

Last night at a concert I was playing, a older woman came to me and asked about tab. She said she has a 6 string lap steel and hasn't played it for years but would like to start playing it. I wasn't too helpful since I play pedal and never got into the in's and out's of non-pedal.

Could someone please recommend a tuning and some easy tab for songs she could start with?

Thank you,

Geo

Thomas Temple · From: Florida, USA

The absolute most common 6 string tuning is C6th Low to high C,E,G,A,C,E as for tabs there is a wealth of info at http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Tab/LapTab.html which is free. Beyond that can not recommend anything higher than Doug Beaumiers two C6th books both of which can be found by referencing Doug's name in the seach section.

Bill Brunt · From: Texas, USA

Easy = Herb Remington's Fun Tabs(1) tabs and CD for A6 tuning.
Doug Beaumier, on this forum has a couple of great books and cd's also, for C6 tuning.

I have both, and, as a definite non-musician, found Herb's easier to learn, mostly because the A6 tuning offers the major triads on the to 3 strings, and it makes learning the harmonized scales easy.

On the other hand, Doug's material offers more complete arrangements.

I should say, with regard to learning the songs by memorizing them from the tabs, both are about as easy, but when it comes to playing a song by ear, the A6 is a bit more intuitive.

Bill Brunt · From: Texas, USA

I agree with Thomas about Greg's site, a ton of great licks. I learned a few, then realized I didn't know what to do with them.

Since then, i have been searching for lessons on comping, or playing backup, with no luck. Oh Well

Dennis Coelho · From: Wyoming, USA

Scotty's Music has "Back-up Behind the Singer: C6th Lap Steel" It comes with a CD. By Dewitt Scott himself.

Lots of riffs and fills and five complete songs in tab.

They have a website.

Stephen Abruzzo · From: Philly, PA

Doug Beaumier's 2 books for C6 tab and the companion CDs for how it should sound.

If she needs basic remedial instruction re playing (how to pick, block, proper use of bar); forumite George Piburn has an excellent 2-DVD series on C6 lap steel playing called "Lap Steel Guitar 101".

George McLellan · From: Duluth, MN USA

My thanks to all of you. I will print out your information (she does not have a computer) and give it to her when I see her at the next months concert.

Regards,
Geo

John Ely · From: Minneapolis Minnesota, USA

John Ely, who played for Asleep at the Wheel, lives in northern MN and does non-pedal lessons both in person and on Skype.
Your friend may want to contact him:
http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/
I point out, to avoid confusion, that there are two of us named John Ely here on the forum. Both of us live in Minnesota. It's the other John Ely, not me, who gives lessons.
Good luck to your friend.
John
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John Ely (but I'm not THE John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel).

Andy Henriksen · From: Michigan, USA

Dennis Coelho · From: Wyoming, USA

You should probably give Scotty's a call. My copy is from June, 2007, and has a note that it was delayed at that time for reprinting.

George McLellan · From: Duluth, MN USA

Thanks John, but the lady that needs help would have trouble traveling up to the Range for lessons. The books & tab would be the best for her. Even tho I don't play non-pedal, I might be able to help her with tuning and understaning tab.

Once again, my thanks to all who offered their suggestions.

Geo

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

George, Mel Bay's basic C6 lap steel book, by DeWitt Scott is a good, low cost way to start. It's available through the Steel Forum catalog and at Amazon ---> http://www.amazon.com/Basic-C6th-Nonpedal-Steel-Method/dp/0786614498

What I don't like about it... the look of the tablature. They put the numbers in the spaces instead of on the lines, which makes little sense for 6-string tab IMO. It's a lot easier to read with just 6 lines and the numbers on the lines. Other than that it's a pretty good beginners book.

My C6 song books have large tab, easy to read, mostly intermediate, some easier ones, and a few advanced. Each lap steel book includes 2 CDs... the melodies played on steel, and the backing tracks. My books don't teach "how to play" from day one, but a player can learn a lot about chord positions, slants, harmonies, chord movement, etc, by playing through the songs. Click on the links below for more info...
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My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel

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