For Some Country Sounds...

[rickosound]

... I'm not a cowboy, but I think it would be interesting to have some country sounds available for what my dad and I do with our GarageBand recording studio. We heard "Bad Weather" by Poco today, and discussed it. I'm 14, and I'm interested in learning the steel guitar. Budget is a consideration (my dad says emphatically), but right now I am just weighing the options. Price will come later. Here are my questions.

1)What is the difference in tuning, sound, or technique between a 6-string lap steel and an 8-string lap steel?

2)What is the difference in tuning, sound, or technique between a lap steel and a pedal steel?

3)Are there any particular models someone would recommend for a beginner, understanding that I'm mainly wanting to learn this for a home recording scenario?

4)Elderly Instruments has a Ric Steel in stock now. Is that overdoing it for a beginner?

(PS I am PM-ing this to Richard Shatz for his input.)

Thanks for your input.

[sloop_john_b]

1)What is the difference in tuning, sound, or technique between a 6-string lap steel and an 8-string lap steel?

2)What is the difference in tuning, sound, or technique between a lap steel and a pedal steel?

3)Are there any particular models someone would recommend for a beginner, understanding that I'm mainly wanting to learn this for a home recording scenario?

4)Elderly Instruments has a Ric Steel in stock now. Is that overdoing it for a beginner?

1) With lap steel, it's not like standard guitar where there's one main tuning. There are a ton of tunings for steel playing, all of which have their place. Some are better for Hawaiian style playing, some are better suited to country styles.

2) A pedal steel is like a lap steel, but it allows you to do bends using pedals and levers. It's a pretty complex instrument, but the sound is just incredible. Wish I had picked up a pedal steel at 14!

3) I picked up an Artisan steel at Musicians Friend for $50 or so a few years ago. I have no idea if they still make them, but it's a decent instrument.

4) If it's reasonably priced, I say go for it!

[byu]

It takes 5 years just to suck on pedal steel. Probably good to start at 14.

[wmthor]

I was watching an Alison Krauss show last night. On one song, Jerry Douglas was using a Tele as a lap steel.

[rickosound]

Thanks for your answers.
Sounds like the lap steel is probably a better place to start. With that in mind, what is the difference between a 6 string and an 8 string? Would either one to be suitable for a beginner?

John, I looked at MF and there was no listing for an Artisan steel. The Morrell brand seems to have good reviews and prices. Here are some I've found. If anyone could give me any thoughts on these, or others, I would appreciate it.

6 string
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=511860
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=511861

8 string
http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/JMP8-TRED.htm

Thanks,
Matthew

[rshatz]

MATTEW,
DID YOU GET THE PM I SENT YOU?

[wittyair]

Matthew....there's just nothing like the sound of a pedal steel!!
Dont get me wrong.....a lap steel is a great instrument but there's just
something about the pedal steel. I played the pedal steel for many years.....it's
a very tough instrument to learn but I'd be happy to share some insight if you'd like.
You can email me at [email protected].
You'll want to start with a 10 string steel with 3 pedals and 2 knee levers......E9th Nashville tuning!
Regards,
Craig Witty

[sloop_john_b]

I've got to agree with Craig. Go for the the pedal steel!

[wittyair]

Music 1-2-3 has a great starter package with a Carter 10 string plus volume pedal and cables, etc. Carter
makes nice guitars. Also....check out GFI steels....they make a terrific student model that could go right
on stage. Sho-bud is always a good bet and there is a VERY interesting WBS german model on ebay right
now that has some great features.

[rickosound]

Thanks to everyone who is responding. I have sent Richard a PM.

Sounds like the pedal steel is the goal, but maybe the lap steel is the place to start. Craig, do you agree?

My immediate goal is GarageBand, which it sounds like I can achieve more quickly with a lap steel. One step at a time.

I'm going to try and post our latest GarageBand project, which has me imitating a steel guitar on our 355JL, which is how this got started, but I'm looking for a new file share program. I'm going to post that in a different thread in The Others. I'll post it here later.

Matthew

[wittyair]

Matthew....I'll be interested to hear your steel imitation on the 355.
It depends on which sound you're going for. If you're bending the notes while using
the volume knob to create your sound you probably want to go pedal. If you're
trying for more of a Texas swing/Hawaiian/bluesy slide guitar sound then the lap
steel is definitely the place to start. If you decide to go pedal, I'd be happy to help and
I've even got some stuff here you might be interested in.

[rickosound]

It's been a miserable Missouri winter. We got so sick of it we wrote a song about.

I used the 355JL to try and add a country twang. It is mainly in the second and third verses. For the middle acoustic lead, I used my Martin 000-28 and then played harmonics on my mandolin against it. When we were done, we listened to it and wondered what the song would have been like with a lap or pedal steel, which partially led to this discussion.

You have to click the green play button at the bottom for the song to play.

http://www.garageband.com/user/music.ht ... W6Z2tiDp0y

Matthew

[rickosound]

Sorry. This is the correct link.

http://www.garageband.com/user/ricsound/podcast/main

Matthew

[sloop_john_b]

Nice track! Based on what i'm hearing from the 355, you'll want a pedal steel - a lap steel can't do that.

[wittyair]

That is great stuff, Matthew......excellent!!
Pedal steel would be killer on that song......go get one!!!