Suggestions for getting started

[Todd Weger]

Hank - I see you posted this in no-peddlars, so I'm assuming that you interested in non-pedal instruments, correct? I just started this past summer. I'm 40, and have played guitar, bass and banjo for a long, long time, but was always in love with the sound of the steel too, particularly the old-style non-pedal sounds of western swing and honky tonk steel.

I started with a 6-string Fender Champ lap steel. I think it was a great place to start. I tuned it to a C6 tuning suggested on the tuning page on Brad's Page of Steel website, learned what I could with that, and began playing out with it in my band within about 2 weeks. I quickly realized that I needed more than one neck though, and found a Fender Stringmaster D-8, which I use now (with the aid of the good folks here on the SGF).

I can tell you that if you have good ears, and you have at least a basic command of music theory, it will come to you much faster (as any instrument would, I think). Intonation seems to be the biggest initial buggaboo, and learning the proper way to hold the bar is highly recommended to help with this. Also, proper blocking techniques will help with controlling ghost notes and keeping strings under control.

Good luck in starting out, and welcome to the club! Come on in -- the water's great! I'll warn you though: PLAYING THE STEEL IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!!!

TJ

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
www.franchise-yourself.com
1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6)

[Rich Young]

I highly recommend the Cindy Cashdollar and Herb Remington videos. Real good, right from the start basic stuff and I find my self going back to them and finding stuff I didn't catch the first time through. The Herb Remington ones show shots from above and the front, so you can really see his technique.
They both are, by the way, monster players.

[Marc Weller]

Hank,

I'm 46 and have been playing guitar since I was about 7 or 8. I heard Owana Salazar playing Hawaiian while on vacation in Maui (she was playing a JB Fry Pan). That got me really interested in learning the instrument. She recommended the JB video from Scotty's as a good starting place. Upon return home, I started looking for an instrument. My buddy who is a luthier at an old local music store scrounged around in the back of his shop and found a Stringmaster triple 8 which he sold me for $500 (this was only two years ago). He told me this was extremely inexpensive for this instrument and he was correct. Anyway, I got the JB tape from Scotty's and the DeWitt Scott C6 book from MelBay. After getting through those I purchased Cindy Cashdollars videos which really accelerated the learning process. I guess I'll have to look into Herb Remington's stuff next. BTW, this Forum has been a huge source of inspiration and information. Thank you to all forum members for your contributions to my progress.
MW