(Very) Beginner Lap Steel Guitar lesson

I have had a lot of questions about how to get started with lap style, so
I did a short lesson on the very first steps. Let me know if you’re interested in learning more!

[johnstenglein]

Retiree here with many years of playing guitars. Now, lap steel has caught my ear. Thanks so much for explaining and demonstrating the basics I've been searching for. I want to duplicate the control you've demonstrated with the slide. Well done!

[timlillard]

I've played acoustic guitar for over 60 years, beginning back in the Folk song Revival in late 50s and early 60s. I've played on the street, in coffee houses, for weddings and in groups. Recently I developed arthritis and neuropathy in both hands, which makes it extremely difficult and painful to play my Martin. So I began to look for alternatives that wouldn't rely so much on tactile sensation and feel, especially in the left hand. I took up keyboards, which is nice, but still missed the guitar vibe. I just bought a Rogue RLS-1 Lap Steel Guitar from Guitar Center. I haven't taken it out of the box yet since it arrived late yesterday. I've looked at many different YouTube videos just looking for one that could show me the basics of PLAYING the thing, instead of spending so much time on string tuning and music theory, of which I'm quite knowledgeable. I very much appreciate this video, since it actually shows, briefly, the basics of hand positions and holding the bar, but especially shows how to move the bar up and down the keyboard and mute the unwanted strings. Having played guitar for so long, I doubt it will take me long to figure this out, but I'm grateful for this no-nonsense basic approach. Thank you.

[timothy]

6 months and only one comment, and that was a complaint. If it weren’t for people like you we wouldn’t have lessons that are FREE to help us. Thank you for this lesson and your time. 🙏

[Sunshine]

Thank you! I play acoustic and was curious about how that knowledge might translate to steel… this was extremely helpful!

[leahmorse]

Thank you. This was a great lesson. I am just getting back into the lap steel after many years and what has been the hardest thing to remember were the very basics - like holding the slide and muting.

[JJ-nmzw]

very easy to understand. thank you for this video as i am a beginner.

[lindamorgan]

This is great. I have one of these regular guitars with raised saddle and nut ( 60's ) and picked it up once and thought OH boy this will be hard to do and kinda checked around and let it sit. Glad I found you tonight your short lesson with the great examples and your nice way of talking did the trick ! I will grab that guitar out of the case where it has been sitting for a year and try exactly what you did on this vid can hardly wait. Thanks so much . Subbed and hit the alarm

[johnlittle]

I am using one of those 2x4s. Sent off for the kit from Amazon, and have been noisy ever since. Thanks, and keep those lessons coming. LOL😃

[johnlittle]

More is better, right? I can use all of the help I can get. This was a good introduction to what we need to get on to it. Thanks for a good lesson, looking forward to more.

[bbcra]

Thank you, sir! Very helpful and if you make any more of these beginner videos, I will be watching! Thanks again for your help👍

[jsd]

Really Good video, , I have an old semi accustic guitar I've had for ages still in good order, was thinking of trying lap steel for quite a while now, so I'm gonna give this a try see how it goes, but anyway your video helped a lot, so best wishes and thank you...

[georgew.]

For you people that would like to teach the steel guitar, two things need to happen. on youtube, One is to use a microphone when talking and the other is to show the strings you are playing close up and how to pick them. If you did that, everything would be fine. I have been around interment's my whole life My father and brother both played the guitar, I was to busy with life to want to learn. Now at 77 years young, I just bought a complete Steel guitar with all the trimmings Like Amp picks and so on. Everything I have done in life has been self-thought But playing a instrument you need help with to get started. Please do not be offended on what I have said here just making a statement, If I could learn to play like this video it would be a blessing for me. Many thanks to all. Keep up the great work.

[paulpotter]

How do you tune it if you are playing along with standard guitar tuning?

[chrisdixon]

Sure would be helpful if you told us what tuning IN THE VIDEO TITLE. Thanks for next time

[charlessmith]

How is she still guitar players adobo prayers will tell us what tenure tune in on songs that you play it makes a difference when you’re trying to teach somebody

[jwad]

Please don’t play while you are talking.
Enjoyed the lesson.