- There isn't a set tuning for your lap steel guitar. There are many different tunings, and only after some experimentation can you decide what works best for you, and even then, you may opt to tune several different ways to suit the music you play. There are a few guidelines you can follow. Lap steel guitars are tuned to sound like chords when the strings are strummed together. Beginners may want to stick with a G chord tuning, used most often in rock and blues, with the strings (from thickest to thinnest) tuned to D-G-D-G-B-D. Unless you have a good ear, think about getting a digital tuner to ensure you are in tune. Other tunings include an E7 tuning, used extensively in Mel Bay books; open D; and an altered open G. You can purchase a beginner's lap steel guitar book in any music store that will help familiarize you with various tunings.
- A lap steel isn't fretted in the way a traditional guitar is. Lap steel players use a metal or glass slide, sometimes held and sometimes slipped over the index finger. The player moves the slide up and down the strings, applying just a little pressure, to change the pitch of the notes being played. In addition to the movement of the slide, players pluck the strings using a thumb pick made of plastic or steel. Some lap steel players wear picks on one or all four fingers as well. Using a combination of plucking methods with the thumb and four fingers can create extremely complex rhythms, and the slide gives the guitar the twang, or Hawaiian sound, for which the lap steel is famous.
- One of the best ways to get familiar with playing your lap steel is to try playing along with some of your favorite recordings. You won't necessarily sound good at first, but with a little practice, you will hear your improvement. Also consider playing sheet music and steel guitar tablature sheets. You can find plenty of beginning sheets in a local music store, as well as some online free of charge (see Resources). You can study all you want, but when it comes down to it, playing is the best method of learning.
