by slimbo » Sat May 12, 2012 11:58 pm
Ok, your looking for a little help on learning to play the lap steel, so we need to get rid of the few bad habbits you have aquired allready.
Understand, this is only my opinion and no one elses on observation from a side view of your first attempt.
The steel is a little too high up, resulting in your hands lolling on the back of the steel, result, you will find it hard work to make shapes, and slant the bar with your hands so far down.
Second, your right hand picking is a little erratic, your pulling the strings upwards, this will also result in you being unable to pick combinations, and when a faster picking is required, you will find it difficult to do so if your hand is so far away from the strings, try cupping your hands over or near the pickup, if you have no desire to wear picks, then thats ok, some players work that way.
Third, your right knee is popping up and down like a fiddlers elbow, so you are either pumping the volume peddal (WRONG) or you are tapping time to the music, also wrong.
You need a flat and level platform to work on, and you need to be slightley over the steel and not sitting so far back, or you wont have controle over what you are trying to acheive.
If you are in a wheel chair I don't appologise for my remarks as you will not be able to progress well unless you are sitting more upright, a cushion underneath, and one at your back should solve the problem.
One of the most important things about playing a lap steel, is you need to start out comfortable, like driving a car for the first time, if your not sitting right, it's another thing to worry about.
The best guy to help you with lap steel on this site is Basil Henrique, he the best in the country, and he will have you playing in no time, hope you don't take offence old buddy, when we started back in the 60's we had to mostly find our own way, but now we have a mountain of knowledge, and are eager to pass it along, Slim.