Hi from Midlothian

[keef]

Just purchased my first lap steel , a Guyatone model from ebay. I have played a bit of guitar over the years, but trying to choose a good starting point regarding tuning. Like rock, blues and country, so maybe G maj?. Anyway looking forward to exploring the forum.. best wishes Keef

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Welcome aboard Keef....

[Mcneilwaeasteel]

Welcome to the forum Keef, if you can manage along to Garcosh community hall on Tuesday the 22 May you will be made to fell at home in the nuthouse , G tuning is as good a place as any to start and there is plenty of dobro instruction material available, if you need new strings fit a set of C6th gauge as you can tune them to a number of different tunings without having to change strings.
Learn how to use the bar and finger picks and stick with it until you get comfortable with them, hope to meet you soon,
regards
Robert

[Ken Byng]

Just purchased my first lap steel , a Guyatone model from ebay. I have played a bit of guitar over the years, but trying to choose a good starting point regarding tuning. Like rock, blues and country, so maybe G maj?. Anyway looking forward to exploring the forum.. best wishes Keef

Hi Keef
Welcome to the site. Can I suggest that as you have some experience of playing guitar, an E7 tuning might be a good start as there are some common open strings with the two instruments. If you tune your Guyatone (top to bottom) E-B-G#-E-D-B. If you feel adventurous later you could tune your second string to C# which would give you an E13 tuning which has been popular among some pro steel players in the past and present.

[Jif]

Hi Keef, welcome to the forum

As Robert said, Scottish steel players meet up the last Tuesday of every month at the Gartcosh community hall and you would be made welcome should you come along. Most of the guys are playing pedal steel, but Robert plays lap steel and sometimes Dougie Stevenson comes along and plays dobro and lap.

The pro players are very helpful and you can learn a lot just by being there. Although most are playing pedal there is a lot of common ground such as bar technique, string damping etc

It's a bit of a trek from the East, but from Midlothian you would probably take the M8 to the Bailleston Roundabout just outside Glasgow then head north on the M73 and take the exit for Gartcosh Ind. Estate.

In any case good luck getting started, there is plenty of experience on the forum that you can tap into

[Donny Johnston]

Please note that Jif will get his bum skelped at the next meeting, the meeting is held on the 4th Tues of each month not the last Tues. that's why he misses so many meetings. Come along you'll be made welcome. Donny.

[Danny Mitchell]

Welcome Keef,
Gartcosh is well worth a visit, great bunch of steel enthusiasts. Hopefully see and hear you there some time.

[Jif]

Whoops, sorry my mistake, 4th Tuesday in the month as Donny says

Looking forward to having my plank spanked

[keef]

Thank you all SO much for your replies. Its wonderful to be made so welcome. Some great information too , which is really helpful in making decisions on tunings.
I will try to make it over for a meeting in the near future.

Many thanks again

Keef