Pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar (also called Steel Guitar) is a type of guitar, and a method of playing the instrument. It was developed from the Lap steel guitar, but there are a few distictions worth noting.
Many musicians specialize in performing on both instruments, as well as dobro.
Description
A lap steel guitar is typically rectangular in shape, and features only the neck guitar mounted on a stand. Many models feature two sets of strings. A number of "pedals" or levers on the underside allow the performer to change the instrument's tuning while performing.
These pedals allows for some techniques and sounds unavailable on a lap steel or dobro, which are otherwise often played in a similar fashion.
Photographs of one pedal steel guitar model are available here: [1]
Playing
A performer typically sits in a chair behind the instrument. The strings are placed much higher above the neck than on a standard guitar, and are not pressed to a fret when sounding a note. Rather, the player holds a metal slide in one hand, which is moved along the strings to change the instrument's pitch while the other hand plucks the strings.
The lap steel guitar--and to a lesser extent the dobro--are usually played in similar fashion.
History
Pedal steel guitar traces its origin probably to Hawaii in the late 1800's. Several persons have been credited with the innovation. [2]. The lap steel instrument was rather popular--perhaps a fad--in the United States during the 1920's and 1930's.
Later musicians experimented with the lap steel, resulting in the pedal steel guitar.
Lap steel, dobro and pedal steel guitar are probably most assocatied with country music and bluegrass, though some players have used them in jazz and other musical genres.
The pedal steel's liquid, yearning sound has begun in recent years to be coveted by many modern musicians. In particular the rising popularity of so-called alt country has brought this instrument's beautiful sound to a much wider audience.
Noted pedal steel players
External links
- Brad's Page of Steel - Discusses lap steel guitars in more detail
- Steel Guitar Forum - A discussion board for steel guitarists.
- SteelGuitarInfo.com - Information on the pedal steel guitar, provided by Carter Steel Guitars