Lap Steel Guitar (also called Hawaiian Guitar or simply lap steel or steel guitar) is a type of guitar, and a method of playing the instrument. (Pedal steel guitar was developed from Lap steel, and is very closely related, but there are a few distictions worth noting.)

Description

A lap steel guitar is typically rectangular in shape, and features only the neck guitar. A photograph of one model is available here: [1]

Playing

Lap steel is typically placed in one's lap while seated, not held upright like a standard guitar. 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 pedal steel guitar - and to a lesser extent, the dobro - are usually played in similar fashion.

History

Lap steel probably began in Hawaii in the late 1800's. Several persons have been credited with the innovation. [2]. The instrument was rather popular - perhaps a fad - in the United States during the 1920's and 1930's.

Lap steel, dobro and pedal steel guitar are probably most associated with country music and bluegrass, though some players have used them in rock music, jazz and other musical genres.

Noted lap steel players

• Vance Terry
• Cindy Cashdollar
• Ben Harper
• kelly joe phelps

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