In C&W tunes, what is the correct name for the electronic stringed keyboard played often on the intrumentalists lap with a pick? And as a follow up question.In roughly what year did these start to appear on the C&W records?
Posts: 13439 | Location: 6 miles west of Wigan UK | Registered: 06-05-02
The instrument was called a lap steel and I think they first began appearing on C-W records in 1948. The 'dobro' was also played across the lap by many but some guitar players play them in the normal position as well. Both were played with a slide.
Posts: 3856 | Location: Somewhere, out there... | Registered: 05-31-02
No, a pedal steel is another version of a slide played stringed instrument, but it has a stand and pedals that alter the tuning when pressed, where a lap steel is like a board with strings and painted fret markers. I think all of these may have originated in the South Pacific with the pedal steel being the oldest of these instruments but there are various theories on this too.
Posts: 3856 | Location: Somewhere, out there... | Registered: 05-31-02
Thanks, Hugh. Just a quick question. Do you happen to know exactly which kind of steel guitar is used in the lovely Crosby, Stills & Nash track, "Teach Your Children", and who plays that solo? Cheers, Ritz.
Posts: 3456 | Location: Marple Cheshire UK | Registered: 06-04-02
Hugh, you are correct...It was orginally know as a Hawaiian Steel Guitar, and orginated in the South Pacific, and then the C&W people adapted it to suit them....
Posts: 2258 | Location: Naples, Florida, United States | Registered: 06-03-02
