Ever heard of the steel guitar? Maybe you listen to a lot of country music featuring the instrument or maybe you have access to some music channels featuring the instrument as part of some direct tv deals. Regardless of how you came to know this incredible musical implement: did you know that the steel guitar, one of country music’s most-loved instruments, actually originated in a more tropical setting? In 1885 a man born in O’ahu, Hawaii named Joseph Kekuku would invent what we now call the steel guitar and it would change the face of country music forever.

As a young boy, Kekuku constantly experimented with his guitar, developing new techniques and improvising sliders out of household objects in order to find that unique sound until he accidently discovered the pleasing tone of the steel guitar. From there, he brought his discovery to the music world, performing in vaudeville theaters from coast to coast.

Nowadays, the steel guitar is widely used in country music, blues and jazz, and is largely recognized for its distinctly pleasant and, at the same time, mournful sound. Nothing quite conveys the feeling of life’s constant hardships like the sound of a steel guitar, which is why it is one of the most well-known instruments in American music today.

Resonator guitars have been a mainstay in folk, blues, and bluegrass music for years. There are two main types, the square neck resonator that sits on the lap, and the round neck version which is played like a standard guitar. This post is intended for mostly round neck resonators and using a bottleneck slide. Here are five ways to improve your resonator playing with a bottleneck.

1. Use an open tuning. The most common tunings for resonator and slide guitar are Open G, Open A, (more…)

If you are trying to decide if a bottleneck guitar is right for you, consider what kind of music you are playing. Bottleneck guitars refers to the way in which it’s played. These types of guitars provide a different sound, a sound familiar to older styles of country music. Most recently we have seen the recergance in the use of these guitars in current country music. Using an actuall bottleneck, years ago, created a new way to play guitar. This offerend a unique sound, soothing the transition between notes.

You have several different options when deciding on (more…)

Are you looking to buy a new steel guitar? If you are, it may be a good idea to understand them a little more before making that purchase.

A steel guitar is like an electric guitar, but you do not use your fingers or a pick to strum the strings, you use a metal bar to run along the strings and a thumbpick or your fingers to pluck the strings.

Another difference of the steel guitar from an ordinary guitar is that you have pedals (used with your feet) or knee levers (used with your knees) that will change the pitch of the sound coming from it.

The steel guitar is not held in your hands, as an ordinary guitar is, it is mounted on a stand, more like a keyboard. It also has the rectangular shape that is similar to a keyboard.

Depending on the type of steel guitar you purchase, there is also a difference in the number of strings. You can get a steel guitar with eight, ten, twelve, and even fourteen strings.

The steel guitar is usually played with the person sitting on a stool. This makes it easier for them to easily work the foot pedals and knee levers.

There are numerous facts about the history of the steel guitar. There are also several classifications of steel guitars including: pedal steel, lap steel, and Hawaiian steel. All are fascinating musical instruments that can capture the attention of a multitude of people and bring together the most diverse crowds.
Pedal Steel
The pedal steel is a type of electric guitar. This particular guitar uses a metal bar to shorten the length of the string, whereas conventional guitars require the use of the fingers to accomplish this task. It is unique because (more…)

When you get the steel guitar, you may not know the names of famous players. Buddy Emmonds, Noel Boggs and other names listed in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. Your intent may not even be to become one of the greatest steel guitar players. Your only goal may be to learn to play the steel guitar There is nothing wrong with wanting to learn to play the steel guitar for your own enjoyment. There is no surefire way to slide your way to (more…)

Resonator guitars were designed under the idea of the amplifying system for ukuleles developed by John Dopyera. He patented his design for the “self-amplifying” guitars on December 31, 1929. Instead of the wood sound board, the sounds from these guitars are made by resonators, or metal cones on the face of the guitar.
Resonator guitars are well known for being louder than the original acoustic guitar, which is the reason for their popularity. These guitars were perfect for musicians because with the resonators producing louder sounds, the music from the guitar were not (more…)

When you fist pick up a steel guitar, you may not realize where all the modern influences come from. The instrument is largely seen in Bluegrass, Country, and Blues music today. The instrument, unlike the mandolin, has not managed to sneak its way into the rock or pop genres. The modern steel guitar involved from the influences of the music of the Hawaiian islands.

Serious music lovers do not often pay attention to Hawaiian music.Confused? Here ‘s a little help . They reference fills them with many images of the American culture of the 1950s. The 1950 (more…)