by Rev Tony Newnham » 22 Jun 2020 09:30
Hi
The frets on a steel guitar are only there to guide the player, the strings aren't stopped against them as on a normal guitar. The strings are often set higher than a normal guitar too. The pitch is determined by where the steel (other materials are available - and used) touches the string(s) that are being played. The instruments are sometimes known as a "Hawaiian guitar" - a common term when I was much younger. There are 3 main variants, the Dobro - a form of resonator guitar, in this context played laying across the lap; the lap steel guitar - more or less a normal looking guitar, although often more of a straight plank, it has electric pickups & again is played laying across the lap; and finally the pedal steel guitar - usually a much larger instrument, often with more than 6 strings, played on a stand with foot pedals to change the pitch of certain strings to suit the music, some I've seen have two "necks", presumably to allow alternative tunings. A fascinating instrument, perhaps most prevalent in Country & Western & related musical styles (although Steve Howe, guitarist in the prog band "Yes" uses one at times).
Every Blessing
Tony
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