You are most welcome! There are a couple more videos dealing with tips and tricks for steel guitar. And plenty of educational material in my website: www.fernandoperezguitar.com Should you have any questions feel free to write to me or just post it in the World Music Guitars Forum at the same website I mentioned. Cheers! And thanks so much for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Wow this is so useful, totally beginner to guitar playing full stop. I've got a grover to change my Dad's spare one into a lap steel. Good to know the best beginner tunings and tone bar to use, also got the right strings now too. Hopefully I progress enough to get a real weissenborn someday. Thank you for the information.
Hey Annalisa! My pleasure to share. I am very thankful for your comment. You have quite a few other videos like this in my channel. Also in my website you can find lots of educational material for lap steel playing, among other styles of music and types of guitars. And you can always comment or ask me any questions. On youtube or using the contact form in my website. Always a pleasure to share and help. Cheers! www.fernandoperezguitar.com
Marc Gunn Hey Marc! Congratulations on your new Weiss! Glad I could help with this video. You can find other “8 tips” videos for Weissenborn guitar on my channel. And if you need it there are a few instructional books and video tutorials on my website at: www.fernandoperezguitar.com Or if you have any particular question just feel free to send me an email through my web. I will be glad to help you. Have fun with your new guitar!
I really love the advice, I just switched over to weisenborn due to a car accident where my hand can't make the shapes anymore. I've watched this video a few times but I can't stop noticing your uncanny resemblance to "the Jesus" in The Big Lebowski. "I'm talking to you bendejo. I see you flash your piece out on the lane, I take it away from you, stick it up your ass and pull the trigger until it goes click"... Please don't misinterpret the comment as disrespectful, it was quite possibly one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history
Thanks so much Scott! Are you aware that I have recently published several of these "8 Tips" type of videos? Wanted to mention it just in case. You can find the rest on my channel. Thanks again for your encouraging words!
My pleasure Stephen! In case you didn’t see them there are several other videos on this subject in my channel. And plenty more resources in my web: www.fernandoperezguitar.com Should you have any questions or comments it will be my pleasure to do what I can to help. I am actually preparing more videos on the subject soon, so feel free to subscribe in order to know when I upload them. 🙂 And if you know about other people interested in the subject I would sincerely appreciate you sharing these videos around. 😉 Cheers and many thanks for taking the time to comment!
Hey Fernando, thanks for the videos and the books you published. Is there a possibility you could do a video about 'reverse slants'? I was kind of missing that in 'The Complete Acoustic Lap Steel Guitar Method'.
Hi Katja, I do have already an instructional video for steel guitar where I am showing reverse slants, the technique as well as different cool chords and positions to use. You can find it in my website: www.fernandoperezguitar.com It is in the Books/DVDs page under the name "Lap Steel Guitar Tutorial, Level 3". I hope that helps. Any more questions feel free to write to me anytime.
Good video never tried a bullet slide and I tend towards open d tuning on Wiessenborn due to string tension limits. Dobro gbdgbd could seriously damage some wiessenborns due to hollow neck.
Hey John! If you are playing in D tuning you could play in G low bass tuning (DGDGBD) without worrying about tension. Another option would be to use the G high bass tuning or Bluegrass Dobro tuning (GBDGBD) changing your strings gauge on the 6th, 5th and 4th. Use a lighter gauge. About using the bullet slide. As you progress with your skills you will find that quite a few techniques are too uncomfortable to play with a Shubb type of slide. Others are even impossible. But with the bullet type you will have no problems. You might find a little tricky to switch from the Shubb type to the bullet but in a few days you'll get the hang of it and many things would become easier to play comparing to when you use the Shubb slide. As a final comment. Playing on D tuning is really cool, many things you can do. But if you really want to get deep into lap steel playing G low bass tuning is even cooler. Many chords, bass lines and harmonised melodies available. You can even do the three together! D tuning is more limited to only a few styles and doesn't allow for your playing skills to grow too much.
Thanks for reply Fernando just been trying open G and like it and checked the online string tension gauge no issues. Really like it due to closeness of the typical chords I use for Christian music. I use key of G a lot as it suits my voice. I only play with a bar because my left hand fingers are not usable and I love guitar so not typical lap steel player. I will get hold of a bullet I’ve hear of a guy in UK who makes themout of silicone with less noice than steel. Lessons withTroy guy recommends them. Thanks again for your reply John
Hola Fernando, Great video full of useful tips for beginners. I play mainly in low bass open G and use Newtone "Aloha" Hawaiian guitars strings in regular gauge (15, 17, 26, 36, 46, 56). They have a light core enabling them to tune to pitch at lower tension than regular strings. I highly recommend them. I use a Shubb type bar but will definitely try a bullet type bar as it looks like they offer more versatility. Do you recommend any particular bar?
Hi Joe Great! Yes, I also use similar gauges that allow me to switch between different tunings. The bar you can try the usual Dunlop. They are great and have and awesome tone. I still use the first one I bought over 20 years ago. It doesn’t even have a scratch.
Regarding tone bars. Now, most of the great dobro players use the shaped bars. They also do lots of session work where they have to be able to play anything and everything. How do they do that with, as Fernando says, a "limited" bar. Also, what about shaped bars with a bullet end, aren't they the best of both worlds?
musik102 it all depends on the kind of techniques you use. There are a number of techniques possible on both bars. Then we have others easy to perform on bullet type but a little more challenging (but not imposible) on shaped bars. And then there are a few techniques imposible to achive on a shaped bar. These last ones are not exactly techniques you would use in common professional sessions. They are more personal techniques that a few players use for their original works. It is not a matter of deciding what is best or worst. A bar is just a tool you use to play so it is a matter of choosinh what is helpful for your needs. Thanks for commenting 🙂 it is a very interesting topic you brought up. Regards!
Thank you for your generosity of sharing skills. The production quality of your video is excellent. Can you tell us the string gauge and tuning for the low G bass please.
Hi Jimmy In my MG Weissenborn I use 016 018 026 035 045 056. For my national Tricone I have 013 (sometimes 014) 016 025 032 042 054. For other guitars I have I use other gauges. It all depends on the type of guitar you are using and its construction. Some guitars are able to handle higher tensions and others are not recommended to have too much because it could damage the wood. But in general the gauges I use should work for must standard guitars (standard meaning for lap steel playing). Still I also use sometimes a regular acoustic guitar with a nut raise/nut extension and I keep the same gauge as I usually use when playing normal or even change and put the gauges I use for my Weissenborn.
Hi Mario FCFFCF is quite a high tension tuning. It depends on the guitar and strings you are using you will be able to use it or not. In a normal guitar either acoustic or electric I would never use it. Strings will break soon and in the case of acoustic instruments you could damage your guitar. Also the tuning you mention is not a common tuning to use. It depends on the style of music you want to play. FCFFCF could work for Indian slide guitar and other oriental styles of music but it would not work for Hawaiian, Blues, Country or those more Western styles. If you still want to use the FCFFCF tuning I would recommend you to lower it. Use for instance DADDAD, it is the same thing but one step and a half lower so your guitar will not suffer from the tension. But again, if you want to learn the typical styles for steel guitar you will be better off starting with tunings like G low bass (DGDGBD).
@@FernandoPerezGuitar Hi Fernando, thanks for your reply! Actually I would like to use just this FCFFCF tuning with a weissenborn guitar. You can see in this video how Ben Harper used it for one of his songs. I think he used some kind of strings other than traditional ones th-cam.com/video/JHzalIu5mA0/w-d-xo.html
@@MarioBeatUp Yes, he probably uses a different gauge of strings otherwise is too much tension for the guitar. You can do the same and get some lighter gauge. But then you will need to have one steel guitar dedicated only for this. Another option is to tune DADDAD and put your capo on the third fret so you get FCFFCF. In this way you don't need to use a special gauge on the strings and once you are done with the song you can still play other things without changing strings again.
Every tuning is a limit, but that's the funny thing. I recommend starting with the D A D D A D tuning, the Open D tuning (D A D F# A D) and, as you say, Open G (D G D G B D). All the best!
Aldo Sulotto well... open tunings are not so limited, it only tales some effort to find things since they haven’t been explored as much as the standard. The D open tuning works well if you are coming from playing normal guitar (not lap style) so the transition is easy but in a short time becomes very limited and narrows your playing to simple things on a couple of styles. It is in the G low bass family of tunings that the steel guitar begins blossoming. There you can harmonised melodies, use more complex harmonies, do full bass lines and apply many technical tricks. Wishing you well also Aldo! 😉
@@FernandoPerezGuitar what I mean is...every tuning (the standard and the Open G too) has limits...and they are fun! This is just my opinion anyway. All the best from Italy :)
@@aldosulotto Hey Aldo! Yes, I understand and you are right. I didn't mean to sound I was contrary to your opinion. My point is that specially in the open tunings, even in only one open tuning, we can find much more than we think. It only takes time and dedication. And yes again, tunings are lots of fun! Nobody should be afraid or turned off by changing tunings on the guitar. It is a very refreshing thing indeed. Best news are that we all learn guitar in the most difficult tuning which is the standard. So going to open tunings is always making things easier. :-) Best to you Aldo, and please keep sharing your thoughts and opinions. We all learn from them.
Most of them are applied to most lap steel guitars types but some of them are specific to just a few types of steel guitars. The video tittle says Weissenborn because it is a Weissenborn guitar oriented video.
Those are great tips, and will help me to learn. Thank you!
You are most welcome! There are a couple more videos dealing with tips and tricks for steel guitar. And plenty of educational material in my website: www.fernandoperezguitar.com
Should you have any questions feel free to write to me or just post it in the World Music Guitars Forum at the same website I mentioned.
Cheers! And thanks so much for taking the time to comment. 🙂
*** just back from your concert in Rügheim, Germany... it is always such a joy to listen to you!
Thanks again Marius. It was wonderful to have you there.
I’ve been playing steel for about ten years (mostly C6th tuning), but I found this video a really good review of the basics. Thank you!
Thank you Fred for taking the time to comment.
Wow this is so useful, totally beginner to guitar playing full stop. I've got a grover to change my Dad's spare one into a lap steel. Good to know the best beginner tunings and tone bar to use, also got the right strings now too. Hopefully I progress enough to get a real weissenborn someday. Thank you for the information.
Hey Annalisa! My pleasure to share. I am very thankful for your comment.
You have quite a few other videos like this in my channel.
Also in my website you can find lots of educational material for lap steel playing, among other styles of music and types of guitars.
And you can always comment or ask me any questions. On youtube or using the contact form in my website.
Always a pleasure to share and help.
Cheers!
www.fernandoperezguitar.com
THANK YOU, Fernando, for all the insight, all the advice!
Thanks Marius! Glad to be of help.
Thanx for this. Just bought a weissenborn on Reverb. Good to get some basic tips. Can't wait to dive in. =]
Marc Gunn Hey Marc! Congratulations on your new Weiss!
Glad I could help with this video. You can find other “8 tips” videos for Weissenborn guitar on my channel. And if you need it there are a few instructional books and video tutorials on my website at: www.fernandoperezguitar.com
Or if you have any particular question just feel free to send me an email through my web. I will be glad to help you.
Have fun with your new guitar!
I really love the advice, I just switched over to weisenborn due to a car accident where my hand can't make the shapes anymore.
I've watched this video a few times but I can't stop noticing your uncanny resemblance to "the Jesus" in The Big Lebowski.
"I'm talking to you bendejo. I see you flash your piece out on the lane, I take it away from you, stick it up your ass and pull the trigger until it goes click"...
Please don't misinterpret the comment as disrespectful, it was quite possibly one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history
Hahahaha... I have never watched that movie but after your comment I guess I need to do that. I am curious now. hahahha....
Fabulous video, like everything you do, Fernando! Thanks so much!
Thanks so much Scott! Are you aware that I have recently published several of these "8 Tips" type of videos? Wanted to mention it just in case. You can find the rest on my channel.
Thanks again for your encouraging words!
Excellent ! Thank you
My pleasure Stephen! In case you didn’t see them there are several other videos on this subject in my channel.
And plenty more resources in my web: www.fernandoperezguitar.com
Should you have any questions or comments it will be my pleasure to do what I can to help.
I am actually preparing more videos on the subject soon, so feel free to subscribe in order to know when I upload them. 🙂
And if you know about other people interested in the subject I would sincerely appreciate you sharing these videos around. 😉
Cheers and many thanks for taking the time to comment!
Hey Fernando, thanks for the videos and the books you published. Is there a possibility you could do a video about 'reverse slants'? I was kind of missing that in 'The Complete Acoustic Lap Steel Guitar Method'.
Hi Katja, I do have already an instructional video for steel guitar where I am showing reverse slants, the technique as well as different cool chords and positions to use.
You can find it in my website: www.fernandoperezguitar.com
It is in the Books/DVDs page under the name "Lap Steel Guitar Tutorial, Level 3".
I hope that helps. Any more questions feel free to write to me anytime.
@@FernandoPerezGuitar Cool, thanks!
Good video never tried a bullet slide and I tend towards open d tuning on Wiessenborn due to string tension limits.
Dobro gbdgbd could seriously damage some wiessenborns due to hollow neck.
Hey John! If you are playing in D tuning you could play in G low bass tuning (DGDGBD) without worrying about tension.
Another option would be to use the G high bass tuning or Bluegrass Dobro tuning (GBDGBD) changing your strings gauge on the 6th, 5th and 4th. Use a lighter gauge.
About using the bullet slide.
As you progress with your skills you will find that quite a few techniques are too uncomfortable to play with a Shubb type of slide. Others are even impossible. But with the bullet type you will have no problems.
You might find a little tricky to switch from the Shubb type to the bullet but in a few days you'll get the hang of it and many things would become easier to play comparing to when you use the Shubb slide.
As a final comment. Playing on D tuning is really cool, many things you can do. But if you really want to get deep into lap steel playing G low bass tuning is even cooler. Many chords, bass lines and harmonised melodies available. You can even do the three together! D tuning is more limited to only a few styles and doesn't allow for your playing skills to grow too much.
Thanks for reply Fernando just been trying open G and like it and checked the online string tension gauge no issues. Really like it due to closeness of the typical chords I use for Christian music. I use key of G a lot as it suits my voice.
I only play with a bar because my left hand fingers are not usable and I love guitar so not typical lap steel player. I will get hold of a bullet I’ve hear of a guy in UK who makes themout of silicone with less noice than steel. Lessons withTroy guy recommends them.
Thanks again for your reply John
@@johnsugden1073 If you want a sweet tone bar without noise check out Rocky Mountain Slides.
Hola Fernando,
Great video full of useful tips for beginners. I play mainly in low bass open G and use Newtone "Aloha" Hawaiian guitars strings in regular gauge (15, 17, 26, 36, 46, 56). They have a light core enabling them to tune to pitch at lower tension than regular strings. I highly recommend them. I use a Shubb type bar but will definitely try a bullet type bar as it looks like they offer more versatility. Do you recommend any particular bar?
Hi Joe
Great! Yes, I also use similar gauges that allow me to switch between different tunings.
The bar you can try the usual Dunlop. They are great and have and awesome tone. I still use the first one I bought over 20 years ago. It doesn’t even have a scratch.
Regarding tone bars. Now, most of the great dobro players use the shaped bars. They also do lots of session work where they have to be able to play anything and everything. How do they do that with, as Fernando says, a "limited" bar. Also, what about shaped bars with a bullet end, aren't they the best of both worlds?
musik102 it all depends on the kind of techniques you use. There are a number of techniques possible on both bars. Then we have others easy to perform on bullet type but a little more challenging (but not imposible) on shaped bars. And then there are a few techniques imposible to achive on a shaped bar. These last ones are not exactly techniques you would use in common professional sessions. They are more personal techniques that a few players use for their original works. It is not a matter of deciding what is best or worst. A bar is just a tool you use to play so it is a matter of choosinh what is helpful for your needs. Thanks for commenting 🙂 it is a very interesting topic you brought up. Regards!
@@FernandoPerezGuitar Thanks for that. Very helpful AND thanks for the great music.
musik102 it is my pleasure!
Thank you for your generosity of sharing skills. The production quality of your video is excellent. Can you tell us the string gauge and tuning for the low G bass please.
Hi Jimmy
In my MG Weissenborn I use 016 018 026 035 045 056.
For my national Tricone I have 013 (sometimes 014) 016 025 032 042 054.
For other guitars I have I use other gauges.
It all depends on the type of guitar you are using and its construction. Some guitars are able to handle higher tensions and others are not recommended to have too much because it could damage the wood. But in general the gauges I use should work for must standard guitars (standard meaning for lap steel playing). Still I also use sometimes a regular acoustic guitar with a nut raise/nut extension and I keep the same gauge as I usually use when playing normal or even change and put the gauges I use for my Weissenborn.
Hi I'm a beginner of this guitar. Can I tuning FCFFCF? Thanks
Hi Mario
FCFFCF is quite a high tension tuning. It depends on the guitar and strings you are using you will be able to use it or not. In a normal guitar either acoustic or electric I would never use it. Strings will break soon and in the case of acoustic instruments you could damage your guitar.
Also the tuning you mention is not a common tuning to use. It depends on the style of music you want to play. FCFFCF could work for Indian slide guitar and other oriental styles of music but it would not work for Hawaiian, Blues, Country or those more Western styles.
If you still want to use the FCFFCF tuning I would recommend you to lower it. Use for instance DADDAD, it is the same thing but one step and a half lower so your guitar will not suffer from the tension.
But again, if you want to learn the typical styles for steel guitar you will be better off starting with tunings like G low bass (DGDGBD).
@@FernandoPerezGuitar Hi Fernando, thanks for your reply! Actually I would like to use just this FCFFCF tuning with a weissenborn guitar. You can see in this video how Ben Harper used it for one of his songs. I think he used some kind of strings other than traditional ones th-cam.com/video/JHzalIu5mA0/w-d-xo.html
@@MarioBeatUp Yes, he probably uses a different gauge of strings otherwise is too much tension for the guitar. You can do the same and get some lighter gauge. But then you will need to have one steel guitar dedicated only for this.
Another option is to tune DADDAD and put your capo on the third fret so you get FCFFCF. In this way you don't need to use a special gauge on the strings and once you are done with the song you can still play other things without changing strings again.
@@FernandoPerezGuitar Thank you so much
THANKS !
My pleasure! Any comments or questions don't hesitate to ask. :-)
Every tuning is a limit, but that's the funny thing. I recommend starting with the D A D D A D tuning, the Open D tuning (D A D F# A D) and, as you say, Open G (D G D G B D). All the best!
Aldo Sulotto well... open tunings are not so limited, it only tales some effort to find things since they haven’t been explored as much as the standard. The D open tuning works well if you are coming from playing normal guitar (not lap style) so the transition is easy but in a short time becomes very limited and narrows your playing to simple things on a couple of styles. It is in the G low bass family of tunings that the steel guitar begins blossoming. There you can harmonised melodies, use more complex harmonies, do full bass lines and apply many technical tricks. Wishing you well also Aldo! 😉
@@FernandoPerezGuitar what I mean is...every tuning (the standard and the Open G too) has limits...and they are fun! This is just my opinion anyway. All the best from Italy :)
@@aldosulotto Hey Aldo! Yes, I understand and you are right. I didn't mean to sound I was contrary to your opinion.
My point is that specially in the open tunings, even in only one open tuning, we can find much more than we think. It only takes time and dedication.
And yes again, tunings are lots of fun!
Nobody should be afraid or turned off by changing tunings on the guitar. It is a very refreshing thing indeed.
Best news are that we all learn guitar in the most difficult tuning which is the standard. So going to open tunings is always making things easier. :-)
Best to you Aldo, and please keep sharing your thoughts and opinions. We all learn from them.
@@FernandoPerezGuitar Thanks Fernando and congratulations for what you do :) All the best!
Aldo Sulotto thank you! 🙂
These tips aren't specific for Weissenborn guitars -- they apply to any lap steel guitar.
Most of them are applied to most lap steel guitars types but some of them are specific to just a few types of steel guitars. The video tittle says Weissenborn because it is a Weissenborn guitar oriented video.
"Many, many examples..." it is not a tip
Hahahahaha... are you complaining for me giving too much? 🙂
you talk to much
hehehehe... didn't you realised this a video with "tips" for beginners? If I don't explain how would they understand... :-)