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About | C6th Tabs | Steel Guitar Forum | Tunings | Brad's Page | HSGA | Rhythm Tracks | Jerry Byrd | Steel Guitar Videos | Song Tabs | How 2Go2 Heaven | E9th Tabs | Listen | Jerry Byrd Instruction Book
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Getting Started Click HERE to hear me play Moon of Manakoora (download) recorded on the D9th lap steel tuning, which is nothing more than dropping the 4th string on your C6th from a G note to an F#. So the tuning from high (string 1) to low is: E, C, A, F#, E, C). I used the same 1936 Bakelite Rickenbacher pictured to the right. Rick Aiello kindly rewound the pickup's for me with 38-guage wire and rejuiced the magnets. Nice! Here are my D9th tabs for the beautiful Hawaiian song, Moon of Manakoora. Here's a decent lap steel at an affordable price (I've had good experience with Guitar Center simply because they offer FREE shipping). My preference is to buy a used classic from The Golden Years of music and pre-WWII. Albeit, please don't get me wrong, the tone of a long-scale 24 1/2" Jerry Byrd Frypan is MUCH better, but you'll pay 8 times more! Compare the sounds for yourself and you'll hear why the Byrd Frypan costs so much more...
Jersey Lightning You don't know what you're missing out on without a lap steel in your life! Many come with old-timey amps too. Hawaiian steel guitar is real music! Bali Hai
Billy Hew Len
Beautiful Kahana Helpful Advice For Steel Guitarists
Uptown, Downtown
One of my favorite artists...
Tom
Morrell & The Time Warp Top Hands What A Friend In Jesus | Track * * * * * * * The Song That Inspired Me To Learn Pedal Steel Guitar
Lessons Available by Alan Akaka
Download Any Entire Website
Buddy Charleton - ISGC 2001
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I am a grateful
born-again Christian. Below is one of the most sought after lapsteel guitars in the world. The 1 1/2" horseshoe pickup identifies it as pre WWII. 7-strings were more rare than the 6-strings. Through-the-body strings are much preferred as they produce a nicer tone than strings attached to a flange at the bridge. Brass Dunlop finger picks are my favorite!
As strange as it may sound, steel guitar is associated with Hawaiian music everywhere except in Hawaii. Anywhere in the world, when people think about Hawaiian music, they think about the steel guitar. But in Hawaii, the ukulele is the official State instrument. There is still much anger and resentment amongst Hawaiians against the United States for stealing their land and turning all their beautiful beaches into hotel developments. Now there's talk of building a train system in Honolulu, which would be good to reduce traffic, but it is ruining paradise. Many of the themes in Hawaii's music centers around the destroying of their homeland.
Albeit, if you ever visit Oahu, you will see many rainbows, as it rains often because of the high mountains. Oahu is overrated if you ask me. If you drive up and down Beretania and North King Streets, you'll see hundreds of homeless people living on the streets. So much for paradise. Jerry Byrd's Wealth Of Knowledge
Psalms 150:4, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.” |
The steel guitar is an awesome instrument that's a legendary part of American history. In the 1930s thru 1950s, everyone wanted to learn to play lap steel guitar. It is a different story today, but that makes it even more rewarding to play steel as a rare novelty that few people can do. Guitar and bass players are dime-a-dozen, but steel players are rare indeed. My name is David J. Stewart. I've been playing steel guitar since 1992. I want you to learn to play Hawaiian steel guitar. That is my desire. I don't want your money and have nothing to sell. I link to some websites that do sell things, but only because I want you to know all that's available to learn the steel guitar. My website is packed full of instruction and helps to get you started. God gave me the gift of music, and I want to share it with others freely. My most recent steel recordings. There's tons of tablature already available for the pedal steel E9th and C6th tunings; but hardly anything for us non-peddlers, so I decided to publish this website to help those who want to learn the beautiful lap steel. Although I use B11th, D9th, and the Bill Leavitt tuning , most of what I play is C6th, which offers the most chord possibilities.
Lloyd Green Page Of course, if you play E9th pedal steel, you can just drop your 4th and 8th string (E notes) down to Eb and you have a C6th on the 1st fret. Strings 10, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 are respectively: C, E, G, A, C, E. Just avoid the 9th string. You can't beat playing C6th on an old Sho-Bud! That's in fact exactly what Jerry Byrd played... a Sho-Bud D-8 guitar with no pedals. And if you play C6th on the pedal steel , you have an extended C6th tuning to play everything on my website. So whether you play E9th pedal steel or C6th pedal steel or C6th non-pedal steel, this website will offer many helpful things.
Hear me play...
Awesome 3-Hour Hawaiian Jam
Hawaiian Steel Guitar
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Here's some great background music for around the house—the song 'Paradise'
(This is just one of those songs that sounds great being played over and over.)
The steel guitar is a great instrument for disabled people (with
either missing fingers/hand to learn). The reason is because with a few
adaptations and a determined spirit, anyone can play the steel guitar.
Some of the most beautiful playing is just playing in
single note style. Here's another single note style instrumental:
His Name Is Wonderful.
RECORDING YOUR OWN MUSIC You don't need an expensive recording studio with all the bells and whistles. Here's a recording I made , playing the pedal steel E9th, using just a small handheld ICD PX720 recorder (there are many similar nice recorders, like the PX312). A digital recording studio, like the Boss BR-600 is great, but you can record with much less, like I did here. My favorite means of recording is with desktop software, using MixCraft. Here's another one, Harbor Lights , played on a S-6 long scale Frypan using the C6th tuning. Watch me play Sweetnin' in A6th (treble to bass: E - C# - A - F# - E - C# - A - F# ), same as C6th, just 1 1 /2 tones lower in pitch. The high E is the same as a high G on C6th. Here's the track I used (more tracks available HERE. Here's some tabs for 'Sweetnin.'Here's 2 favorites Hawaiian songs, Mapuana and Hana , which I recorded playing a $99 Artisan (same as Rogue) lap steel tuned to B11th. They are junk as far as quality, but they do carry a note. Check out this nice Supro Jet Airline reissue from the 1960's. You get what you pay for, so don't expect the same superb tone from a cheap steel guitar, but I highly recommend the Supro Airline for newer players, before you invest thousands in an expensive high quality lap steel like Canopus. Here's My Yellow Ginger Lei . I backed-up the singer using a 1936 S-6 Rickenbacher Bakelite, C6th. Rickenbachers are worth every penny for their great warm tone (both pre and post war bakelite model guitars. The Silver Hawaiian sounds metallic and hollow to me). E Mama E | E Mama E Tabs and Rhythm Track for E9th lap steel. Here's Song of the Islands which I played live at a public gathering. Here's Paper Roses that I played on the E9th pedal steel. And here's several more E9th songs from my heart. You may freely share them:
The best way to learn to play Hawaiian steel guitar is to LISTEN to lots of Hawaiian steel guitar, to become well acquainted with the instrument and what it can do. Get out your steel guitar and try to play along with some of these songs (files are 24 kbps mono). The C6th tuning is best, I think, but many different tunings were used by these various steel guitarists. I love the intro which Barney Isaacs Jr. (1924-1996) does on Beyond the Reef, which is played during every commercial break in Honolulu on am940hawaii.com. You can hear what an 8-string can do, giving you some great low notes to rake across. I tabbed out the intro for you, which is really awesome. Check out what you can do with bar slants on an extended C6th.
Buddy Merrill
Sebastian Muller - Old Tunings *If this webpage appears off the screen on your computer, adjust the size by rotating the mouse wheel while holding down the CTRL key. It's a challenge to build my website to work in all browsers.
Dave Hum - I Love
This Guy!
Buy
115 Original Dave Hum Backing Tracks And Tabs
Banjo
Heaven
Take's Bluegrass Album Channel |
Jerry Byrd Live Honolulu Concert 1985
Hawaiian music is not about a place; but rather, making the best of life wherever you're at. No one appreciates Hawaiian steel guitar more than people living up in frigid Canada and Europe. Music comes from the heart. To me, Hawaiian music is about Heaven, and all the blessings awaiting every born-again Christian, somewhere far beyond the sun. 'Tis one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.
SLACK KEY GUITAR
Learn 12-string Hawaiian
Slack Key Guitar
A Really Nice Slack Key Course
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CD
How To Play Slack Key Guitar
My Ukulele Recordings
from 2015:
DoctorUke.com FINDING THAT TONAL SWEET SPOT There is a sweet tonal spot on certain lap steel pickups, such as Rickenbacher horseshoes and Excel Frypans. Turn your tone control knob all the way muddy, and then come back just a little bit. DON'T turn the knob all the way bright. If it's set right, your steel will sound somewhat like a horn in a brass band, which is a highly desired sound for Hawaiian steel. Also, don't listen to the bogus hype that because Excel Frypans only use cosmetic horseshoes that they don't sound as good as horseshoe pickups. Not so! The stock pickups are awesome and equal any Rickenbacher! All the talent in the world means nothing if you have not desire. Success is 90% perspiration, and 10% inspiration. You can do it!
Kalalau Valley on Kauai, Hawaii * * * * * * * Click Here for bigger chart below
There are literally hundreds of M3U songs on this page for you to listen to. I cannot provide download links for most of the music, but you can listen to beautiful steel guitar, which is in my opinion the most wonderful music in the universe. It reminds me of Heaven! All my personal recordings are downloadable and many of the rhythm tracks! You're welcome to freely use them as you wish. Also, check out my videos! I have compiled many of these songs into a Hawaiian playlist (122 so far) if you just want to hear these songs as background music while relaxing or working around the home. Enjoy! Hawaiian music is like any other genre, you have the good and the bad. As a Christian I try to only promote that which is good, modest, decent, and pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Barney Isaacs Jr. - Moon Of The Southern Sea Alan Akaka Lessons (tabs & tracks)
Learn "Adventures
In Paradise" On
Hawaiian MIDI Files
Greg Cutshaw
Frypan Medley
Learn 'Texas Playboy Rag' on C6th
Honolulu Eyes
Beyond The Reef in
D | Key
Of F
It Was A
Trip, On Wings Of Music I added a 1953 bakelite Rickenbacher S-6 to the song, “God Understands.” Here's how to play Bud Tutmarc's “P-Tah” that he's famous for. I use a slightly different tuning than Bud (high to low: E, C#, G#, E, Bb, F#). I used an E9th pedal steel for the ending parts. Here's the original song, so you can play along. Enjoy! |
DON'T FORGET THE VIBRATO! One of the most beautiful aspects of steel guitar playing, whether it be Hawaiian, Gospel or Country music is using bar vibrato, i.e., slightly moving the bar back-n-forth on the fret to produce a wavering sound, which pulls on the heart of the listener!
Also, learn to pause on a single note while playing. If you get the timing right, it is beautiful. DUNLOP BARS ARE BEST! I like the Dunlop brand steel bars because the end facing the player is receded, which allows your thumb a place to easily do reverse slants. It really helps! I prefer the longer 3/4" by 2 7/8" bar.I use my larger pedal steel bar on my long-scale Frypan, but I have to be careful not to slip while doing reverse bar slants.
*Jerry
Byrd Biography
Stardust On C6th Pedal “STARDUST” is my favorite C6th song on pedal steel, performed by Tommy Roots. I met Tommy at the ISGC in 1995-1996, and he was a great personality, apt to teach and a nice guy. Here's a nice rhythm track and even better, Tommy explains in this MP3 session HOW TO PLAY Stardust!Here also, Tommy Root explains in this MP3 HOW TO PLAY “Shadow Of Your Smile.” The song was originally recorded by Tommy as a solo, so there was never a rhythm track. It is a beautiful song!
John W. Peterson (on steel guitar) - Twilight Melodies
Lani McIntire and His Orchestra - Addeo - More Hawaii in Hi-Fi Super Jam 1996 *Hal Rugg, Paul Franklin Jr., Tommy White, Jeff Newman - I had the privilege of recording these artists live in St. Louis...
Above: I only got a partial recording on Crazy, but it's some great pedal steel guitar. Tablature of a great solo run by Jerry Byrd, for the song “HAOLE HULA.” Mike Neer has some great advanced tabs and top quality backing tracks for Coconut Grove (A7th), Sweetnin' (A6th - Mike tabs it exactly like the original song) and other cool songs. The A7th tuning (high to low: E, C#, A, F#, E, C#, Bb, G) provides some awesome chord expansion for C6th fans. Herb Remington's A6th (high to low: E, C#, A, F#, E, C#, A, A bass) is really cool. The A6th is simply a C6th with a high G lowered 3 half tones. You've got to try these tunings!
Jeffran College Learn Great E9th Hal Rugg Chops
Lloyd Green Tuning Seminar (MP3, 21:54 minutes long, Texas Steel Show, October 1992) I began playing pedal steel guitar in 1992 and didn't truly learn how to tune until decades later. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning to tune BY EAR. Lloyd explains how in the preceding awesome seminar. Use the tuner, but then fine-tune by the SOUND YOU HEAR. When you hear the “crisp bite” in the major chord, you're where you want to be! WHAT A DIFFERENCE TUNING BY EAR MAKES! Psalms 144:9, “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.” |
“I never quit thinking about the instrument; I never quit trying to strive for new ideas. I felt like it was important to keep forging ahead. If I stopped, there would be no reason to keep continue playing. It’s an endless adventure playing the steel guitar; you’re only limited by your imagination. As long as you got a good brain, you can think and play anything on the instrument. It’s an endless journey.” — Lloyd Green, interview 2001, 'Steel Guitar Rag' magazine
“Steel guitar is a Hawaiian instrument by birth and what I consider to be the signature sound of Hawaiian music. Having undergone many changes, both physically and musically, in the hundred-plus years of its existence, it is, I will say without hesitation, one of the most difficult instruments to master.” —Jerry Byrd, “It Was A Trip On Wings Of Music,” by Jerry Byrd (1920-2005); © 2003, p. 110
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About Guitar Strings There are 3 types of guitar strings: wound, semi-flat, or round-wound (flat). The higher string gauges are all plain. Only the lower strings are wound. I used to use semi-flat wound because they are brighter and more responsive than flats; but flats are the most comfortable on the left hand while sliding and they're quiet. For the past few years I have just used standard guitar strings because they are easy to find and have better harmonics than flats or semi-flats in my opinion. WEAR A LEI (B11th tabs)
Jerry Byrd Instruction Course
Who Plays Steel on 'SPONGE BOB'?
Ukulele Chords For Hawaiian Songs Hundreds Of Hawaiian Ukulele Songs Ukulele Chord Chart (.pdf) Ukulele Transposing Chart (.pdf) |
Every student of the steel guitar should start learning without any guitar effects. To the degree that effects are used, the player is drowned out. Check out Bud Isaacs.
Note: The above CD also includes background play-along tracks for all 10 songs (listed here).
CANOPUS STEELS Tear Drop (by Doug Beaumier)
Cool Capo/Slide Converter
Videos by Jerry Byrd Volume pedals are essential to proper lap steel technique. You'll miss so very much without a volume pedal. Using the volume control knob or floor pedal, raise the volume while going into a note, and then to back-off after playing the note. This is for seamless chord changes, volume swell effects and personal expression. Here's Jerry Byrd's opinion on volume pedals (MP3).
Leonard T. Zinn
(1924-2022) Jerry Byrd's 'C Diatonic' Tuning
Come A Little Closer
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Jerry Byrd YouTube Channel Check out Jerry Byrd's Diatonic tuning, which he used in 1960 to record the solo on " Next To Jimmy" by Ferlin Husky. Hilo Hawaiians - Honeymoon in Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islanders - Hawaiian Enchantment
King Keoni And His Islanders -
Here's me playing "His Name is Wonderful" on a Long scale S-6 Jerry Byrd Frypan. Gospel Split track RT/CDs are available. I use "MixCraft" to split and slow the tracks. This lets you make rhythm tracks. Nice! |
Sweet Leilani on a Fender 1000 Pedal Steel by Basil Henriques
[Basil Henriques, 1963 Fender 1000 Twin 8 steel guitar. Pat Henriques, Rhythm Guitar (Hofner Golden). Clive Morton, Acoustic Bass. Recorded 1967 and available on " Live at The Castaways" Volume 1. Volume 2]
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Luke Leilani &His Royal Hawaiians - Hawaiian Paradise
Kana King & His Hawaiians - The music of Hawaii
All Star Hawaiian Band - Steel Guitar Magic - Hawaii's Golden 16
Webley Edwards - Hawaii Calls Show
The Surfmen -
Lani McIntire and His Aloha Islanders - Hawaiian Melodies
Micky Curtis and His City Crows - On The Beach (1966)
Peter Posa -
Marty Robbins, Jerry Byrd & Various
Living Strings -
Pete Drake's
Barney & Jules - Hawaiian Shores
Barney Isaacs Jr.
Some of the best steel guitar tones ever produced were on pre World War 2 amplifiers. Here's a unique website where you can find information, pictures, and even schematics of pre WW2 amps to build your own!!! Oahu | Volu-Tone |
Lani McIntire - Hula Blues
Johnny Pineapple & his Orchestra - Hawaiian Holiday
Kalua Beach Boys -
The Surfmen -
The Surfmen -
Various Artists - Hawaii Compilation
Haleloke Kahauolopua - Hawaiian Blossoms (1951) - no album photo
Santo & Johnny - Hawaii (1961)
David Stewart -
Alfred Newman and Ken Darby - Ports of Paradise (1960)
The Polynesians -
A short-scale makes doing bar slants easier; but the long-scale has a sweeter tone. I prefer the long-scale (played with a pedal steel bar). Unless you are a die-hard 8-string player, 6-strings is best (the strings are spaced further apart). ALWAYS buy the stand and legs with the case, because the aluminum guitar gets heavy after a while. The case is the SAME exact size with or without the legs and stand. I didn't believe it until I saw it. The stand rests neatly under the guitar in the case. Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders - Mamula Moon
David Stewart and His Band-in-a-Box - MP3's from Videos I've Made
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Various Artists -
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra - Hawaii
Various - Vintage Hawaiian, Volume 5
Poly and His Hawaiian Ensemble - Hawaiian Sunset
Chick Floyd - Hula La
Alf Barrie - A Lei of Stars
Andy Iona and His Islanders
Lani Royal with The Diamond Head Band - The Sound of Hawaii Percussive Pineapples
Webley Edwards -
Hank Snow -
Rhythm of the Islands Using Effects One of the biggest mistakes newer players make is going overboard with the guitar effects. Since reverb is the most common effect on most amplifiers, it is easily overdone. Here's a recording I made of JUST A CLOSER WALK with NO REVERB at all. The more reverb that you use, that less individuality is expressed through your music. Lots of reverb will cover a player's mistakes, but that's not musicianship. The exception is in songs that sound dreamy with a lot of reverb, like MOON OF MANAKOORA. I usually set my amp's reverb between 3-5. I avoid effects processors. A Boss DD3 delay (or similar) is a necessity for pedal steel. For Hawaiian I NEVER use effects, just reverb. Delay is great for slack key guitar.
Farewell My Tane |
Lani Kai - Island Love Songs
Jerry Byrd - Steel Guitar Favorites
Kilima Hawaiians - Greatest Hits (Rudi Wairata played steel guitar)
Bud Isaacs - The Swingin' Steel Guitar
Harry Owens Royal Hawaiian Orchestra - Hula Breeze
The Blue Wahini Serenaders - Aloha!
Alfred Apaka -
Leo Addeo -
Hello Vietnam Tiny and His Hawaiian Bubbles - Hawaiian Luau Party
Get your C6th lap steel out and play along, that's a great way to learn. By having multiple versions of different songs on this page, you can hear how different steel players phrased their work.
Andy Iona -
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Hawaiian Aloha
Blue Hawaii | Hawaiian Wedding Song | Pagan Love Song | My Little Grass Shack | Now is the Hour | Hawaiian War Chant | Hukilau Song | Song of the Islands | Lovely Hula Hands | Sweet Leilani
2011 Hilo | 2013 Oahu | 2013 Hilo | Big Island
My Hawaiian Album 2008
Adventures in Paradise | Farewell My Tani | Hawaiian Paradise | Little Brown Gal | Moon of Manakoora | My Yellow Ginger Lei | The Hukilau Song | Sweet Leilani | Bali Hai | Beautiful Kahana | Mapuana | Paradise Isle | Rainbows Over Paradise | Sand | Beyond the Reef | Lovely Hula Hands | Sophisticated Hula | I'll Weave a Lei of Stars | In the Garden | Song of Old Hawaii | Song of the Islands | Beyond the Reef
In 2001 I recorded a Hawaiian album for my mother before she passed away to go be with the Lord later that year. I used the A7th tuning on a pedal steel guitar. I converted my C6th neck into an A7th, very similar to the ingenious tuning of Basil Henriques.
Here's songs from an album that I recorded in 2008. The most beautiful music this side of Heaven is produced by an amazing instrument called the steel guitar. The steel guitar is distinctive for Hawaiian music. Here's a few songs I've recorded using the C6th tuning on a 6-string 1936 Rickenbacher Bakelite: Beautiful Kahana, Lovely Hula Hands, Sophisticated Hula, Little Brown Gal, Rainbows Over Paradise and Bali Hai. Here's the MP3 versions if you'd like to download them (right mouse-click to save): Beautiful Kahana, Lovely Hula hands, Sophisticated Hula, Little Brown Gal, Rainbows Over Paradise and Bali Hai.
I also recorded Moon of Manakoora recently using the D9th tuning and Paradise Isle using the F#m9th tuning (a pretty strum tuning). You can download Moon of Manakoora here and Paradise Isle Here. You're welcome to freely share my music with others or use it on your own website. You can hear me play Hawaiian Music on a pedal steel guitar using an A7th tuning, which I recorded for my mom in 2001 before she went to be with the Lord in Heaven.
On My Yellow Ginger Lei and The Hukilau Song I played steel guitar accompaniment. You can download My Yellow Ginger Lei and The Hukilau Song here. You can hear me demonstrating the awesome palm muting technique in The Hukilau Song. Not enough steel players use this awesome technique these days. It is 100% Hawaiian! You need this technique to play Hawaiian War Chant and The Hukilau Song correctly. It's simple to do... you just place the palm of your right hand at the guitar bridge. Then pick while your hand is muting the strings. Some guitars are built by people who don't know about this technique, so they place a chrome cover over the bridge, thus preventing palm muting. So don't buy a lap steel with a bridge cover.
Pictured to the left is an Old Rickenbacher lap steel called the SILVER HAWAIIAN. It is made of solid chrome and is famous for it's horseshoe shaped pickup magnets. The most common Hawaiian tunings on the lap steel are the C6th and the B11th.
Bud Tutmarc is one of my favorite steel guitarists and has much beautiful Gospel music available (Bud used a C#m tuning on a 7-string lap steel for all his recordings).
I once met the great steel guitarist Jerry Byrd in Winchester, Indiana. He passed away at age 85 in 2005. Here's a video of Jerry Byrd at a much younger age playing Hawaiian guitar.
Beyond The Reef is one of my favorite Hawaiian songs to play on the steel guitar. Here's some more videos of Jerry Byrd. Here are some videos of Hawaiian steel guitar.
Jerry taught his steel guitar students that... "Talent is highly overrated. All the talent in the world means nothing if you don't have DESIRE." If you've ever heard Hawaiian music, then you've very likely heard Jerry Byrd's beautiful music. Thank God for the beautiful steel guitar!
The lap steel guitar is not that difficult to play if you're willing to stick with it. It is a very rewarding instrument to learn to play which cheers the heart's of others.
My Hawaiian Recordings
(Pedal Steel, A7th tuning)
Song For Sarah | Way Beyond The Reef | Westphalia Waltz | Sweet Leilani
E9th Pedal Steel Guitar
GFI Custom Built Pedal Steel Guitars for the Disabled
*The Amazing Lap Steel Crutch Guitar Made By A Friend For Barbara Mandrell (*not a GFI product)The following 3-recordings are played on a Pedal Steel Guitar (E9th tuning) by Lloyd Green and Tommy White (two of my favorite pedal steel artists), which is a much bigger and heavier instrument than the lap steel. I have my Rittenberry set-up like Tommy's setup...
Due to two failed surgeries in 2009-2010 in my neck at C5-C6-C7 (to remove herniated disks and bone spurs), I mostly play lap steel now. The 2nd surgery left me with peripheral neuropathy (burning, tingling, puffiness and radiating pain) in my arms and legs. I also have horrible toothache-like neck pain continually. God is good and I thank Him for the remaining health I have. One day at a time. The photo below is of me back in about 1995 (when I still had hair).
My Pedal Steel Guitar Album 2002
Deep Water | Streams | I Love You So Much it Hurts Me | King of the Road | Moonlight in Vermont | Please Don't Leave Me Anymore | Secret Love | Storms Never Last | Summer Blue | Waiting for Summer | The Whistler | Making Plans
I've never played in a band, only at home with rhythm tracks, which is what these are. You are welcome to freely distribute, share and use my recordings. They're all from my heart and I want people to freely hear them. I mostly play Hawaiian steel guitar nowadays, but I am fond of all steel guitar. The following songs and lyrics are general songs, such as Greensleeves, a traditional favorite. This first song is Beyond The Reef, one of my favorites. My album songs are also listed again. If you missed it earlier, please listen to my Hawaiian album recorded in 2001 for my mother. My Mom had a big musical influence on me. You can hear her awesome Gospel piano playing here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
More of My Steel Guitar Recordings
(Some of these recordings are 15-20 years old. I started playing steel guitar in 1992.)
I feel awkward playing steel guitar
without a volume pedal, even while playing lap steel (although it is
physically straining on my feet to use the volume pedal while standing, so I
generally only use a volume pedal while sitting down). A volume pedal is
considered standard equipment for the pedal steel guitarist, but I also use
a volume pedal for lap steel, which gives me the ability to voice my notes.
One of the secrets to Jerry Byrd's seamless playing style is the masterful
use of a volume pedal between notes.
