Embarking on your Lap Steel Guitar journey? One of the first and most crucial steps is choosing the right tuning. Like venturing into a new musical landscape, the tuning you select will significantly shape your playing experience and the genres you can explore. For beginners, this decision can feel daunting. This guide will walk you through some of the most recommended tunings for lap steel guitar, helping you find the perfect starting point for your musical aspirations.
Understanding Lap Steel Tunings
Unlike standard guitar, lap steel guitars are designed to be played horizontally, with a steel bar used to fret the strings. This opens up a world of tuning possibilities beyond standard guitar tuning. Different tunings offer unique sonic palettes and advantages, making some more suitable for certain genres and playing styles. For a beginner, understanding these nuances is key to a smooth and enjoyable learning curve.
The “best” tuning is subjective and often depends on your musical interests. However, some tunings are widely favored for their versatility and beginner-friendliness. Let’s explore some of the top recommendations from experienced lap steel players.
Top Tuning Recommendations for Beginners
Based on discussions within the lap steel guitar community, particularly among those advising newcomers, three tunings consistently emerge as excellent starting points: Open E, Open G, and C6. Each offers a distinct flavor and learning pathway.
Open E Tuning (E B E G# B E)
For guitarists transitioning to lap steel, Open E tuning often feels immediately familiar. As Steinar Gregertsen, a member of the Steel Guitar Forum, points out, “If you already play guitar you’ll probably find the open-E (EBEG#BE) and highbass-G (GBDGBD) the easiest to start with since their positions are easy to recognize for a guitarist. In open-E, think ‘E barre’ on regular guitar…”
- Familiarity: Its similarity to standard guitar chord shapes makes it easy to grasp basic chord voicings and scales. Barre chords you already know on guitar translate well to the lap steel in Open E.
- Blues and Rock Focus: Open E is particularly well-suited for blues and rock styles, offering powerful, resonant tones that are ideal for these genres.
- Learning Resources: While perhaps not as abundant as Open G, there are still ample resources available for learning Open E tuning, especially for blues and rock lap steel.
Open G Tuning (G B D G B D)
Open G tuning is another strong contender, especially recommended by Brad Bechtel, a moderator on the Steel Guitar Forum. Brad states, “If I had to start out again, I’d choose open G tuning (bass to treble G B D G B D). You have the greatest selection of instructional material available in that tuning, regardless of what styles you want to play.”
- Instructional Material: The sheer volume of learning resources available for Open G tuning is a significant advantage. From books to online lessons, you’ll find a wealth of material to guide your learning.
- Versatility: While excellent for country and bluegrass, Open G’s versatility extends to other genres as well, making it a solid all-around choice.
- Dobro Connection: Open G is also the standard tuning for dobro, a resonator guitar often played lap style. This means resources for dobro in Open G can also be beneficial for lap steel players.
C6 Tuning (C E G A C E)
C6 tuning is enthusiastically endorsed by many experienced players for its rich harmonic possibilities and versatility. George Manno mentions, “I like C6 & but I also have one tuned to open D and another one tuned EAC#GBE (bass to high)GM.” Gerald Menke adds, “I think there is a lot of music in the (from low to high) C6 Tuning, namely C-E-G-A-C-E. Everytime I sit down with a steel in this tuning I am amazed at how much you can do with it.”
- Versatility Across Genres: C6 shines in genres like Western Swing, jazz, and Hawaiian music, but its versatility extends to country, blues and even rock. As Andy Sandoval notes, “I vote for C6 also. It’s very versatile and adapts to a lot of different music I think.”
- Harmonic Depth: C6 tuning allows for complex and lush chord voicings, providing a wider harmonic palette compared to simpler major tunings. Rick Collins highlights this, stating the C6th “allows for more fuller chords straight across and more forward and reverse slant possibilities of fuller chords.”
- “Instant Gratification” & Potential Pitfalls: Charlie McDonald and Steinar Gregertsen touch upon an interesting aspect of C6. Charlie mentions, “First time I tried C6 I could swing immediately. Lots of fun.” Steinar cautions, “…there’s also a danger to this ‘instant gratification’; You can end up playing the tuning and not the tune.” This suggests that while C6 can be immediately rewarding, it’s important to focus on musicality and not just relying on the tuning itself.
Choosing the Right Tuning for You
Ultimately, the “best” tuning to start with depends on your personal preferences and musical goals. Consider these factors when making your decision:
- Musical Style: If you’re primarily interested in blues and rock, Open E might be a natural fit. For country and bluegrass, Open G is a strong contender. If you’re drawn to Western Swing, jazzier styles, or Hawaiian music, C6 is definitely worth exploring.
- Prior Guitar Experience: If you’re coming from a standard guitar background, Open E and Open G might feel more intuitive initially due to some familiar chord shapes.
- Learning Resources: Consider the availability of instructional materials for each tuning. Open G currently boasts the widest selection, followed by Open E and C6.
- Experimentation: Don’t be afraid to try different tunings! As Steinar Gregertsen advises, “…choose one for now and stick with it until you feel ready to explore other tunings.” You can always switch tunings as you progress and discover new musical interests.
Conclusion
Choosing your first lap steel tuning is an exciting step. Open E, Open G, and C6 are all excellent choices for beginners, each offering unique advantages. Explore the resources available for each, consider your musical preferences, and don’t hesitate to experiment. No matter which tuning you choose, the journey of learning lap steel guitar is a rewarding one. Dive in, explore the possibilities, and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the lap steel!
