Here are some of my recent thoughts about the Versatility and Accessibility of Open D Tuning (DADF#AD) for Lap Steel. Check out my new Streaming Site for more lessons www.LWTstreaming.com #LessonsWithTroy #LapSteel #OpenD
Just ordered a lap steel with palm benders and your lessons on open D have convinced that's the tuning to use. Thank you for posting your content, Troy!
By the way: I just received my new Deusenburg Split King on your inspiration! So, needless to say I will be watching ALL of your videos... multiple times I would imagine :)
Thank you very much for all of this. Really filling in some gaps for me in finding the right tuning and feel that makes me want to play as a newbie while also checking things out by converting an old electric before diving deeper. :) Much appreciated.
First, thank you for your well produced videos and your easy going style. I, like many have been messing around with guitar and open tunings for years. A couple of years ago I saw some videos on the Duesenburg with palm benders and was captivated. I’m retired now and just picked up a really cheap, nice piece of bubinga. I have a decent workshop and am building a lap steel based on the sleek design of the Duesenburg. Your comments on hardware, pickups and techniques are easy to follow. In watching your videos an practicing in open D on one of my guitars, I am seeing some progress in my playing, thanks to you. I am grateful for individuals like you who share their knowledge.
Show off :). I just was gifted an Oahu Tonemaster. Everything about it is 1950 (or older). I really appreciate your video. The tuning sounds nice. I have a feeling with my advanced age, I need to just pick one tuning and roll with it.
11:13 that sitar-type sound blew my mind! I have noticed a number of people in the lap steel groups playing ragas, and this is an additional fun and unexpected overlap between lap steel and classical Indian music. Loved this whole video - it's great to hear your "thinking out loud" regarding which kinds of chords will equate with certain styles or sounds. It lays out a great path for how to lay the groundwork going forward.
I was amazed whend I realized all that open D an G tunning is the same as used in caipira music here in Brazil, the Viola Caipira is tunned like this but with other names, and uau!! how can all this old musicians in such so far places came up with the same results? If some one can explain that I will aprecciate!!
Great stuff as always. I’ve been playing in this tuning just because it is so versatile. So much so that the tuning even has a name: Vestapol, For years; or maybe decades; Stephan Grossman and John Renbourn played just about all their “folk” music in Vestapol, which also goes by the description of “Major D” down here in Memphis,, I love it, which is why I’ve been pestering you so much about it. Thanks for checking it out - and hey, you’re only a half step from DADGAD when you tune down like this. Again, thanks for the fine lessons - see you as I go streaming by,
I just updated my Rogue using the GeorgeBoards conversion kit. It converts the Rogue from a 20.5" scale to a 22.5 scale. HUGE Difference and much better. Then get a set of Open G lap steel strings from 0.056 to 0.016 and it works great in open D on that scale length. Open D on the inexpensive Rogue, Artisian, etc. Chinese laptops is pretty much impossible. But with the $25 conversion kit and heavier strings it works great.
Is there a picture somewhere of that conversion? Is it moving the bridge back to the end of the LP? I have a multibender on my SX so I don’t think I can use a conversion.
If you compare the clips between 3:19 - 3:55 and 7:37 - 8:53, you’ll know exactly what our friend and teacher Troy is referring to when he talks about the versatility of this great tuning.
Your set up / technique gives you a nice tone. I use open D for both standard slide guitar, playing Elmo'-style blues (Take a Little Walk With Me) or major key stuff ("All I Have to Do Is Dream"), and for some lap steel work ("Down By the Riverside," "Steel Guitar Rag"). Nice bar tilts and use of vibrato bar! BTW, one version of open G (low to high: D G D G B D-- used more often for "standard" guitar) puts less tension on a guitar neck than standard tuning. I know it's not "dobro" open G, but I use the version with the low D string for lap steel as well as standard. Works for me.
I frequently tune a guitar to open D, so much fun to play and the power chord on 456 really overlooked IMHO. I've never developed what's needed for traditional slide, but using a bar instantly results in much better sound. My cheap acoustic I think will be fun to play with a nut extender. Thanks!
After 72 days waiting on my Duesenberg Fairytale Split/King lap steel, I picked it up today in Charleston SC. 3.24.2023. I purchased a volume pedal, tuner and Delay. Tomorrow I am going to build my board as I have a carpenter shop in my back yard. I know NOTHING about playing a lap steel but I am determined to do it. I have played guitar all my life but for the past several years I gave it up. I picked up the guitar a couple of weeks ago and boy do I have to get back into it. I have a 1970 D-35 and that will make it a little easier. I hope to learn some things to get me going from you. The sound of my new Duesenberg will be running through my brand new ten minute playing time Fender Deluxe Reverb black face. Hope that amp will make the Duesenberg come alive. I have one question. I have large hands and I see all the tone bars I have found are only 3 inches. Will I be ok with this bar?
Troy... Just found your website a couple of days ago, and subscribed after watching the first video I found of yours. I am just beginning to learn the lap steel... bought an "el cheapo" on Christmas Sale at a GC Store.... probably wishing I'd have spent a little more... but can go up in quality, when I want or need to. I "love" your teaching videos.. Excellent. I'm a "late comer" at 70+ years young... just got back to playing electric bass - about a year ago after being away from it since the early 1970's. What string gauges are you using for that Open D Tuning?? Thanks again.
I found a open G that’s been stringed for 20 years and doesn’t have any damage. Which shows it’s made very well. Curious now could I do the open D on the same guitar? Or do I have to take the strings off and replace new ones? I’m new and it’s only 650$ at a guitar store and it’s VERY NiCe and a great deal.
I just purchased a Rogue, so I'm a beginner on the lap steel, I like your tone, lessons, knowledge and your voice is very pleasant! So you got me started! How exciting it is! Thank you so much!...By the way, any advice on strings sets and pick up as I'd like to upgrade the one provided with the Rogue RLS 1...
I ordered a new Fairytale Split King from Duesenberg the first of January and it won't be here for another two weeks hopefully. Can't wait. Have a black face Deluxe to run it through.
Thanks for the video, that sitar technique is especially wild! I am curious about getting a multibender. Do people ever throw them on an acoustic lap steel, or perhaps a dobro? I really enjoy playing acoustically, but I have a feeling even if you could put a multibender on one, you are just asking to snap your guitar in two.
Beautiful! I've been playing DADF#AD on my acoustic for decades. Your videos have inspired me to purchase a Duesy Lap Steel (I currently own a Duesy Star Player TV+) or perhaps another brand with benders. My style is Christian Gospel Rock (think Zach Williams), blues, and rock. Would you recommend a Pomona6, Fairytale, Fairytale Split King, or Alamo or perhaps another brand with benders? I noticed you switched out your pickups from the stock Duesy pickups - do you recommend switching out the stock pickups with something else?
Using a string gauge calculator, you can change the string gauge to get the same pitch and moderate the tension. I do this for my C6 acoustic lap steel and simply buy bulk packs of the individual strings I need, rather than using regular string sets.
wonderful video and I've enjoyed tapping into many of your on-line lessons. One question is what type of amp and reverb/chorus/distortion do you use when you're playing the lap steel?
@Troy Brenningmeyer I have an 8 string lap steel. Can you suggest an 8 string variant of the tuning in this video? I play folk, indie/post rock and want to use this tuning.
Any advice on the best strings to get for open D tuning? I just got an entry level/cheap lap ( a Gear4music) with pretty cheap strings (wrong gauge?), but they sound so “plastic”…what should I get to up the quality of tone?
Great lesson Troy. Have you ever tried playing in the key F#/A while tuned to D? It's great for Irish/Scottish folk stuff. Also JD's Hymn of ordinary motion which he plays in GDBGDB but just down a string.
Hi Troy. I have a Rogue RLS1 Lap with C6 strings. If I wanted to change out strings to use Open D, in what Key "set" of strings would you recommend to restring my guitar with?
I got a song that basically goes D, G, Em, A and just bought a 6 string lap steel but absolutely can not get anywhere near harmonizing with those chords. Lap steel is harder than I thought.
Hey Troy, I've bought an old Supro lap steel (approx: 23" scale). It was tuned to C6 when I got it, but I'm more into the bluesy stuff on my slide guitars, so I tried to retune it to open D, but broke a string... So I thought that I'd better investigate a little on strings and things on a lap steel, and luckily ended up here! 😊 Can I ask you two questions🙏 #1 What string gauge for open D do you use in this demo? #2 Do you use flat or round wound in this demo! I don't hear much rattling and string noise from the slide. Thank you very much, it sounds great☮🕊
Is there any special pedals to get for your lap steel to sound like that? I love the sound of your lap steel guitar. I have a Gretsch g5700 it don’t sound like that. Mine sounds more Hawaiian than country. Is there any special pedal you need?
Great video, little tip, when walking down a road, walk on the side of the on coming traffic, as you can see the vehicle coming should something happen, and it's also the highway code. Look forward to seeing more videos.
Ahaha! Since you say that a ‘high-action guitar’ (& low cost) may be turned into a lap steel, all we need to install is a humpbucker, right? Wow! I’d like to try that.
can someone write down the notes? English is not my language and I never learned the letters of the alphabet so I can't figure out how to tune my instrument thanks
@@LessonsWithTroy - thank You! I’ve played slide for many years in open D/E (Vastopol) and Open G/A. Recent bought a Duesenberg Bender for a strat project and as I watched this video - noticed yours. Made me wonder how to get the most use out of it in Open tunings. I look through your videos and see if you’ve done something previously. Loved this lesson
hello friend ... very good job of explaining .... I ask you: what is the tuning of the six strings starting from the thinnest 123456? thanks for your help
Triva - Dobro players customarily refer to tunings Low to High . Pedal Steel players customarily use High to Low . Lap Steel players come in large numbers from both backgrounds , so it is wise to specify each time you are discussing Lap Steel tunings .
Using Pearse 16-54 strings for GBDF#AD and slacking the 5/6 strings to DA really makes the 54 6th string a noodle and reasonably unplayable for a 23-1/8" scale lap steel. Seems like I'd need a 59 or 60 at the least and either may still not have enuf tension, or fit into the tuner hole. Or maybe I need to spring for a 25-1/2" scale Doozie :)
This video is so edifying. I'm learning open D from your streaming service but always loved that C6 sound with no interest in learning C6. So glad I can play open D and get some of that pretty Hawaiian and country stuff coming out of it. Thanks, Troy!
For the larger context of being in a major tuning , but accessing a 6th sound during a song for particular note , or for a continuous slide , or resolving from a 6th into or out from a major chord ( or power chord to substitute for a minor chord also I suppose ) . Think of adding the occasional Western Swing- esque element into a Traditional Country or Bluegrass- ish song . I play and think in GBDGBD . In order to pickup a 6th chord with a slant takes an extreme slant , particularly on the lower ( pitched) end of the fretboard . Awkward enough I usually don't attempt it . Seeing this video and the ease of that maneuver , makes me want to revisit Open D again , and play around with how well I can adapt my customary shapes and autopilot roll patterns to Open D . ( Given my mediocre skills , and minimal practising opportunities in my hectic real life .) In the Dobro world , there is a thing about " change one string to get a G6 Tuning " . Most typical GB E GBD , but Mike Aldridge also liked E on bottom . But for most players not at those levels , adapting to an E on the 4 string requires more dealing with than it's worth for a continuous tuning for all around playing . If we were Rock Stars , with 3 or 4 guitars on stage with specific tuning for one song during a set , and a crew member at your elbow to hand off instruments , then G6 would be widespread . For Joe or Jane average sitting in at local Jams , not so much . Hence , I'm curious now for another dabbling with D .
