Lap Steel Guitar
Slide smooth, vocal-like tones on a Hawaiian guitar resting on your lap
The Lap Steel Guitar is played horizontally with the instrument resting on your lap, using a metal bar (steel) to slide across the strings and produce smooth, gliding tones. Originally developed in Hawaii in the early 1900s, it's produced characteristic 'ow-ee' sounds and vocal-like portamento that became iconic in country, blues, Hawaiian, and experimental music. Modern lap steel guitars are often electric, offering rich sonic possibilities and sustain.
How to start
- 1Acquire a lap steel guitar (acoustic or electric)
- 2Learn about proper tuning and lap positioning
- 3Practice holding and controlling the steel bar for smooth slides
- 4Start with simple blues licks and Hawaiian melodies
- 5Master vibrato and volume control techniques
What you'll need
- Lap steel guitar (acoustic or electric)Essential~$500
- Steel bar/slideEssential~$20
- Thumb pick and finger picksEssential~$15
- Amplifier (if electric)Essential~$300
- TunerEssential~$30
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Learn classic country and blues lap steel licks
- Create ambient textures using sustain and effects
- Collaborate with vocalists and other guitarists
- Explore experimental lap steel in experimental music
Continuous, flowing technique with immediate audio feedback keeps focus engaged. No discrete 'right' or 'wrong' notes—slide continuously for expression.
The lap steel guitar's sliding, vocal-like tone directly influenced the development of the electric guitar and shaped blues and country music aesthetics.