HAWAIIAN MUSIC aND THE
STEEL GUITAR
Whenever I mention Hawaiian Steel Guitar to a buyer, more often than not, I get
a 'Deer in the Headlights' stare. Many people are familiar with the music, but many
more are not. It's no surprise: The fad began around the 1920's and faded away as
long as 50 years ago.
The steel guitar used for this music is usually a 6 or 8 string lap steel. It can have legs
and multiple necks (Legged ones are usually refered to as Console Steels) . Pedals
were added along the way and the guitar developed into the Pedal Steel Guitar
which is used mostly for country music . I've played Pedal Steel Guitar for a number
of years and never bothered with non-pedal until I started playing Western Swing.
One thing led to another and I was off and running with the lap steel and Hawaiian
music. My present journey has seen me adding two lap steels to my collection. I've
been adding Hawaiian songs to my show and learning as much as I can
about this instrument and the music.
Most often, you'll hear lap steel used in blues. Players will tune to an open chord
and play a limited catalogue of riffs. That's not the case when playing other types of
music . Steel guitar can be used in Jazz, Standards and rock, as well as Swing and
Hawaiian. There are dozens of tunings and variations used by people who play
this guitar.
To sum it up: The possibilities are limitless. Santo and Johnny did 'Sleepwalk' back
in 1959 (You heard the song if you stayed till the end of the movie "La Bamba"). It
was the only steel guitar song that ever made it to the Billboard Top 100. This page
is dedicated to it's use in Hawaiian music. I hope you enjoy the material.
Dan
Page Under Construction
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Tools of the Trade
I figured that the best place to get started was with the tools used for Hawaiian music. The
origin of the Hawaiian Lap Steel guitar goes back to 1885 and a man named Joseph Kekuku.
There are many sights that provide details on the instruments origins and developement over
the years. The basics are that is was originally an acoustic guitar with the strings raised and was
played with anything from a pocket knife, to a comb and even a railroad tie. I will provide
links for detailed information, for those who want more details.
Over the years, the guitar was electrified and more strings were added. Hawaiian steel guitars
can have 7, 8 and even 10 strings. The guitar body also developed from the simple acoustic,
to a guitar shaped solid body and even one that looked like a frying pan. As time went on,
more necks were added. The body took the form of a plank and could have as many a four
necks with eight strings each. The common arrangement for necks is one or two necks with 8
strings each.
I am including photos of the most common styles (below.). Tunings are even more complex
than the guitars themselves; there are dozens of tunings. I'll deal with tunings later in this page.
Here are some photos of typical guitars used for Hawaiian music.
I figured that the best place to get started was with the tools used for Hawaiian music. The
origin of the Hawaiian Lap Steel guitar goes back to 1885 and a man named Joseph Kekuku.
There are many sights that provide details on the instruments origins and developement over
the years. The basics are that is was originally an acoustic guitar with the strings raised and was
played with anything from a pocket knife, to a comb and even a railroad tie. I will provide
links for detailed information, for those who want more details.
Over the years, the guitar was electrified and more strings were added. Hawaiian steel guitars
can have 7, 8 and even 10 strings. The guitar body also developed from the simple acoustic,
to a guitar shaped solid body and even one that looked like a frying pan. As time went on,
more necks were added. The body took the form of a plank and could have as many a four
necks with eight strings each. The common arrangement for necks is one or two necks with 8
strings each.
I am including photos of the most common styles (below.). Tunings are even more complex
than the guitars themselves; there are dozens of tunings. I'll deal with tunings later in this page.
Here are some photos of typical guitars used for Hawaiian music.
The guitar to the left is an example of an early
style of acoustic Hawaiian steel guitar. There are a
number of different body designs, but all that I
have seen, share the six string, raised string layout.
Any six string guitar can be adapted to use for lap
steel guitar use. The only problem arises with the
gauge string used: Heavier gauges and higher
tunings can put more stress on the neck and cause
it to bow. Guitars made for lap steel use will have
very thick and squared necks.
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To the left is an example of the Rickenbacker
Frypan design. This was a very popular guitar in
the 1940's and 1950's and is still sought after by
players today.
Frypan design. This was a very popular guitar in
the 1940's and 1950's and is still sought after by
players today.
This is my McKinney lap steel (circa 1950.). I
have it tuned to E13. I use this primarily for
Western Swing, but it's great for taking solos on
certain Hawaiian tunes like 'Coconut Grove',
These guitars were cheap and plentiful in their
day. They were basically designed to flood the
market and make money for the builders. It has
a 'string through' pickup and is very hot. It's great
for blues tunes; where you want to breakup the
amp for a rougher tone.
have it tuned to E13. I use this primarily for
Western Swing, but it's great for taking solos on
certain Hawaiian tunes like 'Coconut Grove',
These guitars were cheap and plentiful in their
day. They were basically designed to flood the
market and make money for the builders. It has
a 'string through' pickup and is very hot. It's great
for blues tunes; where you want to breakup the
amp for a rougher tone.
This guitar is a Fender Studio Deluxe six string
with legs. I have one of these and tune it to A6th.
The A6th tuning is ideal for Hawiian and
Western Swing. I can play almost any song in
either style with this tuning. It has a very clean
sound and is also great for tunes like 'Sleepwalk'.
with legs. I have one of these and tune it to A6th.
The A6th tuning is ideal for Hawiian and
Western Swing. I can play almost any song in
either style with this tuning. It has a very clean
sound and is also great for tunes like 'Sleepwalk'.
The guitar pictured at left is a Tradewind
D8. It has two eight string necks. I will be
aquiring this guitar within a couple of
weeks. The guitar is a copy of the Fender
Stringmaster; which is probably the most
sought after console steel guitar ever
made. A console steel simply means that
it has legs. I will be using the E13 and
A6th tunings on this one.
D8. It has two eight string necks. I will be
aquiring this guitar within a couple of
weeks. The guitar is a copy of the Fender
Stringmaster; which is probably the most
sought after console steel guitar ever
made. A console steel simply means that
it has legs. I will be using the E13 and
A6th tunings on this one.
More to Come
This is my Emmons S10 Student model. It
has three pedals and two knee levers. I will
frequently use this guitar with the A and B
pedals depressed, or simply tune the 5th
and 6th strings up a step and a half step.
This effectively gives me an A6th tuning
and I'm off with the Hawaiian tunes. This
can be done with any pedal steel tuned to
E9 (F#-D#-G#-E-B-G#-F#-E-D-B). Herb
Remington has a great book with songs
and tracks using this technique.
has three pedals and two knee levers. I will
frequently use this guitar with the A and B
pedals depressed, or simply tune the 5th
and 6th strings up a step and a half step.
This effectively gives me an A6th tuning
and I'm off with the Hawaiian tunes. This
can be done with any pedal steel tuned to
E9 (F#-D#-G#-E-B-G#-F#-E-D-B). Herb
Remington has a great book with songs
and tracks using this technique.