Guitarist hoping to pick up dobro or steel, tips please?

Category: Jam Session

Post 1 by Deadnight Warrior (Zone BBS Addict) on Thursday, 28-Mar-2013 12:44:22

Hi, all. So I've been playing guitar for a few years now and I have fallen in love with country music during this time. I'm thinking of picking up either dobro or steel guitar. To anyone who plays steel, what's the difference between pedal or lap steel (other than price)? Which would be better to start with? And which would be suited better for country music? Also, if I decide to go with dobro first, is a round neck as good as a square neck as far as sound and playability with a slide? And finally, since I'm totally blind, I'd like to hear from any other blind musicians who play steel guitar. For example, if I'm playing a guitar I use the frets to guide me. And even when playing violin, I constantly have contact with the instrument so I have a better idea of where I am on the finger board. With a lap steel, for example, where the strings are a lot higher off the body and there isn't that contact when using a bar slide, how did you practice or adjust to that difference? Thanks in advance for feedback.