Lap Steel Guitar Facts: Shop for Instruments, Accessories, Gifts

Lap Steel Guitar Facts

The lap steel guitar is a string instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. On a conventional guitar, players create sounds by pressing strings against the fretboard. When playing a lap steel or lap pedal guitar, players alter the pitch by pressing a bar against the strings. The instrument is typically placed on the player’s lap. It can also be placed on a stool in front of the player.

Lap steel and pedal steel guitars are associated with many types of music including bluegrass, blues, country, Hawaiian, jazz, and rock. How does it work? The player holds a metal or glass slide in one hand, which is moved along the strings. The other hand is used to pluck or pick the strings.

More Lap Steel Guitar Facts

Fun Fact
A person who performs on this string instrument is called a lap steel guitarist.

Notable lap steel guitarists include Jeff Beck, Chuck Berry, John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead), George Harrison (The Beatles), James Kerr, John Lennon (The Beatles), Barbara Mandrell, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and Ron Wood (The Rolling Stones).

Flaming Hands in Motion

Julie Turner Gallery Premium Stretched Canvas Print

Flaming Hands in Motion Originally Created in Acrylic by Julie Turner High-Resolution Photograph of the Artist’s Original Painting is Printed on 9×12 Canvas

Listen to the Lap Steel Guitar

Learn the Basics of Sliding and Picking

Andrew Defrancisci walks you through the basics of sliding and picking. Learn a few general playing techniques for the lap steel guitar.

Best Gifts for Music Lovers

We’ve created more than 2,000 products for string instrument players and music lovers. Find a unique gift for your favorite lap steel guitar player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music Lap Steel Guitar collection.

Find a Lap Steel Guitar Online

Ash Electric Lap Steel Guitar

Product details:

Full-size 36-fret lap steel guitar
American swamp ash body with rosewood fretboard
Diecast chrome tuners plus volume and tone knobs
Removable lap steel stand and padded carry bag
P90 pickup
Perfect for Blues, Rock, Hawaiian, Country, Bluegrass, and Western Swing

SX Lap 2 Ash 3TS Electric Lap Steel Guitar Includes Padded Carrying Case and Legs

Lap Steel Guitar Gift Ideas

If you need to find a gift for your favorite lap steel guitar player, you’ve come to the right place. We’re always creating new products and sharing our favorites from other designers.

Shop for Lap Steel Guitars and Accessories

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Batking 6-String Slotted Head Stock Electric Lap Steel Slide Guitar – Solid Poplar Body – Sunburst – Gig Bag S.I.T. Strings BEC6th Chromatic Tuning – Buddy Emmons Signature Series Pedal Steel Strings Alnicov Stainless Steel Tone Bar for Lap Steel Guitar – Chrome Plated on Polished Steel Body – Easy to Hold Fender Frontman 10G Guitar Amplifier – Closed-Back Design for Heavier Bass Response – Quality Tone