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

Lap Steel Guitar Facts

The lap steel guitar evolved in the late 19th century in Hawaii, credited to Joseph Kekuku, who, as a teenager around 1889, experimented with sliding a piece of metal along the strings of a guitar laid flat on his lap, creating the signature glissando sound. This technique was inspired by Hawaiian music’s emphasis on smooth, vocal-like melodies.

While rooted in Hawaiian music, the lap steel became integral to American genres like country, blues, and western swing. In country music, it’s iconic for its weeping, soulful bends, while in blues, it adds a raw, expressive edge. It’s also used in modern genres like indie and ambient music.

The instrument is typically played horizontally on the player’s lap or on a stand, unlike a standard guitar held upright. This position allows both hands to work freely—one wielding the slide, the other plucking or damping strings.

Hawaiian Lap Steel Skateboard Guitar

More Lap Steel Guitar Facts

A person who performs on this string instrument is called a lap steel guitarist. Legends like Sol Hoʻopiʻi (Hawaiian music), Jerry Byrd (country), and David Gilmour (rock, Pink Floyd) have showcased the lap steel’s versatility. Modern artists like Ben Harper and Robert Randolph continue to push its boundaries. Other 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).

Cultural Impact
The lap steel helped spread Hawaiian music globally in the early 20th century, influencing American pop culture through radio, films, and records. Its sound became synonymous with tropical escapism in the 1920s and 1930s.

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

Learn the Basics with Andrew Defrancisci

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 designed 2,000+ products for string instrument musicians and fans. 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.

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Gretsch G5700 Electromatic Lap Steel Guitar

Product details:

Solid mahogany body for vibrant, wide ranging tone
Chrome hardware to match the striking Tobacco Sunburst finish
Gretsch single-coil pickup puts out lucidly smooth sounds
You’ll love the bang for your buck that you get with the G5700
Perfect for Blues, Rock, Hawaiian, Country, and Bluegrass
Plug the G5700 into your favorite amplifier

Gretsch G5700 Electromatic Lap Steel with White Plastic Fretboard – Tobacco You’ll Get the Distinctively Rich Hawaiian Tones Only a Lap Steel can Provide

Nashville Pedal Steel Guitar

Electrification Pioneer
The lap steel was one of the first instruments to be electrified. In the 1930s, Rickenbacker and Gibson produced electric lap steels, including the Rickenbacker A-22 “Frying Pan,” considered one of the earliest commercially successful electric guitars.

Best Lap Steel Guitar Gifts Collection

Our Lap Steel Guitar Gifts Collection features shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, chef aprons, buttons, magnets, and more.

Lap Steel Shirts and Gifts Collection

Unique 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.

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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