The Easiest Lap Steel Songs to Learn: Slide Guitar

Guitar

There is something undeniably haunting and beautiful about the sound of a lap steel guitar. Whether it’s the soaring swells of a country ballad or the tropical lilt of a Hawaiian melody, the instrument speaks in a way that standard guitar cannot. If you are just beginning your journey, the initial hurdle can feel daunting—navigating a fretless board with a heavy metal bar requires a new set of motor skills. However, by selecting the easiest lap steel songs to learn, you can build your confidence and technique simultaneously. At ArtistWorks, we believe that with the right structured learning and world-class instruction, any student can master the nuances of the slide. Our mission is to provide you with the personal guidance necessary to turn those initial slides into soulful musical expressions.

Table of Contents

The Foundations: Tuning and Technique

Before we dive into the repertoire, we must ensure your instrument is set up for success. Most beginner songs are arranged in Open G tuning (G-B-D-G-B-D) or C6 tuning. For those just starting out, Open G is often the most intuitive as it allows you to play a full major chord simply by placing your bar straight across any fret. This eliminates the immediate need for complex fingerings and lets you focus on the “feel” of the slide.

One of the most important concepts to grasp early on is string damping. Unlike standard guitar, where your fingers fretting the notes stop the vibration, on a lap steel, the bar rests on top of the strings. This means your trailing fingers must lightly touch the strings behind the bar to prevent unwanted overtones and sympathetic vibrations. Our resident master of the slide, Andy Hall, emphasizes that clean execution is the hallmark of a conservatory-level player. Understanding how to control the resonance of the instrument is the first step toward achieving a professional tone.

Top 5 Easiest Lap Steel Songs to Learn

When selecting songs for a novice, we prioritize melodies that utilize the straight bar technique. This means you won’t have to worry about “bar slants” (tilting the bar to reach different intervals) just yet. By focusing on these accessible pieces, you can master intonation—the art of stopping the bar exactly over the fret wire to be in tune.

1. “Amazing Grace”

This is perhaps the quintessential starter song. Because the melody moves largely in stepwise motion and stays within a single major scale, you can play the entire piece using only one or two strings and a straight bar. It is a perfect study in basic slides. Start by finding the root note on the open strings and slowly slide into the melody notes, paying close attention to the “arrival” of the pitch.

2. “Sleep Walk” (Santo & Johnny)

While the full arrangement has some complexity, the main theme is one of the most recognizable lap steel melodies in history. It teaches you the importance of “the swell”—using your volume knob or pedal to create that signature ethereal sound. You can see a masterful breakdown of these types of techniques in Andy Hall’s performance and lesson highlights. This song encourages you to hold notes longer, allowing you to practice your vibrato control.

3. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

Commonly played in C6 tuning, this song introduces the player to single-string melodies. It’s an excellent exercise for your ears, as you must learn to “target” the note precisely over the fret wire to stay in tune. The large interval jumps in the opening of the song provide a great challenge for bar movement accuracy.

4. “You Are My Sunshine”

For the country enthusiast, this song is a staple. It utilizes a simple I-IV-V chord progression, allowing you to practice moving the bar quickly between the 0, 5th, and 7th frets in Open G tuning. It’s a rhythmic exercise as much as a melodic one, helping you coordinate your picking hand with your bar movements.

5. “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”

This folk classic is ideal for practicing chordal accompaniment. Since the song relies on a standard three-chord structure, you can practice sliding into full chord positions. This helps you develop the strength and stability required to keep the bar level across all six strings simultaneously.

Key Mechanics: Straight Bar and Vibrato

To make these “easy” songs sound professional, you must master vibrato technique. On a lap steel, vibrato is achieved by rapidly moving the bar back and forth horizontally across the fret wire. It shouldn’t be a wide, frantic movement; rather, it should be a controlled, shimmering effect that mimics the human voice. Beginners often make the mistake of moving the bar too far, which pulls the note out of tune. Instead, think of it as a subtle “shaking” of the hand centered directly over the fret wire.

The straight bar technique is your foundation. Before moving to advanced slants, ensure that your bar is perfectly parallel to the frets. Even a slight angle can lead to intonation issues across multiple strings. Practice sliding from fret 3 to fret 5, ensuring the bar lands perfectly flat and the notes ring out clearly on all strings.

Tonal Control: Damping and Volume Swells

As you progress through these songs, you’ll realize that what you don’t play is just as important as what you do. Palm muting and trailing-finger damping are essential for a clean sound. Use the side of your picking hand to “kill” strings you aren’t using, especially when playing high-gain or distorted lead lines. This prevents the “wall of noise” that often plagues beginner lap steel players.

Volume swells are another “pro” secret. By picking a note with the volume turned down and then slowly rolling it up, you remove the “attack” of the pick. This gives the lap steel its violin-like quality. Experiment with this on long, sustained notes in “Sleep Walk” to hear how it changes the emotional impact of the melody.

The Value of Personal Guidance in Lap Steel

Self-teaching a slide instrument can be frustrating because intonation is invisible. Unlike a fretted guitar, there is no “safety net.” This is why having a world-class teacher review your progress is transformative. When you submit a video to ArtistWorks, your instructor will review your technique, like hand position, your bar pressure, and your damping technique, to provide a personalized video response that clears up any confusion.

Our Video Exchange Learning platform allows you to see your instructor’s feedback side-by-side with your own performance. This direct comparison is the fastest way to fix technical errors that might otherwise become permanent habits. Whether you are struggling with a specific slide in “Amazing Grace” or can’t quite get your vibrato to sound smooth, personal guidance ensures you never stay stuck for long.

Actionable Exercises for Beginners

  • The Target Drill: Pick a fret (e.g., the 5th fret). Slide into it from two frets below, aiming to stop exactly over the fret wire. Check the pitch against a tuner for every single slide.
  • The “Ghost” Damping Drill: Practice moving the bar up and down the neck without making any sound. Your trailing fingers should “ghost” the strings, keeping the instrument silent until you are ready to pick.
  • The Major Scale on One String: Play a major scale up and down a single string. This builds fretboard markers recognition and helps your ear connect with the physical distance on the neck.
  • Vibrato Pulse: Set a metronome to 60 BPM. Practice 4 even “wiggles” of the bar per beat. This builds the rhythmic consistency needed for a musical vibrato.

Common Beginner Pitfalls

  • Pressing Too Hard: The bar should glide on top of the strings, not press them down to the wood. Excessive pressure causes friction and makes it harder to stay in tune.
  • Neglecting the Trailing Fingers: If your notes sound “fuzzy” or “noisy,” check your damping behind the bar. Those fingers must be in constant contact with the strings.
  • Poor Sitting Posture: Since the lap steel sits on your lap, your back and shoulder health depend on good posture. Ensure your chair is the right height so you aren’t hunching over the instrument.

Conclusion: Starting Your Slide Journey

The easiest lap steel songs to learn serve as the gateway to a lifelong passion for slide guitar. By focusing on simple melodies, mastering your Open G tuning, and paying close attention to your vibrato, you will build a foundation that allows for limitless musical expression. Remember, the journey to mastery is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time with each song, and don’t be afraid to sound “bad” while you’re learning the mechanics in the woodshed.

Are you ready to receive the personal guidance you deserve? Start a free trial at ArtistWorks and learn with personal guidance from the masters of the craft. We look forward to seeing you in the classroom and helping you reach the next level of your playing!

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