Steel String Guitars & Improved Classical Technique

[M. Stephenson]

Of late I have been playing my latest acquisitions, a '97 Martin 000-1R and a '93 Dobro DWF60. Both have steel strings, necks less wide than a classical and slightly radiused fingerboards.

To play these guitars, I have had to make a few adjustments, each of which has made my classical playing better.

First and foremost I have to play on the tips of my left hand fingers. On a classical neck I could get away with playing a little less accuratly due to the wide string spacing and the lack of string tension.

Which leads to the Second adjustment - use of more muscle in the left hand. I am quickly getting attuned to not just using more force, but using more force where it is needed. This is a subtle difference, but for me it is making a hugh difference.

Picking up one of my classicals now feels very different and they are actually more of a joy to play.

One other interesting bit, I can do tremolo on the steel strung guitars much better than on the classical guitars. The temolo is much clearer and crisper - I can really start to get a good flow going. I had given up trying to play RDLA good enough to record, but now I am thinking of working on it and possibly recording it on the Martin. We shall see.

[GSI Fan]

M,

You're absolutely right! I love playing my Martin too. You find out quickly which fingers are getting lazy. It also toughens the tips of your fingers. What few songs I play well on the classical have an interesting quality to them when played on steel. If nothing else, it's fun and gives you another reason to play. One thing I've noticed is the unique tone a steel string has when it's played with classical nails. You have to careful though.

[Jubilee Valence]

:mrgreen: Hey "M"--way ta' go!!! 34 yrs ago, I was a "strat" guy; 4 yrs later I got a dread, a jumbo and my ol' blanca. I have 11 now :shock: and find that they do truly compliment each other; The differences will fade away in time(the difficulty part that most folks have in switchin' back & forth...)--I play 'em all everyday, if possible, and that keeps them all playable without any "uncomfortable" issues...but, if I miss a few days with any of 'em, OH BOY!!! :roll: ...I've even got a "mandolin"--talk about a "fast little buger!" and a sitar from India......that one is a bit strange!--Jubi

[M. Stephenson]

Sitar, eh?

I almost bought one once, but my wife thought it to be an ugly instrument. Later when she found out how they sounded she gave the nod to me getting one sometime in the future.

Given that there is no real fingerboard with the sitar, only those arched frets, I bet it really works on finger accuracy. Miss a string on that thing and you are liable to end up slicing your finger :shock:

Good to know that there are other steel stringers here. My instructor is very good at classical/flamenco, but he can not play a steel string instrument. He just can not adjust to the different string spacing and the radiused neck. I have always viewed that as being very limiting.

[M. Stephenson]

GSI Fan,

What type Martin do you have. I had to give myself a crash course in Martin guitars when I found the one I bought. My 000-1R is not fancy - it is sort of a beginners Martin, but I really liked the tone when playing classical music on it.

I played some rather expensive Taylors and Larivees for comparison and did not like them as well - they lacked the bottom end of the Martin when I played classical style. (But they sounded great when the sales guy played them with a pick)

[rumbamaster]

I have a Larrivee DV-10 and an OM-9 and I love them both. But, I've had both guitars built for me with a neck width of 1 7/8. Because the string diameter is smaller on a steel string, it feels just like a classical guitar neck. I can go from playing classical to steel string and it feels great.

It's funny because classical guitar players are always complaning about high string tension. But the highest classical tension is probably the lowest steel string tension. I like to use 12 or 13 gauge strings to give my left hand a real work out.

Have anyone heard of the California Guitar Trio? They play a lot of classical pieces arranged for three steel string guitars. It's pretty cool. They do a great version of Beethovens 5th.

[GSI Fan]

M,

I've got a couple, but the one I like to tinker with is the OM-45GE (Golden Era).

[racer_x]

I am not sure about the exact model, but the sound hole is on the top left side instead of centered. I played one last week and was blown away by the sound and volume of the guitar.
I am sold.

[Faya]

i have an old Epi & an Ibanez....

[Jubilee Valence]

Sitar, eh?

I almost bought one once, but my wife thought it to be an ugly instrument..........
Given that there is no real fingerboard with the sitar, only those arched frets, I bet it really works on finger accuracy. Miss a string on that thing and you are liable to end up slicing your finger :shock:

Good to know that there are other steel stringers here. My instructor is very good at classical/flamenco, but he can not play a steel string instrument. He just can not adjust to the different string spacing and the radiused neck. I have always viewed that as being very limiting."Beyond UGLY!!!"..........and now that you mention it, it does-in a "funny" way-resemble a big "veg-a-matic" or similar...and then those "drone" string courses...."pretty formidable"........Monro' Faya!--I'm still workin' on 'er!!!......I can "play the hell" out of a "play-hell" sitar(real loose strings on my electrics--just fer' kicks...)--but can't make hide ner' hair out of that sitar.....one day, a young plumber friend of mine-picked it up, placed it across his lap, and started tearin' out some serious "ragas & talas"--no joke--and he's never played- 'even- 'a guitar!!!...oh yeah, the damn frets move...... ---"anywhere"!