The steel guitar was developed during the late 19th century. Defined as any type of guitar that is set up to be played with device called a "slide," there are a number of specific types and configurations. A metal slide is placed on the strings and moved along the guitar neck to produce notes, rather than the traditional method of pressing down on the strings with the fingers.
Steel Guitar
The first steel guitar was invented and named by Joseph Kekuku in Hawaii in 1889. By raising the strings of a regular Spanish guitar to provide extra clearance from the guitar neck, Kekuku used a steel bar to play the guitar notes. His sound became known as the "Hawaiian-style," and prompted other guitar players and makers to adopt the playing style and develop other instruments. The steel guitar also is called the Hawaiian guitar and is the immediate ancestor of the electric lap steel guitar. Steel guitars of every type use tunings that differ from standard guitar tuning. The tunings used are numerous and depend on player preference and the music style.
Electric Lap Steel Guitar
The electric lap steel is a solid-body steel guitar fitted with an electric pickup. It is considered the first solid-body electric guitar and was developed in the 1930s. Like Kekuku's original guitar, it is traditionally played in a sitting position in the player's lap but is sometimes placed on a table or stand. Electric lap steel guitars are still produced and are used in all types of music. The most common lap steel contains one neck, but multiple-necked versions are also common. Several manufacturers make acoustic lap steel guitars, which resemble the original Hawaiian design.
Pedal Steel Guitar
In the late 1940s and early '50s, guitar players and manufacturers experimented with modifications to the lap steel guitar. By adding push or pull-rods to one or more strings, the player could change the tuning of the strings by use of a foot pedal or knee-lever. Pedal steel guitars are widely used in country music and can contain up to three guitar necks for different tunings, string configurations and playing effects. The pedal steel is sometimes mistaken for a Hawaiian guitar because of the similarities in sound and playing style, but it is more complex in construction.
Resoponic Guitar
Before the era of amplification and the electric lap steel guitar, the National and Dobro companies added metal resonators to standard acoustic guitars in order to boost volume. While standard guitar models were produced, others made expressly for steel-playing also were offered. These steel guitars have square necks as opposed to a standard guitar's rounded neck, and are played in the lap or while standing with the aid of a guitar strap. Several other companies, including Dobro, make current resonator guitar models for both steel- and standard-playing styles.
Modified Guitars for Steel Playing
Just as Kekuku, some players modify standard acoustic and electric guitars for slide playing. By raising the strings, any guitar can be tuned and played as a steel guitar. Guitars that are not modified can be played with a "bottleneck" slide worn on one finger. While not considered true steel guitars, the player can mimic the steel guitar sound and switch to the standard playing style with the fingers not encumbered by the slide.
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