How to string a lap steel guitar
A lap steel strings up much like an electric guitar: ball ends at the bridge end, wraps on the tuning posts. What changes is the tuning, which decides the gauges, and the nut, which sits high so the bar never touches the fretboard. This guide covers a six-string lap steel and keeps track of which string goes where in C6, the most common jazz and western swing tuning.
Lap steel C6 tuning, string by string
From the 6th string (the lowest) to the 1st, at A 440 Hz.
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | C3 | 130.81 |
| 5 | E3 | 164.81 |
| 4 | G3 | 196.00 |
| 3 | A3 | 220.00 |
| 2 | C4 | 261.63 |
| 1 | E4 | 329.63 |
How to use it
- Pick the tuning first and buy a set made for it: a C6 set is not the same as an open G or open D set.
- Do a step and tick its box; progress stays saved on this device.
- In the tuner, choose C6, open D or open E and tune each open string until the needle sits in the center.
Help and explanations
At the end there's a string-by-string tuner for C6 (C3 E3 G3 A3 C4 E4), open D and open E, at A 440 Hz.
Gauges follow the tuning
Tunings on a lap steel span almost an octave from one to another, so a set that works in open E will be floppy in C6 or snap in a higher tuning. GHS's lap steel C6 set, as listed by Thomann, runs .015, .017, .022, .026, .030 wound and .036 wound from the 1st string (E4) to the 6th (C3). Open D drops the 6th string to D2 (73.42 Hz) and open E to E2 (82.41 Hz), so those sets carry a heavier bass, closer to an acoustic guitar set.
Check the tension before switching tuning with the string tension calculator.
The high nut and the bar
Because the bar rests on top of the strings, a lap steel is set up with the strings well above the fretboard, and the nut and bridge slots must hold them there. A string that jumps out of its nut slot drops toward the board and the bar will clatter against it. When you bring a new string up to pitch, guide it into its slot with a finger, and use the same set of gauges the slots were cut for: much heavier strings can sit high on the nut and rattle.
Tips
- Many lap steels have the strings through the body or in a tailpiece; feed the new string the same way the old one came out.
- Wipe the strings after playing: the bar drags sweat along their whole length, and dirty strings drag back.
- Check the 12th marker with the intonation checker once the strings have settled.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of C6 tuning on a lap steel?
From the 6th string to the 1st: C3 130.81, E3 164.81, G3 196, A3 220, C4 261.63 and E4 329.63 Hz, at A 440.
What gauge strings for C6 lap steel?
GHS's lap steel C6 set runs .015, .017, .022, .026, .030w and .036w, from the 1st string (E4) to the 6th (C3).
What strings for open D on a lap steel?
Open D is D2 A2 D3 F♯3 A3 D4, 73.42 to 293.66 Hz, so it needs a heavier set than C6, with a bass string in the acoustic guitar range.
Can I use regular guitar strings on a lap steel?
For open E or open D, yes, with a medium set. For C6 the 1st string sits at E4 but the 6th is only C3, so the gauges of a guitar set don't match.
How often should you change lap steel strings?
When they sound dull or the bar starts to drag, often every few months for a regular player. Wiping them after every session makes them last longer.