A lap steel.... should I buy one?
I've always wanted to learn a different instrument, but violins and fiddles are too loud, horns are even louder; mandolins are too plinky; pianos are too big; keyboards are too electronic. I need something that sounds different than a guitar, that I can play in the spare bedroom, and that doesn't make a ton of noise (unless I want it to!).
1. Do it!
2. Then work your way up to pedal steel.
3. Profit!
I have a friend on the West Coast who owns a beginner pedal steel. It gathers dust in his closet and refuses to sell (or better still, give!) it to me. On quiet nights I can hear it singing to me. Sigh.
the pedal steel is mighty intimidating.
Agreed. I thought it was just pedals, but it ain’t! You’ve got to move your thighs left and right too. Damn! I’d as likely land a small aircraft safely as play a recognizable melody right out of the box.
True story: My friend with the pedal steel brought it to a recording session for his rockin guitar band. Basically he could go #twaaaang# (ascending) or btwaaaangb (descending). Makes for a nice effect, a little color in the relentless growlscape of rock guitar bands. Unfortunately for my friend a local dude was just happened to be hanging around the studio that day.
This guy: http://kevinsuggs.com/services/
He said he Suggs was really nice, “Sounds good, man.” Really though, it was not much. Possibly why his steel gathers dust in a closet.
ouch! how deflating.
Bagpipes. Does not meet any of your criteria but they are awesome.
hmm. that would certainly be a different sound.
Do it! I’ve now got 2 lap steels – they’re great fun. I’m primarily a guitar player and I use my lap steel to add “atmospheric” type sounds with the lap steel, using lots of reverb and delay. You already play guitar so you’d pick it up quickly. Its really versatile and its close enough to the guitar that theres not a huge learning curve.
You can get a decent keyboard that sounds and feels almost like an actual piano for about $500 I think (maybe less, even less if used). Never needs tuning, you can adjust the volume, not nearly as big, depending on the spend you can adjust its sound, some even come with pedals. We have one and I love it (and I grew up playing on a my mother’s grand).
Just a thought!
we had a cheapie Casio, many years ago. it sounded like crap and wasn’t any fun to play. it kindof turned me off to keyboards. if i could find one that had some nice sounds, i’d be willing to give them another try…. maybe a mini analog synth could be fun. a real piano would be nice… not a chance