Exploring the fretboard is essential for lap steel players, from basic tuning notes to advanced roll patterns. This article highlights top fretboard-focused resources and accessories that help players of all levels navigate C6 and E tunings, learn patterns, and master scales and chords. Below are five carefully selected options with practical, on-page reference aids and accompanying audio where available. The selections emphasize clarity, durability, and usefulness for practice spaces at home or in teaching environments.
| Product | Brand | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fretboard Roadmaps Lap Steel Guitar | Hal Leonard | Book/Online Audio | 96 pages; essential patterns and tunings |
| Lap Steel C6 Tuning Fretboard Note & Rolls Chart | A New Song Music | Poster 11″x17″ | Chords and roll patterns; wall reference |
| Lap Steel C6 Tuning Fretboard Note & Rolls Chart | A New Song Music | Poster 8.5″x11″ | Durable laminated; fretboard notes |
| Batking Lap Steel Guitar 6 String | Batking | Guitar | Full lap steel instrument features |
| First 50 Songs You Should Play on Lap Steel Guitar | Hal Leonard | Songbook | 80 pages; beginner to intermediate pieces |
The items above were chosen for clear fretboard references, tuning guidance, and practical play-along material. They collectively cover reading fretboard positions, right-hand patterns, and a selection of songs to build repertoire using a lap steel instrument.
Fretboard Roadmaps Lap Steel Guitar
Reference: Hal Leonard’s Fretboard Roadmaps Lap Steel Guitar provides a concise guide to essential patterns and tunings, with accompanying online audio. The 96-page book format supports structured practice for players at multiple levels, focusing on fretboard navigation, scale shapes, and common lap steel progressions. This resource helps learners map chords and licks directly onto the fretboard to speed up skill development.
Lap Steel C6 Tuning Fretboard Note & Rolls Chart – 11×17 Poster
This poster-style chart is designed for easy, at-a-glance reference. It emphasizes C6 tuning fretboard note locations and eight basic right-hand roll patterns. Hanging in a practice space, it serves as a quick guide for learners and intermediate players who benefit from visual fretboard mapping without flipping through a book. The 11×17 format is ideal for wall display and repeated glance during practice sessions.
Lap Steel C6 Tuning Fretboard Note & Rolls Chart – 8.5×11
This 8.5×11 laminated chart provides a compact, durable reference for fretboard notes in the C6 tuning and includes eight right-hand roll patterns. The laminated finish protects it from daily practice wear, making it suitable for studio spaces, classrooms, or home setups where quick accessibility matters.
Gretsch G5700 Electromatic Lap Steel
The Gretsch G5700 is a ready-to-play lap steel instrument with a chrome single-coil pickup and hardware that highlight traditional lap steel aesthetics. While primarily a hardware-focused product, its fretboard setup and neck design influence scale length, note positions, and string tension—factors that intersect with fretboard navigation and playability for learners mapping out chords and scales.
Lap Steel E Tuning Fretboard Note & Rolls Chart – 11×17
This poster-style chart focuses on E tuning fretboard positions and offers eight right-hand roll patterns. The right-hand patterns, combined with fretboard notes shown on the right, provide a practical layout for quick reference during practice and early repertoire building. The poster emphasizes accessibility for beginners and intermediate players alike.
Batking Lap Steel Guitar 6 String
Batking’s 6-string lap steel offers a complete instrument with a solid body and 28 frets. It includes a scale length around 20.75 inches and a total body length near 29 inches, featuring a single-coil pickup and a stainless steel pickguard. For fretboard-focused practice, this guitar provides a physical platform to apply patterns and tunings learned from fretboard-guided resources.
Mr.Power Guitar Slide Tone Bar Set
The Mr.Power slide bar set includes a 3-inch tone bar with accessories for lap steel, Dobro, and other steel guitar styles. While not a fretboard chart, it complements fretboard study by enabling authentic slide technique, which can be practiced alongside patterns and tunings from fretboard resources to develop smoother pedal and slide transitions on the neck.
First 50 Songs You Should Play on Lap Steel Guitar
Hal Leonard’s compilation offers a curated set of 50 songs suitable for lap steel players, spanning country, Hawaiian, blues, folk, and Western swing. The 80-page book supports practical fretboard learning by providing accessible arrangements and tab-style guidance that aligns with fretboard note positions and common chord shapes, helping players reinforce memory of fretboard layouts through musical examples.
Buying Guide: Key Considerations for Fretboard Practice on Lap Steel
- Fretboard reference clarity: Choose resources with clear note locations and intuitive diagrams, especially for C6 and E tunings, to shorten the learning curve.
- Durability and format: Laminated posters and robust books withstand frequent practice sessions and teaching environments; consider hanging charts for quick reference.
- Audio support: Materials offering online audio or CD accompaniments help verify pitch, timing, and roll patterns, improving ear training and timing accuracy.
- Song and pattern variety: A mix of pattern-based guides and song collections broadens repertoire and reinforces fretboard memory through context.
- Instrument compatibility: Ensure the fretboard resources match lap steel tuning (commonly C6 or E) and address both learning and performance needs.
- Practice space integration: Wall charts are convenient in studios or homes; books provide deeper explanations and exercise sets for structured study.
- Product versatility: Combining a reference chart with a playable instrument allows practical application of fretboard concepts in real-time playing scenarios.