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Lap Steel vs Pedal Steel Guitar 2026: Which Steel Guitar Is Right for You?
Both played horizontally with a metal bar, but lap steel is portable and simple vs pedal steel with foot pedals and knee levers — a massive difference in cost, learning curve, and sonic capability.
Choose a lap steel if…
- • You want an affordable, portable entry into slide guitar
- • You play Hawaiian music, surf, country, or blues
- • The simpler single-neck format works for your musical goals
- • You're new to steel guitar and want to learn the basics first
Choose a pedal steel if…
- • You want the defining sound of classic country music
- • You're ready to invest $1,000–$3,000 and significant practice time
- • The pedal steel's unique pedal-and-knee-lever mechanism appeals to you
- • You aspire to play like Buddy Emmons, Lloyd Green, or modern session players
Lap Steel vs Pedal Steel Compared
| Feature | Lap Steel | Pedal Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Playing position | Horizontal on your lap or a stand — played with a metal slide bar | Horizontal on legs (in a stand) — played with a bar + feet on pedals + knees on levers |
| Pitch changing | Bar position only — limited to bar placement and vibrato | Bar + pedals + knee levers — allows pitch changes while bar stays in place |
| Tuning | Various open tunings (C6, E9, open D) — one tuning per neck | E9 (most common) + B6 on a double-neck — two tunings available |
| Learning curve | Moderate — comparable to learning slide guitar | Very steep — pedal and lever coordination takes years to develop |
| Cost | $150–$800 new (Rogue, Gretsch, Supro, vintage Rickenbacker) | $1,000–$4,000 used (MSA, ZB, Carter, Emmons, Sho-Bud) |
| Weight and portability | Very portable — single solid body, ~5-8 lbs | Heavy and bulky — multi-neck, legs, pedal mechanism, ~50-80 lbs |
| Famous genres | Hawaiian, surf, country, blues, Americana | Country (the defining country music instrument), Americana, bluegrass |
| Famous players | Speedy West, Alvino Rey, Jerry Byrd, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) | Buddy Emmons, Lloyd Green, Tom Brumley, Hal Rugg |
| Setup complexity | Simple — tune to open tuning, connect to amp, play | Complex — pedal and lever setup must be adjusted for tuning accuracy |
| Used price | $100–$600 (vintage Rickenbacker, Magnatone, National) | $800–$3,000+ (MSA Classic, Carter, Emmons Push-Pull) |
Lap Steel — Pros
- Much more affordable entry — a used lap steel ($100–$300) vs used pedal steel ($1,000+) is a massive cost difference
- Portable and lightweight — fits in a small case, easy to transport for gigs and sessions
- Simpler learning curve — the lap steel's technique (bar placement, picking) is learnable without the pedal/lever coordination
- Excellent for Hawaiian, surf, blues, and Americana where the simpler sound is authentic and correct
- Many electric lap steels can double as a practice instrument for players exploring slide guitar on a regular guitar
Lap Steel — Cons
- Cannot change individual string pitches while the bar is held — limited to open chord voicings and single-note lines at each bar position
- The sound is not what most people imagine as "country guitar" — that sound requires a pedal steel
- Less suited to modern country where pedal steel's complex pedal-changed chord voicings are the standard
Pedal Steel — Pros
- The defining sound of classic and modern American country music — there is no substitute for pedal steel in authentic country contexts
- Pedals and knee levers allow chord changes impossible on a lap steel — this is what creates the distinctive "crying" pedal steel sound
- Double-neck (E9 + B6) provides two complete tuning systems covering virtually any musical situation
- A well-played pedal steel is one of the most expressive instruments in any genre
Pedal Steel — Cons
- Very steep learning curve — most players spend 2-5 years before reaching competent playing ability
- Expensive — entry-level used pedal steels start at $800–$1,000, professional models at $2,500+
- Heavy and non-portable — a pedal steel setup weighs 50-80 lbs and requires a vehicle for transport
- Complex setup — pedal and lever tensions must be adjusted correctly to stay in tune
Lap Steel vs Pedal Steel — Common Questions
What is the difference between a lap steel and a pedal steel guitar?
Both are played horizontally with the instrument resting flat, the strings facing up, using a metal bar (steel) to press on the strings. The key difference: a lap steel has no pedals or levers — pitch changes come only from moving the bar. A pedal steel adds foot pedals and knee levers that physically pull or push individual strings to different pitches. This allows the pedal steel player to hold the bar at one position while changing chord voicings with their feet and knees — creating the crying, pitch-changing sound that defines classic country music. The pedal steel's complexity is the source of its expressiveness; the lap steel's simplicity is the source of its accessibility.
Can a beginner learn pedal steel guitar without learning lap steel first?
Yes, though many teachers recommend starting with lap steel to build bar technique before tackling pedal/lever coordination. The skill sets overlap significantly: both instruments require excellent bar control, accurate ear for intonation, right-hand picking technique with picks on multiple fingers, and volume pedal management (typically used with both instruments). If your goal is specifically country pedal steel: start there, with a good teacher. If you're exploring steel guitar generally and are unsure of your long-term commitment: lap steel is a lower-cost, lower-commitment entry point.
What tunings are used on lap steel and pedal steel guitars?
Lap steel tunings vary by genre and player. Common open tunings: C6 (C-E-G-A-C-E, Hawaiian standard), E9 (B-D-E-F#-G#-B-E, used for country-oriented lap steel), open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D, blues), open G (D-G-D-G-B-D, for chord melodies). Pedal steel standard: the most common setup is E9 tuning on the front neck (B-D-E-F#-G#-B-E-F#-D#-F# from low to high) and B6 tuning on the rear neck (B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#-B-C#-D#-F#). The pedal steel's E9 tuning combined with pedal changes allows the instrument to play in multiple keys and generate the complex chord voicings of country music.
What are the best lap steel guitars for beginners?
Rogue RLS-1 ($80–$100 new): most affordable entry — functional for learning. Gretsch G5700 ($200–$250 new): significant quality step up from Rogue, recommended for committed beginners. Recording King RG-32 ($150–$200): good value mid-range lap steel. Used vintage lap steels: Rickenbacker lap steels from the 1940s-1960s ($200–$400), Supro ($150–$350), and National ($150–$400) are often better quality than new budget options and have collectible value. For a beginner: either the Gretsch G5700 new or a clean vintage Rickenbacker/Supro used are the best starting points. Avoid very cheap ($50-80) lap steels with buzzing frets and poor intonation.
Which amp should I use with a lap steel or pedal steel?
Both instruments go through an amplifier just like a regular electric guitar — they have a standard 1/4" output. For lap steel: any clean electric guitar amp works well. The Fender Twin Reverb and Princeton Reverb are popular for their clean headroom. The Fender steel guitar amps from the 1950s (8N, 400, Champion 800) were designed for the instrument and are highly sought after. For pedal steel: dedicated pedal steel amplifiers are available (ZB, Emmons) but most players use Fender or similar clean amplifiers. A volume pedal is essentially required for both instruments — placed between the guitar and amp to control dynamics and create the signature swell effect. Many steel guitarists also use reverb and slow gear (volume swell) effects.