Lorene Ruymar

The Hawaiian Steel Guitar

The term 'steel guitar' can refer to instruments with multiple tunings, 6 to 14 strings, and even multiple fretboards. To add even more confusion, the term 'Hawaiian guitar' refers to an instrument played flat on the lap with a steel bar outside of Hawaii, but in Hawaii, it is the early term for the slack key guitar. Lorene Ruymar clears up the confusion in her new book that takes a look at Hawaiian music, the origin of the steel guitar and its spread throughout the world, Hawaiian playing styles, techniques and tunings, and more. Includes hundreds of photos, a foreword by Jerry Byrd, and a bibliography and suggested reading list.