Are Resonator Guitars Harder to Play?

[Emma]

Are resonator guitars harder to play?

Well, this is not an easy one to answer. Sure, I might automatically jump to the conclusion and say that the lap steel guitars and the slide technique are more challenging. However, this is an entirely different approach to the instrument, meaning that you’ll practically have to relearn how to approach it.

In that sense, we can say that resonator guitars are harder to play. This is especially the case with beginner and intermediate musicians. However, we’re practically comparing apples and oranges here. I would even dare to say that playing a slide or lap steel is almost like performing on a completely different instrument compared to the regular approach.

With that said, getting a hang of resonator guitars the proper way is a beast on its own. You’d have to get familiar with the slide technique, preferably even by holding the instrument on your lap.


One of the most important things to bear in mind is where the slide should be located in order to get the right pitch of a note. It’s similar to playing a fretless instrument. You can’t just put the slide over a fret where you’d usually press the string. Instead, it should be right over a fret wire, because that’s where the proper pitch of a note is. However, this completely changes the approach to the instrument, which deserves a complete guide on its own.