If you’ve spent any time around steel guitar, you’ve probably heard both terms thrown around. Lap steel and pedal steel get mentioned together a lot, and at a glance they do look similar. Once you actually sit down and play them, though, they feel completely different.
Both use a steel bar instead of fretting notes, and both are known for smooth slides and expressive tone. The difference comes down to how you control pitch, how the instrument responds, and how much is happening under your hands.
Understanding that difference makes it much easier to figure out which one fits your playing style.
What Is a Lap Steel Guitar?
A lap steel is the simpler, more direct of the two.
You are working with a fixed tuning. There are no pedals or knee levers changing pitch while you play. Everything comes from your hands, your bar movement, and your picking.
That is part of what makes lap steel so appealing. It forces you to focus on:
- bar control
- vibrato
- note accuracy
- phrasing
If something is off, you hear it immediately.
Lap steel shows up a lot in Hawaiian music and early country recordings, where that smooth slide and chord movement is front and center.
Most lap steel players spend time dialing in their tuning and string feel, because once that is set, it defines how the instrument responds.
If you want to get deeper into how tunings affect feel and playability, check out our lap steel guitar tunings guide.
Quick Note on Lap Steel vs Non-Pedal Steel
You will hear both terms used pretty loosely.
Most of the time, lap steel and non-pedal steel mean the same thing. They both refer to steel guitars without pedals or knee levers, played with a bar.
Some players use non-pedal steel as a broader term that can include console steels as well, which are played on legs instead of on your lap. In everyday use, though, the terms overlap.
What Is a Pedal Steel Guitar?
Pedal steel is where things open up.
Now you are not just moving the bar. You are also changing pitch while the strings are ringing. Pedals and knee levers raise or lower specific strings in real time.
That allows you to:
- bend notes while they sustain
- move between chords without shifting the bar
- create smooth, connected transitions between notes
This is what gives pedal steel its signature sound, especially in country music.
Pedal steel is what you are hearing on a lot of classic country records, where notes bend into each other and chords shift smoothly under sustained notes.
From a playing standpoint, you are managing your hands, your feet, and your knees all at once. It takes time to get comfortable with, but it gives you a level of control that you cannot get from a fixed tuning alone.
The Real Difference Is How You Control Pitch
This is where the two instruments really separate.
Lap Steel
On lap steel, pitch control is entirely in your hands.
If you want to change notes, you move the bar. You control pressure, vibrato, and intonation directly. Everything is physical and immediate.
Pedal Steel
On pedal steel, pitch is constantly moving.
You can raise or lower individual strings while they ring. You can shift chords without moving your bar position. You are shaping how notes connect, not just where they are.
That changes how the instrument feels in a big way.
How They Feel to Play
This is something you notice right away once you try both.
Lap steel feels very exposed in a good way. There is nothing hiding your technique. If your bar control is solid, it sounds great. If it is not, you hear it immediately.
Pedal steel feels more fluid, but also more demanding. When everything is working together, it feels smooth and connected. Getting to that point takes coordination and time.
Where Strings Start to Matter
This is where a lot of players run into problems.
On lap steel, the goal is balance. You want the strings to feel even under the bar so chords sit clean and slides stay smooth.
On pedal steel, the demands are different.
The strings are constantly being pulled, released, and brought back to pitch. If the strings are not built for that, you will notice it right away:
- notes do not return to pitch cleanly
- pedals feel inconsistent
- the instrument feels unstable
That is where string construction really starts to matter. If a string does not return to pitch cleanly after a pull, the whole instrument feels off. That is not something you can fix with setup. It comes down to how the string is built. Using strings designed specifically for pedal steel setups makes a noticeable difference in how stable everything feels under pedals and levers.
If you are playing lap steel, you can dig deeper into that in our best strings for lap steel guitar guide.
If you are setting up a pedal steel, you can go deeper into that in our guide on best strings for pedal steel guitar.
Tunings: Fixed vs Moving Systems
Lap steel tunings are fixed. You choose a tuning like C6, A6, E7, or E13, and everything you play comes from that layout.
Pedal steel works more like a system.
E9 is the most common setup, especially in country. It is built for expressive lead playing and smooth pitch changes.
C6 is used more for swing and jazz styles, where you need fuller chords and more harmonic movement.
The key difference is that pedal steel tunings are designed to work with pedals and levers, not just the open strings.
If you want a quick reference for common lap steel setups, you can also check out our lap steel tuning chart.
Which One Should You Start With?
For most players, lap steel is the better starting point.
It teaches you:
- bar control
- intonation
- how to hear pitch
Once you have that foundation, pedal steel makes a lot more sense.
Trying to learn pedal steel first can feel overwhelming because you are learning the mechanics and the musical side at the same time.
Which One Sounds Better?
They are just different.
Lap steel has a more direct sound. What you play is exactly what you hear.
Pedal steel is smoother and more connected. It lets you move between notes in a way that is hard to replicate on any other instrument.
It comes down to the style of music you are playing and what sound you are after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pedal steel harder than lap steel?
Yes. Pedal steel requires coordination between your hands, feet, and knees, which takes time to develop.
Can you play lap steel parts on pedal steel?
In some cases, yes. The feel is different, and most players approach the two instruments differently.
Do they use the same strings?
Not usually. Pedal steel strings are designed to handle pitch changes, while lap steel strings are built for fixed tunings and balanced tension.
Which is better for beginners?
Lap steel is generally the better starting point because it is simpler and helps build the core skills you need.
Final Thoughts
Lap steel and pedal steel might look similar, but they are built for completely different approaches to playing.
Lap steel is all about control. How you move the bar, how you hear pitch, and how you shape notes with your hands.
Pedal steel adds another layer where the instrument is moving with you.
Both are incredibly expressive once you get comfortable with them. It just depends on how you want to interact with the instrument.
