Dobro®: Basics
setup & Position
Lesson 1
by Mickey Cochran
Dobro®: Basicsby Mickey Cochran
Copyright© 1999 Mickey Cochran
First and foremost is the medium you are utilizing:
1. Make sure your Dobro is set up properly...Be sure that there's no rattle and that all 6 strings are intact. If it hasn't been played in quite awhile, try rubbing a product called Fast Fret across the strings to take out the rust and add lubrication. This is a great product that can be used periodically for facilitating your Dobro practice and performance. If you have a roundneck Dobro, you will need an extension nut to be able to play it similar to a traditional Dobro (on the lap) with a steel. Both the Fast Fret and the Extension Nut can be found at most any music store. You may also enquire with us if you cannot find these products.
2. Make sure you feel comfortable holding your Dobro, especially, if you're determined to practice long hours...It can become discouraging to adhere to a practice schedule if you do not feel comfortable holding and playing your Dobro. My recommendation is to first learn to play while sitting down...be sure to hold the Dobro by laying it in your lap at an even level. To assist you in doing this, try a footstool.
3. Fingerpicks and a thumbpick are essential to learning to play the Dobro...you may purchase them through us or through your local music store. Try different brands out for size to find the ones that feel the most comfortable. I, myself, use the Dunlop brand metal fingerpicks and a National plastic thumbpick. For a steel, there are also many varieties available. I recommend the Stevens steel for comfort and playability.
4. Find your inspiration...rediscover the reasons you're inspired to learn the Dobro. Categorize all of your Dobro CDs that bring you pleasure. Be sure to also get your library of instructional videos and books together...read through all of them and become familiar with the road that's ahead. And, then sit down with your most basic lessons, whether video or book, and methodically go through every detail of preparation.
Tuning Your Dobro to Open G
The Dobro is commonly tuned with the following arrangement on the strings (from the top lowest to the bottom highest): G B D G B D
There are other tunings that are utilized, but this is the most common for bluegrass and can also be used effectively for blues. We will go into other tunings in future lessons so stay tuned.
Now for the different methods of tuning...
1. Tuning the Dobro to itself. First you'll need a reference such as a tuning fork, piano or Dobro. Once you have one of the strings tuned properly, you only need to use your slide above the frets as follows:
B low string matches G low string at the 4th fret of the G string
D low string matches B low string at the 3rd fret of the B string
G high string matches D low string at the 5th fret of the D string
B high string matches G high string at the 4th fret of the G string
D high string matches B high string at the 3rd fret of the B string
2. Tuning the Dobro to an electronic tuner. This is the method I recommend to all beginners since it's the easiest approach and the most accurate approach. There are a variety of tuners available on the market. Be sure to get one that will work for Dobro....such as a Korg GA-20.
Most electronic tuners have an automatic mode where the user can see both an LCD readout depicting a needle that centers when properly tuned and the note being played. There are usually LEDs that also give a green or red light depending on whether you've reached the designated note. I highly recommend that all beginners have an electronic tuner as a reference. This is also considerate to others who have to listen to you practice. When you're accurately tuned, it's difficult to hit a sour note.