Cajun Lap Steel 1950s . Questions about Reno Waltz by Lawrence Walker

[Jim Tillman]

Hello.. i am new to the forum. (i hope this question is ok and in the right topic area)

this song features 2 steel guitar breaks. maybe a console or a lap steel..

any ideas what tunings were used for Cajun music in the 1950s in this style?

Reno Waltz · Lawrence Walker

https://youtu.be/yQhGvztcq0A?si=fsFZv7nqbkAF5Wxc&t=48

any idea who the steel player was?


thanks, JImmie T.

[Glenn Wilde]

Sounds like High bass G or Dobro tuning, played in C.

[Matt Haney]

Yep, and Cajun steel players of that era would often have a hi G on top - Sounds like that's the case on this cut. Could be Al Foreman? I believe his son Dale is a forum member. I think Dick Richard, and probably others also played with Lawrence Walker. Cajun steel players
(and forum members) Marty Broussard, David Higginbotham, Danny Cormier might know!

[Joe Burke]

Love these cajun tunes!
Marty Broussard has posted about tunings for cajun music.
I tool a lesson from cajun steel guitar Hall of Famer Junior Martin and he said to have a G on top. I used an 8 string steel of his, and while I don't remember the lowest string the other 7 were: (hi to low) GDBGDBG.

I wish I lived close enough to take more lessons from him!

Joe