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Beginner dobro lesson

Dobro Intonation: How to Play in Tune With the Bar

In this lesson Mark explains intonation and why it matters on a non-fretted instrument like the dobro. He checks his tuning, then plays a D chord at the seventh fret with good and bad intonation so you can hear how a small shift of the steel changes the sound.

Dobro Intonation Lesson: How to Align Your Slide and Play in Tune | Mark Lavengood

What you'll learn

• Why intonation is so important on a non-fretted instrument like the dobro
• How Mark double-checks his tuning before playing: G with the high D, B against G, then the octaves
• Where the D chord is: the seventh fret
• Why the bar has to be held absolutely parallel to the fret
• How to hear the difference between bad and good intonation

Step by step

1. Make sure the dobro is in tune. Mark pairs the third string G with the high D, checks the B against the G, then checks the B octaves and the G octaves.
2. Go to the seventh fret, which is a D chord.
3. Hold the bar absolutely parallel to the fret and listen for the harmonies to sit in place.
4. If it sounds a little wonky, shift the steel slightly until it goes from bad to good.

In Mark's words

“Intonation is an imperative element of playing music in general, but especially any non-fretted instrument, like the dobro, or the resonator guitar.”

“If you're not holding your bar absolutely parallel to the fret, then it'll sound a little wonky.”

“All I had to do was just shift my steel a little bit and it goes from bad to good.”

Coming from lap steel or new to lap-style slide? See what carries over to the dobro.

Questions

What is intonation on dobro?

Intonation is how in tune your notes are as you play. Mark calls it an imperative element of playing music, especially on a non-fretted instrument like the dobro or resonator guitar.

Why does my dobro sound out of tune when I play with the bar?

Mark says that if you're not holding your bar absolutely parallel to the fret, it will sound a little wonky. Shifting the steel just a little can take it from bad to good.

Where is the D chord on a dobro?

In this lesson Mark plays the D chord at the seventh fret.

Should I check my tuning before practicing intonation?

Yes. Mark first makes sure the guitar is in tune, checking the G against the high D, the B against the G, and then the B and G octaves.

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