Lapsteel technique advice needed

[Vindellama]

I've noticed that when playing 2 adjacent strings at the same time with the thumb and index finger, the string played by the index gets muted.
It only happens when the strings are being pressed by the slide bar, and it doesn't seem that the thumb pick is touching the adjacent string.
What is the issue here?

[frankmcr]

Possibly the thumb, after striking its own string, is continuing toward the string your index is picking and touching it just enough to mute?

[Vindellama]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

Possibly the thumb, after striking its own string, is continuing toward the string your index is picking and touching it just enough to mute?

Don't think so...
It doesn't happens when playing open strings, only when pressing down with the slide bar.

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by Vindellama

Don't think so...
It doesn't happens when playing open strings, only when pressing down with the slide bar.

Has to be a bar technique problem then. Maybe unconsciously lifting one end of the bar just enough so the indexpicked string is muted?

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Vindellama

I've noticed that when playing 2 adjacent strings at the same time with the thumb and index finger, the string played by the index gets muted.
It only happens when the strings are being pressed by the slide bar, and it doesn't seem that the thumb pick is touching the adjacent string.
What is the issue here?

Are you playing lap steel or using "lap steel technique" on a guitar that has a radiused fretboard? If it's the later then the bar may not be making even contact with the outer strings, thereby muting will be a problem.

True lap steels (especially if they are set up correctly) will have the tops of all strings in the same plane.

[LyleGorch]

Does the thumbpick strike the index picked string? How about when you just pick single notes with your index finger, rings clear? Does it work okay with say the 2nd and 4th string? It’s gotta be your picks touching the string.

[Vindellama]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Are you playing lap steel or using "lap steel technique" on a guitar that has a radiused fretboard? If it's the later then the bar may not be making even contact with the outer strings, thereby muting will be a problem.

True lap steels (especially if they are set up correctly) will have the tops of all strings in the same plane.

Nope... It's on a weissenborn. All the strings are leveled.

[Vindellama]

Originally Posted by LyleGorch

Does the thumbpick strike the index picked string? How about when you just pick single notes with your index finger, rings clear? Does it work okay with say the 2nd and 4th string? It’s gotta be your picks touching the string.

As stated... It doesn't happens when playing open strings. So I'm pretty sure the thumpick isn't striking the "index" one.
Unless picking adjacent barred strings everything is normal.
I'm puzzled...

[Vindellama]

Upon further inspection...
It does seems that the thumbpick is muting the other string.
I've tried to twist the pick and change the hand angle with little improvement.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Vindellama

Upon further inspection...
It does seems that the thumbpick is muting the other string.
I've tried to twist the pick and change the hand angle with little improvement.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi Vin,
Without your posting a video so that your technique can be viewed, a little conjecture is necessary. I started playing lap-style Dobro & lap steel in 1970, so it's something I'm familiar with.

The good news is that you notice, aurally, that something is not right.

Which 2 strings are you pinching when this problem occurs?

Regards,
Howard Emerson