steel guitar
noun
plural steel guitars
: any of various electric or acoustic stringed instruments (such as the Hawaiian guitar, the pedal steel, or the lap steel) that feature a metal resonator or that are played by moving a rigid object (such as a steel or glass bar) against plucked strings
steel guitarist
noun
plural steel guitarists
Examples of steel guitar in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This gorgeous ballad brims with aching fiddle and is slathered in steel guitar, while her collaborators — Country Music Hall of Fame members Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs — are no slouches, either.
—
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2023
In response, artists like Strait, Reba, and Randy Travis led a neo-traditional wave, defined by a return to a rootsy western sound (swaying songs full of fiddle and steel guitar) and flaunting your country bonafides.
—Vulture, 18 Sep. 2023
With a steel guitar, the string spacing is very, very narrow.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Aug. 2023
Along with the Brauns and Nazz, Reckless’ current makeup includes Joe Miller on bass guitar and Geoff Queen on steel guitar.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 2022
The song mixes piano with steel guitar and an electric guitar that blends Bridges and Lambert’s musical styles. Bridges and Lambert recorded and released the track through Lambert’s Vanner Records label.
—Tommy Cummings, Dallas News, 7 June 2023
Sticky melodies and lovelorn lyrics, however, are what really bind all the steel guitars and rave synths together.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 5 June 2023
Accompanied with a steel guitar, Tongi’s talents were all on full display – control, tone, warmth.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 2 May 2023
One of the most beloved gospel songs of all time, it has been recorded by Mahalia Jackson, Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, among many others, and as an instrumental piece on organ, piano, saxophone, violin, Fender Telecaster, steel guitar and musical saw.
—Robert Marovich, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022
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Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2023
In response, artists like Strait, Reba, and Randy Travis led a neo-traditional wave, defined by a return to a rootsy western sound (swaying songs full of fiddle and steel guitar) and flaunting your country bonafides.
—Vulture, 18 Sep. 2023
With a steel guitar, the string spacing is very, very narrow.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Aug. 2023
Along with the Brauns and Nazz, Reckless’ current makeup includes Joe Miller on bass guitar and Geoff Queen on steel guitar.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 2022
The song mixes piano with steel guitar and an electric guitar that blends Bridges and Lambert’s musical styles. Bridges and Lambert recorded and released the track through Lambert’s Vanner Records label.
—Tommy Cummings, Dallas News, 7 June 2023
Sticky melodies and lovelorn lyrics, however, are what really bind all the steel guitars and rave synths together.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 5 June 2023
Accompanied with a steel guitar, Tongi’s talents were all on full display – control, tone, warmth.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 2 May 2023
One of the most beloved gospel songs of all time, it has been recorded by Mahalia Jackson, Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, among many others, and as an instrumental piece on organ, piano, saxophone, violin, Fender Telecaster, steel guitar and musical saw.
—Robert Marovich, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steel guitar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1910, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near steel guitar
Cite this Entry
“Steel guitar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steel%20guitar. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
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