The Steel Guitar Forum

I started playing Hawaiian pedal steel at 7 years old but quit around 14. That was in the mid 1960s. I played guitar as a finger picker from my early 20s. A few years ago I returned to pedal steel and found that though I knew little about modern pedal steel and how it worked, I had retained much of ...

I think in general, you will, over the years instinctively add blocks to your personal tricks. I know that I have blocks that I never think about that I probably developed long ago. I don't even think you develop some of them consciously. I have one block where I use my little finger to block a ring...

Don't think connecting to the Headset Jack will help since it's an output. I found that I don't need an input. My smart phone is sensitive enough that it easily picks up the sound even when the volume is OFF. My Android Pad holder is connected to the leg of the guitar. No issue tuning on stage. Stil...

You can't program your own tempered tunings. Yes, that would be cool to be able to program a positive offset in cents, but the only people who would need it is PSG Players and the occasional musician who purposely mistunes for artistic flair. (John Lennon did that) Don't know any other instrument th...

Has anyone tried this? I got this app for my Android. Put it on both my phone and my pad. It's called Pitch Lab Pro. It's only a few bucks and for another 99 cents (not requred) you get a huge instrument list (banjo, guitar;many open tunings; lap steel, violin, bazouki, etc,etc) and pedal steel incl...

Thanks Jim, This is why I used graphite. PTFE is the modern replacement for graphite and it actually has better lubricity and longer life. WD40 was the 40th experiment in water displacement. Good for lubricating rusted bicycle chains.

This is a chart that I used several years ago in a smaller version to help me learn PSG Pedal to Chord relations. It's a big help for me when trying to convert Text Chord music to PSG play. The conversion to JPG was a bit sloppy. Forgive me. This is the new recreation with pretty much all I know abo...

I just like the graphite because it doesn't collect dust. 3 in 1 oil is just a non detergent SAE 20 oil. 10 weight non detergent oil like Sewing Machine Oil might be preferable for the Nut Rollers and Changer lubrication.

I like to lift the nut roller and rod every year or so and dust the roller shaft with dry graphite. It doesn't create a residue and it doesn't attract dust.

Can't agree more. I think that is one of the most unique characters of the Pedal Steel. Players find their own niche, their own sound and their own character. I'm searching for sounds that are more generic and apply to a broader style of music. After inspecting my finger pick path, I've decided to t...

Yes, I do scrub the edges slightly but nothing noticeable. Perhaps I've just learned to compensate. I may try twisting the tips to get a little better alignment. A famous Opera Tenor during a certain Aria always walked to the rear window of the set. His blocking and choreography was noted and the mo...

Thanks. I didn't think of the alignment. I get my tips straight with full blocking on the right hand but I see your point. I think the fact that I played with straight picks at such a young age makes me compensate. Too many years. Don't think I'll change. Simply can't use the bent picks.

I use Dunlop SS finger picks and Golden Gate Pearlies with the anti rollover for thumb picks. I also like steel thumb picks for a brighter tone on the thumb but they seem to put nicks in the strings and accelerate strings wear. I have two questions. 1. How many use 4 picks with a pick on the ring fi...

I'm essentially a beginner here. Though I had childhood instruction, I just came back to pedal steel after a 45 year hiatus. I have an intimate feel for the instrument but my knowledge of licks, scales and chords is limited. It makes me sick that I have all these physical skills with the instrument ...

Don't worry, I took music for a year in college. I had introductory music theory at the college level and I was a vocalist at the time and didn't get it the first time. Don't get frustrated.

A Major triad is a combination of 2 whole step and 1 1/2 steps. EXAMPLE C E G A Minor triad is 1 1/2 steps and 2 steps. EXAMPLE A C E A diminished triad is two 1 1/2 step intervals together. Example: B D F or A C Eb An Augmented Chord is two 2 step intervals together. EXAMPLE C E G# or E G# B# The d...

Yes. I,IV,V but if you look at any given key, the number system makes the music transportable on the PSG. Any given major scale has 7 regular triad. These are 3 major chords, 3 minor chords and one diminished, the vii chord. Majors are noted as I, IV, V. The minors are ii,iii,and vi, the vii chord i...

I played Hawaiian pedal steel as a child with Harlin Brothers. When I started playing E9th a few years back I found that my top side skills, Blocks, bar handling, pick stops and foot coordination transferred. BUT.. What really gave me a leg up was a sound knowledge of Basic Music Theory, the relatio...

That is what I was looking for. I can see some of the compromises. My Uni has only the D on the second string and even though my experince with E9th is limited, I DO MISS that D on the 9th string. I can do a 3 raise but it is a long reach.

Thanks

I noticed that one. I've been studying a lot of U-12 Copedents including Reece Anderson., Jeff Newman, Zane King and others appropriate to my 7-5. Comparing them to Standard E-9 10 string Emmons setup and searching for similarities/variances. A curious study, I know but I'm learning a lot. Probably ...

Yes, I have a U-12 but I'm first trying to learn the E-9 portion of the U-12. Some of the knees move and other change or get merged with other functions. I've played E9 a little so comparing the copedents gives me a lot of insight by referencing the E9th portion of the instrument and learning the va...

I'm referring to a standard Emmons setup for E9 10 string. HERE > http://b0b.com/wp/?page_id=734 The A Pedal moves B on the 10 and 5 string to C# creating the major 3rd interval for the IV chord (A open) using the B pedal. No confusion here. To make the open E7th requires the addition of a minor 7th...

The double stop "D" knee lever lowers the 2nd string D# to D to produce the I7 or E7 chord in open position.

I think I've got that but what is the function of the C# on the 9th string and the 2nd string double stop?

b0b I found some answers on b0b.com. It was on the page containing Basic Theory of the Standard E9th Tuning by Bobby Lee. http://www.b0b.com/infoedu/e9theory.htm The second chart is what I was talking about. Very helpful chart for me. The second chart lists E9th Pedals and combinations for all 7 bas...

Thank you b0b. I was referring to the 11th interval not the chord, my bad. Thanks for the info. Niels Andrews: Zane King makes a lot of sense, yes. The guy I bought the instrument from is considering changing over to Zane King. Are you using the Zane King tuning currently? Replacing the B6 with a st...