trying to improve my Volume pedal use..

John Burton · From: Manassas, Va

I'm a rank newbie to Pedal Steel. I've played lap steels for a few years before, but most times then I didn't use a volume pedal.
Now I'm practicing and enjoying my new pedal steel and one of the biggest problems I'm having is getting nice, smooth volume pedal control.
I either swell and pump way too much, or else my right foot get thrown off when using my left foot pedals..etc..BTW I'm using a Ernie Ball VP jr...not the greatest, I know..but should be good enough, right?
Any words of wisdom on the subject? Practice ideas?
Or is it just something that comes with time?
How much volume pedal swell is too much? Should volume pedal be barely noticeable and only used for sustain?

Thanks!!!

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

I was told to not worry about it and it will come naturally with time. That turned out to be kinda true for me. I searched for practice excercises for the volume pedal but ever did find anything.

the other thing that was suggested often was to occasionally play without one. I guess the idea there is you gain control over your volume thru picking and blocking. but since youve played non pedal for a while you probably dont need a whole lotta work on that.

good luck.

Adam Moritz · From: Cedar Rapids, IA

great post! I'm also interested in this as I'm fairly new to the Pedal Steel. For me the biggest challenge is finding that volume level that keeps up the sustain. Though I think there are many factors that go into sustain, that's something that I work on regularly. I've been listening to a lot of recordings and paying attention to the difference in levels when there's a lead and then when there is phrasing between vocal parts. I wonder if there are lesson materials that cover this.

I'm wondering how hilton or goodrich pedals improve control. Maybe its the pots? Also, on a related note I wonder what the advantages are to the low-profile models.
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Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I know guys who can really play, but their volume pedal overuse makes them sound amateurish. Absolutely do practice without one! You will learn alot about how to create natural sustain. When you do play with one, try to concentrate on not pumping the VP whenever you pick a note or chord. It will save on pot life too! Your sound really is in your hands!

Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

I was told to learn to play without a volume pedal. By softening the touch of the pick action. As Ben said it will come natually.
I to have heard good players that over use the VP.
BD
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Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Set your volume pedal under your guitar, but plug your guitar straight into your amp. Train yourself to play without pumping the volume pedal this way, and then you won't be so apt to do it when it's plugged in.

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Spoken another way. How would you ever learn to use the volume pedal, if indeed, you practiced without using it.

That statement is pure silly.

Use it only for sustain, later on you will find other uses for it. But at first, pick a note and as the note is dying out, constantly add a bit more pedal to it. After a while, it will become second nature to you, and you don't even realize it's there at all.

Like anything else, it's not how many years someone has been playing that counts, it's the amount of seat time during those years that really counts.

Practice, makes perfect. Nothing else will, and surely, trying to learn how to use something by NOT using it, is against all odds of ever becoming proficient in playing anything........ Don

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Im a relatively new player and can relate to your issue.
I took lessons for a while last summer and the teacher never used a VP.
After listening to steelradio.com a lot Ive noticed that many songs do not have a lot of VP action going on. Its mostly on the slower ballads where that cryin sound is created by picking with VP up and swelling the notes as the VP is pushed down.

Practicing without a VP is good for your overall playing, but does nothing for your VP ability. I think a lot of players dont use the VP as an effect always, and more as a general level control. Half on for comping during verses, then more for the ride.

VP ability does take practice, and so to improve your VP technique, try those cryin sound swells. Your ears ultimately will tell you when its right. Try using the volume swell at the beginning of each bar on beat 1 as you play to a metronome or track music. Then alter it to beat 3. Then try 1 and 3, 2 and 4, and every beat as alternatives. Part of the trick is getting the swell timing right, as you need to pick a little ahead of the beat to swell in on time. Practice with a metronome is good any way you do it!

Clete

David Wright · From: Pilot Point ,Tx USA.

You should look at the volume pedal as a Expression pedal, because it's part of the whole playing plan, to use the pedal is just as important as all the other things that comes in to playing this thing... Oh Well

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Here's a YouTube video that might be helpful.
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Craig Allen · From: BEREA, KENTUCKY, USA

OK.. ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, MY STEEL PLAYER AT THE TIME. (HARRY GUFFE), SHOWED UP AT THE GIG WITH A BRAND NEW EMMONS, AND NO VOLUME PEDAL.. SEEMS HE HAD LEFT IT HOME BY MISTAKE.. IT WAS THE BEST HE HAD EVER PLAYED, AND SOUNDED..

TAKE A 9 VOLT BATTERY.. PLACE IT ON THE FLOOR, BEHIND THE VP, SO THAT THE BATTERY WILL STOP YOU FROM TURNING OFF THE GUITAR.. THIS WILL KEEP YOU FROM USING THE VP TO COVER UP MISTAKES..

ALSO.. SKUNK BAXTER ONCE SAID THAT RECORDING ENGINEERS LIKED HIM, BECAUSE HE COULD GIVE THEM A STEADY V.U...
WELL, JUST THIINK ABOUT THAT.. I DO, EVERY TIME I RECORD.. AND I READ THAT IN A GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE BACK IN THE LATE 70's..

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I've ALWAYS tho't of my foot volume pedal......
as an ON and OFF switch.

To set it up, I turn the amp volume to "OFF" or "0".

I then place the foot volume pedal to full "ON".
(The guitar being plugged into the foot pedal and thence to the amp.)

I next increase the amp volume in small increments until I find the perfect ROOM VOLUME that I desire by picking the guitar strings just like I was playing my favorite song....perhaps 4, 5 or 6 or something like that.

THEN, with my right foot, I reduce the volume on the foot pedal what might be about to 2 or 3 numbers on the amp knob. Once positioned there, that becomes my NEUTRAL FOOT VOLUME PEDAL POSITION. I try to have my right foot PERFECTLY BALANCED with the arch of my foot just about at the middle of the foot pad, so it will function smartly, like a teeter-totter.

Always start with your foot volume at that same position and plan on ending up at the same point. If you mess up, pop your heel DOWN and it's over. Then easily and promptly return it to that earlier neutral, centered position.

If you're playing a melody and require MORE VOLUME just carefully rock your right foot forward or down in front......to obtain the exact amount of sustain volume that you desire.

OTHER WISE..........LEAVE THAT PEDAL ALONE!!!!

Don't allow yourself the occasion to start pumping that pedal like some kind of an olde pump organ.

It is not there to be fidgeted with while your playing. LEAVE IT ALONE. USE IT ONLY WHEN YOU NEED IT.

It's like teaching flying. Some folks simply are incapable of leaving the control wheel ALONE. They constantly have to roll it right then left then right. They induce airsickness/motion sickness by this unnecessary action. Put the pedal where you need it then FORGET IT!

Most here will likely disagree with me but I tho't it was just possible it might prove to be of some help you.

Michael Dulin · From: Indiana, USA

Great input so far. One thing I'd suggest when you're ready to use the pedal...keep the volume [pregain] on a low setting and use the forward part of the pedal. This way you will get a much better control of the volume swell. With the amp volume set high the pedal will be much too sensitive to change and thus harder to control. MD

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

All things come with time and practice.

At first it's just another one of them things that you have to worry about, keep track of, and take "brain time" away from what's going on at the fretboard.

One day, whilst playing a tune, you're gonna use the pedal to add your own feeling and expression, and you want to be aware of that when it happens. It's a great thing.

John Burton · From: Manassas, Va

Great replies!
Thanks all.
I like your advice Mr. Montee, I definetly plan on taking it.
I was definetly over thinking it and way over using it.
Today I practiced with my foot on it, but conciously kept from moving it at all.
I'll keep at it.
again, thanks all!

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