Teaching Pedal Steel

Sam Lewis · From: Conway, Arkansas, USA

O.K., here's the deal - I have a new student that:
1. Is 42 years old
2. His girlfriend bought him a Carter Starter
3. He is left handed - the Carter is RH model
4. Does not know one note of music

He's a super nice fellow and has a desire to play the PSG far greater than anyone I have ever met.

Now, I'm going to try to teach him how to play this great instrument but would like some input from you guys and gals. I have great respect for the expertise that abounds on this forum.
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Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

If there's any way to keep him on the right handed path, as a lefty myself, I HIGHLY recommend doing so!
Does he play 6 string left handed already ? If not, just get him started on the guitar he's got! His future options for buying, selling, or borrowing pedal steels will be greatly improved. Not to mention all tab etc. will be backwards.

Sam Lewis · From: Conway, Arkansas, USA

Thanks, Rick. My feelings exactly. Since I don't have to "unteach" him my job will be easier. Thanks again, this is the input that will be of great benifit to me.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

You might remind him that no one plays a left-handed piano. Both hands need to develop dexterity and there's no reason why he shouldn't be able to do that on steel (though, of course, it will probably not come as naturally and quickly). If he doesn't quite buy that, you could mention violins, cellos, trumpets, saxophones, etc, etc., etc. All the same, regardless of your handedness.
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Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

Jimbeaux, just what is it about playing PSG that comes naturally? Laughing

I'm not great steel player, in fact consider myself pretty much just a steel guitar owner, but I'm left handed. I was about as you described your new student, Sam.

Before I started on steel, I taught myself to read music notation and I read a couple of books on the very general and basics of scale and chord theory. That, and about 1-2 years of piano lessons. It's awkward at the start anyway. The only other things I do right handed are golf and computer mouse. All of these are things I never even tried left-handed.

I think typical lefthanders have more dexterity in their opposite hand than typical righthanders, because of the way the world is built.
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John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

As far as I'm concerned, any age is a good age to start playing the steel. And, to being a lefty.... he should probably be ambidextorous, anyway. I was born a natural lefty, but, I learned to play the six string guitar "rightfully". When I started to play the steel, it just seemed right to play it "rightfully". I wasn't aware they made lefty steels, custom, that is, anyway. Teach him to play like most of us do, left hand bar, right hand picks. It'll be a lot cheaper in the long run if he really gets into it and wants to upgrade to a pro model. Normal steels are for sale, all the time. The lefty's are few and far between.

Ron Epperson · From: Riverside,Calif. U.S.A.

as a left hander music does come from the heart but anyway have him exercise his right thum index and mid finger as much as he can just try to keep moving all fingers

J D Sauser · From: Wellington, Florida

If the student has not played any guitar type intstrument, given the fact that BOTH hands, feet and knees are being used, I think it might still be worth while to give it a shot.

If my memory serves me well, Lloyd Green would only be ONE of two well known LEFT handed steel guitarists playing a "right handed" guitar.

... J-D.
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Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"

A Little Mental Health Warning:

Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.

I say it humorously, but I mean it.

Ron Epperson · From: Riverside,Calif. U.S.A.

i think you r right it should be easy to teach someone who dosent have bad habits but excerise the right hand is still the best right hand technique is the key to playing psg

Sam Lewis · From: Conway, Arkansas, USA

Thanks to all of you for your input. I have had the honor of teaching a lot of stuff on both guitar and steel in the 65 years I have been playing but I think this will be the most rewarding if I can pull it off. For a guy that won't buy green bananas for fear I won't have time to eat them, this is some project.

Gregg Laiben · From: Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Don Hinkle · From: Springfield Illinois, USA

Sorry to be a debbie downer here, but I couldn't imagine trying to teach anyone pedal steel with the student not having any prior musical knowledge.

You must be a very patient man!

I am sure it could be done, but it seems like a pretty complicated venture!

Best of luck,
Don
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Robert Harper · From: Alabama, USA

I started late, not as late as this student. As has been stated, it is going to be awkward no matter what he does. I recommend he just start and see where it goes. The more music and the less tab the better, especially since CDs are way easier to use the tapes when I started. I don't gig out I have alway had a steady day job. As I have gotten wiser and older, I have figured out that I did not miss anything in smoky old bar rooms. As they say now just do it and don't listen to any criticism from those that have never sat in fron of the contraption called steel guitar. His girlfriend has taste. He shpuld be Okay
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Sam Lewis · From: Conway, Arkansas, USA

Again, let me thank all of you for your input. We have had three sessions together and, so far, he seems grasp things pretty fast He has a degree in electronics and is maintenance superintendent at a major manufacturing company in Little Rock. This won't make him a steel player but at least he can be taught. It's going to be a fun ride.
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Fred Shannon · From: Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.

Samuel, don't forget this is your second student who was left handed. Remember I'm one and you taught me a lot and I still play right handed, even standard guitar. You can do it brother. Laughing

phred
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Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

My teaching instinct would be to start with the thumb. Play one note at the 3rd fret,preferably the 8th string,until it sounds right. That way he can concentrate on holding the bar correctly and and begin the long process of using his right hand comfortably. Next, have the student play strings 8,7,6,8 one at a time. When he realizes these notes are the beginning of a very familiar song he will have have officialy moved from 0 to 0.5 in his journey. A 50% improvement in knowledge and skill. As for his age remind him how young he is. Very Happy

Don D

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

You probably know this already. But in teaching anybody anything from scratch, it is very important to emphasize the fundamentals from the very beginning. I would start with several very simple songs in the most basic key to E9 pedal steel (I'm assuming the guitar is an E9) in the key considered fundamental to E9 using only the 3 basic chords (I-IV-V7) along with the major scale for that key. Use these exercises to work on intonation and smooth blocking technique and etc. Then transpose everything to every key. I think that should lay a foundation without being too boring.
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Sam Lewis · From: Conway, Arkansas, USA

Hey, Phred, I had forgotten that you are left-handed. Boy, it's good to hear from you. Been reading about the PSG in West Texas. Man, how I would love to set down and jam with you again, However, age creeps up on us and we can't do things like we could "back when". As the old saying goes, "The older I get, the better I was." All the best to you and Dovie.

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · From: Southaven, MS, USA

Recently I received an order from Germany (for my album The Doctor of Steel) from a man who plays a pedal steel with a full complement of pedals and levers: He is blind! Adaptation and motivation are of paramount importance.

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

This sounds like a job that can be accomplished. Even being left handed in our world he has to do a lot of things right handed in this right handed world. Does he type, use a computer with both hands or shoot firearms with his right hand. Can or does he play golf or swing a ball bat right handed? If he has not played music you have a clean slate to write your messages on. Teaching someone with no experience you have no bad habits to break. Us right handed people play a regular guitar and do all the noting with our left. He may have to work harder to get his fingers to do grips or patterns. If He wants to play, has good music ears and good hands, good timing he should do great. Good Luck and Happy Steelin

Don Hinkle · From: Springfield Illinois, USA

James Mudge · From: Nashua, New Hampshire, USA

I'm 56, left handed and never played any music before. Is that three strikes against me? I don't think so. I'm learning to play right handed, which doesn't seem to be an impediment. So I'm going slow, taking a lesson every now and then, using some tabs and Winnie Winston's and Scotty's books. There are some very good players in the Boston/Southern NH area that have been very encouraging. So I'm having some fun learning and my family hasn't complained too much. What could be better?

One of my goals to to be able to play Happy Birthday for my mother's 90th birthday celebration this July. Anybody have tabs for that?
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Sam Lewis · From: Conway, Arkansas, USA

You people are the greatest and I thank you. Will be giving my student a lesson in about 2 hours and it will be easier, thanks to you. My thanks to Mr. Ron Field over in Stillwater, OK for words of encouragement over the phone. I had never met him but that's the kind of folks we have on the forum.
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SL D-10, SL U-12,SL SD-10, Custom Tele w/B bender, Steel King, TC300 Effects, Goodrich H-10K pedal, Fender V/T Pedal, Hilton Pedal Elite seat.

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