Perspective of a new player

[Slide-OZ]

I finally got serious with my steel during the last few months. I wanted to share some observations and get some inputs.

It's taken me some time to make sense of the instrument and find some chords and scales that I can use. I've devised a learning aid that helps me make sense of most of the other teaching materials and tabs I can find. It helps to "organize" the steel in my mind.

Jamming with other musicians: A non-steel guitarist can "follow" the band pretty easily. He can use that nano second to register the changes and fit right in if he doesn't know the song or isn't that quick. A steeler, I believe, needs to know the chord changes by heart so he can work the transitions which are crucial to the sound of the guitar. He may even only resolve to the chord on the last beat of the chord, so a lot of anticipation is needed.

The steeler seems to "fly above" and "all around" the song whereas the other instruments seem to lock down the basic structure of the song. To achieve "that sound" on a steel requires the player to be a lot more connected with the music. It's a challenging instrument and I wish I had another life in which to master it.

I'd be curious to get some feedback on my teaching aid. Let me know if anyone wants to see it and I can email it to you. It is a pdf file.

Shoes: Less is more. I can do nothing with cowboy boots. They put too much rigidity into my ankles, though having some heel is nice. I just lower my pedals as far as I can and play in slippers (with a firm sole) or sneakers. Sometimes my heal gets hung up on the chair leg.

Youtube videos: Useful, but why are they so often shot "upside down"? I note that most videos which teach songs are not note-for-note.

Any thoughts from other new steel players?

[Michael Hummel]

Hey Slide:

I am a new player (8 months) and would very much like to see your learning aid. I joined a new band approximately a year ago, and I am playing 6-string guitar, piano, and organ, as well as pedal steel. This means I have to divide my time between learning all the parts for the tunes as well as learning to play the steel.

I really agree with your observation about steel vs. the other instruments. When we are learning a new song, if I don't know the song very well I can always make it work okay on guitar or keys, but I don't stand a chance on pedal steel.

I'm also doing harmony vocals, and the absolute hardest thing for me is playing steel and singing on a new song. I'm trying to follow the lead vocalist's phrasing while thinking ahead in the chord progression to figure out the steel patterns.

Luckily for me, my bandmates are thrilled to have the pedal steel added to the band and they have been very patient!

Cheers,
Mike

[Slide-OZ]

Please go ahead and send me a personal if you would like a copy of my charts. I can then reply with the attachments. Best regards,

Slide

[Marc Friedland]

Hi Slide –

I can appreciate what you’re experiencing – I have a different perspective I’d like to share.

I had played 6-string Guitar, Keyboards & Bass Guitar for almost 30 years before starting on the Pedal Steel Guitar almost 20 years ago.

And yes I can hear & anticipate most typical chord changes used in Country, Pop or Rock music close to instantly.

In the scenario you present of jamming with other musicians / or if sitting in with a band when not knowing the particular song being played – I believe it’s just as easy if not perhaps even easier to (jam) on the Pedal Steel.
For a number of reasons actually – one of the primary ones is:
From the Pedal Steel perspective I can sit & listen to an entire Verse & Chorus before coming in and during that time I’m memorizing the changes and also listening to the Singer & Lead Guitar player to get a good grasp on the melody of the song & the attitude of the music. This will also allow me to make educated guesses as to what types of fills and embellishments to use and how to approach taking a solo if asked to do so. This luxury isn’t always available to the Lead Guitar & Keyboards because they’re often required to know every signature riff known to man since the beginning of time and also to pretty much be playing something during the whole song.
Even if the band leader says “Hey, can you kick this off on the steel?” simply ask the bass player what key the song is in & what the chords to the intro are & away you go.

And I believe that once you have more playing time with live bands under your belt with the Pedal Steel you’ll probably find ways of playing and “staying safe” until it’s time for you to make a more noticeable contribution to the music.

I absolutely agree that knowing in advance what section of the song and what chords are coming up next certainly allows you to create a more well-balanced picture with your music and being able to weave in & out is one of the magical elements of the Pedal Steel.

Check out my website if you get a chance – there’s plenty of free instructional material for pedal steelers and I think you’ll find many of the various scales charts to be user friendly. Let me know what you think…

www.PedalSteelGuitarMusic.com

-- Marc

[Ken Metcalf]

A good way to learn is to hang with some steel players for some one on one lessons.
It is tough to reinvent the wheel on PSG.
I give lessons and take lessons living in Steel guitar Mecca.
Austin has loads of people giving lesson one on one.
Let me know if there is any thing I can do for you.

Ken Metcalf
Austin Steel Guitar Co-op

[Slide-OZ]

Thank you everyone. I need to soak in as much PSG as I can this week, as I start a new job on the 18th. And then not as much time will I have. Hanging with players is the right idea, if I can squeeze it in.

OK, and I'm testing my signature file here....Thanks for sharing the policy with me.

[Lane Gray]

I stopped at the second paragraph, but shall return to finish rereading.
The dichotomy between steel and non-steel you note comes only from having less familiarity with steel. The melody will ALMOST always telegraph the next chord (the only reliable exception: nearly anything from Journey. their stuff only SOUNDS normal: they harmonize the melody like nobody else)
If you can find the Flying Fish CD "Slidin Smoke" from Mike Auldridge and Jeff Newman, the four tracks entitled "Smoke 1/2/3/4" were all done with one of the two playing rhythm guitar in changes they made up on the spot, seeing if one could follow the other .
You just need seat time. For me, a pedal steel is easier to play than my dobro or Tele. I have to think about how to put the notes in my head onto a guitar or dobro neck: on the steel, they slow seamlessly from my brain to the amp. I think the notes and they come out the speaker. The sumbitch just plays itself. It took me a long time to teach it to do that.

EDIT: The pedals et c. actually allow you MORE freedom in playing unfamiliar songs: If you hit a clam and are listening enough (and have enough knowledge, either technical or practical) to determine the nature of your error, you can use the changes to resolve to the right chord. Practice your "I meant to do that, it's jazz" face.
If playing unfamiliar tunes at all on any instrument gives you confusion, you need more music exposure.
If playing unfamiliar tunes on a steel gives you confusion, you need more seat time. Or possibly this ain't the instrument that speaks to your soul.
I second the face to face lessons idea

[Mark van Allen]

On jamming, there are two caveats; ear training and knowing your instrument. While there are shortcuts to both, time on the bandstand is key.
If you know and get confident with several positions for the harmonized scale on steel, and can hear basic chord changes as they go by, you should be able to make meaningful contributions to the flow of the tune, and land on the proper chords when you can hear them. Much classic steel playing is the "answer" to a call-and-answer interplay with the lead vocal or other melody line, so you can be just a smidge behind in sussing out the chords and still play nice fills.
Take note of where specifically you tend to get lost in chord progressions or songs and re-examine that in your practice time.
It gets easier!

[Lane Gray]

One other suggestion: quit trying to play triads.
Nearly all the bigwigs only play two notes at a time. It is much easier to make a diad fit than a triad, ESPECIALLY when you guessed wrong

[Dick Sexton]

"Nearly all the bigwigs only play two notes at a time." Right...

I'd rather know harmonized and not know the song the band was playing, then to know the song and not know harmonized scales.

Lets not forget single notes. One note in the right place, at the right time, played correctly for the song, is pure gold.

Knowing how to fill on the fly, is a good way to keep working. Knowing when to fill helps...

[Jim Pitman]

I think a lot of what you are saying is music genre related.
I may be out of line here and over simplifying but most guitarist (rock) over rely on that pentatonic scale, whereby you find the root and then play a specific positional fingered pattern on the neck. You can play that damn thing over anything and not sound too out of place. This is especially beneficial in a jam situation.
Now the PSG seems to be more of a modal instrument whereby you structure a melody relating closely to the chord progression. The major 3rd is not only allowed in the genre of music that you hear the PSG in, it is encouraged.
I finally taught myself that typical pentatonic pattern on the steel guitar out necessity after being picked up by a blues/motown/rock band. (whatever you do, don't play the major third)
It's there, find it and overuse it, just like your jam band buddies do until you get more comfortable with the music and the instrument.
Shoes - I agree. I can only play in these cheesy slip ons, ie either sketchers or boat shoes.

[Brett Lanier]

Jamming with other musicians: A non-steel guitarist can "follow" the band pretty easily. He can use that nano second to register the changes and fit right in if he doesn't know the song or isn't that quick. A steeler, I believe, needs to know the chord changes by heart so he can work the transitions which are crucial to the sound of the guitar. He may even only resolve to the chord on the last beat of the chord, so a lot of anticipation is needed.

I'd rather be playing pedal steel in those situations. Especially E9. There are so many practical ways to move to the next chord with that tuning, and if all you have is an educated guess, that is usually enough to come up with something creative that will sound good. To me, the E9 tuning's best attribute is its ability to voice lead through related or diatonic chord changes. Of course a new player would have a hard time seeing that, but it's something to look forward to.

[Slide-OZ]

Thanks, everyone. I think that ear training is very key for me. I have been playing, writing and even recording music for about 25 years, but there has been inconsistency and gaps. Sometimes (I'm embarrassed to admit) I play a IV when I should be playing V. That's pretty bad. My ear just needs a strong refresh.

There is so much for me to work on: hitting clean notes, blocking. Hopefully I'm not getting too far ahead of myself here...

[Bob Fraser]

Hello Slide-Oz
Another more or less beginner here.

Your comment about Youtube videos, "Useful, but why are they so often shot "upside down"? struck a note with me.

When I first started looking up videos I thought the same thing. After all, if you were learning piano from someone, you would probably be seated BESIDE them, not across from them.

So with apologies to great video teachers like Mickey Adams, I simply spun the laptop around (i.e.upside down) on the TV table beside me, to make the video "right side up" from my perspective, and in essence I was sitting beside him.

Like I said in the title, don't laugh, it works for me.

bob

[Daniel Policarpo]

I am a new player ,too. Going on about 6 months. Everybody learns differently, but there is no better practice than playing with other instruments. Find a guitar player friend,hopefully somebody who can sing, and just work stuff out together.

I practice in cowboy boots. They are my everyday footwear, so they are very comfortable. I also want to be able to play in what will eventually be worn on stage. I don't think many people pay too close attention to what a pedal steeler is wearing, but I am one of those people that appreciate a band that dresses up, or down, as the case may be. Also, I find the heel of a cowboy boot provides a great pivot point for pedal positioning. My boots are not stiff at all, lots of flex, and I find I have more precision. Again everyone is different. But sneakers , I find are the worst, at least modern style sneakers that have so much padding everywhere. I like feeling the pedals, which I can see why slippers and socks are preferable for a lot of players.

[Slide-OZ]

Jim-

The first time I heard a major 3rd was in Winterlong by Neil Young. I really enjoy Ben Keith's part in that song. This is the version on Decade that was recorded sometime around the "On The Beach" sessions but remained unreleased for a while. Not the more recently released version by Crazy Horse. It was an eye opener. The chord was an Emajor, or probably an E7.

True, you can't go for that in a blues song.

[Slide-OZ]

I love the recommendation for more "seat time" and it was nice to see that folks didn't go for the more genre compatible "saddle time" even though that would be more appropriate for a bicycle....

Anyway, I got a bunch of seat time this morning. I really need it for my intonation and pedal work anyway.

Wish I could find some slippers with a bit more heel on them My ankle mobility isn't great. It's hard for me to raise my toes high enough while keeping my heel on the ground (something I try to work on, even at the gym). I often lift up my heel. Is that bad form?

[Bud Angelotti]

Maybe your pedals need adjusting so it's easier on your ankles? Do a search on here for pedal adjustment. Maybe experiment with that as it won't cost you anything except some time.

[Slide-OZ]

Thanks Bud. I've already lowered the pedals as much as I can...Time to go after the next lowest hanging fruit

[Tucker Jackson]

Yes, a heel might help the situation you describe. Like you, I find it hard to keep my foot cocked in the hovering position for extended periods when not wearing some kind of heel and I learned as a newbie with chunky Doc Martens... probably the last thing others would suggest but they worked better than any other style of shoe for me. It's a personal ergonomic thing, so find what works for you regardless of what others do. After playing a few years, you'll still prefer one style, but will probably be able to play in any shoe.

Keeping your heel on the floor will give you much more control over your pedal work. For example, note how much harder it is to slowly squeeze a pedal down in a smooth, even fashion with your heel off of the floor as compared to having it anchored. Maybe if you get those pedals as low as possible and wear a heel you'll have no problem keeping your heel on the floor.

[Eugene Cole]

The one thing I tell all people starting on any type of Steel or fretted instrment is to learn to use all of your fingers to pick with.

Many beginners do not use their pinky in the beginning and it becomes a habit.

The other obvious thing is to use the search feature here on the SGF; and to never be affraid to ask a question if you can not find an answer. Sometimes even the conflicting answers (when well written) are both good answers and nuances are a learning experience.

[Slide-OZ]

There is a video on youtube of Neil Young playing "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" with his band including the great Ben Keith. Ben does use his little finger, though in an interesting way. He does not wear a pick on it and he always just extends it out straight, but during this song, he was using it to soft pick the #1 string. Interesting.

[Ronnie Boettcher]

If your using a shoe, or slipper, and want to raise your heel to compensate a shoe, or boot with a heel, Throw a small piece of plywood behind the pedals. Try a 1/2", 5/8",or 3/4" thick piece. It works!!! Problem solved

[Slide-OZ]

Ronnie.....hmmm...I found an old unused 3/4 in thick piece of shelving in the bathroom and placed it under my left heel. It's a bit early to declare total victory, but by the feel of things, I think this is going to work out very well for me. I can already sense some improvement in pedal control facilitated by my ability to keep my heel on the ground most of the time now.

Thanks, friend!

[Bud Angelotti]

A piece of wood on the floor - Way to go! Adapt - Overcome