fretboard Patterns

[Jeff Metz Jr.]

I am looking for a Diagram of sorts that will show some of the many "Patterns" and "Pockets" on the E9th fretboard. I am looking to learn some good licks and how to visualize them on the steel, As I do with a regular guitar. Does anyone have a good link to something along these lines? Thanks a bunch.
-Jeff

[Mark van Allen]

It sort of depends on what kind of basic "sound" you're wanting to make pockets around- just as on six string, they can be minor or major, full 7 note scales, pentatonics, modes…

Respectfully, I'll suggest that one of the best things you can do is pick a "sound", say, major pentatonic in A, and draw or print up a blank fretboard and fill in the dots where every note appears on the neck with no pedals, again with pedals down, and with the B pedal and E's lowered, to start. You'll see patterns just popping out, and if you apply the concept of which strings are moved (and to what degree) by pedals and levers, you'll find patterns for days. And some of them will be your own invention. Plus, it's a blast.

[chris ivey]

i imagine most beginning steel courses would have this sort of stuff.
also, there are probably hundreds of examples on youtube.

[Lane Gray]

Because of the closely spaced tuning and the pedals, the "shapes" that guitar pickers find aren't really on the neck. We either (mostly) go across the neck at the same fret or up and down the neck on the same strings.
So the "patterns" are either back and forth or up and down.

[Paul Sutherland]

The more I play the more patterns I find. I have been toying with the idea for another instruction video wherein the emphasis is what I would call the two fret rule.

From wherever you are there is a usable note (scale tone) not more than two frets away. The goal is to learn where you can move the bar that is only one or two frets away.

Take each string or combination of strings and go up and down the neck locating the notes of whatever scale you are working out of. Use pedals and levers as you do this. I'm finding this works on virtually all strings, even 1 & 2, and 9 & 10 of the E9 neck. It would probably work on C6th as well, but I'm no authority on the C6th neck.

If you add in chromatic notes (notes not in the scale), you find passing tones on every single fret. That may seem to defeat the purpose of learning patterns. But I have no problem playing the patterns and just adding those chromatic notes. Of course, occasionally I get lost.

Then play along with a track, or even just a drone, and find those notes (positions) that are points of resolution (the tonic, third, fifth) versus those notes (positions) that only sound good when passing through. Experiment starting and ending licks on the points of resolution.

Then add in the flat 7th interval. Then start experimenting playing chromatic lines leading into the tonic, the fifth, etc. Before long you should be coming up with phrases and licks.

I think in patterns all the time when playing.

[Lane Gray]

The closest thing to a pattern like a guitar player sees on the neck is some cool minor key scale work, I'll see if I can get some video done sionsoon

[Richard Sinkler]

Paul's 'two fret rule' is what I tell new(ish) players. Learn all the notes at the fret and the notes around it. Get the sound of those notes, in relation to the chord and licks found at that location locked into your head. Actually, I tell them to learn the sound certain pedals make alone, and with others and the sounds in frets around them. I find that that knowledge is what helps me create, or copy, licks, solos, and endings. I can "see" how something will sound like by looking at the frets around the fret I am on, along with the sounds the pedals make in that position.

[Jeff Metz Jr.]

Great advice guys!
I posted before I really thought this through. I focused a lot on playing and practicing technique and licks. Now its time to add the glue and study more of the fretboard. Thanks again

[Frederick Krubel]

I am looking for a Diagram of sorts that will show some of the many "Patterns" and "Pockets" on the E9th fretboard. I am looking to learn some good licks and how to visualize them on the steel, As I do with a regular guitar. Does anyone have a good link to something along these lines? Thanks a bunch.
-Jeff

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1572928

[Dick Sexton]

This is an older post where I posted how to get to my neck inserts. They were done a long time ago and may have a mistake or two. I found them useful... Using scale tones for easy pattern ID.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ht=inserts

Findings patterns... Start with five notes everywhere a Major Scale for a certain key can be found.
Here are a couple for "G".
1_____________________________________________________
2_____________________________________________________
3_____________________________________________________
4_____________________________________________________
5__________3__________________________________________
6______3_4______________6_____________________________
7____3______________5_6______________8________________
8__3______________5______________7_8__________________
9_______________5______________7______________________
10___________________________8________________________

Notice the first pattern at the third fret is a little more difficult to play then the second pattern at the fifth fret. Likewise, the third pattern at the eight fret is a little more difficult then the second pattern at the fifth fret. So... lets start at the fifth fret and expand on it... First, let's notice that it is two frets above the "Key" fret, with the Root or Key note on the 9th string.

Still in the key of "G".
1_____________________________________________________
2_____________________________________________________
3_____________________________________________________
4_____________________________________________________
5_____________________________________________________
6___________6____________6_____8_____________________
7_______5_6___6 5____5-6___6-8_______________________
8_____5___________5___________________________________
9___5_________________________________________________
10____________________________________________________


1_____________________________________________________
2_____________________________________________________
3_____________________________________________________
4_____________________________________________________
5_____________________________________________________
6___________6__________6_____8__10-8___8-6___6_______
7_______5_6___6 5___5-6___6-8_________8_____6___6-5___5-3_
8_____5__________5_________________________________5_
9___5_________________________________________________
10____________________________________________________

This is the same notes, different pattern... Then taken up the neck...
1_____________________________________________________
2_____________________________________________________
3_____________________________________________________
4_____________________________________________________
5_____________________________________________________
6_____________________________13______________________
7__________8____________12_13_________________________
8______7_8________10_12_______________________________
9__5_7________________________________________________
10____________________________________________________

Put together in a usable phrase...
1_____________________________________________________
2_____________________________________________________
3_____________________________________________________
4_____________________________________________________
5_____________________________________________________
6__________________________________________13_______15
7______________8______10_______12____12-13____13-15___
8______7___7-8___8-10____10-12____12__________________
9__5-7___7____________________________________________
10____________________________________________________

[DG Whitley]

Frederick, I tried the link to Jesse's booklet and was not able to get to the page. Seems like that would have been a great source of information, a pity it's gone now.

[Scott Duckworth]

Google "Pedal Steel Guitar E9 Fretboard Reference _DRAFT5.pdf" Download it, it is a great reference.

If you don't find it, email me and I'll send it to you.

[Dick Sexton]

Added tab.