Pedals and knee levers question

Bob Wood · Post by **Bob Wood** » 18 Nov 2004 12:51 pm

Jack,

Do you even have a Pedal Steel Guitar? Becase if you have one..., I'm sure by now, that even a "newbie" would know what the pedals and Knee levers are for. The reason I say that is because when you press the pedals, it pulls specified strings up to, or down to, a higher, or lower, specified tone, such as the third string with the E9th tuning, from a G-sharp to an A! And the same is true for the knee levers! This makes it possible to play different chords without having to slant your bar.

I hope this answers your question.

Bob[This message was edited by Bob Wood on 18 November 2004 at 12:52 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Nov 2004 12:54 pm

Jack, have a look here so that you can get an idea of what pedals & levers do: http://b0b.com/tunings/
you'll often find a similitude between different steelers set ups
most E9 or S10 have 3 to 4 pedals and 4 to 6 knee levers
a D10 which has both E9 & C6 has the same configuration as above for E9 and 5 to 6 pedals and 4 to 6 knee levers for C6
since your a newbie, what are you gettin' into ?
E9, C6 ? or both ?
a U12 maybe ?

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 18 Nov 2004 12:55 pm

Pedals and knee levers take a difficult instrument and make it impossible...

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 18 Nov 2004 2:46 pm

Pedals and knee levers take a difficult instrument and make it impossible...

Actually, I believe that pedals and knee levers make a difficult instrument easier to play. Without them, you have to delicately use your left hand to slant the bar in both directions at very precise angles. It's a lot easier to just stomp your foot!

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 18 Nov 2004 2:53 pm

100% agreement. I play PSG almost exclusively. Although the multipedal/multilever/multifret/multistring mathmatical possibilities can be mind numbing and although of course it's a difficult instrument to play, I find pedal steel guitar easier to make music on than non-pedal steel guitar. I consider the non-pedal steel to be excruciatingly difficult. It gives you nothing--you have to make every bit of music that comes out of it. [This message was edited by Jon Light on 18 November 2004 at 02:54 PM.]

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 18 Nov 2004 4:14 pm

My first three pedals operate changes in the e9 tuning, the rest protect tender parts from flying objects from the audience.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://Charmedmusic.com

Bob Wood · Post by **Bob Wood** » 18 Nov 2004 7:47 pm

Jack,

Start learning the "right" way by using the pedals and knee levers. Trying to learn by not using them, is like trying to drive a car without using the brakes, or the accelerator...., you just can't do it!

Bob

P.S. also see post: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/008895.html [This message was edited by Bob Wood on 18 November 2004 at 07:50 PM.]

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 19 Nov 2004 2:29 am

I have to PARTLY disagree with Mr. Wood. Yes, you should learn to use the pedals and levers, but also learn to play without them. To clarify this, when you are doing single note picking, you can do a scale using the pedals and levers without moving the bar. You should also learn these scales with out them. There's a whole different feel between the two methods.

And, I expect that some non-pedal players will chime in here.

Mr. Wood, since you live so close, we should get together sometime and do that thing that steel players do.

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 19 Nov 2004 6:04 am

It gives you nothing--you have to make every bit of music that comes out of it.
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If ever truth were spoken, John, this is it!

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 19 Nov 2004 7:22 am

Bobby; my smart-alecky comment was coming from the point of view that with a 6 string no pedals, there was only a limited range of things I could even attempt to do, it's universe is pretty small. No comparison in depth & breadth of range can be made between the 6 string and the 10 string with 3 and 4. The 10 string with 3 and 4 has a lot of galaxies to get lost amongst

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 19 November 2004 at 07:23 AM.]

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 19 Nov 2004 11:39 am

Exactly right, Jack. Start to memorize what each knee lever does; check it against B0b's standard copedent, realizing that yours will probably have the same *functions* but may be in different *places.*

I suggest working devoting most of your time at present to the E9 neck. I assume your guitar is a double neck.

BTW, I'll bet you got some guys' attention when you said "dusty old Sho-Bud" and "hadn't been played in 20 years"! How about posting a picture of that old bird, or describing it more fully? What's the serial number? What does it say on the front.

A number of us, I guarantee, are salivating at your good luck.

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 19 Nov 2004 4:15 pm

I'm gonna' take a guess that this might be a Sho-Bud "crossover" guitar. If it is, then more than likely at the turn of a small lever sticking out the the back side of the guitar, all the pedals and at least two of the levers will work both necks. I always thought they were a pretty neat guitar,,,even with some of the tuning problems some of the guys had with them.
BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

Bob Wood · Post by **Bob Wood** » 19 Nov 2004 6:27 pm

Richard,

Drop me an email, and we can hook up and do, "that thing that Steel players do!" I have a studio in Sunnyvale, and you could meet me there sometime! Kewl?

Bob