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Topic: New to Pedal Steel |
Richard Stoops
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 5:15 am |
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| The end of December 2015 I bought a Supro 8 string laptop (with legs) from a friend just to see how I would like playing steel guitar. I fell in love with steel playing and just this week I was able to purchase a Wilcox 10 string pedal steel listed in Steel Guitar Forum classifieds. I look forward to transitioning from C6 laptop to E9 steel, but I do have a couple of questions. First question the bar I got with the laptop is about 3-7/8" long. The bar is one that has a groove for my index finger and the thumb and middle finger fit on either side. Is this bar suitable for playing the 10 string pedal steel, or would you recommend something else. Second question is, I see a lot of comments that are simply "bump"...what does that mean? |
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Richard Stoops
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 5:24 am
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| Correction, the bar measures 2-7/8", sorry about the typo. |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 6:13 am
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| Generally most of us use a "bullet" type of bar for the pedal steel which is completely round and between 3/4"-1" in diameter as opposed to the "Stevens" type of bar that you are describing. The round bar is better for vibrato and is picked up by the player way less frequently than when playing a lap steel. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 7:23 am
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Robert Randolph and many other sacred steel players prefer the Stevens style.
I think the lighter bar doesn't sound as good, but it'll damn sure work just fine.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jonathan Mitguard
From:
San Rafael, California, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 7:25 am
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Like Richard said, you'll want to go with a bullet type bar at least as a standard starting point with probably 99.9% of pedal steel players.
Folks type in "bump" to get their post to bump back to the top of the posts.
Enjoy the crazy world of Pedal steel.
_________________
Mullen and Williams SU12, Owens Square neck dobro. Amps evolving Princeton II reverb w/ eminence Double T 12" |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 8:06 am
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The pedal steel requires a completely new set of skills.
While I DO hold that the bullet bar is better suited to the pedal steel, that 50 bucks (give or take) would be better spent on the Winston/Keith book and another instructional book.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 8:36 am
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| Ernie Ball bars are $25 +/- new |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 9:11 am
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True, but watch the chorus of gearhounds rise to say that you have to have a BJS, Eezee Slide or other similar.
So if you have a Grant kicking around, get an Ernie Ball and the Winston/Keith book.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Richard Stoops
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 10:14 am new to steel
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| Thanks for the reply guys. I'll pick up a round bar and see if I can find that book. I've got a lot to learn, but I like a challenge. There's a lot of stuff on youtube on playing. I use that a lot for learning to play the laptop. Thanks again. |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 4:43 pm
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Richard, here's 4 of those annoying drills that teach the basic muscle memory things, sort of the "Karate Kid" drills. All 4 start on the 5th fret, 5th string (but the skills move everywhere, it's just the most convenient place).
1) pick the string, slide back two frets at the same time you add the A pedal. You don't want to hear a pitch change (How's this relevant? If you were to play a double stop with the 4th string, you'd be lowering the root to b7 while holding 5 stationary. You're also coordinating hand and foot).
2) return from 3A to 5 no pedal, again, try not to hear the pitch change
3) start from 5, go to 7 while adding the A pedal, so the bar is moving two frets, but you want to hear a smooth major third swoop without an audible "notch"
4) undo this, going from 7A to 5, trying to make a smooth notchless swoop.
Yes, do the rewarding things like learning turnarounds, intros and rides, but those drills help make the essentials ingrained.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 2 Sep 2017 5:27 pm
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Artistic variation on the first two: play them with a "sag" in the middle. But do them plain fit.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Richard Stoops
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2017 7:48 pm
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| Can anyone suggest a good web site to purchase steel guitar related items. I would like to buy some thumb picks that don't crush my thumb. The music stores in my area (north central Ohio) don't have a very good selection and don't have anything related to steel guitar. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 5 Sep 2017 8:16 pm
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| Richard Stoops wrote: |
| Can anyone suggest a good web site to purchase steel guitar related items. I would like to buy some thumb picks that don't crush my thumb. The music stores in my area (north central Ohio) don't have a very good selection and don't have anything related to steel guitar. |
Yup. Contact Jim Palenscar through the links at the bottom of his post above in this thread. He'll get you fixed up for whatever you need.
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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