| Author |
Topic: volume pedal excersises? |
Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
|
Posted 15 May 2006 6:10 am |
|
| As a beginner my main goal with the volume pedal was to just keep an even pressure on it and not do the broken accordian pumping thing. Subsequently, Ive neglected the volume pedal as a means of expressiveness and my playing sounds kind of mechanical, cold and choppy (i realize thats not ALL the volume pedals fault). I'd like to make it cry and sing like you all do and I know my lack of use of the volume pedal is a factor. Are there any excercises anyone knows of that will help me get used to actually using the volume pedal? I havent run across any in any of the instructional material Ive seen. Maybe its just something you learn to apply over time without specific excercises? any help would be greatly appreciated. |
|
|
|
David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
|
Posted 15 May 2006 8:10 am
|
|
I've found it helpful for my volume pedal technique to practice slow ballads and hymns. Use consistent, firm, fairly hard picking to bring out the tone and natural sustain in the strings. The trick is to jerk back the volume pedal to the same appropriate spot as each note or chord is attacked, then gently apply the volume pedal to keep a steady volume, without swelling, as the note dies off. This is one of the most difficult and subtle aspects of the instrument, but it is integral to good tone. Practice this at different volume levels, both playing alone, and playing with band tracks. I find this easier to do quietly alone at home than live with a loud band. With the band, if you are a hair too quiet, you are lost in the mix, and if you are a little too loud, you are shrieking painfully. Practicing at home with headphones and a loud CD helps.
------------------
Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards
|
|
|
|
Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
|
Posted 15 May 2006 9:44 am
|
|
What I like to hear in volume pedal TECHNIQUE is very much like what I like to hear in volume pedal OPERATION: NOTHING. A good volume pedal does what it does without the listener knowing it's there and a player with good technique only strengthens that appearance.
If you can't already play with NO VOLUME PEDAL, you SHOULD be able to -- so practice that. What David described is very good.
I see three distinct uses for a volume pedal, requiring increasing dexterity and practice time to get them right.
1. Control volume. Make the overall volume level go up or down, depending on the dynamics of the song. Learn to set it and leave it. Learn to operate the right knee levers without a change in your volume. It is a skill that must be developed.
2. Increase sustain of long notes. Learn to 'milk it' -- bringing the volume up as the note decays to provide longer sustain.
3. Special effects. There are effects that simulate extreme compression (Curly Chalker did this often -- I believe Tom Bradshaw called it 'gutting'). This is similar to what David described above, but it was far from subtle and often done on very full chords on the C6 neck.
I think the most important thing for a new player is to learn to play without the volume pedal, using the hands to control volume. If you can play well that way, using a volume pedal will be icing on the cake.
------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
|
|
|
|
richard burton
From:
Britain
|
Posted 15 May 2006 11:06 am
|
|
It's important to hear the attack when notes are picked, IMHO.
One of my pet hates is a volume pedal set so that it shuts the signal off totally.
I always have a minimum of 20% signal.
Here's how it sounds:
http://www.freefilehosting.net/file/?id=pdj2kaTe |
|
|
|
