Looking for lessons/Tips for a short steel player

Tyler George-Minetti · Post by **Tyler George-Minetti** » 5 Jan 2022 10:10 am

Hey y'all- I bought a GFI entry level model off the forum and am getting my butt kicked! I'm looking for some recommendations on lessons...I live in Vermont but am assuming I'll be using an online program since there aren't many active pedal steel players in the state (maybe I'm wrong and you know someone who could teach me?). Any recommendations resources are appreciated.

Also, I'm having some problems with my left foot/leg technique due to my short stature. I bought a steel guitar that is of "normal" height but I am 5'5" tall and I'm finding it hard to move from pedals to knee levers. Any advice in this regard is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

James Polk · Post by **James Polk** » 5 Jan 2022 11:24 am

Another short player here, I haven't run into much issue with pedal and knee position on my sho bud "the professional". Mostly it gets awkward if I'm not seated at the appropriate height. You may start by trying an adjustable seat, then measure it and buy something that's fixed at that height. As far as lessons, I'd recommend diving into the commonly recommended literature. Buddy Emmons, Bobbe Seymour and Paul Franklin seem to be the go-to resources I've found. More than that though, I'd recommend going through your guitar and getting super super familiar with your copedant. Tabs are useless if you don't know what changes are where on your instrument. Further, having a pretty solid knowledge of music theory is really helpful. If you understand what your A and B pedals are doing and why that works the way it does, you'll get where you're going a lot quicker.

James Polk · Post by **James Polk** » 5 Jan 2022 11:26 am

If it really is an issue of stature on your instrument, one solution may be to take a length of pvc pipe from your local hardware store and attach it over your knee levers. That would get you some extra length so you wouldn't have to raise your knees to hit the levers, though not the best looking solution.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 5 Jan 2022 12:20 pm

There may be a way to shorten the legs but it requires cutting. Some members have done this. Otherwise reach out to GFI and see what they have to say. When seated it's generally normal to have 4 inches from your knee to the bottom of the cabinet. You need to know what your seat height is at a normal position. Most are probably too tall at 20-21 inches for standard size. You may need an 18 inch. There was an early post talking about this if you do a search, with good information.

Tyler George-Minetti · Post by **Tyler George-Minetti** » 5 Jan 2022 2:19 pm

James and Larry- Thanks to you both for your responses. I currently use a chair I had in my apartment plus a meditation cushion, not the most professional but the cushion really helps.

The main question/problem is the relationship of my left knee and foot. When my feet are on the pedals my left knee doesn't quite reach the knee levers all the way. So to fully engage LKR or LKL I have to lift my left foot slightly off the pedals. Since I'm a total beginner I don't know the appropriate foot and knee technique, but I can say that it doesn't feel correct the way I'm doing it. Hopefully some lessons will demystify this for me but I'd love tips or suggestions if you have any. Thanks!

George Seymour · Post by **George Seymour** » 6 Jan 2022 5:19 am

PM sent

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 6 Jan 2022 7:40 am

This user had same question but easy answer is to buy shorter legs/rods from GFI, there are threads about shortening both, you'd haveto cut threads into pedal rods but I remember that it was tricky to get the top threaded leg insert exactly straight into the leg.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=376956

can also make DIY knee lever extenders but I remember Johnnie King had some nicely machined ones if you use search box

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... 33#3037733