Bucket list item: Master Behind The Bar String Pulls

[David DeLoach]

Behind the bar string pulls are probably the most challenging and awkward thing I've come across in 50+ years of being a musician. I've worked on them sporadically the last couple years, but I'm resolved to being able to pull these off (pun intended) quickly, easily, and in tune as I've seen many of you guys do.

I've seen some of you use the 4th finger for these. Wow. That is SO hard for me. But as they say, practice makes perfect.

I'm resting the palm of my bar hand against the lap steel and using that for leverage.

I'm just going to do 10 of these each time I pick up my lap steel. I figure over time the muscles will build up and these will become easier.

[Bill Hatcher]

lighter strings makes it much easier

[Phillip Hermans]

Obligatory sharing of Raphael's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQEqq8wDNRo

I have been working on these for a while, and at first it seemed impossible. Now I can pull it off pretty well, which is great for C6 tuning, I can get 2 different 7 chords in every position.

I am working to be a little more fluid so that I can use it in melodic lines...

And I am slowly trying to get two-string pulls.

I rolled my eyes the first time I heard folks warning me to be CAREFUL and not hurt yourself... but you really can so go slow and stop if you feel discomfort

[Jeff Garden]

I love Martin Gross' behind the bar technique on resonator guitar...he's always super accurate with it. Don't know if this video of him playing Teach Your Children will help out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC-N4zl1QZo

[Doug Beaumier]

Go with lighter strings. Here's my contribution to the "string pull" art form:

---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjKdf9NJl4c

I use my middle two fingers or just my middle finger. Taking the middle finger off the bar means you have to hold the bar with finger 1 and the thumb, which takes some getting used to.

[David DeLoach]

Thanks guys!

Doug, I like your approach. Using my 4th finger just seems dang hard.

[Doug Beaumier]

Yeah, I could never pull a string with my little finger, no way. I’ve tried and it doesn’t work for me. So I just use my two middle fingers. As you can see in the video it works fine. You just need to secure your grip on the bar with finger 1 and the thumb.

[Gene Tani]

I can do it with one or 2 fingers, prefer 2 but I can't do a whole note bend on any pedal or lap steel without leaving the string flat. (There were some threads that I think Andy Volk started about his tabs, which often include them but I think you can ignore his 2 string version for now...

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=374028

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=187869

[John Watson]

As an alternative to using lighter Gauge strings I tune down about 2 -3 tones and use heavier strings.