New PSG player needs help!

[Jay Brackett]

Hello, I've played a standard guitar all my life as a finger picker. Now I am teaching myself PSG. I have a new 10 string Show Pro. with E9 tuning. But, I don't understand how to tune the pedals and knee levers. Also what are the symbols for the knee levers in tablature? I would be grateful for any advice or help you can give me. Thank you, Jay B.

[Dan Kelly]

Hello Jay!

Congratulations on the beginning of your Pedal Steel Guitar Journey. You have a very nice quality instrument that will not limit your progress.

I recommend purchasing a Peterson Strobo Tuner. Here is a link where you can learn more:

https://www.petersontuners.com/products/stroboplushdc/

It has "sweetened tunings" on it that will help you sidestep, at least temporarily, the whole discussion of just versus tempered tunings and help you get playing.

Basically, you tune the strings at the key-head first. Then the pedals and levers are tuned using the tuners at the right-hand side / end of the instrument. Take one string at a time and see what pedal and / or lever affects a change on that particular string. You can check this by watching for movement of the tuners when you press a given change. Note however, that some tuners may move in sympathy with a given change... so make sure you are tuning the change you want.

Proceed string by string and expect to go back over the whole set for a final clean-up.

Tuning can be a seemingly daunting process at the start, but it quickly becomes second nature. Give it some time.

Also, Winnie Winston's book has a good section on this subject for basic background.

[Doug Taylor]

Jay I sent you a pm.