More Begineer Questions

Jeff James · Post by **Jeff James** » 6 Aug 2007 7:32 am

Hello all...new pedal steel player with some very basic questions. I am a gigging tele player wanting to pick up the steel. I have a 99' Marlen S10 3 X 4 that I bought here through the forum a few years back. I finally have some gigging downtime, so I am making myself take the steel seriously now. I have been playing it alot the last few weeks & am having a blast. Unfortunaltely there arent any steel players in my area that I know of to sit down with & go over some basics. Few basic questions.

1. What is the proper way to tune this guitar? I am talking mechanically, not 440, tempered, etc. I want to fully understand the guitar & be able to make adjustments as necessary myself.

2. Recommended videos for begineer? Jeff Newman's "Up from the Top"?

3. Volume pedal. What is the rule of thumb on using the volume pedal? Do most folks have it 3/4 open during normal usage,then wide open for lead rides? I just want to make sure I do not overuse the volume pedal as I'm sure alot of begineers do.

Thanks in advance. I am really excited about getting decent on this steel. I'm sure I will have several more questions as the days go by. Thanks again.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Aug 2007 7:39 am

As far as the volume pedal goes, for me it's ...

Backup work - 1/3 volume
"Lead" work (intros and rides) - 1/2 volume

The last half of the volume pedal travel I use just for sustaining chords or long notes at the same volume.

As far as tuning, I say "tune it 'til it sounds in-tune".

Methods for this vary widely, but the results are pretty much the same.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 6 Aug 2007 8:06 am

Not sure about a Marlen, never having owned one...
With most modern guitars, tune the open strings first. Then engage the pedals, one at a time, and tune the pedal change at the other end, using the wrench which fits on the nylon tuners. Now do the same for the knee levers.
Now, put your bar on the "C" fret. Engage pedals 1 and 2 for an F chord. Pedal one only should give you an A minor. Pedals 2 and 3 should give you d minor. The knee lever that lowers the E strings should make an e minor chord. The 2nd pedal only and the lever which lowers the E strings should give you a G7 chord. The 1st pedal only along with the lever which raises the E strings, bar moved up three frets, should give you another inversion of the C major chord. You may have to move your bar up slightly higher than 3 frets to play this change well in tune.
Check all of these options to see that they are well in tune. Once they are, you are ready to play.
There have been many posts in the past about tuning. Research some of these for more information. Have fun.
Larry J.

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 6 Aug 2007 9:20 am

Jeff there really isn't alot of info on the volume pedal, I think everyone is a little different when useing it. To me I use it to help sustain, as the note is dying out you would add volume pedal to compensate the loss, how much should you add? well that is reflective of the given moment.

Jeff James · Post by **Jeff James** » 6 Aug 2007 12:37 pm

Why are some of the nylon tuners red & the others are not?

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 6 Aug 2007 1:48 pm

Jeff, aim high with the bar, or you may play flat from aiming below the frets on reg. guitar. Use the volume pedal as little as possible for a while, it is common to overuse it in the beginning. Get the fingerpicks on as soon as possible, and get it over with. Remember that any fret with pedals gives you an easy 1-4-5 chord. The frame of reference is similar to 6 string, open fret is E, 5th fret is A, etc. Good luck, JP Oh yeah, play with as many live musicians as you can, to help with intonation.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 7 Aug 2007 11:42 am

Why are some of the nylon tuners red & the others are not?

They may be compensators, or split tuners, or half stop adjustments, or?
Until you know what they are, let 'em be. Work with the open tuning first. Then pedals and knees.

Where 'bouts are you?
I am in Dallas.
There are some Steel Guitar groups around Texas. Look up the Texas Steel Guitar Association. You will get plenty of good help.

Brandon Ordoyne · Post by **Brandon Ordoyne** » 7 Aug 2007 1:06 pm

As for a beginner...start on working on your major triad grips first: 3-4-5; 4-5-6; 5-6-8; 6-8-10

This way your finger muscles memorize the spacings of the strings.

Pick those up and down open first which is an "E" Chord. Then Press your A & B pedals pick the same grips up and down and thats your "A" Chord, move up 2 frets with A&B down and thats your "B" Chord. What you have played is the 1-4-5 of the key of "E". I did this and still do every night when start playing my steel.

Also learn your scales, vertical and horizontal. I play these every night as well.

I have heard that a good way to learn technique is to plug your steel direct to your amp. I suffered and still do sometime of "over" using my volume pedal.

When Jody Cameron has his next Texas Steel Guitar school I would recommend it highly.

Jeff Newman material is still the best.

Also, make it a point to get the Winnie Winston "Pedal Steel Guitar" book...I hear alot of experienced players referring to it all the time. Every time I read it I learn something new

Hope this helps!

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 7 Aug 2007 1:45 pm

Yes, get the Winnie Winston book!!! Read it from the front cover to the back cover,...then start over!
I'm on my 2nd copy!
JE:-)>

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 7 Aug 2007 2:55 pm

I know you didn't ask for it but here's something to help with your right hand. Four beats in each measure. You can adjust it and make up exercises that actually sound like a song.

[tab]
E A B7
1 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
2 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
3 ----------0-|-0B-------------|-------------0B-|-
4 -------0--0-|-0---0----------|---------0D--0D-|-
5 ----0--0--0-|-0A--0A--0A-----|-----0---0---0--|-
6 -0--0--0----|-----0B--0B--0B-|-0B--0B--0B-----|-
7 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
8 -0--0-------|---------0---0--|-0D--0D---------|-
9 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
10 -0----------|-------------0A-|-0--------------|-
[/tab]

By the way, I'm in south central Oklahoma. You can come visit me if you ever around Ardmore.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 7 Aug 2007 2:58 pm

I forgot to mention...

After you play the tab above (or some variation of it), slide it up to the first fret and play it again in F, and then at the 2nd fret in F# and so on. If you have Band In A Box or one of the similar programs, it will really help you play in tune later on if you practice WITH the Band In A Box track now.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 7 Aug 2007 4:04 pm

Bruce Boutons DVD is a good beginners dvd. $19.99
Ask ten different people how to use the volume pedal you will get ten different responses..dont sweat it too much..it will just come one day. Have fun (cause it IS fun)and good luck.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 7 Aug 2007 4:39 pm

Personally, I think the Bouton DVD should be used AFTER the beginner stage. But it does have SOME things that are useful to beginners.

Jeff James · Post by **Jeff James** » 9 Aug 2007 6:28 pm

Thanks so much for all the help!! I have been doing a lot of playing, reading, listening, etc. the last 2 weeks & amazed by how much I have absorbed already. I am really excited & very determined to get going on the steel. I obviously haven't even scratched the surface yet, but am amazed how much better I am than 2 weeks ago. I have been recording some stuff that I have been playing a long with & some of it actually sounds like a pedal steel

I am working with the grips & they are coming along pretty good. Luckily, I am a tele player that uses a thumbpick, so I have a little advantage there. I have the Jeff Newman DVD's on the way (UP from the Top A & B pedals), so I am really looking forward to getting to work on them.

I am definately interested in Jody's school. I can see that being a great place\way to learn. I am going to keep an eye out for his next one.

Gary....thanks so much for the offer..I was actually in Ardmore a few weeks playing a private party. I am out in west Texas (Lubbock). I will definately look you up next time I am out that way. You do the same if you are ever out west.

There are a few steelers in Lubbock, but I dont think any give any lessons. Wally Moyers is here in town, but not sure what he is up to nowadays. I plan to go out & see Wilbur Keeton this Sat. before my gig if I can. I have heard that he is a great player.

Thanks again to everyone for their generous help & time for a newbie.

Also...here is a pic of my steel. 99' Marlen

[/img]

Dick Sexton · Post by **Dick Sexton** » 10 Aug 2007 8:12 pm

Jeff,
That sure is pretty and looks to be in perfect shape. I'd like to see a picture of the underside if you get the time. Dick

Joe Calabrese · Post by **Joe Calabrese** » 14 Aug 2007 4:20 pm

Hey Jeff,
I've only been playin steel for about 5 months now so I can offer you little help. However, I have a great teacher in Jim Heffernan and it's made a big difference in my playing. I tried to "figure this thing out" on my own having played guitar for 30 years at a professional level. Find a good teacher. In the first 4 weeks of playing on my own, I already started to develop bad steel habits. Jimmy squared me away quickly.
1.Learn the grips inside and out. Everything starts with the grips.
2.Learn the voicings or position of every chord. Just like a conventional guitar, you can play a Cmaj chord in many positions using different voicings. Same holds true with steel.
3.Get to the point where you know where you are on the neck at all times.

Jim told me this and I thought it was funny. "we are going to learn all the voicings and where they are on the neck" "Because what'll happen is you'll go out to play or jam with other musicians and you'll get "LOST AS LAST YEARS EASTER EGG" Because thats what happened to him !!!! Although its hard to imagine him ever struggling when you listen to him play now.

I have a full time day gig, a sound tech gig on the weekends and a recording studio I just finished building so practice time is hard to come by for me right now.

At the end of each lesson Jim records what we went over that week. He plays and explains everything. I leave with a CD of each lesson.
Once I get home I dump that CD into my Ipod and listen to it constantly on my way to both jobs or whenever.
Hearing it played correctly is a big help. It trains my ear to know what its supposed to sound like.

In closing I'll tell you what I've found and what a forum member said to me when I first signed up here.
"The hook is in you now"

Enjoy your new obsession
Joe

Tamara James · Post by **Tamara James** » 15 Aug 2007 10:52 am

Gary Shepherd wrote:I know you didn't ask for it but here's something to help with your right hand. Four beats in each measure. You can adjust it and make up exercises that actually sound like a song.

[tab]
E A B7
1 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
2 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
3 ----------0-|-0B-------------|-------------0B-|-
4 -------0--0-|-0---0----------|---------0D--0D-|-
5 ----0--0--0-|-0A--0A--0A-----|-----0---0---0--|-
6 -0--0--0----|-----0B--0B--0B-|-0B--0B--0B-----|-
7 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
8 -0--0-------|---------0---0--|-0D--0D---------|-
9 ------------|----------------|----------------|-
10 -0----------|-------------0A-|-0--------------|-
[/tab]

By the way, I'm in south central Oklahoma. You can come visit me if you ever around Ardmore.

Thanks for this great post! I going to use it as cords and then single note groupings..good stuff.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 15 Aug 2007 1:13 pm

Yeah. You can make up all kinds of exercises with just a little bit of knowledge. And as you learn more, you'll be able to make up more exercises. Many of the exercises can be used in real songs.