The Steel Guitar Forum

Geez Rob, I hope I don't drool all over my new Carter Starter.I'll be switching from non pedal to pedal by the end of next week. Anybody got any thoughts on how thats gonna be? Thanks, Will

If you have no pedal steel experience I cannot recommend Jeff Newman’s (Jeffran College) “Right Hand Alpha” (one hour DVD) and “Pedal Steel Guitar Technique” (two hour DVD) and “Rhythm Tracks” (CD covering both DVDs) highly enough. Although not specifically noted on their site (www.jeffran.com), the two are packaged together (I think they call it “Pedal Steel 101 Course”) for $105.00, including shipping. You can call Fran at 800-373-3418 for details and to order.

Right Hand Alpha focuses exclusively on the right hand. First is pick selection and fitting. Next is the position of the right hand and palm blocking. Thereafter Jeff (God rest his soul) takes you through various finger and thumb picking exercises aimed at developing proper technique and speed.

“Pedal Steel Guitar Technique” covers the basics of the pedal steel including pick selection and fitting, right hand position and palm blocking, left hand position and vibrato technique, pedals, and volume pedal.

As a keyboard musician for more than 40 years, what I especially like about this course material is that it does not spend any time on general or beginner music theory; just pedal steel.

Finally, as a teacher, Jeff has a way of removing the mystery and the beast from the pedal steel. Good luck.

Bob, my two cents worth, from the Tao Te Ching, as you practice, don't work for or 'impatiently' watch for improvement - just practice what you're practicing and leave it at that. Then when improvement does happen it's like icing on the cake. Also, experience the difference between playing without and with headphones. You hear alot 'in there' that you don't 'out here'!

As with any instrument, it's most important to train your muscles to instinctively do proper technique. Spend a lot of time concentrating on your hands. Picking exercises, bar movement exercises, blocking exercises. I know it sounds boring - you want to play music right away - but once those things become second nature, the music comes almost effortlessly.

That's my advice.

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don't play banjo...

Wow, this was probably my first post!!!, hey thanks for the advice even if its now, 4 yrs later.I did learn to play the steel a bit in the last 4 yrs, but im not willing to give up my 6 string practice time to really turn into a bona fide steel player. (Maybe when i stop gigging every weekend and im a little older.) bob