The Steel Guitar Forum

Here's one for folks with a Steel that has the G#'s>G change, and, a tuneable-split on B>Bb resulting in a tuneable C-note (A-pedal + B>Bb = C).

I noticed that if I go one fret up from the A+F position, and use the A-pedal + B>Bb = C, and the G#>G, you get the same notes as the A+F position, and it sounds more in tune.
I think maybe it sounds more in tune because I am only raising the B strings a half tone to C, and only lowering the G#'s a half tone to G (a cancellation of cabinet-drop, perhaps?).

With A+F your are raising B's a full tone to C#, and raising E's a half tone to F, totalling 4 raises (on alot of steels you can hear the open G# 6th string audibly go flat when you combine A+F, due to cabinet drop).

If you have those changes, give it a try and let me know what you think.

you can also get the same notes with G# to F# and the E lever 2 frets up from A+F, i don't know if it's generally more in or out of tune though. you can also get the V chord in the root no pedals position with this change.

if you have G# to F# and a tunable split with the B pedal you can also do what you said. in my opinion the G# to F# change with a tunable split is more versatile than G# to G but I haven't been playing very long.

A+F always sounds in tune on my guitars (Williams D-12 crossover, Emmons Legrand II SD-10), so I don't really feel the need for this A+X+G position. Also, you lose the full step change of A+F to A+E, which I use a lot.

There are a lot of good uses for the X lever, but I really don't see any advantage in this one.

One thing to remember is that all of major chord notes in the A+F position are tuned flat of standard pitch on the open strings. You have to aim about 1/8 fret high with the bar for the A+F position to sound in tune.