The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi guys.

I'm getting into a band that plays alot of country rock, southern rock I guess you could call it. The songs are mostly simple riff-based songs.

The sound they are looking for is slightly distorted slide guitar sound, but I want to still bring out the special sounds that you can only get on the pedal steel.

I've got my standard set of major pentatonic riffs, but anyone know of any good instructional materials on this (books, dvds)? Or, any good examples of players/songs I could listen to for ideas?

thanks in advance!

How about early Joe Ely records with Lloyd Maines on steel...

Thanks for the tip Scott. Lloyd is a superb player. I'll check out his earlier stuff.

You've probably already done this, but if not, hook up your favorite distortion pedal to your steel and with the gain up, start playing around with bluesy, rock slide licks. You will find many familiar licks in the interior strings.

I was amazed to learn how easy it is to play these types of licks on steel. My prior attempts at slide guitar on a 6 string always had too much fret noise and lack of intonation. On steel these are a breeze.

Your band mates will be suprised to learn that steel "can do that too" !!!

after reading the entry about Joe Ely and Lloyd Maines I've been listening to an album called "live shots" all day - this album is amazing - recorded live in London - is that Lloyd Maines playing pedal steel - any more about him anyplace?

He is playing dobro on this radio interview with Terri Hendrix.

Clete

Another guy that plays great distortion on steel is Joe Wright, he uses the same aproach ive done for years because i did'nt know what steel was supposed to sound like with distortion so i took a lead guitar aprouch. never heard Joe E or Lloyd M play but i will look that one up

I've already posted this a jillion times, but it's relevant to this thread, so with apologies to everybody who has seen this clip before.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkSnoeTWR4I

BTW, I used an Electro-Harmonix Big Miff Pi, and an MXR 67 band equalizer on a loop to get the distortion.

Leo is right,It's VERY easy to play rock,blues, and southern rock on E-9th,been doing it for years, I just use a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, I used to play along with the greatest hits of the ABB a lot.Dwayne and Dickie licks work great on steel. You can learn a lot of good licks just doing this. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Remember Duane Allmans favorite tuning was open E, of which you have 5 of those 6 strings, on your open E9th
Rick

This is a Zevon tune we played about 20 years ago...I'm using the Boss tone and the Steelrider.
I use different distortions today but still hang on to that old Boss Tone!! http://blip.tv/gerry-simon/weniger-and- ... ong-372785

I have two things to say about this : Sneakey Pete .
On second thoughts I have another two things : Al Perkins .

Gerry Simon wrote:This is a Zevon tune we played about 20 years ago...I'm using the Boss tone and the Steelrider.
I use different distortions today but still hang on to that old Boss Tone!! http://blip.tv/gerry-simon/weniger-and- ... ong-372785

Great tone Gerry .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Kcia8M0tk

halfway my sound changes
JJ

Have you tried one of those 'sitar' bars??? It's a normal bar with a flat milled into the bar and gives a slightly distorted sound. Have not scene many around for years but sounds like it would be ideal for what you are trying to do.

I used mine a fair amount of time when playing similar music back in the late 70's.

Robert

Robert - no but I heard of some people using a broomstick to get a Dobro sound. Tried it and it didn't work out too well for me.

I never had much luck with a wooden bar either....
Try and find a 'sitar' style bar, I think you might be surprised.

Robert

I have wood bar I made from a broom handle that I use once in a while. It makes the strings die out almost immediately, which causes the steel sound like a banjo. (Sorry b0b.) You have to plant it in one place and do banjo rolls. It doesn't work if you try to slide with it, or play anything that require that the notes be sustained.

During my gigging years, I mostly used it at the end of "Peaceful Easy Feeling."

Learn the intro to “Fire on the Mountain”
Have it in your bag of tricks and at the ready.

Gerry Simon,
That was really cool! I have an old Boss Tone, but what's a Steelrider. (Don't mind me, been out of the field for about 25 years.)

Lynn

i like using the broomstick, but i keep hitting the drummer with the 'straw' end.

Lynn Fargo wrote: what's a Steelrider?

It's a MIDI pickup that turns your steel into a synthesizer driver. They have been unavailable for many years. (Maybe it's time somebody started making them again.)

Like what Mike said. I have it on my 12 U Kline guitar and driving a Proteus synth (long dead now)...There is NO actual steel tone in that clip and I bring in the boss tone effect with the volume pedal for the steel and have a separate pedal for the synth strings. Joe Kline had to have them make a special PU for us as the strings are a tiny bit closer together on the Kline. I used to take it out all the time for gigs...now I use it mostly for home recording; I'm paranoid of it breaking and having no recourse. I also use a sitar bar and a wood bar. I hollowed out my wood bar and put an old Barcus Berry PU inside for some interesting sounds but that was 30 years ago when I was trying for some kind of stereo sound!

Worth listening to Bobby Black on the early Commander Cody albums, he knows it all, also don't forget Ricky Nelson plenty of great youtube vids w/ the great late Tom Brumley