Finger pulls lap steel C6

[Louis Bouchier]

Hello.

I was browsing the forum the last couple of days and I was wondering if anyone here could lead me to a link or links that might explain finger pulls. I've got myself some slants working for the last year or so. Recently I got a hold of some Mike Neer instructional materials, Great stuff for learning new slants.

Thanks for any info.

[Chas. J. Wagner]

There are discussions here on the Forum. Here's a few...
Instruction material for behind the steel pulls? Check out this YouTube that's referenced...Louise.
Behind the bar pulls
? about bending strings behind the bar
Be sure to watch Kayton Roberts from the above Kayton Roberts ~ Kayton's Rag

You can find more by going to the Serch Query. Type in Finger Pulls in the Seach For Keyword: field for Forum Section: Steel Without Pedals

[Louis Bouchier]

Thanks!

I will check out all the links you posted.

With close to a 2 million total messages it's easy to understand how one can get lost amongst all the knowledge.

[Randy Reeves]

thanks for bringing this technique up. by coincidence I had been all week messing around with pulls.
I find it easy to pull the string but find it near impossible to keep the string in contact with the bar.
I tend to push down sooo slightly.
these links are perfectly timed.

[Stephen Cowell]

thanks for bringing this technique up. by coincidence I had been all week messing around with pulls.
I find it easy to pull the string but find it near impossible to keep the string in contact with the bar.
I tend to push down sooo slightly.
these links are perfectly timed.

I pull up on the string when I pull... fingernails can help here. I've seen the tutorials where they show the finger pressing down... this can't work, as you've found. Of course, this means that one finger can't be flat against the string, it has to be bent... I use the middle finger for pulling (when I'm only pulling one string).

Here's another tip from an old lap-steeler (6mos experience!)... you can pull the bar instead of bending your finger. Hook a string, then pull the bar. I found that bending the finger gives me more control, however.

Also, if you want more than a half-step, or otherwise to extend the pull range, you must use a thinner string.

[Mike Neer]

C6 is not necessarily the best tuning for string pulls, although there are useful pulls there: A string up 1/2 for a dom7 chord, pull the high E up 1/2 step for a sus chord or a IV chord, pull the C up a 1/2 step for an A7 chord, etc. They are little tricks, but not really essential, like in an E tuning.

I recorded a few tunes (not C6) with string pulls--the first is Bud's Bounce, which is a pedal steel classic. I'm actually pulling 2 strings at the same time here. When I recorded this, I had an injury-a severe burn on my left middle finger--so the pulling was a little rough, especially using a long scale steel. I should have recorded it again, but I'm no perfectionist. I've played around a lot with string gauges, so if I intend to do a lot of pulling, I have certain string combinations that work well.

Bud's Bounce

This second one is more subtle and helps me get some nice chords, especially at the end.

Tenderly

[Louis Bouchier]

C6 is not necessarily the best tuning for string pulls, although there are useful pulls there: A string up 1/2 for a dom7 chord, pull the high E up 1/2 step for a sus chord or a IV chord, pull the C up a 1/2 step for an A7 chord, etc. They are little tricks, but not really essential, like in an E tuning.

I recorded a few tunes (not C6) with string pulls--the first is Bud's Bounce, which is a pedal steel classic. I'm actually pulling 2 strings at the same time here. When I recorded this, I had an injury-a severe burn on my left middle finger--so the pulling was a little rough, especially using a long scale steel. I should have recorded it again, but I'm no perfectionist. I've played around a lot with string gauges, so if I intend to do a lot of pulling, I have certain string combinations that work well.

Bud's Bounce

This second one is more subtle and helps me get some nice chords, especially at the end.

Tenderly

Thanks for the heads up Mike. Yeah I found out what you said about C6 not being the best tuning for pulls. I'm also finding out about how much pressure to apply to the pulls also.

I am so "at home" with the C6 tuning I have used forever E, G, A, C, E, G Low to high. It was exciting to try and find some new life out of another acquired technique.

I have used your materials Mike to help progress my playing. But I must admit that I have used mys tuning instead because familiarity dies hard.


On the subject of tunings which would you suggest to experiment with more pulls? I am willing to take the plunge into some more materials also. Jerry Byrd's Book looks like the ticket.