A Matter of Sight

Larry R · From: Navasota, Tx.

Ok, I've been playing SD-10's for 8 yrs. I'm used to the 8th string as my reference point. I bought me an SD-12 expanded E9 two yr's ago and I play it about 75% of the time but I play my SD-10's when I gig (at least once a week now). Here's my dilemma; I can't get use to the 8th string reference point on the SD12. I'll grab that 9th string nearly everytime instead of the 8th. My sight line sees 4 strings instead of 2. I've gone to the small feat of putting a piece of narrow pin stripe tape on the fretboard parallel to the 8th string. Still, that doesn't help much. How do I fix this?

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

When you say expanded E9 I assume it is the same as ext E9.
I also started w s10 and got an S12extE9 later.
I also have been using 8 string as a ref point.
No need to give up that.
The nice thing about the ext E9 is that all E's 12th string 8 string and 4th string is equally spaced apart.
playing strings 10 8 6 (still use 8 string as a ref point) will give 1 inversion of a maj triad (5th Root 3rd) low to high.
Moving the outer two strings apart playing strings 11 8 5 gives the same triad as an open voicing 3rd R 5th. Moving the outer two strings further apart playing strings 12 8 4 gives the same note on all strings.

I also stumbled across the extra two strings but after a while I got used to it and now it is not a problem. And trust your right hand and how it feels because it will tell you which finger is above which string. Your eyes will deceive you if you try to look and position your hand and it will not be as fast as relying on the feeling without looking.

Also, practise does it.

Bengt Erlandsen

Also see this link for additional diagrams http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/004635.html

My S12setup is shown in the link above but I have removed the low 12th string E-F on LKL2. Everything else is unchanged.

[This message was edited by Bengt Erlandsen on 05 January 2004 at 01:29 PM.]

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I realize I'm no whiz........and have never played anything more than a ten string guitar, but I use my top "E" string as my reference point for all I do. It's worked for me for years with 6, 8 and 10 string models. Sorta like tuning down from the top string to the bottom.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

What's a "reference point"?

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

Reference point = something/someplace everything else is relative to, or mirrored around or above, below, to the left or to the right.

That is the way I would see it (w my eyes closed)

Bengt Erlandsen

Larry R · From: Navasota, Tx.

Bobbe, a reference point to me is where I can anchor my thumb and move to whatever string group I want to play. I usually try to position my right hand to play string group 8,6,5 (not that I use that grp as a 3 note chord necessarily) however it does put my index and middle fingers at strgs 5&6 letting me counterpoint between strings 8&7 with my thumb.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Do it often enough
It will happen

You may be confusing your muscle memory by playing the 10-string. I have played S-12's for almost 30 years and picked up a D-10 a few years back, wanting to play some C6 and gig on either the S-12 or D-10. Didn't happen. But I could grab 8,6,5 on either guitar -- string spacing was more of an issue to me. You should be able to train your hand to home in on any set of strings. Just takes repetition.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Larry R · From: Navasota, Tx.

Larry Bell, that's what I was thinking. I just need to spend a little more time with it. I'd really like to start playing out with the 12 string but I'm afraid I'll grab that 9th too much and really mess it all up.
I can just see those looks coming from the keyboardist and the lead gtr player. Not good. ha ha ha

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: