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Author Topic:  Playing a minor w/E9 tuning
Jay Kardong


From:
Seattle, Washington
Post  Posted 25 Sep 2004 7:46 pm    
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Okay, so this is a very newbie question, but after a couple years of working on pedal steel, I still don't know the proper way to play a minor chord on a E9 tuning. I end up only playing two strings which sounds very weak.

Can someone please tell me how or point me to some tab that demonstrates how to play the minor 6th?

Sorry if this is a totally crazy and simple question.

Thanks in advance
Jay
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Jody Sanders

 

From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 25 Sep 2004 8:33 pm    
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While you are waiting for some better info: Move 3 frets up from the major chord, Engage the 1st. pedal(Emmons setup) to get your minor on strings 3-4-5-6-8-10, Example: Key of G open on 3rd. fret move to 6th fret and engage your 1st. pedal for G minor. Your relative minor is always on the same fret as the major key tou are using. Example; Key of C open 8th fret. Your relative minor is on the 8th fret with 1st, pedal engaged. the 2 minor will be on the 1st fret 1st pedal, and the 3 minor will be on the 3rd fret 1st. pedal. That same pattern will work in any key. There are diffreent places up and down the neck using different pedal and knee lever positions. Hope this will help. Jody.
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chas smith R.I.P.


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 25 Sep 2004 8:42 pm    
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Quote:
Sorry if this is a totally crazy and simple question.
Always better to ask the question than spend a lifetime in ignorance.

The A pedal gives you a 6 minor, the E lever (E's to Eb) gives you a 3 minor and the B and C pedals, together, gives you a 2 minor.

What this means, in the key of C, 8th fret, is: the A pedal on the 8th fret makes an A minor chord, the E lever makes an E minor chord and the B&C pedals make a D minor chord.

On the 3rd fret: the A pedal makes an E minor chord, the E lever makes a B minor chord and B&C make an A minor chord.
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 25 Sep 2004 8:45 pm    
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Don't worry about the dumb question thing. Its a confusing instrument. You gotta start someplace !
The Jeff Newman instructional stuff is very good for getting some of the basics down. There is a minor chord video available on his site that would be a great place to get started:

http://www.jeffran.com/

You might want to track down a live teacher and take a more comprehensive approach to how you are learning the steel. If you learn how major scales work on the neck then minor chords will start showing up all over the place.

Have fun playing !

------------------

Bob
intonation help



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Travis Bernhardt

 

From:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Post  Posted 25 Sep 2004 10:40 pm    
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Do you know how minor chords are built?

-Travis
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CrowBear Schmitt


From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2004 1:32 am    
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Jody's got some good tips Jay
"Your relative minor is on the 8th fret with 1st" is one
example is fret 6 w: pedal A = A- or C6
yep ! a C6 is = to a A-(Aminor)
so fret 1 w: knee lever that lowers the Es is a A- & C6
or 3rd fret w: pedals B&C is an A- & C6
even 3rd fret w: pedals A&B is an A-
A- can be also be found on fret 0 w: pedal B and "half" of pedal A
or same position : Fret 0 w: pedals A&B + knee lever that lowers strings 5&10 = A-
like Jody says you can always move up 3 frets (1 tone & a 1/2) from a major chord to get to a minor chord
so fret 5 is A - move up 1 tone and a half (3frets) press pedal A = A- & C6

here's more: even a D7 can substitute for a A- ! pick out the right notes & you'll see what i mean
a minor chord is composed of the Tonic or Root, the Fifth, and a flatted third (b3)
example in C: C G Eb / 1 5 b3
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Larry Lorows

 

From:
Zephyrhills,Florida, USA
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2004 3:00 am    
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Nobody has mentioned that if you just use your 1st and 2nd pdeals at the third frett, you would have a C chord. By adding the first or the seventh string, you add an A to the chord, making it a C6 or an A-. Now if you add your E to Eb lever to the chord it would add an F# which is the 6th of the A, making it an A-6th.

------------------
U12 Williams keyless 400
Evans SE 150, Nashville 112, Line 6 pod xt
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2004 9:35 am    
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Moved to the 'Pedal Steel' section. You'll get more responses there.
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John Daugherty


From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2004 12:37 pm    
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Answer to "how minor chords are built":
Flat the third. example: In key of C, the 3rd note of the scale is E. Lower the E to Eb. C,Eb,G form the Cm chord.
There are NO DUMB QUESTIONS, only dumb answers.
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Mark van Allen


From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2004 1:25 pm    
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Jay, what Travis asked is kind of the key to this and any chordal question on steel- if you know how chords are "spelled" or built, and can at least figure out a major scale in several positions on your guitar, you can see which notes need to be moved by pedals or levers to obtain the different chord tones. The bonus is you'll learn all kinds of back door information about chords, (as in this case, that there's only one note difference between G major and E minor)... Any major chord is changed to minor by lowering the third of the chord (third scale tone) to a flatted third. If you have a lever or pedal that can make that change, there you are. In some cases you have to look a little harder for the connection, for example, wherever you're making a major chord with the A&B pedals together (G at the 10th fret, for example) the third of the chord is already obtained with the A pedal having raised the 2nd scale tone to the third. Some guitars have a lever that lowers the note a half step back to flat three, but if not, you can "half pedal" or slightly let off of pedal A to move the tone back down to a flat three and give you a minor chord. Another example: wherever you use no pedals for a major chord, third fret for G, strings six and five are the third and fifth scale tones, the root being on string eight or four. Most guitars don't have a lever lowering the sixth string a half tone (to get the flatted third). But you do have a pedal (B) raising the sixth string a half tone, and another pedal (A) raising the fifth string a whole tone. So if you play just string 5&6, slide back two frets, and push A&B pedals, you get the same effect, with a beautiful gliss from major to minor. (Thanks, Buddy!) The E9th tuning is loaded with these gems. Just sit around for a while working out the major scale all around the various chord positions, and even in places you wouldn't first think of, and you'll find where all the notes are, and some new ways to get there. Lots of work, but also loads of fun. Good luck hunting!

------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Joey Ace


From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 26 Sep 2004 1:30 pm    
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See http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/008550.html
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Jay Kardong


From:
Seattle, Washington
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2004 11:24 am    
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This is some great info folks, thanks a ton! I've been printing this out to have next to me with my steel. I'm probably going to purchase a Newman instructional tape as suggested as I keep reading about how great they are.

Thanks again, I can't wait to get off work and go home to get started!!

Regards
Jay
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Nicholas Dedring

 

From:
Beacon, New York, USA
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2004 12:28 pm    
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Just to clarify: are you trying to play a minor sixth chord, or a 6 minor chord?

The six minor would (for a tune in the key of E) be a C# minor chord. A minor sixth chord would be a minor chord with the sixth degree of the scale included. (A-C-E-G would be an A minor 6th chord).

Which one are you looking for?
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Jay Kardong


From:
Seattle, Washington
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2004 6:31 pm    
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Hi Nicholas,
I'm looking to learn two things, the minor 6th and basic minor positions and chords. Thanks!
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Forrest Lee Jr

 

From:
Waverly, TN
Post  Posted 27 Sep 2004 9:28 pm    
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Hmmmn... since you're relatively close... I'll break down the basic E9 theory for you on Wed. It's also posted on the SGF for reference but I'll go over the basics with you if you want. I'm here to help man!

------------------
Forrest Lee Jr.
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