The Steel Guitar Forum

I would like to get some input on string picking combinations I know all the 345 etc but I hear some that I can't figure out what string there picking to get that sound any advice appreciated I've been playing a but could use input on different string grabs Thank you

456 853 1064 1086 Many others of course, just some that I use a lot

My favorite combination if 5 6 & 8. I get the best tone from that combination.
Also, I can play a whole song using only that combination.

Erv has a point - that to me is the heart of the instrument.

2,3,5 is fun to fool with. I also like the wide spacings - 3,5,8 and 4,6,10 - use the same pedal combinations as with the close ones.

3,4,5 - 4,5,6 - 5,6,8 - 5,6,9 - 5,7,8 (with LKR lowering the "E") 5,8 - 3,4 - 4,5 - 5,6. Use the number 10 also in some of the combinations. I use them in a good majority of the songs I play. You can pick up some C6 sounds with them also. Experiment.

I would spend a lot more time working on two string combos than on three. There are much more useful. You should be very comfortable playing all of the following:

3 & 4
3 & 5
4 & 5
4 & 6
5 & 6
5 & 8
1 & 2

Of course there are others. Play them using two fingers, and then using the thumb and a finger (use each one).

I agree with Kevin also. Every 3 adjacent string grip produces interesting, useful voicings and licks. The possibilities with more open grips seems endless to me.

Try going back and forth with these, no pedals no bar.
7-5-2 / 6-5-4 and 5-2-1 / 5-4-3
It's a V/I in E or I/IV in B.

9-7-5 / 8-6-5 is a nice ii/V type change.

There's stuff like this all over the place when you start throwing in pedals and levers. Almost too many choices for this rookie player, which brings me to what Erv said. Covering a whole song on 3 or 4 strings might be easy in some cases and challenging in others, but still totally possible and fun.

Or you could just take some sound advice from a pro.
Thanks, Paul. I'll work on that too.

Informative post for fledglings like me...

Thanks!

Fred Treece wrote:I agree with Kevin also. Every 3 adjacent string grip produces interesting, useful voicings and licks. The possibilities with more open grips seems endless to me.

Try going back and forth with these, no pedals no bar.
7-5-2 / 6-5-4 and 5-2-1 / 5-4-3
It's a V/I in E or I/IV in B.

9-7-5 / 8-6-5 is a nice ii/V type change.

There's stuff like this all over the place when you start throwing in pedals and levers. Almost too many choices for this rookie player, which brings me to what Erv said. Covering a whole song on 3 or 4 strings might be easy in some cases and challenging in others, but still totally possible and fun.

Thanks Fred, four month newbie on my Justice Pro-Lite, this has helped me big time, playing out next week at a disabled childrens farm festival on banjo, dobro and Pedal Steel and need to learn "The House of the Rising Sun" your ii/V change will come in handy. Trying to keep it close to the 8th fret.

If I'm not mistaken, the 5 7 9 combination gives you a minor chord.
Open it's B D F# which is a B minor.

865 8th fret, A pedal = Am
975 10 fret no pedals = Am
The House of the Rising Sun

10 fret 975
8th fret standard grips
10 fret standard grips
8th fret A & B pedals
10 fret 975
8th fret standard grips
7th fret A & B pedals

etc. etc. etc.

I think I'm learning this instrument
Many other grips available for this tune.

I have "House of the Rising Sun" tabbed out for E9th if anyone might be interested.

Bruce Bjork wrote:865 8th fret, A pedal = Am
975 10 fret no pedals = Am
The House of the Rising Sun

10 fret 975
8th fret standard grips
10 fret standard grips
8th fret A & B pedals
10 fret 975
8th fret standard grips
7th fret A & B pedals

etc. etc. etc.

I think I'm learning this instrument
Many other grips available for this tune.

Yes to your closing comment. A couple suggestions:
-The Am/C change can be done with just a simple A pedal down and release at fret 8.
-Same with F/Am (A+B, then release B)
-On that E chord at fret 7, you could add a raise lever on string 7 to make it an E7.

So many times the choices on this instrument are whether to move the bar or move a mechanism. When playing backup, I would opt for staying on the same strings when possible, less bar movement, and keeping the chord voicings in close range of each other.

Many Thanks to all you guys for the tips on string combos I will take the info an try an absorb it my old brain once again thank to all

Nice thread, guys.
J

Great thread, guys. I've been struggling with Minor Chords lately. This should help.

This is and interesting post to me. I had never seen anything on the 9-7-5 at the 10 fret being A-m. That opens a whole new lick for me. 2 frets down from where The 1 chord minor is found with The A pedal, You have the same notes on 9-7-5. Ureka. Oh No, More wood shed time, Figuring out other minors I use.

Two other A-m positions shown on some chord charts is 1st or 13th fret, Engage D knee lever lowering 4&8 is A-m, on strings 3-4-5-6-8-10 can be used in combination as long as 4 or 8 is in the grip.

Or at the 3rd or 15th fret B&C pedal engaged, Strings 3-4-5-6. is another A-m chord.

Good Luck on the adventure and Happy Steelin.

Make this thread a sticky!

Thanks

9,7,6 with B pedal gives a D chord at open or 12th fret. I use it sometimes switching from a 1 chord with A&B pedals on 5,6,8 to the 4 chord on 9,7,6. Add the 5th string with no pedals
S and you get a D6. Add the A pedal and you get a Dmaj7. 6th string not necessary in the 6 and maj7, and actually, they sound better to me without it. 9,7,5 with the A pedal is my favorite Maj7 voicing.

Try this one all in open, no bar position. Key of A. All on same open position

A = 10, 8, 6 w/A&B pedals C#, E, A

E = 10, 8, 6 no pedals B, E, G#

D = 9, 7, 6 w/B pedal D, F#, A

I use this a lot for comping rhythm in the lower register.

[* for a G in the same open no bar position:
6 w/Bpedal and G#/F# lever split comb. for G note
9 no pedal for the D
10 no pedal for the B]

You may have never thought of playing a D chord here... or any other 4 chord at the same fret position as the 1 & 5. Point being, just figure out the notes or intervals you are playing and find new and/or different positions and grips for interesting changes. Also handy if you break a string and need an alternate for the note.

The basics are great and comfortable grips, but there others all over the place in different grips and fret positions. Discretion needed as some of these are not the easiest to switch between.

4, 6 & 9 and alternating between AB & BC pedals at the proper frets one can play some really pretty and powerful melody lines.