The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello,

I am a "Newbie" and I bought my first steel (Mullen SD10, 3 pedals and 4 levers). I did this because I finally decided it's time to take up this instrument that I truly love. "Wow" what have I got myself into is my first impression. I have played Lead Guitar for over 50+ yrs. and suddenly I am back in grade school.

To all you players I am envious.

I am not sure how to get in touch with Mickey Adams, I see him communicating here on the Forum. I have watched many of his instructional video's and would like to find his website to obtain more. I have also looked at the Pedal Steel Pages for some idea's.

I am not sure if the Mullen tuning is the same as standard as Mullen did not include the tuning setup in the manual.

Interested in some thoughts from the X-perts.

Cheers...

Click the PM or Email button on any of Mickey's posts to contact him.

Welcome to the fold
You might find a book helpful. Either Mickey Adams book or Winnie winstons.

I think it might be John Scanlon here on the forum, if you find any of his posts, he has a complete list of Mickey's youtube videos.

Here’s a “sticky” link to Mickey’s videos
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=
Enjoy your pedal steel journey Larry!

Larry , try this. http://www.richardsinkler.net/_mickey_adams/index.html May be what you're looking for. Royce

Welcome to the matrix....

If you are overwhelmed and confused, that's all part of the experience.

It gets better.... slowly...

Welcome Larry, I'm new around here too...Your not alone!!!!

You're definitely not alone Larry. I share a very similar story to you (45 yrs 6-string - and pretty good at that). I started with a lap steel in May, and haven't even received my MSA yet, and other than picking some stuff out in my house by ear, I'm as lost as I can be haha.

Thanks Edward for the Sticky Link, to the videos that will help a lot.

And to the rest of you `Gentlemen 'thanks for your input I will be monitoring the Forum for your wealth
of knowledge.

Cheers

Larry, You may find starting out with the major string groupings will be a great start. 3,4-4,5-5,6-3,4,5-4,5,6-5,6,8-6,8,10 and 5,6,9 is a 7th. Use picks for sure. Use a good plastic thumb pick, (National) I have been using Jeff Newman finger pics for over 25 years. I play somewhat aggressive and they work well for me. Great choice of a PSG. I own a Mullen myself. It has a great tone of it's own. I have been spoiled to the tone of Sho Buds for over 35 years now. My Sho Bud Super Pro is over 40 years old but it has a classic tone of it's own. Good luck and don't give up and don't throw your PSG in the closet. Get down the major string groups and you will move along very well.

Welcome to the "THE RIDE" hang on tight.
Since you have played 6 string for years. I would suggest you get a Mel Bays Pedal Steel Guitar Chart for E9th tuning. Check the SG Forum store and internet to find it. With this chart you can transpose the chords from your Six string knowledge to the Steel Guitar.

It shows the chords with pedals and knee levers to use to achieve the chord. Good Luck on your "RIDE" ane Happy Steelin.

Larry Ball wrote:I am not sure if the Mullen tuning is the same as standard as Mullen did not include the tuning setup in the manual.

There is no actual "standard", but most E9th guitars have a lot in common.

https://b0b.com/wp/?page_id=960 shows the most widely accepted tuning with 3 pedals and 3 knee levers. With a little bit of testing you can figure out which lever is which. The lever that lowers string 2 often lowers string 9 too, and it may have a "half-stop" on string 2. Pushing past that stopping point lowers the 2nd string another half-step from D to C#.

The 4th knee lever varies quite a bit from one player to another. Many modern guitars use it to raise string 1 F# to G#, string 2 D# to E, and lower string 6 G# to F#. Again, it just takes a little bit of testing to see if that's what yours does.

Which knee lever does what is a matter of personal preference. The most popular arrangement is the one used by Buddy Emmons:
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It's likely that, if your guitar is close to this, the main difference will be RKL. Buddy didn't raise his 1st string F# to G# on that lever like a lot of people today do. Old guys like me raise tend to the 1st string to F# to G and don't raise the 2nd string at all.

So you see, there really is no standard.

Thx b0b,

My guitar is the same as your chart, my RKL raise the 1st string to G also.

One more question if you don`t mind. I have watched a online video of a gentlemen tuning the pedals and knee lever`s with the tuning tool that is provided by Mullen. He mentioned to make sure that you have the right peg for tuning by noting the peg movement when the pedal or lever is depressed. Well that`s great but if you notice more that one moves that becomes a bit of an issue.

I guess you pro`s take things for granted when tuning these items but to us `Newbie`s` it`s like standing on a railway tracks with a train bearing down on you and you can`t figure out how to jump off.

My Peterson tuner suggests that some pedals are sharp so they need adjustment.

Cheers

Generally with an all pull guitar like yours, raise pulls are at the top with the guitar upright and lowers at the bottom. Generally.

You didn't get a map? That is criminal!

I guess you could make your own if you have a decent spreadsheet program like XL, with 10 columns representing strings and as many rows as you need to represent the nuts. Then label the boxes according to which changer moves which nuts on which strings. One changer can certainly move more than one nut, so you have to pay attention to which string/nut/changer mechanism you are working on and get the labeling right.

I don't use a Peterson, but I believe they are set up to tune some strings sharp and others flat, depending on which "tempered tuning" you select.

Welcome to your brave new world...

There's one column of tuning nuts for each string. The top rows are raises, the bottom rows are lowers.

I sometimes hold a tuning nut between my fingers while I push a pedal, to make sure that it's the right one. If the pedal isn't pulling it directly, it won't move.

Occasionally, two rods in one finger will move in response to the pedal, but one is along for the ride.
Grab onto one of the two as you press the pedal/move the knee. One of the them will stay still, or at least tug on your fingers. You may wish to color one of them with a Sharpie to make a note to yourself.

BTW, I've been playing for 35 years, and I still have to use that trick now and then.

Larry, The Peterson Tuner is a excellent tuner for you. I use the "0E9" setting for the open tuning and I use the "0P9" for my pedals and knees. It will get you very close to a perfect tuning if you prefer 440. Their is a 442 setting on their also.