The Steel Guitar Forum

Will someone please post or e-mail me a few licks (with a little context) using the VK. My carter has one but I've never attempted to use it. I don't really know what it does.

Matt

Matt,
It depends on what pulls are on that lever. Just because it's a vertical doesn't specify what strings are raised or lowered.

So what does it do? What strings move how much in what direction?

Many lower 5 and sometimes 10 from B to Bb on the E9 neck. Is that it?

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Sorry about that Larry, It appears to lower 5 and 10 a half step.

Matt

BTW Larry, I just wanted you to know that Im crazy about the version of Alison you recorded. It is one of the top played tunes on my ipod. Being a white knuckle flyer, it is my song of choice during those dreaded takeoffs. Thank you for that.

Matt

If you know your scales, you can make "licks" from them. Here's the G scale using the lower levers at the 8th fret. <font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>key of G - scale at 8th fret using lowers
F# _____8________________________________________
D# ______________8bb_____________________________
G# __8___________________________________________
E ________8--8b_________________________________
B __________________8--8b_______________________
G# ________________________8_____________________
F# __________________________8___________________
E ____________________________8--8b_____________
D __________________________________8b__________
B _____________________________________8--8b__8_ </pre></font>

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b2005.gif" width="78 height="78">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)   My Blog </font>

Thanks Matt. Glad you enjoy it. I've always been a big Elvis Costello fan. I hope your question has been adequately addressed here. If not let me know here or via EMail.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Larry, Thanks for the replies.

b0b, that scale was very helpful it puts the X lever in perspective for me. I am already working out a few phrases. However I don't see myself ever using this lever unles i'm already in the AB position or A or B position. Using it in an open position feels really awkward.

Matt

If you have the tunable split, using A+X gives you a real solid augmented chord. Use it in between a C and an F chord, or between a G and a C.

I usually push up from my toe on the floor when I want to engage the vertical by itself.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 06 February 2006 at 08:29 PM.]</p></FONT>

"Use it in between a C and an F chord, or between a G and a C"

B0B, what string combinations sound good here? Rather, which combinations do you like to use?<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Matt Greene on 07 February 2006 at 05:06 PM.]</p></FONT>

Matt,

There are lots of cool 7th and 9th licks with the B-Bb lever.

A super simple but complex sounding 9th chord lick is pick 345 at any fret, then slide back 2 frets and engaage the lever. Say your at 12th fret, B-E-G# becomes G#-D-F#.

Another one for a V7 to I (lets say D7 to G), pick strings 8 and 5 or strings 5 and 4 at the 8th fret with the B-Bb engaged. Now release the B-Bb and engage your E-D# lever and hear the cool V7 to I.

You can use the above 7th chord as another position on strings 8,5 and 4,5 in the sliding 6th intervals as you go up and down the neck, I use that a lot.

I have B-Bb as a regular lever, not a vertical because I use it so much. Raising the F#s to G on a vertical works well since you would normally have AB down when you want the G note.

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Scott Swartz on 08 February 2006 at 10:03 PM.]</p></FONT>