The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been playing since Christmas and am trying to branch out from the basic triad/A and B pedal stuff. I have no idea what to use my first two high F# and Eb strings for and therefore, never use my F and G levers. Is there some elementary function or chord-types dependent on these strings and levers so I can work them into my "practice routine"?

If you figure out you're major and minor scales you'll probably fall into the habit of using the 1st and 2nd strings quite a bit for passing notes on single string stuff. Also great for following melodies around while playing chords. It's just a matter of remembering those strings are there and understanding where the notes they offer fit into whatever scale your playing from.
You have knee levers that operate on those strings?

Matt, Since you only mentioned the AB pedals, I think the next step would lowering and raising your 4th and 8th strings. Most people refer to lever that raises them as the "f" lever and the lever that lowers as the "d" lever.

Here are 2 scales that use these levers. These are C scales.


5---1---1a---3a--6---8---8a--10a--13--
6-------------------------------------
7-------------------------------------
8--1d---1----3---6d--8d--8---10---13d-


5---1---1a---3a--4a--6a--8a--10a--11a--
6--------------------------------------
7--------------------------------------
8---1d--1----3---4f---6f---8---10---11f--

these use only 2 notes of the chord, you don't need to play 3 notes all the time. You can also use these patterns on strings 4 and 5. Try these in different keys. Both scales start 2 frets down from the AB pedals down major position. These scales are the basis for all kinds of melodies. Good luck.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bill Moore on 21 May 2006 at 09:32 PM.]</p></FONT>

Matt, those two strings are basically used for scale passages, either single note or harmony. Try hitting string 3, string one, string four and string two and end on the fifth string with first pedal down then release the pedal. and I think you will see what I am ineffectively trying to convey to you. For harmony hit strings 3 and 4 , then strings 1 and 2, then strings 4 and five with the A pedal down then release the pedal and you'll see how they can work in a descending harmony pattern. Hope this helps.

Say you're in the open position at the 5th fret A, using strings 3,4,5. This may be obvious to you, but you can get an E by picking strings 1, 2, 5. Slide down 2 frets and there's your D. No pedals needed to do this chord pattern.


Also, strings 2,3,5 will give you the minor 3 of the root chord, which on the 5th fret is C#m.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 22 May 2006 at 06:39 AM.]</p></FONT>

Yea, if the I chord is on 3 4 & 5, and the IV is at the same spot with A & B down, instead of going up two frets for the V (with A & B down), just release A & B and pick 1, 2 & 5 for the V chord.
At least that's how I think it works?<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 22 May 2006 at 01:36 PM.]</p></FONT>

Try the The F#'s to G# and Eb to E Knee Lever Change...E9th from Paul Franklin.

It is really GREAT!!!
http://www.paul-franklin.com./instruction.html

i have the opposite problem. i play them too much.

This will wake them up: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum8/HTML/002197.html

Gary, don't do that.....

Thanks for the link, Joey.........I'm printing it out as I type this. Can't wait to sound bad playing it!

Another great use for these two strings: ringing harmonised 3rds. You can get the notes in other ways but not while having them all ring. A great example of what I'm talking about is in bar 4 & 5 of the Blue Bayou solo here:
Blue Bayou

Enjoy, Chris! Don't try it on your Fender

Jon,
I think I use thirds like that too often.
They sound good and are easy to play.

jim-bob. i can't help it, they're so purrr-deee!

Hi Matt
If you want ,I will help a little. If you want a Cd with what you are lacking, use my E mail address,let me know ,and exactly what you want.Wife bought me a new car yesterday, still in a good mood.

Bill

Jon, thanks for the link, those ringing pairs sound great on the Blue Bayou solo. After playing around with it for a while I realised that I've used them before but only at the "no pedal" position over a I-chord. Here they are used in the no pedal position of the IV-chord but over the V7-chord. I haven't quite been able to get my head around the theory part of why both uses of the 1&2 and 3&4 string pairs work - perhaps someone can explain it?

Anyway it's a very romantic, swooning effect - your F# and Eb strings need never be bored again!