The Steel Guitar Forum

Do other tall players find that their arms are more extended than shorter players when playing?

Not talking about an issue solved by steel height adjustment. I want to get closer and comfy with my steel, but my ankles don't like the sharper angle so I made knee lever extensions and sit back further. But now my arms are more extended than I'd like. I want it all...

It seems like ideally, the pedal bar would sit further away so my legs get a tad more room and I can have the guitar sit a little closer to my body.

For me, yes. I'm 6'4 and a lot of that is in my legs, plus my arms are definitely long.

I won't have a normal-width single-neck pedal steel. I have a single-neck Zum U12 which is a bit wider than other single-neck guitars I've had. It's still a bit tight, but I can deal with it. I gave up a couple of really nice but narrower S10 guitars because they were just too narrow for me. Sitting in to the guitar, my knees were too far in and the strain on my ankles was too much. Ideally, I prefer a double-wide body.

Width also affects how much I need to raise my steel because the front legs angle out, and thus the pedal bar sits a bit further out the further I raise the guitar. I generally raise a normal-height double-wide body 2", but the U12 likes 3".

That's a good point that the pedal bar sticks out further when the guitar is raised more. I may need to experiment with that and push the limit on how high my steel is.

I'm also 6'4", but I'm not sure where my height is (as funny as that sounds). I'm a 34 inseam, average to below-average arm length.


I think my hip to knee measurement might be too long. I need the room for my legs, but my arms don't like it. I'm like a t-rex.

I’m tall and long like Dave M., and have adapted similarly. I am still on an S10 but will be shopping for an S12 soon, both for the ergonomics and to expand on the guitarism of it.

If your arms are feeling overextended, you are probably slouching to compensate. Bad posture will be the end of your playing mechanism, so you need to correct it right away. Hire a teacher, if for no more than to get you fitted comfortably into your guitar. Do a video Skype lesson with forumite John McClung or live face to face with a reputable teacher in your area. It will be worth the time and money.

I’ve always dealt with this issue and have decided that the best remedy is switching my E9th neck to the back of my double neck guitars. Harry Jackson is currently doing that to my old Fingertip, I’m going to have my show pro rearranged next.
-BR

Fred Treece wrote:Do a video Skype lesson with forumite John McClung or live face to face with a reputable teacher in your area. It will be worth the time and money.

FWIW, John McClung won't do a one-time Skype session. I asked him to do that and he said I have to sign up for four lessons.