The Steel Guitar Forum

This lower is revealing some interesting chord possibilites when combined with the E-Eb lever. Say I'm in G, 3rd fret, open strings 5,6,8. When I lower both the 6th and 8th string levers, I get a straight V chord. So I can go from G to D. Big deal, right? Well, if you let off on the 6th string lower (and keep the 8th string lowered) there's a nice transition triad (part of a 6th chord) that will bring you into a 7th chord when you depress the B pedal. If you follow this little progression back down and then let go to resolve, it really has a nice ring to it.

I'm sure I'm not the first to do this, but thought I'd throw it out there in case someone had this change and wanted to try it.

Is there anybody doing these type of things with the G# to F# on the 6th string who might want to chime in here?

Chris,

I added that change on LKR a few months ago primarily to allow me to resolve to I along with the E-D# lever coming down from four frets above in this sort of progression:

(G major)
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
5 10A 8A 8
6 10 8 8 --
7
8 10 8 8 -

B A G
F# E D
D C B
</pre></font>
I soon found it useful for the effect you described as well. Also a nice extra "lick" at final cadences for straight I chord bending up to the third.

When I ordered a new guitar a few weeks ago, I was reluctant to devote an entire knee lever to this change. I put it on the same lever that will be raising the first and second strings to G# and E.

Dan


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Dan Beller-McKenna
Big Red
Durham, NH

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Dan Beller-McKenna on 15 July 2006 at 03:24 AM.]</p></FONT>

That change was on a new Sho~Bud LDG I bought in 1983 I have had it since then on my guitars.

On my new Carter, LKR, lowers the 6th to F#, raises the 1st to G#, and raises the 2nd to E.


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John Drury
NTSGA #3

A lick from 'Love Me Tender'

Activate E lever (lower the 4th and 8th strings a semitone) and hold it in this position throughout.

Place bar at third fret

Lower 6th string a whole tone, play strings 4 5 6

Come up a half tone on the 6th string,('half-pedal the knee lever') at same time press pedal A (raising 5th string a full tone)

Release 6th string knee lever, release pedal A, and press pedal B (raising 6th string a half tone.

If your guitar is an all-pull, with accurate splits, then, instead of 'half-pedalling the knee lever', keep it fully activated and press the B pedal.

Jon and Dan, I raise the 1st string a half tone on the same lever for 7th licks and such. I used to raise my 1st and 2nd as you are doing, but I was driving myself nuts overusing it and decided to remove it.

Dan and Richard, those are nice changes; I just tried them out on the guitar. Don't mind if I use them on the gig tonight, do you? I only added this 6th string lower yesterday (after watching Ricky Davis on Youtube), so these suggestions are great.

Cheers,

Chris

Chris, I don't think Ricky lowers the 6th string. He does lower the 7th to G#. It can be hard to lower the 6th a whole tone if you use a wound string. Some guitars will not do it at all.
Clyde Lane

Chris, I use that change a lot, that you describe in your original post. I also use the split a lot (B pedal with LKR). I have G# to F# on LKR also. Since the split (G# to G) gives a Im or IV7, I then also put 2nd string D# to D on the same lever, so I can get the dom7th for the Im chord and the 4th for the pedals down IV7 chord.

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Mike Barone
2006 Carter S10 5&5, Sho-Bud Pro-1 5&5, BJS 15/16" Bar, Nashville 112
Assorted Guitars & Keyboards

Clyde,

The clip I was watching was Ricky with his Fulawka - he's lowering the 6th string on LKR. I double-checked his Fulawka copedent (listed here in an old thread), and it was on that guitar. He probably doesn't have in on the LDG, although I'm really not sure. Ricky?

Michael, you've got a great list of gear - the best of both worlds. I envy you. I love my Carter but miss my old Sho-Bud.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 15 July 2006 at 09:46 AM.]</p></FONT>

I got a book and CD on eBay a few years ago that dealt specifically with this change. I should did it out and go through it again.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

I made two more knees for my 72 Bud in 74. This change was one of them. Had Joe put it on my Kline U-12, and had Ricky and John put it on my new old Bud. Wouldn't want a guitar without it. That 1 to 5 change is a beauty!

Chris, If you dig the 6th string lower by is't self you should try adding the raise on the 9th string with it.(6 down to F# 9 up to E) Then you can do some real neet stuff going from the 1 chord to the 5 and back. It's buy far my favorite lever( I also raise 1 a half step with it)


Have fun!!! James

Nice suggestion, James. That sounds like a killer combination. I have to order a few more pullers and rods, or else the C6 is going to get stripped.

You can find my E9 (3 & 6) setup if you CHECK THIS website that I have!

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment

I have that change on the same knee lever that drops the 2nd string to D/C#. I don't have the 9th string drop to C# on my guitar.
And, as was mentioned, I use a plain #22 string for the 6th.

When I bought my Bud it had a raise on the 7th string 1/2 step, and I recently changed it to a whole step to bring it in unison with the 6th string G#. It kinda has that same flavor (the "half-pedaling" discussed above) and when you climb down (7R->7->8->8L) provides a nice lick two frets back from the pedals down position.

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Kyle Everson
Sho-Bud Pro-II
Fender Twin Reverb
Goodrich 120

I have more fun lowering my 6th string a half tone! Tom Brumley lives on that change!

I do a feel stop lower on the 6 which gives me the minor at the root no pedals.........yes, that's cool. For the last year or so I was raising the 7th string a whole tone as well, but I switched the change to the G# lower just for a laugh. Now I want both changes, but have to get the extra rod and puller. Until I get some extra hardware, I have to change one pull for another.