The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi!

Im a total newbie on my pedal steel. I was listening to this tune trying to figure it out but as a beginner it is soooo hard, i was wondering if one of you could help me out?

The song is called Cruel by Head and the Heart,

The part im trying to learn starts at the 1:56 point. It seems simple but as i dont have a solid foundation i am overwhelmed trying to figure it out!

Keep up the good work, you're progressing nicely!

So I do know basic chords and their positions. i could follow along in this song no problem, between the C (A and B pedal down) to the G with no pedal and then to the F 2 frets down. Its more so the smooth transitioning between those chords .

I always just play the main chords in songs and play along that way. im trying to incorporate more smooth transitions and little lead lines like the one in the beginning of the phrase i mentioned.

heres a video of me playing so you can get a sense of where im at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7GdCWH ... e=youtu.be

Hi Carlos. This isn't a difficult passage. The transition from C to G is played on strings 3&5.

1) Start on the 3rd fret with A&B pedals down.
2) Slide up to fret 6 no pedals
3) Slide up to fret 8 no pedals
4) Slide up to fret 10 while engaging A&B pedals. Be sure to stretch the pedal movement to emphasize it.

Next, you drop down to F. Still using strings 3&5

1)Strike strings 3&5 on the 10th fret with A&B pedals down. Let this ring.
2)Drop back to fret 8 with pedals A&B down. Strike strings 3&5 and let the note ring while letting up on the pedals, then pressing them again.

Finally, the Am to G.
1) Play strings 3&5 on the 3rd fret, pedals A&B down.
2) Let those strings while letting up on both pedals.

Second time through,
1) Strings 3&5 on fret 3. pedals A&B down and hold for the C chord
2) Stay on 3rd fret, no pedals strings 3&5 for the G chord
3) For the run down to F, At the 3rd fret hit strings 1-3-4-5 (one at a time)and while string 5 is ringing, slide it back to the first fret.
4) Play Am on the first fret with your lever that lowers the E's using any of your middle strings
5) Play G on the open 3rd fret.

I could tab this out for you, but it should probably be moved over to the Tablature section.....Hope this helps, it should get you pretty close.

This is what I'm hearing. It gets messy showing the dynamics of a lick like this in TabEdit, but basically you step on the B pedal first and gradually bring the A pedal down after it. Volume pedal technique helps too, when sliding up. You have some natural ability and demonstrate a good feel for how pedal steel fits in to place in a song. Keep it up.

Fred has kindly posted the tab for the first lick. Here's the way I hear the entire verse.

[tab]
C G G F Am G
1-----------------------------------------------
2-----------------------------------------------
3--3B~~6~~8~~10B--------10B--8B~8~8B----3B~~~3--
4-----------------------------------------------
5--3A~~6~~8~~10~10A-----10A--8A~8~8A----3A~~~3--
6-----------------------------------------------
7-----------------------------------------------
8-----------------------------------------------
9-----------------------------------------------
10----------------------------------------------

C G F Am G
1-----------3--------------------------------
2--------------------------------------------
3--3B~~~3-----3----------1-----3-------------
4---------------3--------1L----3-------------
5--3A~~~3---------3~1----1-----3-------------
6--------------------------------------------
7--------------------------------------------
8--------------------------------------------
9--------------------------------------------
10-------------------------------------------
[/tab]

Nice job, Tommy. I really need to get better at the forum’s html tabbing...

Carlos, very good, your on your way to pedal steel guitar land, don't give up!!!!

wow the amount of replies here is so amazing! Thank you guys for the help and thank you for welcoming me into your community! I will work on this tonight and perhaps share a video of progress.

CANT WAIT to get to your level!

Thanks everyone, cheers!