The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey all-

I'm new to the steel. Making another attempt at it but always bog down with picking/blocking.

I'm learning out of a few books, dvds and the Paul Franklin's online lessons.

This is from DeWitt Scott's Deluxe Pedal Steel Guitar Method.

How closely should I adhere to these picking finger suggestions?



the Thumb followed by the second finger on the same string feels a little awkward...will there a benefit from strictly following the suggestions?

also in the G7 measure, the A pedal to no pedal shouldnt be picked, right? so if use my thumb for the A pedal down and release, should i use my second finger then on the 6th string?

thanks!

The Thumb/finger alternate picking on the same string is crucial in order to avoid the pogo stick single finger approach which will ultimately be a limitation. Perhaps practice repeated eighth notes on one string in this manner- alternating thumb/finger. Old pre -electric Hawaiian playing is full of this, as a means of generating volume. Even more awkward but ultimately helpful is the alternate or cross pjcking with Thumb and finger while moving DOWN through strings.
The right hand suggestions here look sound, but you might want to practice this passage using Th/M (or Th/I) and then land on beat 1, C note string 6 with Thumb.

In the beginning I was mystified by how little use the index finger gets in melodic playing, but I'm getting used to it.

I'm quite happy to blindly copy people who know more than I do - there's a limit to how far an enquiring mind can take you

Travis Toy can start you out right...

https://travistoy.com/travis-toy-tutorials

awesome! thanks everyone appreciate the insight!

Hello Eric,
This video popped up recently, it is James Shelton on "Practical Practice tips, part 3." Just look that up on YouTube, he covers using the thumb and middle finger for fast playing. In my case, the thumb and index are too close together for fast picking and would clash, making using the thumb and middle easier. It seems awkward, but you get used to it......Pat

Hi Eric,

Glad I saw this. I was posting earlier at the main PFM private FB group when Modern Music Masters texted saying you were in need of some advice.

Eric you are actually in the "E9 Foundations course" which is designed for getting beginners started out correctly preparing them for the full blown method and the rest of your career as a musician/steel guitarist.

In the E9 Foundations every known way to successfully block for getting a beautiful tone and playing fast & clean is taught so you can go there a little later on with ease. I advise everyone to follow the lessons verbatim. Learning this is so hitting brick walls are eliminated for the songs you want to play..I believe you have not found your "Physicality"...Please don't miss finding what's easiest for you to play. If you do, you will always struggle. Finding "Your" physicality is the very first step to master before playing anything.

This is the process..."What fingering you choose always starts like this" For the specific fingerings..I advise choosing several as you learn something new (Do this to find what works best for your physicality) Our hands are all different. Now memorize the easiest fingerings very slowly...Perfection is the goal - not speed which comes later through slow and meticulous practice. Practicing slowly so every note sounds precise and clean is always the goal because the memorization mode has to be perfect. Classical musicians learn technique this way and so should steel guitarists. We are not exempt from how musicianship is learned.

As I improvise I will actually change my fingerings depending on what I played before or where I am headed after. So as you proceed forward in your E9 Foundations course - there are some picking exercises to check out...Try playing those with the suggested fingerings and then change them up...The reason for changing them up at your stage is to learn what is easiest for your hand to accomplish...Your physicality will determine that answer. YOU can do this!

After your physicality is found, when you want to challenge yourself (which I advise) choose the more awkward fingerings at practice times to help build technique. Even though those awkward fingerings will never be your main go to, you are actually teaching your memory how to improvise fingerings on the fly.
When players only pick one way, using one fingering the same everytime, They will certainly hit brick walls as speed is increased. Their memory knows "No Other fingerings" to play - thats how stumbling happens.

Although Buddy used mostly his Middle and Thumb (back and forth) there were occasions when he was playing the same exact notes where he would start with the T then M - Then the next time he starts with the M then T for those same strings...Sometimes he would use all three like for the banjo roll stuff he did. Buddy certainly needed to access all three fingers depending on what he played and studying the awkward is how to get there.

The point is practice to find your physicality first...Once that is found, then press on with the awkward fingerings...You will eventually end up using them all.

In seminars I jokingly pick a string and immediately block it with my elbow. Then I say, "Just because I can does not mean I should." Within the highest level players there are only 3 elements for blocking that will reach the speed level while maintaining the control needed for switching back and forth from legato to staccato notes. All 3 elements are on the right hand and you will be advised "So and so" uses this and that and you will start spinning because everyone seems to know how to play better...I totally disagree with using the left hand for anything but expressing the heart and soul in your playing.

My Hawaiian teacher, Wanda Bruening, never taught me whole songs, just pieces, and I "Really wanted to play whole songs" "She said, "Honey I will teach you what you need to learn so you can learn whatever you want" That's a great teacher!
The pieces she taught me were the lesson - looking back I see vividly - Wanda taught the important parts for building musicianship. In essence she was shortcutting my learning time by placing my focus on the tools first. Then I could build my house. "E9 Foundations is the toolbox"
Stay safe!
Paul

Paul I have seen on video you say C6 is easer to learn than E9. For a new player is it better to start with your E9 or C6 foundation course? I was looking at E9 simply because there seams to be more material available.

Hi Dale,
I am curious...Do you play steel or another instrument? Or is the steel instrument completely new. Regardless of those answers, I would personally take up E9th first because its the tuning Americana and Country singers are attached to hearing...From there you can go to C6th. And yes the C6th is easier because its pedals follow the rules of theory thanks to Buddy Emmons.
Good luck on your journey!
Paul

Hi Paul:
I play a little guitar and dobro but new to pedal steel. I think you have answered my question I'll be signing up for your E9 course than take it from there.
Thanks Dale

Thanks so much for the input... I spent some time with some focused single note practice since the intial replies came in.

I feel more comfortable with the middle and thumb!

From what I gather, it's not as strict as I believed in regards to which fingers you use to pick . From a guitar background, I'm thinking more PIMA technique guidelines and assigning a finger to always pick a certain string but it's certainly not the case here.

So with this piece, they suggest the index playing a C note...but would it be acceptable to not use my index at all since I'm finding the middle and thumb are feeling less and less awkward each day?

Thanks!

If you follow Paul's advice, you won't need to worry about what is "allowed" to play any particular fingering. There are no rules other than "first find what is easiest for you based on your own physicality, master that with careful practice, and then work on the fingerings that are not as easy for you so that your technique will not be limited".

For the specific fingerings..I advise choosing several as you learn something new (Do this to find what works best for your physicality) Our hands are all different. Now memorize the easiest fingerings very slowly...Perfection is the goal - not speed which comes later through slow and meticulous practice. Practicing slowly so every note sounds precise and clean is always the goal because the memorization mode has to be perfect. Classical musicians learn technique this way and so should steel guitarists. We are not exempt from how musicianship is learned.

The point is practice to find your physicality first...Once that is found, then press on with the awkward fingerings...You will eventually end up using them all.

PAUL FRANKLIN, you mentioned your Hawaiian steel guitar instructor, Wanda Bruening, did she teach the,
OHAU MODERN NOTE METHOD for Steel Guitar.
I still have all 60 lessons for A-6 tuning from 1965.
Ken

Kenneth, Nationwide Oahu had 1100 outlets and a group of traveling teachers. They taught her the technique and music through notation...I learned through reading music from her own transcriptions not a book...She taught me how she learned and she played lap steel at the level of a Jerry Byrd type player...She was awesome. Anytime there was a local Hawaiian dance show Wanda got those calls.

I now know that learning intervals is the way to shortcut the learning process. If you read notation or by ear musicians have to speak in intervals to communicate. We can learn everything in depth through the language of intervals. Learn to read if your goal is to write and arrange music for big bands or string sections...Otherwise go straight to intervals and learn the same theory easier and faster.

And for a G# string I use 0.20 plain.
Paul