Lowering 6th string a whole step

Michael Voorhis · From: Frederick, Maryland, USA

I just put a 6th string whole step lower on my ZB custom in place of the g lever and I should have done it sooner. It negates the need for a G lever because you can still get the g with the lever and the b pedal. I can't get the high g on the first string anymore but I think this pedal is so much more useful, in my opinion, that it won't matter much. I borrowed the idea from Dickie overby and have been studying his plating. He really was an incredible player and has some beautiful phrasing with the sixth string lower.

Does anyone else use this change?

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I constantly use this change. I find it incredibly useful as long as it's on the opposite knee from E=>Eb lever. In principle, one can get some the same general type of changes with the 7th-string F#=>G# lower in reverse. But I tried both and the interaction with the B-pedal plus the natural flow with other moves on the 6th string makes the G#=>F# lever more useful, for me at least.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I like the G# whole tone lower, too.
On U12 you can have it on string 6 and 10.
I have it on P0 to the left of the A pedal.

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Exactly what Dave said. Works best on a lever on the opposite knee than the E-Eb lever, moving in the opposite direction. Don't know who used this change first, but it's prominently featured on the Emmons Guitar Company's old BE-E9 course from the '70s (the course with all the Ray Price shuffles). An excellent tutorial:

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I like the fast Chickin Picken licks you can do with it in open position on E9th.
I tried it on a lever but like it better on a pedal.
I still have G# to G on the RKL lever.
Using Buddy's chart you can use it as a knees-together lick with the E lowers to get a nice V chord at the I poition.

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Michael Voorhis · From: Frederick, Maryland, USA

I know on dicky overbey's copedent only the sixth string is lowered the whole step and that's how I set up mine. But is there another lower or raise that someone suggest I should add to it? I do kind of like it on its own, but I was also thinking of adding a 9th string half step raise to give me a 5th chord on the low strings. I'm fairly new to the pedal steel so is there a reason why I shouldn't do that? Or is there something better I can add?

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Might want to read this before adding string 1 | 2 F#=>G# | Eb=>E changes on the same lever with the string 6 G#=>F# change - https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=353036

Personally, since I generally play little to no modern (year 1992+) country music where these string 1/2 changes are prevalent, I don't worry about it - I have 2 guitars where they're both glommed on there because I don't have an extra lever and I will not live without the string 6 whole tone lower. But if you wanna duplicate a lot of modern country licks, I'd follow Paul's advice. Personally, if I really need those string 1/2 changes, I can just grab my wrench and disengage the string 6 change. It ain't that hard.

BTW - I think it's worth going through virtually every thread where Paul, Buddy, Lloyd (through other people - he doesn't directly post here), Tommy White, and many, many other great players have made comments. You will learn a LOT, provided you go in with an open mind. Think about it - in the electric guitar world, this would be comparable to having Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, and others of the "Gallery of the Greats" telling you how they approach stuff.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

The 6th string whole tone lower sounds great as an open-position Ending lick on a Ballad.
Open-position, Key of G:

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

I have had lower of 3d string in sync with 6th string on RKL for a long time, and would not be without that change on both strings for anything.

Note that I prefer wound 6th, which makes syncing the 3d with it easy since they need about the same travel. The negative side is that not all changers can lower wound 6th, or 3d, far enough, at least not without some mechanical modifications.

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