Lever raising 7th and 1st strings

R Robichaud · From: Riverview, N.B. Canada

I believe the lever raising the 1st and 7th string is standard with most steel players. I never use this lever and would be very interested in knowing how many of you do use it and on what occasions. please name songs or tunes for which you would apply this lever. Thanks Bob

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I use it to get a 7th chord with A & B Pedals down, very handy.

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

Bob, no specific song, but a few ways to use them, Beginners Notes #5, Beginners Notes #14, Beginners Notes #16, Beginners Notes #18, Beginners Notes #41.
I like to study what the sounds are there on strings 1 & 7, so that when needed, I can apply them. I raise both 1 & 7 a half step to "G". Hope this is of some use...ds

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I have it on floor pedal #7 on my S-12. It's mainly used with my right foot. I also use my right foot on pedal 8 which raises string 4 to F#.

When doing west coast stuff it's very useful. I also use it with the left foot when doing some B6th things as when you're in that mode it gives you a nice #5 (augmented) chord position.......JH in Va.
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Michael Douchette · From: Gallatin, TN (deceased)

I have found it very handy to raise the 1st a whole tone, but the 7th only a half. The lower 7th voicing in the chord is more usable to me than a high one, and the unison with the 3rd string is more usable for me than a lower unison.
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Larry Rafferty · From: Ballston Spa, NY

I use it very often to end a song. For example: to end Fraulein in the key of F, I slide up to the 13th fret with no pedals or knee levers, I pick strings 4,5,6...step down on the A and B pedal, pick strings 3,4,5 with the AB still down lower the 5th string with the vertical knee lever, pick string 1 and engage the G lever while at the same time releasing Vertical Knee and AB pedals

To end any song that ends on an open fret with no pedals or knee levers...example: I cant stop Loving You....in key of C.......at the 8th fret pick string 8, then 6, then 5, then 4, then 1, and engage G lever. This allows you to slide into the last note without losing any sustain.

These are just a few simple ways to use the G lever, as well as just using it to ge a double tone by picking the 1 and 3 strings with the G lever engaged.
Hope this helps.
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Joseph Barcus · From: Volga West Virginia

I use it as much as I use the E lower if your band is playing alot haggard, or jennings stuff you may want to experment with it you will find it to be what youre looking for to get the job done. I use it more then the full lower on the 6th string. hardly ever use the 6th string lower instead just jump down to the 7th raise alot.
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Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

I raise only the 7th string to G on my vertical. I like that leaving the 1st string as F# gives me the 13th chord, or high F# as melody note, with the AB+Vertical 7th chord. I agree with Mike P. that it's good to have a change on the vertical that goes with pedals down, for leverage.

David Doggett · Posted 16 Jan 2009 9:56 am

In addition to providing the 7th in the A and B pedals down position, in the A pedal minor position it gives a b5 which is very useful in minor blues and jazz runs (also gives the b5 in the A pedal and F lever position). I have the raise to G as a feel stop on RKV and can take it on up to G# for unisons. On the Maverick I started on I use to have to get that pedals-down 7th by pulling the first string with my finger behind the bar, a real pain down near the nut. I was very thankful to get that on a lever on my first pro pedal steel.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Raising the 1st and 2nd strings and lowering the 6th on the same knee lever, as I have seems to be more common than raising the 1st and 7th on the same knee.

I raise the 7th a half tone on the same knee lever that I lower the 2nd a full tone and lower the 9th a half tone.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I cut my pedal steel guitar teeth on some of Scotty's excellent material published by Mel Bay.

His copedent had the 1st and 7th string raises from F# to G.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I use it on the 7th string mainly for the 7th with A & B Pedals, but occasionally use for scale runs where I want the sound of the 7th.

The first string I use more for licks. One I use in the key of A:

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

Richard, that reminded me of this...

Mama Tried-Intro “A”
Play first phrase through three times(Can also be played open at the nut)
1_______________________________________________________________________
2___________________________________12D________________________________
3_______________________________________________________________________
4_______12________12_______12___________________________________________
5_____________________________________________12A________12A___________
6__12B______12B______12B______12B_______12B________12B________________
7_______________________________________________________________________
8_______________________________________________________________________
9_______________________________________________________________________
10______________________________________________________________________

1__5G--5______0G--0_____________________________________________________
2_______________________________________________________________________
3_______________________________________________________________________
4_________5__________0__________________________________________________
5_______________________________________________________________________
6_________________________0B__0B~~_____________________________________
7_______________________________________________________________________
8_________________________0___0~~______________________________________
9_______________________________________________________________________
10________________________0A__0A~~____________________________________

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Lots of Hag licks come out of that raise! The Bottle Let Me Down, comes to mind as a good one to hear how well it works.

Don

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I personally think it's a mistake and conflict to have 6 lower on the same lever as two raise and 1 raise, so 7 raise is it for me.

Now, one thing you can do is imitate a Tele picker who is imitating a Steel picker ! . Depending upon position, you can throw that G bender or B bender phrase right back at 'em', and I do !

Primarily I use it to pull UP to scale notes in phrases, keeping things moving.

here's a clip from YouTube that I posted in 2006, Star Spangled Banner , take note from 1:09 to 1:13.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJjMqvrOx8I

Also again at 2:02 to 2:08 and again at 2:13 to 2:18, this last one is a raise of the 1st string but could never be used if 6 lower was on the same lever, as it is a sweep across the stings.

I received a note from a forum member back then about this and had to go back and listen to what I played, but this is what I am referring to about pulling UP to notes in the scale.

I think unconsciously I use this pull often. I know I don't think about it. I never think chords or detail like that, I just know what the pull does and use it accordingly. I also never think about tire air pressure, I just know there's air in the tires !

tp

Larry Edwards · From: Broadalbin, NY

[quote="Larry Rafferty"] hey larry slide down 2 and back2
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Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

I know that Jay Dee had a 7th string lever in his "Get Inside" video. My tab book is currently unavailable. Anybody got the info on what his 7th string change was/is?

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

The standard for a while was to raise 1 and 7 a half tone each with RKL.

Then in the 70's, Buddy removed the 7th string raise and replaced it with the 6th string whole tone lower.

This then became standard; and unless they have changed it since I last surveyed the manufacturers, it is the standard shipped PSG now, unless otherwise ordered.

However, I doubt it is going to stay that way, because of much of what is stated in all the posts above.

One major reason for this is: Paul Franklin decided to raise 1 and 7 a whole tone and raise the 2nd string a half a tone on one knee lever. He has used this on countless records for years now. Some players have this now. Many however, have compromised with the way Jack Stoner does it.

IE: They raise 1 a whole tone, 2 a half tone and lower 6 a whole tone and split this with the B pedal.

I hate this setup, BUT I used it on my old Excel from new, because I had no place to put what I really wanted, without using 4 right knee levers. RKL RKL2 RKR and RKR2

Thus I wanted to have the PF knee lever on RKL and lower the 6th string a whole tone on RKL2.

This is the way I had Mitsuo set up my new Excel. See the following copedent.

I have RKL timed so I can feel when 1 and 7 reach the G note as it begins to move the 2nd string. Thus I have what this thread started out with. IE: 1 and 7 raised a half tone. 1 and 7 raised a whole tone and 2 raised a half tone. And on RKL2 I lower 6 and 10 a whole tone. The best of the worlds that I want.

I do NOT know (as of now) whether I will ever get used to it. If I can't, and that is a REAL possibility, I will comprise it and do what Jack S. said above and only use one RKL.

Incidently, I DID get used to two RKR's years ago, but it was a struggle. And I mean a real struggle.

carl
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