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Topic: Volume Pedal Exercises? |
Jesse Leite
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 8:17 am |
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Up until now I have been focusing more on my chords, scales, and picking hand technique. Now I want to get used to using my volume pedal....
I've been having trouble getting used to using the volume pedal properly. I either do not use it at all, or I swell it too much making everything sound pretty horrible. I also notice that I use the top end of the pedal too much, and end up maxing out the pedal all too often. I realize that I should be using the middle of the pedal more so that I have headroom for long sustained notes, and maybe even a little boost for solos. Do you guys have any advice for me (other than "practice")? Are there any good exercises that have helped you?
Thanks in advance,
Jesse
_________________
Playing an '81 BMI SD-10 4&6 through a Peavey Delta Blues 2x10 all-tube amp.
E9 Fretboard Reference Booklet (Chords & Scales PDF) |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 8:32 am Humm
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my advise would be, if your using a goodrich, take a little facet washer & super glue it in the back of the pedal so that it does not turn completly off. If you have a Hilton, it has an ajustment underneath to do the same thing. I remember back in the 70's when I first started, someone told me to unplug the vol pedal & put the guitar straight thru to the amp, this way, if you having a problem with your foot moving to much, nothing will happen, & after a few days or a week, your foot will quite pickin' on you & behave on the vol pedal. It worked for me. I asked a friend & good steel player what he thought was the worse part of my playing, I think that was at the Elks club, he said "all of it" but especially the pumping of th vol pedal". It broke my heart, but it also helped he to overcome some of my lousy habits, then I met Jeff Newman, and Herby Wallace & my world started to come together!! sorry this got so long, I am long winded!!
Ernie  |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 9:42 am
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Crank up the volume on the amp Jesse
that way, you'll hold back on the vp & get the hang of opening it up according to your playing & needs |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 11:09 am
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Jesse, At first you have to be really conscious of the volume pedal and make a real effort at holding that foot still. Slowly, it becomes automatic kinda the same as timing a slide and a pedaling into the chord like we talked about last time.
Jeff told us: find your normal playing level with the vol ped halfway down. Train your attack so that it is not too loud at this level.He also said train your fingers to control the volume.
Think: I need to use this thing for sustain only. Watch the youtube players and notice very little movement. One thing's for sure: It is not an easy beast to get on to. I am having problems after being away from it for so many years. We can spend a half hour on it on Friday if you want.
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BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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David Beckner
From:
Kentucky, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 12:23 pm
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Taken from Winnie Winston Book...page 53
Think of the volume pedal as being connected to your voice.If the song goes da-da-da-aaa,then think of the volume pedal swelling and sustaining that last da just as you would sing it.Listen to yourself playing on tape.It may surprise you to find how much volume varies in the course of a song.Aim for even volume...
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WILCOX SD10 (love the white mica)
WALKER SEAT
NASHVILLE 400
BEHRINGER RACK TUNER
CUSH CASE RACK
PEAVEY DELTA FEX
PARTS CASTER.Gospel and Classic Country Music
http://www.dbupholstery.yolasite.com |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 1:22 pm
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Learn "Mansion On The Hill".
Buddy Emmons version, it's often duplicated.
There are a lot of two note harmonies using strings 5 and 6 sliding up and down the neck.
As the notes decay, use the VP to keep the volume constant. After playing that tune a few hundred times the technique will become second nature to you. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Barry Hyman
From:
upstate New York, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 5:33 pm
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I am trying to learn to use it as little as possible. My problem is that I got really good at controlling volume when playing 6 string guitar with my fingers, so on pedal steel I tend to pick harder and step on the pedal at the same time when I want things louder, but of course then it gets too loud. So nowadays, the less I move it, the better I sound...
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com |
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Steve Wood
From:
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Jun 2010 9:53 pm Volume Pedal
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Hi Jesse,
The best advice I ever received was to PRACTICE WITHOUT IT for a while. There is certainly good reason to practice WITH one as stated above, but disconnecting it forces you to focus on your right hand in terms of attack and volume.
I am still in the process of getting this down...I'm by no means an expert on the topic.
If yer close to the Golden Triangle drop me a line and we can chat!
best,
steve |
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Peter den Hartogh
From:
Cape Town, South Africa
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Posted 17 Jun 2010 2:11 am
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My foot used to cover the whole pedal, front to back.
In other words, my toes would be more or less lined up with the front end of the pedal.
I noticed that John Hughey had his foot placed much more to the back of the pedal, almost halfway on the pedal.
I tried this and it gives you a totally different feeling and much more control.
It now feels as if you're controlling the pedal with your toes and not with your heel.
Does anybody else do the same?
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1977 Sho~Bud D10 ProIII Custom; Sho~Bud SD10 The Professional ; ETS S10 5x5;
Fender 1000; 1993 Remington U12; 1978 Emmons S10 P/P; GeorgeB Weissenborn;
Fluger Cat-Can; Asher Electro Hawaiian; Gibson BR4; Fender FS52; Guyatone 8str;
Fender Resonator ; Epiphone Coronet 1937; Rickenbacher Ace; Rickenbacher NS;
Dynalap 8string; Harbor Lights 8string; Aiersi Tri-Cone; Fender Stringmaster |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 17 Jun 2010 3:25 am
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Lloyd places his foot back on his volume pedal too, similar to how John H did. I tried it, but found I couldn't control the pedal as well as placing my foot further forward.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Jesse Leite
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 17 Jun 2010 4:48 am
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Thank you all! As far as playing without one for a while, I have consciously played without my volume pedal for the last 10 months since I got my steel. It's just in the last few days that I've started trying to use the pedal at all. I will try all these suggestions though! Sounds like there's some good ones here!
Thanks,
Jesse
_________________
Playing an '81 BMI SD-10 4&6 through a Peavey Delta Blues 2x10 all-tube amp.
E9 Fretboard Reference Booklet (Chords & Scales PDF) |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 17 Jun 2010 6:46 am
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Peter, Ken,
Jeff Newman did it this way as well. I remember that cowboy boot being halfway back on the pedal.
Since it seems the big pros do it that way, it sure would be worth a try...a longer try than what I did. I never seemed to get the hang of it. Well, back for another try!
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BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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