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Topic: Playing Pedal Steel with No Pedals and No Knee levers |
Wayne D. Clark
From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2010 4:49 pm |
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I was Playing the other day and a friend asked me If one could Play a Pedal Steel and Not Use the Pedals and the Levers. I told him probably but why. Well he wondered how you would tune it different of leave it the same and I said you would have to probably tune it some what different but never tried it. Seems funnyI said if you have the pedals and levers why you wouldn't use them. He said Just wondering if it was possible. well any thing is possible but maybe not practical
Wayne D. Clark
Desert Rose S10 3/5
Peave 110
Goodrich Volume Pedal |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2010 5:35 pm
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I concentrate on E9 pedal steel but I usually wind up playin the C6 neck non pedal style as I started out on non pedal C6. The string spacing throws me off a tad and slants are a little trickier but it works out for me.  |
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Paul Crawford
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 13 Aug 2010 9:24 pm
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I do it on C6th all the time. You can do it on E9th easiest with either the A/B pedals depressed or with the E strings lowered. Either one is nice 6th tuning very near what you'd use on a 6 string lap steel. I'd avoid trying to do too many bar slants on adjacent strings, but other than that, you're good to go.  |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 13 Aug 2010 9:59 pm
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When I started playin' steel ten years ago, I didn't use pedals or knees,and at one time I thought I'd keep the pedals open more often, but then I started usin' them. I don't use the knee levers as much because my left side is partially paralyzed.
Brett |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2010 4:32 am Well, yes I guess!!
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Many of you 'old' guys like me, will remember Billy Bowman playing. I have some old tapes around here & he had a D-10 Marlen & hardly ever hit the pedals & I consider him to be one of the greats of steel guitar. I am sure Billy knew exactly what those dang pedals were doing, just decided to do it his way, & I for one, am glad he did!!
Ernie Pollock |
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Larry Haas
From:
Morganton, North Carolina USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2010 6:39 am Pedals and Knee's
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Hi Everyone
I am 65 years old and I play the bass and guitar in a local band ( old high school buddies ) and I have been wanting to play the steel for a long time. Since time to learn is not on my side now I bought a package deal from Bobbe Seymour. Seems to be a nice setup for learning. My problem is I have a prosthetic left leg and I had to move the pedals over to the right a few inches so my leg wouldn't move the LKL lever. I raised the pedals a little because I have no movement by way of the ankle. I am getting used to just pushing the pedal down but I have to kinda look where it is since I have no feeling from the foot. Also I can push the A/B pedals but I can't slant my foot to release either one individualy with out hitting the LKL and LKR. I guess what I am asking is there an E9 setup that might work better than just standard the came with the steel. It is a GFI Expo. There are a lot of variations out there and I am a very new learner. I am very mechanically inclined so I could move or adjust something if needed but would like to keep it as close to standard as possible in case I wanted to sell it for another brand or a D10 one. I am a retired electrician and have plenty of time to practice,practice,practice. Any suggestions appreciated
Thanks for reading this long post.
Richard |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 14 Aug 2010 7:39 am
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Larry, you could move the pedals all the way over and play them with your right leg. You would not be the first person to do so.
Gene Fields would certainly be willing to modify the guitar for you.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Larry Haas
From:
Morganton, North Carolina USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2010 8:22 am
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| Mike Perlowin wrote: |
Larry, you could move the pedals all the way over and play them with your right leg. You would not be the first person to do so.
Gene Fields would certainly be willing to modify the guitar for you. |
Hey Mike
I did talk to someone at Steel Guitar Nashville about this and that is what they recommended if I found out it wouldn't work in the standard setup. I am going to try it in standard for a while and if it is not working right then I'll either move them myself or send it to someone. I don't think it is a difficult move. Definetely would look at it real close underneath and make sure I could do this myself. From what I have seen so far it wouldn't be a problem. So far it is working ok within the limitations of using both pedals and letting up on one when needed. People listening probably wouldn't know the difference of not being able to use that type of run anyway. Since I am that new to this steel, I have a long time anyway to get used to it and adapt and learn. When they took part of my leg off I was out of work for 6 months. I went back to work as an electrician, climbing ladders and all, for 5 years and finally retired. I adapted my handicap to my work without very much problems. People have called me stubborn but I think you have to adapt and do the best you can with what you have to use. Thanks for the info and I'll use it if needed.
Richard  |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2010 9:19 am
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| The "Yellow Bird" melody (on the 6th tuning) is a good one for playing with no pedals/levers. Two notes at a time the whole way, no slants or behind bar pulls needed. |
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Sherman Willden
From:
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2010 1:19 pm
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I was looking at the training tabs I have and a lot of them are two string runs. Just substitute a bar slant or pull for the pedals and, voila, you are playing non-pedal steel.
_________________
Sherman L. Willden
It is easy to play the steel guitar. Playing so that the audience finds it pleasing is the difficult act. |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2010 8:18 pm
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Larry, I broke my left ankle a few years ago and I moved my pedal and used my right foot like Mike was talking about. Worked fine. Talk to Gene.
Tony |
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