Using Volume Pedal

Mel Mandville · From: Bellevue, Washington, USA

I'm a begining/intermediate player. I've been through a fair amount of instructional video,but haven't seen much on the proper use of the volume pedal. I've found out how to use it to sustain chords etc. Does anybody have any tips guidelines etc. or is this one of those things you have to just kind of work through in your own way.
I think I'm suffering from a bit of the ol over active foot . I gather that the trick is to get an even volume.

thanks, Mel

Ron Hiler · From: Sandford Mi USA

Mel...there are several things that come to mind, but first, you might bypass the volume pedal and play with out it for a while, then when you use it again you will see (hear) the difference

have fun, Ron

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

This may not be a particular problem for you, but one thing you might want to practice, Mel, is using your right knee levers WITHOUT MOVING THE VOLUME PEDAL. Make an exercise out of it. Find something you play that uses the RKL or the LKR and isolate just the section where the lever is used. Play just that part over and over to be sure you can maintain the same volume while using the right levers. That is a skill that must be learned. Practice keeping the same volume while engaging and releasing the levers, then practice swelling or diminishing the volume while engaging and releasing the levers. This skill needs to become second nature, so that you don't consciously think about it.

The suggestion to play without your volume pedal as also good advice. Getting used to playing without the pedal and still getting dynamics (loud/soft notes) will help your technique a bunch.

Another thing to practice is to play a chord FIRMLY and sustain the note AT THE EXACT SAME VOLUME as long as your guitar and amp can produce the note.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

"Squeezing" is the action you want...not "pumping".

The best advice? Remember, you almost never start playing a note, chord, or lick with the pedal all the way off. Unless you're not playing at all, keep your pedal 1/4 to 1/3 of the way "on". The "kiss of death" for a steel player is to have his playing come out sounding like a trombone (wahh-wahh-wha-wahh-wahhhh-wahhhhh).

Most pro's move the pedal very little during most of their playing.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Some good advice I got from Jeff Newman and Al Brisco (independently) was listen to Jimmy Day's recordings.

"Steel and Strings" is a good choice. Once I got his sound into my head, I knew what my target was, and working toward it became easier.

More about Volume Pedal Technique at: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/004262.html

Carl West · From: La Habra, CA, USA (deceased)

Mel,
You'll hear many methods on the use of volume pedals. To me it's all in the feel. All pedals will feel different in the beginning. Once you have that feel then you'll start applying that feel to whatever your playing. This comes with time and practice.
For me on the E9th I never take my foot off the volume pedal. It allows me to have complete control over changes in intros, solos and endings. I do allow myself to vary between using my volume pedal on the C6th neck because sometimes both feet are necessary for certain chords and combinations. That's just my opinion for what it's worth.

Carl West
Emmons LaGrande lll
Emmons Volume Pedal

Mel Mandville · From: Bellevue, Washington, USA

Thanks for the great advice guys.
I think I'm going to play with out the volume pedal for a while and see what happens. I'm sure it will make my right hand tech change for the better. It seems the pros I've seen move there foot small amounts. I'm playing through a Nashville 1000 with a Goodrich pedal. Carter S10

Thanks

Mel

Bill Myrick · From: Pea Ridge, Ar. (deceased)

When Keith Hilton FINALLY came up with a pedal for me (after threatening to choke him in front of folks) he gave me a neat little bit of advise that I found very helpful--set it so the sound is barely on when the pedal is clear up. It helps a lot in smoothing things out ! Now if I could just figure a way to keep the women at bay -

David Cobb · From: Chanute, Kansas, USA

Resist the urge to use the pedal to cut off notes between licks or to cut off a sour note in a attempt at damage control. One well known player suggests taping a block of wood of appropriate dimensions to the back of the pedal to prevent yourself from cutting off the volume completely while you're in the learning phase. Once you've become a "pumper" it can be a hard habit to break.

David Doggett · Posted 16 May 2003 7:01 am

I wouldn't play too long without the volume pedal. It is one of the hardest things for novices to master (along with tasteful vibrato) and is integral to the unique, liquid sound of steel. A good way to practice is to play a lot of slow chordal stuff with a lot of long sustained notes. Hymns are great for this. This will help you develop the ability to back off for the attack and then squeeze to get a steady sustain without the tell-tale novice swell.

Alternate that with speed drills. These take a completely different volume pedal technique. You don't have time to back off and squeeze, instead you have to hold your foot at the appropriate constant volume so your picking cuts throught the mix without having odd high notes that pierce your eardrums. Eventually these seemingly impossible techniques become second nature, but it takes time and practice (I know, I'm still working on it after playing for several years). Good luck, and stay after it.

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Student of the Steel, and cheap instrument connoisseur: customized 1970 Sho-Bud Maverick, Fessy S12U, Emmons S12 E9 P/P, Nashville 400, Fender Squire, Peavey Transtube Supreme into JBL 15", 1968 Gibson J50, '60s Kay arch-top, 7-string Raybro, customized Korean Regal square-neck, roundneck Dobro 90C, 1938 Conn Chu Berry tenor sax, '50s Berg mouthpiece, Hamilton upright piano. You make it, I'll play it (more or less)

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I think you should be able to play an entire night without your volume pedal. Developing the right and left hand technique required to play without a volume pedal will do more for you than learning to use the volume pedal -- if that makes any sense. We joke about 'it's all in the hands' (re: tone, technique, etc.) but in many cases, IT'S TRUE.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Mel Mandville · From: Bellevue, Washington, USA

Again thanks for the great advice. you guys have made me aware of a lot more of the pit falls and what I should be going after.
I sure don't want to be labled a "pumper"
That has bad conotations......
Just going to have to focus on the volume pedal for awhile.

Steel Guitar Forum rocks!

thanks ,Mel

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

JMO (Only) I say use the volume pedal all the time. While it is necessary to learn the right and left hand technique, it is also necessary to learn to use the volume pedal. 90 % of playing this instrument is feel. I say start out with the pedal as it is part of the feel.

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