Beginner Steel Player looking for help on the basics.

Sean Ronan · From: New Jersey, USA

Hey everyone! My name is Sean Ronan and I just got my first steel today! Its a 10 string Zum Steel Encore tuned to E9 Chromatic. Can anyone give me some suggestions for a tone bar? A book to start learning with? And fingerpicks? Thanks Y'all Super excited to be part of the Steel Guitar Forum Family!

also here is a pic of her... what a steel!

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

The Winnie Winston book is what most of us started with, but a few years ago I got the Mickey Adams book for someone just starting and think Mickey did an exceptional job with his Beginner's Guide.
Contact Mickey. Search and you will find his contact info.
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Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Chris is right about Winnie's book. It is a great book for beginners. Here is a link.

https://www.amazon.com/Pedal-Steel-Guitar-Bill-Keith/dp/082560169X
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Calvin Monaghan · From: Prince Edward Island, Canada

Welcome Sean!

I too am new, I'm actually on the waiting list for a Zum Encore myself and I can't wait to get it so I can dive into this. I can't offer much advice, but while its not a book there seems to be universal praise for the Jefferan College "Up From The Top" course by Jeff Newman.

Here's a link for you:
http://www.jeffran.com/courses.php?content=UpFromtheTop

Hope this helps.

Dan Robinson · From: Colorado, USA

Hi Sean,

Welcome to the madness... it's a "nice little hobby."

You can find tone bars in the Accessores link, top of the page. Nothing wrong with
7/8" stainless steel Dunlop #920. You might find something you like more, bigger, lighter, coated. It's part of the fun. Someday you might have a collection, kinda like a few old baseball gloves in the garage, or a drawer of holsters.

Johan Forsman · From: Sweden

I'm a newbee since one year. I would recommend "Melbays Deluxe pedal steel guitar method" by Dewitt Scott. A year back when I started I got the Winnie W book, it's good but i found some stuff in the beginning pretty difficult, some arrangements were a little too complex too soon in the learning process imho. Some exercises in the very beginning left me stranded and thinking I could never ever pull them off. It is never going to be easy starting out (still hard after a year for sure) but if the learning material gets too difficult to soon it's not going to make it easier.

The deluxe method book starts off quite differently with a lot of single note melody playing which I think would have been a better way for me to start. I just got the deluxe method book a month back or so, wish I would have gotten that earlier. A great thing with the deluxe method book is that it provides audio examples of most stuff in the book and most of these tracks are "split stereo tracks" so you can choose to hear only the backing playing (just simple guitar mainly) by panning full to the right (I think it is right) on your stereo. Playing with backup tracks is essential imo, to get the correct intonation and timing.

Johan Forsman · From: Sweden

...and welcome! Beautiful steel you got there!

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I agree with Johan. Winnie is great for reading around the subject but gets too tough too soon. Mel Bay is more methodical. And welcome from me too!
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Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

In terms of tone bars, I agree with Dan that the Dunlop 920 is a fine (and economical) place to start. http://www.steelguitarshopper.com/D-920-tone-bar/

I see them in music stores frequently - if you don't want to wait for mail order I bet you can find one.

A good solid thumb pick and some dunlop metal fingerpicks can also be found in garden variety music stores and will get you started. I really like Golden Gate thumb picks, but Dunlop makes good ones too. Again, you'll try lots of different things but those will get you going.

You have chosen a great guitar. Winnie's book I still think is one of the best things out there.

Welcome aboard.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Personally, I learned a lot from Winnie's book.

But I learned a lot more when I joined a band and started gigging. That's where you really learn.

We learn something every time we do a gig. I know I still do.

Sean, start jamming with your friends and join a band as soon as possible, even if you feel you're not ready.
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Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Mike is right about exposing yourself (musically). The first time I played in a band I was very unsure of myself and played very little. They liked it.

Less is more! (If in doubt, leave it out...)
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Ken Boi · From: Arizona, USA

Welcome Sean. I just joined this forum this week (actually this is my first post). Nice place.

I am a PSG newbie also (at 64 years of age in 8-days). I bought the Encore's (younger?) brother, a Stage One just a couple months ago. Up to just about 6-months ago I did not even know these pedal steel guitars had pedals and levers. I just figured there was some magic to how they played.

If I may, I will offer some additional ideas as food for thought regarding items I have acquired. As has been recommended in this thread, the first item I purchased is the Winnie Winston book. I got this while Doug was building my Stage One and did some pre-reading during the wait. Now since I have the pedal steel, I have to agree with Johan's comments. It is a good book but does take some patience/endurance for the very new beginner.

I realize you did not mention 'video' in your inquiry. But if this is an option for you, then the Mel Bay DVD "E9 Pedal Steel Guitar" by Rob Haines is good especially since it is going for around $15.00 on Amazon. It is not perfect (e.g., no tabs), but there is some great starter stuff on it. Takes you from setup and onward. Can't beat the material on it for a $15.00 lesson.

Another good video is the "Pedal Steel Basics" 6-part series by Troy Brenningmeyer (www.LessonsWithTroy.com). You could buy individual parts or get the whole 6-part series for a discounted price around $45.00. Again, for this cost, it is a great value for the lessons. Troy is an accomplished lap steel guitarist who is actually learning the pedal steel. Therefore he has a strong connection with what the beginner is going through. Very detailed. He covers two traditional tunes, Amazing Grace and Silent Night (that I assume many have learned on this instrument as beginners), the different chord grips, printable PDF chord charts, and one-lesson covering various fill licks. A nicely put together package. I should note that this is a download to PC/tablets. It is not sold as a DVD, although you could make one after you acquire the lessons.

Another suggestion is a good tuner. I ended up buying the Peterson Strobe Tuner "StrobePlus HD'. One key feature of this tuner is that it comes with what Peterson calls 'Sweetened Tunings'. As you may be aware by now the tunings on these guitars are slightly off the targeted note for some strings by degrees of cents (e.g., G# open, -11 cents). The StrobePlus HD has an Emmons E9 'sweetener' tuning that accounts for these cent tuning variations. So instead of having to 'eye-ball' (as on some tuners) a slightly flatted tuning, just load the Emmon's E9 'sweetener' and forget about it. The tuner accounts for the variations.

Lastly, I have just ordered from the Jeff Newman College a video course. I have not received it yet so I cannot comment on it. The course I was going to purchase is the "Up From The Top" (also suggested in this thread). But when I called and talked to his wife Fran (a very nice lady, btw), she recommended I FIRST get "Special - Combined - Pedal Steel Guitar Techniques and The Right Hand Alpha". So I went with her suggestion. Heck, I will probably get them both (and more) eventually. Lessons from a master are worth it. If you ever look into his course, maybe talk to her in this regard.

Dave Dube · Posted 10 Jul 2016 2:40 pm

Sean, There are many good things available to learn from. Many are freely given out of the goodness of the heart.

Men such as Mickey Adams, Steve Benzian, Paul Sutherland, Joe Barcus, Gilroy Hollister, Johnny UP and Dick Sexton come to mind. Actually, there is so much, that a beginner can get swamped. Too much to sort through.

With that in mind I am sending you a link to a youtube playlist that combines many of the available resources in a sequence that makes reasonable sense for a beginner and that is sure a lot easier to follow than stumbling on these all yourself in random order. Feel free to use them in whatever order you see fit. Hopefully this will get you a good start.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKnBUUXl0uZEL84p4iF6GI1xS93CT_sni

After you get a ways in--to the point that you can chord through a song and know where all the different inversions are, I would suggest that you start looking at Dick Sexton's Lessons (link below). He will give you nice bite-sized lessons that you can mull over to help develop your fills and solos.

https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AGYRa66dnUx5uYA&id=594320D13092D8FB%218861&cid=594320D13092D8FB

You might have a good 6 months to a year of training from these resources. I guess it really depends on you.

I am in awe of the amount of time and effort that has been freely given to help people learn this instrument. I would suggest you remember those names with good will. You never know when you might cross paths with them again. Smile

Oh yeah, and someday when you can, pay it forward. Wink

Randy Schneider · From: SW New Mexico, USA

I'd like to look through that YouTube playlist Dave, but when I click on it I get a message that says "This playlist is private."

Is it just me or do others have the same problem?

Kevin Fix · From: Michigan, USA

The right hand is a great place to start. Learn the string groups so that you can move back and forth with ease. This is the first thing I get a new guy going on.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Sean welcome to the forum.
One of the first things I would suggest is get a Mel Bay Pedal Steel Guitar Chord Chart. On the site Mike Perlowin listed for the Winnie Winston book just scroll down the page and it shows up. About the best 6 dollars a beginner can invest.

Sean, I do not know where you got the steel from. What catches my eye is the 2 metal bar loops on the back apron. Looks as if there was some sort of a pad attached to the back apron to give the steel more width with a place to rest your wrist. Check the case it may be in the Pedal bar rod compartment. If not, I would contact the seller you got it from and see if he has the pad, Or could give you the name of the person he got it from to trace it back and find the pad. Good Luck.

Roger Palmer · From: Rossendale, UK

Johan Forsman · From: Sweden

For a beginner the vast (endless) resources online can be a trap. I have to stay on guard, constantly checking myself so I'm not getting too sidetracked. Therefore...

Get a book or some kind of course, stick with it for a while at least, if you don't, that's fine, you will learn something but I think the fastest way to get where you want, is to stick to a plan. I'm lousy at it myself, but I have realised with the pedal steel where there are soooo many things going own, that have to be learned: working the pedals, intonation, blocking etc.

I have worked through the first 5 months of a Jeff Newman course that's called "Pedal steel guitar monthly", in the beginning it's really spoon feeding, but for me it has paid off not jumping ahead but following the course, step by step.

If you have the discipline to follow e.g. that youtube playlist that Dave shared, that's cool (even though I haven't seen the content either). But I tend to jump on another youtube video before I have even gotten half through what I was doing.

Johan Forsman · From: Sweden

Dave Dube · Posted 11 Jul 2016 6:31 am

Would you believe I was trying to build anticipation?? No? Laughing

OK.

Try it now and you should see that an effort was made to put things in an order.

There will be different approaches to learning as we are all different people with different strengths and weaknesses and different aptitudes. Though grips are important, gripping open chords gets old fast. After a brief exposure to grips, Why not learn the pedals and levers at the same time? You will have to grip your chords anyway. But that's just me.

The bottom line is that you can learn from any number of methods but whether you have a teacher, online lessons or a book, you will need to have the desire and the willpower to be disciplined and stay with it.

So anyway you can try these. If it doesn't work I have one more thing to try.

Randy Schneider · From: SW New Mexico, USA

Yup, link works now ... and I've got a LOT to learn!

Thanks Dave!

Johan Forsman · From: Sweden

Dave Dube · Posted 11 Jul 2016 10:52 am

Johan, actually it is for you and anyone else who wants to learn.

I should also say that there are more videos available than this, however these are the ones I could see would fit together somewhat. Many of these guys are continuing to put out videos from time to time so they are worth checking up on after you have finished with the list.

It would be nice if we could find a good video demonstrating volume swells and gutting and such.

As for intonation, When you watch Paul Sutherland's videos you get a good viewpoint for his bar placement. I don't know if one of these vids is going to explicitly tell you about intonation, but you have to get used to seeing what perfect position looks like from where you are sitting. Your ears will help you.

Joe Ribaudo · From: New Jersey, USA

Sean hi - Welcome from a fellow Jerseyite!Jerseyan? Jerseyer...
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Jerry Horch · From: Alva, Florida, USA

I would highly recommend finding someone to take lessons from. Books are very helpful but dont compare to watching a player and instructor up close and in person.It gave me the inspiration to continue on the journey of playing steel. Its a never ending endevor for all.
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