PSG beginner, tips and tricks please!

Christopher Miller · From: California, USA

I'm learning the pedal steel guitar and 12 strings is a overwhelming sometimes. So I bought UV colored DR strings that closely corresponded to E9 string sizes. Blue is one pedal and red is the other. What are your suggestions? I'm having trouble counting the frets and remembering some of the patterns. Any help you offer will be welcome for me and any other beginners.

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

I was thinking perhaps some small removeable static cling letters or numbers stuck on the outer edges of fret markers to mark major open chords on bottom and majors with A/B pedals on top
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Pre RP Mullen D10 8/7, Zum 3/4, Carter S-10 3/4, previous Cougar SD-10 3/4 & GFI S-10 3/4, Fender Steel King, 2 Peavey Session 500's, Peavey Nashville 400, Boss DD-3, Profex-II, Hilton Digital Sustain, '88 Les Paul Custom,Epiphone MBIBG J-45, Fender Strat & Tele's, Takamine acoustics, Marshall amps, Boss effects, Ibanez Tube Screamer, and it all started with an old cranky worn out Kay acoustic you could slide a Mack truck between the strings and fretboard on!!

Christopher Miller · From: California, USA

Would magnetic letters work?

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

No they wouldn't stick and would mar fretboard. Those static cling letters would work great if you could find them small enough.
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Pre RP Mullen D10 8/7, Zum 3/4, Carter S-10 3/4, previous Cougar SD-10 3/4 & GFI S-10 3/4, Fender Steel King, 2 Peavey Session 500's, Peavey Nashville 400, Boss DD-3, Profex-II, Hilton Digital Sustain, '88 Les Paul Custom,Epiphone MBIBG J-45, Fender Strat & Tele's, Takamine acoustics, Marshall amps, Boss effects, Ibanez Tube Screamer, and it all started with an old cranky worn out Kay acoustic you could slide a Mack truck between the strings and fretboard on!!

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I think I might talk to your local land and title company, and get some of their signature flags, that stick onto pages with the flag sticking out saying "sign here."
Stick the small bit on the fretboard, and label the flag with which chords are there
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

Most important thing you could do... practice, practice, practice. It all comes with time.
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Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Don R Brown · From: Rochester, New York, USA

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Christopher - you don't say whether you already play regular guitar. If you do, then you're probably used to monochrome frets. If not, you'll soon learn which is which not from what they look like but from how they sound as you move between them.

12 strings are confusing, even if you're already used to 10, so full marks for going in at the deep end and welcome to the club!

My tip would be to get used used to finding the 8th string with your thumb as a starting point, but you will get lots of different answers to every question on this forum. On any instrument it's natural to want to do things the right way; unfortunately the pedal steel has more right ways than any instrument yet devised Smile

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Ronnie Boettcher · From: Brunswick Ohio, USA

I know you are trying to learn a simple fix, but listen to all of these guys. The fret markers are on the neck for a reason. LEARN THEM. All it takes is practice, practice, practice. And the hours, hours, hours, of seat time. Once you learn where each key is barred, (like G on the 3rd fret, A on the 5th fret, and C on the 8th.) Your major 3 chords of that key, is 5 frets up, for the IV chord, and 2 more up, or 7 from the root, will be your V chord. That's with no pedals, or knee levers used. Once you understand the basics, you will progress. There is no magic, just a learning process. Hope maybe this will help you. Ronnie
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Don Walworth · From: Gilmer, Texas, USA

[quote=" Those static cling letters would work great if you could find them small enough.[/quote]

Stationary area of WalMart is where I got mine.

Don

Christopher Miller · From: California, USA

Christopher Miller · From: California, USA

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

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

I strongly advise against using stickers, labels, and such on a guitar. It's nothing but a crutch, and it will only hold back your memory progress.

There are only 5 fret markers on the neck to memorize, 3-5-7-9-12, and then everything merely repeats.

Just do it! Shocked

Once you've done that (shouldn't take but a couple of days, at most), then you can learn the keys of the open chords that correspond with those 5 markers. That may take a little longer, but it's easily doable in a few more days. And once you've got those memorized, it's fairly easy to figure out what's in-between.

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

The only thing similar I did, right when I just started, was to put a black cloth under where my RH picked, because I was having a wee bit of a hard time distinguishing the 1st and 2nd strings from the fingerboard edge on my Stage One. After a couple weeks, it wasn't necessary.

Don Walworth · From: Gilmer, Texas, USA

3/16" is what I have - comes 2 sheets of letters/numbers in a package.

don

Stationary area of WalMart is where I got mine.

Don[/quote]
Don, Wally World sells static cling letters??? What size?[/quote]

Will Cowell · From: Cambridgeshire, UK

For the most part, you have three distinct tasks:

1. Learn where to find the chords you seek

2. Learn the positions of the fret markers

3. Educate your fingers to find the right strings.

There is no quick and easy fix. Every single person who has tried - and persevered - with the PSG has come down the same road with you or before you. Just be patient, trust your brain and your body to remember over time.

Muscle memory takes 10,000 repetitions to kick in reliably. Time to get out there on that seat and work, work, work. But try to have fun along the way. You have picked the hardest of instruments but it is very rewarding when it all comes together.
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Williams 700 series keyless U12,
Sierra keyless U14, Eezzee-Slide & BJS bars
Moth-eaten old Marshall 150 combo
Roland Cube 80XL, Peterson Strobo+HD,
EarthQuaker Despatch Master for reverb / delay

Joe Ribaudo · From: New Jersey, USA

Steven Hicken Jr. · From: Leeds, United Kingdom

"One day you'll want to give up, many days later you'll wonder why when you have improved massively and are a shadow of your former self."

Steven Hicken Jr - 2016

Can I have that as my inspirational quote? I've been needing one for a while. Laughing

Seriously though seat time is very important, work on your left hand as much as your right. Perseverance as well as persistence is key.

Don't think about what you are now, just think about what you'll be in another 5 years. That's my motivation at least.

"Begin with the end in mind".

Steven Hicken Jr.
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2015 Show Pro
2020 Hudson Hudsonator (Pedabro)
202X *Insert new guitar here*

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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Two pain in the neck drills of coordinaton skills you'll need:
A: 1) pick a fret, doesn't matter which
2) pick the 5th string
3) move the bar down two frets as you add the A pedal. You don't want to hear more than a little wobble in pitch

B: 1) pick the 5th string
2) move the bar up two frets while adding the A pedal.
You want to hear a smooth slope from 1 to 3/do to mi

If you want to play the stuff most of us want to, those two motions must be second nature
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Eugene Kindle · From: Illinois, USA

I play(?) a simple 4 foot-pedal, 8 string Fender 400, and after I changed my tuning, was having similar problems. I typed up my own 'cheat strip', via my computer, on sticky paper, cut out the strip, & stuck it on my side of the body aligned with the frets of the fretboard. It provides a quick reference & no one else sees it. I used white paper so it shows-out, even in a darker environment.

Ken Boi · From: Arizona, USA

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

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