Left Heel

Brent Warshaw · From: Connecticut, USA

Hi everyone,

I am a beginning steel player (15+ years of six string). When I started, I would simply move my left foot away from the pedals when I wasn't pressing down. But now, I've learned you are supposed to keep the left heel grounded at all times, which makes sense, but I find it just about physically impossible to do without moving myself far away from the instrument. Otherwise, I am always pressing on the pedals whether I want to or not.

I acquired a used GFI student model. I don't think there have been any alterations to the instrument. If I stand at a comfortable distance from the guitar for picking purposes, I feel like my left foot is "jammed" and I have to use all of my strength to keep my left foot raised while my heel remains grounded. It feels extremely uncomfortable. Either, I am doing something completely wrong or I need to somehow get used to it. Please advise.

Danny Letz · From: Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540

I think S10 guitars are a little worse about that than D 10's and SD 10's because you have to push up under the guitar farther to reach the knee levers. Maybe move a little bit farther to your right under the guitar if your knees will allow. I know of several people that have trouble getting their ankles to do right. I don't really have a problem with the pedals. I actually have more trouble with the volume pedal under S 10's but I get used to it. Maybe you will train yourself to do better with more time.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

This is sometimes a problem to work around.
The first Used factory steel I had was a MSA S10. The way someone had cured the problem was arranged the knee levers so you have to set right of center of the guitar.
Another thing that will help is adjust the pedals closer to the floor, ( Make sure they do not hit the floor or carpet before hitting their stop}.
Another way is a higher heel shoes, (Cowboy Boots).

You will have to make yourself or you will not want to set and practice seriously. Good Luck & Happy Steelin.

Tim Russell · From: Pennsylvania, USA

I haven't played an S10 for many years, but now that you mention this, I remember the feeling too. If I recall, I got used to the feeling fairly quickly. Maybe if you are a very tall guy, it might feel more cramped.

You could also install flags on the knee levers allowing you for a little "wiggle" room. And, as Bobby suggested, you may be able to adjust the pedal rods a bit. However, you will probably get used to it and adapt in a short amount of time as your calf muscles begin to loosen up and stretch! Laughing

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Sierra Crown D-10

Dave Meis · From: Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA

+1 on lowering your pedals. Boots help me..without them, my ankle angle on the volume pedal is so 'heel down' I can't do it. Everyone is built a little different! Smile

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Danny Letz · From: Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540

I edited my first post to say move to the right like Bobby said. I guess I was getting sleepy when I wrote that?

Brent Warshaw · From: Connecticut, USA

Charley Bond · From: Inola, OK, USA

I sorta had that problem, so I did a workaround that moved me back away from my guitar. I added a Pad, One thing to note is the Sierra Pedal Steel has all the knee levers at the back of the guitar.

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Steel Guitar players are members of a Special Family

Chris Walke · From: St Charles, IL

I pull my foot away from the pedals fairly often - it's enough of a habit that I don't always realize I'm doing it, and when I return my foot it seems I have developed enough muscle memory that I don't have to think about that too much either.

I'm sure it's a bad habit, I have lots of those when I play psg. I try to convince myself that my limitations define my "style." Laughing

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I used to not have my heel "planted" on the floor. In fact, if I was playing a song where I had to hit a pedal very fast, my foot would "hover" over the pedals like a helicopter. Still do it at times (over 30 years later).

There is nothing on the PSG that you HAVE to do a certain way. If something works for you, DO IT. An example, saying you have to sit with your body centered at the 15th fret. I center at the 17th fret, and often move my center point during a gig or even during a song. But it's usually between the 13th and 19th fret.

Another example is blocking. When I started in 1971, there were no teachers around, and definitely no internet. I was pretty good at pick blocking, then someone told me that pick blocking was taboo. So, I painstakingly learned to palm block and stop pick blocking. Then Paul Franklin came along and pick blocking was cool. Then I had to relearn pick blocking.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Chris Walke · From: St Charles, IL

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

I had the same problem. Cowboy boots with a walking heel solved it. I like my pedals high. I have a 2” lift kit on my S10. I like everything high.

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

You could stiffen your pedal action slightly so that you rest your feet on the pedals just a touch? Or draw your foot back.. or slip it off to the left on verses you are not filling.

If you like to chord pad, use string groups that allow you to rest your feet and pedals down ala...C chord fret 3 string group 865 pedals down, f or dm pedals still down strings 976 blah blah, just leave em down when padding and regroup your chords, it gives the old heel a rest, then you can lay one down when you get the nod without being exhausted.
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A.K.A Chappy.

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