volume pedal for a beginner?

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Hi everyone. Im a begginer. Ive had my guitar for two weeks now and I have so many questions. I havent been able to find a teacher yet in my area (seattle). I'll try not to bug you good people TOO much, tho.

For a begginer like myself, should i just ignore the volume pedal at first, since there is SO much else to think about, or is that just asking for trouble down the line? any tips on volume pedal technique would be most helpful...I cant seem to make it "sing".
(Actually i sound like a bent hubcap rolling down the street.)

BTW I'm 39, playing a Carter Starter, coming from 25 years of rock guitar but interested in country E9 on the steel primarily. I really dont know alot about pedal steel or steel players but I know what like and I've been trying to find everything I can get my hands on with Buddy Emmons playing on it. Thank goodness for this place, and I found Rebels site too...GOLD! but if anyone wants to suggest some players I should be listening to for country E9 that would be much appreciated as well...as I'm woefully ignorant. hats off to you all and thanks for the help.

edit: Im studying from Jeff Boutons DVD but he doesnt get into the volume pedal at all.

[This message was edited by Ben Jones on 12 December 2005 at 01:17 PM.]

Roger Francis · From: kokomo,Indiana, USA

Hi Ben, MPO i would start using a volume pedal from the begining so you can learn to use it along with every thing else, it's a must. shop around here on the forum and you'll find a good pedal, goodrich makes a very good pedal.
welcome to the world of Steel Guitar,and the forum, it's a great place to be in.
Roger

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

I usually practice without a volume pedal, and I think you won't need one until you play out with a band or start recording. Using the pedal is easy and you will learn it in a few minutes so don't feel like you need it right away.
It might be good to practice with your right foot on a book or something to get your knee where it will be when you have a pedal. Otherwise rthe right knee levers will feel wrong when you first get a pedal.

Dean Parks · From: Sherman Oaks, California, USA

You can learn volume pedal stuff on a regular guitar, and that way, only be confused about one thing!

Seriously, once you learn it on guitar, it translates right over to steel.

The trick is to pick the string with volume pedal back at maybe half or third, then as the note sustains, eliminate decay of the note by adding volume pedal, which gives the impression of infinite sustain. It gets more complicated than that with mulitple notes, but it becomes intuitive.

-dp-

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

It's just like driving a car.

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

a car? hehe...I cant find the knee levers on my Honda Accord. I wish it were as simple as driving a car for me, but im grateful at least no one will get hurt when i crash on this thing or have one beer too many before stepping on the pedal. Thanks for your help all.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I'd totally ignore the volume pedal and learn him to use the picks and the bar first, plus some blocking. The volume pedal is the LAST thing you need to learn to play pedal steel IMO.

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

I may tend to agree with Jim but

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

uh . . . there is also a guy named Buddy Emmons who a few have heard of. Probably worth listening to him too.

What's the matter with practicing with you VOLUME PEDAL UNDER YOUR FOOT -- just not plugged in?

I agree that you should practice with no volume pedal at least some of the time. Using the hands to vary volume is a critical skill. Also, practice without looking at the fretboard or blindfolded some of the time -- getting auditory rather than visual cues for intonation and fret position is also an important skill.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Larry, Buddy Emmons was mentioned on the first post as the only player I knew. I am really digging his work. I'll be checking into the other names mentioned...I see Loyd Greens name come up on alot of cuts I like. The guy that first made me want to play steel tho is Ben Keith (neil Young, Patsy Cline, buncha pop stuff)....simple beautiful melody lines...THATS what I want to play like. Buddy Emnmons tho, he's really opened my eyes as to what a steel can do, and of course also has great tone and beautifully simple lines. My jaw hit the floor when i heard Steel Guitar Jazz...not what i want to do, but undeniably great playing and great music.

I have a volume pedal so i guess I'll take a few of the suggestions above. Thanks for all your help and for the music recommendations. Hopefully I can find a teacher out here at some point.... Cheers!

John Lockney · From: New Market, Maryland, USA

Even if you don't find anyone listed as a "teacher" you might find someone in the area you can watch play. They might be willing to show you some stuff. This directory might help: online steelers.com

Also, check out steelradio.com for free steel guitar music 24x7!

[This message was edited by John Lockney on 13 December 2005 at 07:47 AM.]

Tom Quinn · Posted 13 Dec 2005 7:49 am

Volume pedals, like bar shake - as opposed to vibrato -- are the danger!danger! aspect of pedal steel. You can learn some bad habits in a week that will take a year to get rid of. Use the volume pedal sparingly.

Above all, you do not want that asthmatic sound caused by pumping the volume pedal between each note.

Practice swells evey day. Do this by hitting the note with the volume pedal 90% depressed, bring it back immediatley and quickly. then -- almost as quickly bring up the volume -- sorta like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube. Use this effect VERY sparingly in yor playing, but know how to do it.

Bottom line? Less is better... -L-

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

John, I wish steelradio.com worked for me at my place of employment...I'll have to remember to give it a go at home. Good stuff Tom, I'll try that..sounds complicated. I like that sort of "bowed" sound i hear on alot of country E9, thats volume pedal right? is that the "swell" technique Tom was referring to? I thought that woulda been achieved by starting with the pedal all the way down and bringing it up after you pluck the strings? Im definetly stuck in that asthmatic pumping the pedal stage...sounds awful. Lotta work to do here...I should be ready to play out in about twenty or thirty years if I'm lucky...hehe

Larry Phleger · From: DuBois, PA

A really good resource is the material developed by the late Jeff Newman. He has probably helped more people learn pedal steel than any other one person. His material covers everyathing from the basics to advanced material. You can find a list of his materail at Jeffran.com. Many of the courses are available on VHS, CD, and DVD

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

I'll have to try and find those used...they are kinda expensive. Money has really been an obstacle in trying to get acquianted with this instrument.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Get the Lloyd Green/Tommy White video, "An Evening Of E9th." You will never regret it! You can see the best at work, and you can see their feet, their knees, and their hands. Tremendous video! Watch Lloyd use the volume pedal! Yee Ha!

richard burton · From: Britain

My volume pedal golden rule:
Set it so that it will never shut off completely.
At least 20% to 30% of signal must pass through the pedal, even when it is completely physically backed off all the way, if you want to stand any chance of having a good tone.

David Wren · From: Placerville, California, USA

What Roger said. IMHO learning to correctly use the volume pedal is the difference between a steel player, and a guitar player on a steel. Listen to Lloyd Green, Rusty Young and Buddy Emmons and try to detect exactly where they're picking the note and/or chords... it's like breathing for them.

As far as E9th influences, Tom Brummely was a major influence on my younger ears, and I think that he still stands right up there as a great example of what you can do with the E9th tuning (in particular his wonderful way of making anyone's vocal lines sound that much stronger! Have fun!, and welcome.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com

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