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Topic: losing my pedals |
Pierre Burelle
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 12:18 pm |
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Hi; I'm a new pedal steel player, five weeks now. I have been playing lead guitar for over 50 years and I wanted a new challenge.
I'm having a hard time finding my pedals. I sort of lose them once in a while. I would appreciate any pointers on where or how to keep your foot in the correct position? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 12:35 pm
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You think you've got problems!
Of late, I have trouble losing my marbles! 
Seriously, though, you need to get you a seat made for pedal steel so you assume the same position every time you sit down behind your guitar and after a while your feet will just naturally fall in place. 
Erv
Last edited by Erv Niehaus on 1 Apr 2019 12:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 12:36 pm
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| The problem will disappear with practice - as you develop muscle memory. It’s similar to not having to look for the gas, brake and clutch pedals while driving. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 12:38 pm
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| I'd say on, or near (just behind) the A&B, which are still the most often-used pedals. Some guitars let you rest your foot lightly on the pedals, and others do not. It just takes time to find your own proper "home" position. |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 12:45 pm
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| Apart from using the same seat all the time it's really important to situate that seat in exactly the same position relative to the guitar each time. I don't get a tape and measure but that's all. It gets a careful eyeballing before I sit down...can't play properly if it's out of whack. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 1:25 pm
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I always sit with the centre line of my body opposite the same fret. There's no point saying which, as it varies from one player/guitar combination to the next, but you should experiment until you find what feels like home.
Whether or not you can rest your foot lightly on the pedals or not, you should be able to find a comfortable position for your heel to pivot from. WARNING - my current practice room has a carpet with a weird pile that makes my heel drift to the left as I play. I got a sheet of plywood to play on and I'm fine now. (Nothing slips on the carpet down the pub, thanks to our fine English beer.)
And even Buddy Emmons looked at his feet now and then, so if it was good enough for him....
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 4:13 pm Practice will solve that issue
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Like Erv and Tony said, Practice will solve that issue.
I played 40+ years and used S-10's and SD-10's with 4 or 5 pedals for much of that time. After a while your feet will know where to go.
Recently I started playing a D-10 with C6th and also have that problem with the C neck. I know it will come with time and playing.
Until then I have to peek now and then. 
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 6:10 pm
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| Lots of Practice!!!!! It takes time. Wait until you start going back and forth between your 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th. It's Ok to glance under there once in a while. I seen the Big "E" look down a couple times. I adjusted my 5th pedal just a little higher than my 6th pedal. It's a good index point for me. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 1 Apr 2019 6:20 pm Was going to say that too
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| Kevin Fix wrote: |
| I adjusted my 5th pedal just a little higher than my 6th pedal. It's a good index point for me. |
Was going to say that too and forgot. That is a big help to feel where your at down there.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Pierre Burelle
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 2 Apr 2019 4:00 am wow
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| Wow guys. Thanks so much for your response. I can't get over the support I'm getting. Should of joined from the start. I'll definitely be trying out your suggestions. |
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Kristen Bruno
From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
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Posted 2 Apr 2019 7:31 pm
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For my 3 pedals,My B pedal is a little lower than my A and C pedals.
For my 7 pedals ... ummm.... ummm... ummm....errr.... ummm.... I lower my E and make believe I am playing a lap steel.
K
_________________
"Technology has given us the ability to repeat all the mistakes we have learned from history, but much faster, deadlier and with much greater accuracy" - KAB |
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