Nomenclature in tab.

Gordy Hall · From: Fairfax, CA.

Okay, so I have 3 pedals and 3 levers on my Dekley.

The first pedal is 'A', then 'B, then 'C'.

So my LKL is 'D', LKR is 'E', and my RKR is 'G', and I have no 'F'. Is that correct, according to common tab usage?

My 'G' (RKR) lowers the 2nd string to a C#.

I get easily confused......TIA

Gordy
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Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

There is very little standardization of the nomenclature for knee levers. At least some of the Emmons stuff letters them D, E, F, G starting from the left, which is completely different from the same setup as tabbed by Jeff Newman.

The best, though not necessarily simplest, thing to do is figure out what the pedal does in terms of pulls, then figure where those changes are on your guitar. It'll actually make it easier to remember where those changes are all hidden, too!

KP

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I use a # for 1/2 tone raise, X for whole tone raise, b for 1/2 tone lower, bb for whole tone lower.

It forces me to know what motion (which leg -- which direction) raises/lowers what string what interval. It is a VERY VALUABLE THING TO KNOW in a real life playing situation.
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Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

If your LKL raises the E's to F, then that is your F lever. Very Happy

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

Not according to Buddy Emmons, Erv. Though just about everybody else uses that one the same way.

KP

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Buddy WHO? Rolling Eyes

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Gordy, the nomenclature is indeed confused in pedal steel (not your fault!) It's true that A-B-C pedals are named for their 'geographic' location, rather for any musical functions. But the Knee Levers, on the other hand, are usually named based on their MUSICAL function, rather than where they are on your guitar geographically. So, most people would not just name the KLs from left to right as 'D', 'E', 'F', 'G', etc. That's because there's a lot more variability in what changes people put on these KLs than there is in what they put on the ABC pedals (there are two major pedal arrangements the Emmons (ABC) or the Day (CBA) setup, with Emmons being more common.)

So, most people will call the 'F' lever WHICHEVER KL raises your 4th and 8th string Es to Fs, regardless of where it is on your guitar, because it is producing Fs on your (open) neck. After that it gets a bit dicier... Many people call the KL that lowers the 4th and 8th strings from E to D# the 'D' lever (cuz it's giving you some kind of a D, albeit a sharped one). Many call the KL that raises the 1st string F# to G (or, more recently to G#) the 'G' lever (for obvious reasons). And I've seen the KL that lowers the 2nd and 9th strings called all kinds of things in various peoples' tabs.

So, as others have suggested, you'll really just have to learn which string(s) are being raised and lowered, and by how much (1/2 step, whole step, etc.), by each of your KLs and then see what each tabber is calling each of these KLs in their system. It's too bad, but it's the current nature of the beast.
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Gordy Hall · From: Fairfax, CA.

Thanks, all, for your replies.

The question came up as I was trying to find different Aminor positions on the Mel Bay Chord Chart....

I ended up using the wonderful chord chart at http://www.skobrien.com/ChordFinder/ChordFinder.asp

Just typed in my copedents, and found more A minors than I could comprehend.....

Gordy

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