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Topic: Non-pedal |
Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 8:24 am |
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| A steel guitar without pedals is like a bicycle without training wheels. |
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Ulric Utsi-Åhlin
From:
Sweden
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 8:44 am
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The thesis implies that pedals are the crotchets
needed during the formative period and,when You´ve
become proficient,You ditch them...interesting.McUtsi |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 9:12 am
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Ha!
I don't agree with that statement at all. I'll say this: a non-pedal steel guitar is like a bicycle and pedal steel guitar is like a motorbike. It's going to take you to lot of places that you'll never get to with a bicycle, but you may miss some of the scenery along the way. Also, for a non-pedal player, slanting is like climbing a hill; however, the more you do it, the stronger you get.
One thing in common: A mediocre player is like a mediocre cyclist or biker--they get lost a lot and have many accidents!
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 9:56 am
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Mike, I play both pedal and non-pedal steel guitar.
I should have qualified the statement __ referring to the left hand.
I just noticed how attentive to the position of the left hand I must be, with so many slants.
On the C-6th tuning I make fewer slants of course, but in playing around with E major, I must slant a lot more.
I don't play a lot of single notes.
Playing the E-9th pedal tuning seems a snap compared to making precise slants on E major non-pedal. |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 11:46 am
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I like to make comparative coments as well, then my wife calls me a lap steel snob. And have only sat at a pedal steel a few times I really can't say anything.
I will add this though, I started playing non pedal four years ago, the same time a friend took up pedal steel. When we talk about it from time to time it seems like he is mostly frustrated and I'm mostly having alot of fun. For what it's worth.
_________________
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 13 Apr 2010 11:59 am
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| To my ear, it is very difficult for me to pick out different pedal steel players, but easy to pick out lap steel players. I think lap steel lends itself to a more individual sound. Almost everyone playing lap steel seems to have a unique sound, but I don't hear that individual stamp so much with pedal players. |
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John Ed Kelly
From:
Victoria, Australia
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Posted 15 Apr 2010 2:22 am
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Bill McCloskey says: ''To my ear, it is very difficult for me to pick out different pedal steel players, but easy to pick out lap steel players. I think lap steel lends itself to a more individual sound. Almost everyone playing lap steel seems to have a unique sound, but I don't hear that individual stamp so much with pedal players."
I guess that I would tend to agree. I might be a SG beginner, but I have 42 years of clarinet experience behind me and an appropriate amount of ear training, to back me up. I listened widely before deciding to purchase and begin LS tuition.
I hasten to add that I am amazed at the sheer breathtaking proficiency and musical deftness of most of the PSG players I have seen (on Youtube principally, given my location) but I feel that the mechanical superiority of the PSG over the LS has unwittingly led it down the path of sameness.
I'd very much like to be convinced otherwise, If I'm missing something obvious. |
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John Burton
From:
Manassas, Va
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Posted 15 Apr 2010 3:34 am
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| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
| To my ear, it is very difficult for me to pick out different pedal steel players, but easy to pick out lap steel players. I think lap steel lends itself to a more individual sound. Almost everyone playing lap steel seems to have a unique sound, but I don't hear that individual stamp so much with pedal players. |
I would have agreed more with that statement last year, before I got into pedal steel.
IMO
I think you notice different lap steel players styles more simply because you are into lap steel and that is what you are focusing on. If you get into pedal steel, you will notice peddlers' individual styling.
Same as banjos. If you aren't a banjo player you might not hear the difference in Tony Trischka's playing style .vs Bill Kieth etc..You know?
Having played lap steel for a few years and now beginning pedal steel (for only four months now, so..I'm still a newbie to both, fwiw)..
I feel as though they are two different animals. Almost apples and oranges.
Same as lap steel .vs bluegrass Dobro. Yes they are all played with a steel, but after that...pretty different.
Years ago, of course, pedal and non pedal were the same animals just an added pull here and there .vs a slant. But through the years, pedal has evolved into a different beast than non-pedal in playing style, and sound. Not better or worse by any means. |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 16 Apr 2010 9:51 am
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I have played lap steel for a long time. I started on pedal steel about a year ago. I'm playing C6 pedals only. I'm finding that as time goes by I'm using pedals less. The pedals have their uses. There are some songs in which the harmonies really get filled out with pedal use. The old jazz standard, "Angel Eyes," is an excellent example. But there are, in fact, many songs in which they just get in the way. There are other songs, the old jazz standard, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles," is a good example, where judicious pedal use really improves the sound. But you have to be careful not to get bogged down with overuse of pedals. I think eventually I will probably be using my pedal guitar exclusively. But I will definitely need to develop judgement concerning when to use the pedals and when not to.
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Amor vincit omnia |
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