Looking For The Comfort Zone

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

The third fret on the pedal steel guitar is commonly referred to by musical teachers, who teach the art of playing the pedal steel. Pedals depressed gives a player on the 3rd fret the (C) chord. It's probably the most popular key to use as a reference point. The telltale wear marks on the 6 string Spanish supports this belief. Is it true that the average player is (C) chord oriented?

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i thought most people were born in G.

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

Since taking up Universal a few years back I try to mess around in as many `roots` as possible.
More of a D man on E9 when trying to work tunes out.

Arch.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Archie,

Do you ever wonder why there are sharps and flat keys on the steel? We always got some laughter when a former bandleader joked about capos. When a singer wanted to sing in Bb, he told how the capos came flying out from the rhythm guitar player's spare tools.

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

This could be a major problem. I get what you're saying, though. We're lucky in a way.

Arch.

Joseph Meditz · From: Sierra Vista, AZ

The third fret is special because if you just step on the B pedal you get God's favorite chord, G-sus Very Happy

Pete Conklin · From: Austin, TX

Chris, most people were born from C.

Alan Berdoulay · Posted 3 Nov 2012 2:55 am

G - the people's key.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Joseph,

Much like a greedy miser, the pedal steel guitar clings tenaciously to its most precious secrets. We've only scratched the surface of its best kept secrets. When you speak of the G sus. chord played on the "steel", I think of where it can be used. For special effects, it can be used in the song called "Unchained Melody". It doesn't stand out like majors or minor chords, but it is effective.

richard burton · From: Britain

If you play in a band where the keyboard player can only play on the white notes, then you'll spend the gig playing in the key of C.

Likewise, if you play in a band where the singer/guitarist is a 'Fish and Chips' man, then you'll be playing C and F all night.

I played in a band where the singer/guitarist only knew those two chords, so every song we did, whether there should have been minor chords, II chords, V chords, sevenths, etc, everything was played with a C chord and sometimes an F.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Richard,

Is it possible to get too much of a good thing? I think so.. after playing thirty or forty songs in the key of F#. I agreed to play with a keyboard player who played every song in that key. I managed to carry out the booking during a sunny afternoon in Connecticut. All my practicing in popular keys went down the tubes.

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

C on the third works well because of the C6 on fret 1 gives you lower base to work with. We do a lot of things in C with or without a keyboard.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Roual,

That particular move on the 9th tuning could easily become a pertinent issue. You can observe some of our most proficient P.S. players, all the way up to the EMMONS touch, who rely heavily on the lowerings of the 4th and 8th strings, in combination with the "B" pedal. Apparently, it is their last solid connection with the C6th tuning.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 3 Nov 2012 7:28 am

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

first position bluegrass..

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Music is one of the most reliable means of developing strong friendships in most parts of the world. I still remember getting invited to jam with neighborhood friends. On one occasion, one such neighbor asked if I could play in the key of "E". What a blast! Those were the "good old days". Most of those old associates are no longer around. I found out that proficiency on any instrument has the potential to whittle away those who ascribe to a casual association with their instruments. Dedicated musicians are not that easy to locate, once you make it around the learning curves.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Excessive quirkiness by developing oddball habits that detract from progressive playing on the pedal steel guitar is much more common than is presumably assumed at first glance. Versatility in moving about, by showing no affinity for simplistic chord changes, is the key to progressive effectiveness. When I first became a member on this forum, I pointed out how asinine to see a player using a thumb pick, and two finger picks to play the steel guitar, instead of using all five fingers expressively. The fretless steel guitar is just around the corner, I'm certain. I've been using the "upright" version for approximately 30 years. Playing in the key 0f "C" is a sticky issue. Most of the earlier noteworthy vocalists of the past, stepped out from behind the curtain with their names emblazoned on the fretboards of their guitars. They sang themselves into fame and fortune by playing three or four chords in the key of "C". The facade was further enhanced by grasping a Martin or Gibson acoustic guitar slung over their shoulders by identity leather straps. A few like OWENS and HAGGARD could actually sing and pick their guitars much like the lead players in the bands. Exquisite vocal harmonies very much lacking in earlier presentations, would be a means of rediscovering traditional country music. Reversing the current trendings from a no-man's-land style of music to a progressive entertainment form is worth looking into.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Finding one's niche is definitely the answer to the many successes that could stem from one good move. You may struggle for lengthy periods of time while realizing pitiful rewards for your efforts. Activities that yield lucrative rewards for reasonably less workloads is a goal that can be quite elusive, until by good fortune you strike something that is both profitable and a source of interesting activity. The pedal steel guitar can be the icing on the cake. I can assure anyone that this is not a fairy-tale. Smile

Joachim Kettner · From: Germany

A three or four chord song is allright for me to play in any key. But if the song is kind of complicated, I don't like flatted or sharpened keys too much, because I'm in danger of loosing direction.
For example: I rather play this piece in E (C6 neck),than in the original key, which is D- sharp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZtzUh1-vxo
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Joachim,

Eb is a key that as far as I know is used very little. I believe the song called "Bye Bye Blackbird" is written in that key. I play it every now and then to keep catchy changes fresh in my mind.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

playin in the key of Eb on C6 is a lot easier than havin' to play it on E9
Eb on C6 is on fret 3 ( kinda like G ) it's a breeze to me Winking

Bo Legg · Posted 6 Nov 2012 12:57 am

I like the third fret on the E9 because it is a great place to play the A Dorian scale for your blues and rock in the key of A or Am.
I can play the same melody in Bb and then in C and it seems to change the mood, feel and tone slightly but if I play the same melody in Eb there seems to be a noticeable change.
Pop songs just seem to sound better in Eb.
Old 3 chord country songs just seem to sound better in D.
Strange since there is only a half step difference.

Joachim Kettner · From: Germany

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Joachim,

There are a couple dozen arrangements of "STEEL GUITAR RAG" on the web, but I can't seem to find a single arrangement of "BYE BYE BLACKBIRD", played on the steel guitar. If anyone knows of such a recording with video, I would appreciate hearing from them. I like country music more than other musical renditions, but a little jazz now and then, can be enjoyable.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ssLDn3Gq2c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByTE5DHvwd4

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