Left foot movement from AB to only A pedal: How?

John Botofte · From: Denmark

As a fairly recent PSG learner (with no teacher) I am wondering about the foot technique involved in moving between say
8A 8A
8B 8
Do you folks prefer to roll away from the B pedal or move the whole foot tip so it only touches the A pedal? I find the rolling almost impossible. Is the answer just: practice, practice, practice?
Thanks
John
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Roll the ankle. Practice it in many iterations
Open to A to AB
Open to B to AB
Open to AB to B
Open to AB to A
AB to A to open
AB to B to open
Only reaim your foot when you need the C pedal.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

James Sission · From: Sugar Land,Texas USA

Here is a video that shows a player rolling on and off the pedals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6u_3oULt7I

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

John, it IS hard to get used to, but it IS one of the important things to get down if you chose E9th for country (for that matter, I bet it's pretty handy for most classical and hymns, and nearly everything).
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

John, it IS hard to get used to, but it IS one of the important things to get down if you chose E9th for country (for that matter, I bet it's pretty handy for most classical and hymns, and nearly everything).
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've played the Emmons setup since I started on pedal steel in 89. Sometimes I roll my foot, sometimes I'll just pedal the A pedal. It all depends.

But you do need to practice the rolling until you get it down.

The height of the A and B pedals can make a big difference. My A pedal is higher than the B. But, when they are both fully depressed they are the same height.

Jason Putnam · From: Tennessee, USA

Also, adjust your pedal height. Play with the heights of A & B and B & C until you get them where they are comfortable to you. I have to have my A pedal quite a bit higher than B because when I roll to a only my foot will still partially press B. I guess it just depends on how flexible your ankle is. I'm sure it's different for everyone so just adjust them to fit you!
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John Botofte · From: Denmark

Thanks from one happy pedal steeler in Europe! I never even thought of adjusting the pedals, just twisting my ankles till they bleed...What a difference!
So grateful for all of your advice.
Best wishes from across the Atlantic!
_________________
GFI SM10-SD 3x2 Pedal Steel,
Georgeboard 8-string, 6-string DL travel lap steel, Gretsch 6-string, Gretsch Jim Dandy Parlor Guitar, Peavey Nashville 112, Boss RV-5
Zoom R8

https://soundcloud.com/lapsteelin1965

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I don't find rocking off the AB pedals onto the A pedal so difficult. I find rocking onto the B pedal a little harder. You really need to have your pedals adjuster properly. In fact, I have cut the corner off the A pedal to facilitate this maneuver.
I believe the early Sho~Buds came with the corner of the A pedal cut off.

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

All good advice, John. I used to practice the left foot pedal moves while I was driving or sitting in a lecture, and I found the ligaments opened up over time and gave me more flexibility.
In case it hasn't come up, this is also one of the good reasons for use of the Day setup by some players, (referring to the C-B-A pedal lineup opposed to the "Emmons" style A-B-C) as the ankle moves easier to one side than the other for some. I fell off a roof long ago and dislocated my ankle, went to a Day setup for some years because the ankle healed stiff. I went back to Emmons setup eventually, but my ankle still has less movement bending to the right, so I have to take care with using B pedal alone, not to engage the A pedal a bit. This is where the balance of height adjustment between the two pedals is crucial. Even a 1/4" or one turn on the ball joint connectors makes the difference.

What a crazy instrument, huh?
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Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Another issue that needs to be mentioned is the type of shoes you wear when playing the pedal steel. I prefer to wear a low shoe that allows for maximum ankle motion. I know that some steelers wear boots, but to my way of thinking, that is a no-no! I like moccasins.

John Scanlon · From: Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Curt Trisko · From: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Take off your shoes and use your toes! Very Happy

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

What if you play by ear? Whoa!

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I can pedal equally well (or bad) regardless of the type of shoe or boots.

Rick Schacter · From: Portland, Or.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

If angle your feet like this \ / the available roll on your ankle from one side to the other will be less than if your feet are pointing like | |

To find a comfortable playing position that dont restrict movements, sit on your chair (away from your guitar)
Then check how much you can roll your ankle from one side to the other. Check everything from extreme \ / to having both feet straight forward like | |
Your knee should only move ever so slightly when rolling your ankle !!!!!!
Once you find a good position there will be your max distance the A pedal can be depressed without touching the B pedal. Rolling ankle the other way will tell you how much B pedal can be depressed without foot touching the A pedal.
After you have found your best position and available roll of ankle move the guitar to match how you sit and adjust height of pedals to somehow fit what your foot is able to do.
For me I find that my foot is pointing straight towards pedals when foot is over the B & C pedals
When I use the A&B pedals my foot shifts ever so slightly \ keeping my heel in more or less the same position.
My left knee does not move much when using A, A+B, B, B+C or C pedal. All the work is done by the ankle.
It allows me to have my knee levers adjusted pretty close on both sides of my knee.
Beeing able to roll the ankle without excessive movement of the knee takes practise but once you find a position that doesnt restrict movements it should be less practise and more fun playing.

B.Erlandsen

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Well put, Bengt.
Steel guitar has lots of motions that aren't natural and accustomed. This is one of them.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

You have to be able to move your knee and ankle together.
I would be lost without the AF combination or the BE combination.
Also if you want to play 9th chords, you need the ABE combination. And the ABF combination to play augmented chords.

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

Those moves comes in addition to beeing able to use A, A+B, B, B+C or C by itself without excess movement of the knee. There is also a vertical movement thats gonna need some practise as well if you have a vertical kneelever.
There is even a couple more movements of knee/leg/ankle worth practising but that belongs on some other post/topic.

On some pedal-steel I have found that the original placement of kneelevers and pedals does not allow for a comfortable playing position. If your pedals and knee levers doesnt match up with where you feel they should be when sitting without your guitar simulating the most comfortable playing position then you need adjust pedals / levers if possible.
If you cant adjust them then you are left with either playing in a uncomfortable position or getting a different guitar.

B.Erlandsen

Bob Snelgrove · From: san jose, ca

Jeff Watson · From: Anza, CA. USA

Agreed...Day setup for ergonomics sake.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

You did not say what type of guitar you had. If it is a single neck with 3 to 5 pedals you have a few choices. even moving the pedals over. Day Set up allows you to roll your foot to the right which may be easier than to the left. this is my guitar I bought used in 1989 It is not stress my foot to play the a pedal alone. The pedals run Left to right C-B-A-Franklin.

John Botofte · From: Denmark

Thanks. It says which psg at the bottom of my messages. Anyway, all works well since adjusting the height of the A pedal.
_________________
GFI SM10-SD 3x2 Pedal Steel,
Georgeboard 8-string, 6-string DL travel lap steel, Gretsch 6-string, Gretsch Jim Dandy Parlor Guitar, Peavey Nashville 112, Boss RV-5
Zoom R8

https://soundcloud.com/lapsteelin1965

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