When to use a volume pedal

Andy Alford · Posted 8 Oct 2000 8:26 am

When in a song do use a volume pedal?How do you use it?

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

andy the pedal is used when it fits the song. On ballads fade the sound in and out to help the "tenderness" of the lyrics. On the uptempo stuff gut it and back off to normal to emphasis a chord , run etc. It is all a matter of feel you persoannly have for the song. There are many others instances for the pedal, Hank thompson intros etc .Keep your thumb pick hot!

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George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Andy, the pedal is actually an expression pedal, (even though it is called a vol. pedal). It is much the same as is found on most electronic/electric organs...Hammond B-3, etc. Organists use the expression pedal sparingly to emphasize a passage or chord or to also play other passages softly with expression. For gawds sake, don't pump it up and down while playing...you'll have everyone getting sea sick! (ha!) Use it with discretion. Listen to the Master who has his in reverse,(up is loud, down is soft on his pedal).

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

OH my goodness yes George. Very well said.

"Pumping" a volume pedal on every picked note is very difficult on the listener I believe. Watch the greats. In MOST cases, it is used for NOTHING more than to counteract the decaying volume level of the "picked string".

In other words, as the strings level gets softer and softer, the volume pedal makes it louder and louder so as to appear that the level remains constant. Albeit there does reach a point where there is little or no sound left for the pedal to make up for.

"pumping" is a very bad habit, that can often develop early in the "learning years of a player. Once developed it is very hard to break.

I once had a student in Ftlauderdale, and every single note he picked, he had the volume pedal completely off and then he would go down on the volume pedal to full maximum. It was clearly the most annoying thing. He could not believe how he sounded once we taped his playing. Took him forever to break that very bad habit.

One thing you want to practice, play WITHOUT the volume pedal for a while. And see how well you can maintain a semblmance of sustain consistency. Along with good blocking. Then add the volume pedal back in an use it only as described in the first paragraph. I just attended a show, where 90% of the players used NO volume pedal at all. Very refreshing I might add.

There is a style of volume pedal "usage", whereby it permits the complete absence of the "picked" string affect. Bob White of the Hank Thompson days was a master at this. Others do this sometimes. You just hear the ringing strings. You don't hear the strings being picked. Not easily learned and you run the risk of over doing it.

So be careful about that pumping. If you have developed the habit, work on it to get rid of it. It is really NOT good to hear.

Walk with him and all things will be good,

carl

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I would be the last one to even "think" about disagreeing with my most SENIOR Forumites...
on ANY SUBJECT, let alone, the lowly VOLUME Pedal....BUT. I realize fully that those who have commented before me, here in this subject of volume pedals, are probably older and much wiser and most certainly more experienced than I...... way out here on the left coast and all. However, for what it's worth to you......

It's a GREAT "instantaneous Correction Device" like on live TV or Radio or stage......should you ever have the misfortune of hooking a big gold button on a blazer sleeve on one of your strings. It will give you POWER OVER and it's nearly instant....so the whole world doesn't have to hear the racket of that button wrangling with your LIVE strings.

Us OLD TIMERS....as I've been called...also have occasion to use the volume pedal when playing harmonics on an open chord.... By pumping the volume pedal with even strokes, it will create the effect of "VIBRATO" while not using the bar, and it gives some life to an otherwise lifeless note or notes. Byrd does this in several of his steel guitar "chimes" recordings.

I've also used it when using a single string melody line, for example: "Bells of St. Mary's".......to provide a smooth, almost violin affect.

This was just a thought....but I'm probably wrong. I sure don't want to cause any friction here between our wonderful Canadian friends and the rest of us pickers, residing, south of the border. Eh?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I know, I know, I shouldn't be thinking or even contemplating thinking at my age BUT...

Jerry Byrd ALSO used the volume pedal to make his signature "talking sounds" like on the old Rex Allen Mercury record of "Tag Along" to name but just one.

He also used the volume pedal in his Mercury record of Byrd's Boogie and Steelin' the Blues,and on and on and on.

Don't limit yourself.

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

this is what I was taught at the Honolulu Conservatory of Music in Mishawaka IN in the late 30 and later suggested to his students by Reece Anderson. Put your vol ped onfull after you have adjusted the amp to the most vol you need.Put a block of wood inthe rear of the ped so the ped can not slack off the volume. This way you will learn not to pump the pedal{because you can't}and you will learn to control dynamics with your picking hand.I believe Jeff Newman also suggested this method. There was alot of great music played before the volped was invented.

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Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

On that subject, for what it is worth.
I played a Gibson 6 pedal Electra-harp, back in the 40's and 50's and never used a volume pedal.
I had to have BOTH feet on the pedals, no knee levers. and it was a lot harder to push the pedals on that thing. ...al

Bill Stafford · From: Gulfport,Ms. USA

Hi Al, boy, we went to the same "schools" and almost at the same time frame. Same guitars for me also.
The volume pedal is a expression (extension) of the players emotion in his music and, for me, it is used all the time on every note.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Ahhh, my friend Bill Stafford...so right. Hey guys, last I heard WW3 between Canada and the US has not happened, and I sure hope it never happens, especially over a stupid volume pedal. But, being from the olde, olde school, (and I mean REALLY olde), give a listen to Dick McIntire, (remember him ?...the "jerry byrd" of the forties). He NEVER used a pedal but did it all with his little finger wrapped around the volume control....so nahi nahi, made it sound like a violin. Yes, I did neglect to mention the rapid up-down motion, (get your minds out of the gutter) which Jerry uses on harmonics and "Bells of St. Mary", but he does, and did it with TASTE, and therein lies the difference. Personally, I seldom use a vol. pedal although I have 3 of them sitting near this computer. Just one more thing to haul to a gig.

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 12 October 2000 at 08:50 PM.]

Bill Stafford · From: Gulfport,Ms. USA

Hi Keoki, my friend way up North. About the volume pedal-if a player can play it right, he does not need any crutches. You guys make me envious.
I still think about that wonderful time we had in my room in Joliet with you and Barney playing that wonderful music in a great jam session. Good ole days.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

For a guy who proclaims to be fading fast...
"Keoki" sure did get around a lot in his younger days. One of the things you admirers of Bill Stafford appear to have failed to mention...is that BILL is his own man; his own player; and he plays songs that appeal to him; with his own personal flavor added. Not all of his selections are beer tavern KUN- TREE! I enjoyed many an hour of listening to Stafford play while he was living out here and up here on left coast......

Bill Stafford · From: Gulfport,Ms. USA

Hi Ray,nice to see you on here again.Of all the players I have heard with great taste, touch and tone, next to Jerry, Ray is right there.And if that was "Next to Jimmy" it was a song and Jerry played a great solo on that-and I bet you that Ray Montee has a copy of it in his JB archive. What a lot of good memories all this brings about. Keep up the good work. Does anyone remember who was the singer on that song-"Next to Jimmy"?

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

If Bill Stafford ever gets to the point whereby he can no longer play steel, (God forbid!), you can look for him on the Comedy Channel as he will split your side with laughter telling jokes. One of his classic jokes is that of pushing the donkey up the hill...care to relate that one for the folks Bill ? (It's clean).

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Hi Bill, I have heard just enough of your playing to admire, your greatly original approach to music. Yes, "you are your own man".

I wish that Steel Guitarists would all learn to develope their Own "Style" of playing...al

Bill Stafford · From: Gulfport,Ms. USA

Greetings to all. Thanks, guys. About that mule, Keoki, give me a reminder. That was a long time ago.LOL
And Keoki, I owe you one good one. Remember on stage at the Joliet HAWAIIAN convention you were playing rythmn in the band and asked me to play "LITTLE ROCK GET-A-WAY"? Put me on the spot you did, you did. I will get even someday. (Another LOL). That was a good show. Jerry Byrd was in the first row and he even asked me to play "Old Shep". (This was still the HAWAIIAN show, remember).
Boy, was I in trouble. Did not know what to do. I will get even though.
I still enjoyed that show. It is one of the best.
Thanks for the memories,
Bill Stafford

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

Is it true that Jerry Byrd (or maybe I heard this about someone else)had his volume pedal wired backwards so that the volume was off when floored? It was discussed in a post quite a while back, but the point was brought up behind the theory. Try this, without a pedal, put your heel on the floor and raise your foot as if the pedal is off and slowly lower your foot to the floor as if you were increasing the volume. See how jittery your foot motion is? Now notice how smooth you can do the opposite. Makes sense to me.
Oh, to reply on the subject, I pretty much run at a constant high volume (not quite wide open) and use the reserve for sustain or swell effects.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

If I hadn't heard it, I would not have believed it could be played at full tempo on steel..."LITTLE ROCK GETAWAY" by Bill Stafford! He really worked the buns off me on rhythm guitar but I loved every minute of it! Bill, I think down in New Jersey the cows MOOD INDIGO...did you ever do that song ? We were working on it in the hotel room, remember ?
As for that donkey joke, I have Bill telling it on tape...still cracks me up just listening to him telling it to us with a southern drawl in that hotel room. What a time we had and what a super guy he is!!! LOL

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 18 October 2000 at 10:43 PM.]

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