Volume Pedal Usage

[Deirdre Higgins]

Hi all, I just purchased a volume pedal and would like a few tips on how to use it properly to enhance playing. Thanks

[Jeff Spencer]

Hi Deirdre, consider thinking if it as an expression pedal rather than a volume pedal. You will be surprised how subtle thinking can alter how it is used. Pick you chord/note then 'squeeze' you pedal ever so smoothly.

[Deirdre Higgins]

Hi Deirdre, consider thinking if it as an expression pedal rather than a volume pedal. You will be surprised how subtle thinking can alter how it is used. Pick you chord/note then 'squeeze' you pedal ever so smoothly.

Thank You Jeff

[Tom Snook]

Deirdre,did you know that our Hero Jerry Byrd had his volume pedal wired Bass Ackward.
His pedal volume decreased when he pushed down.

[Doug Beaumier]

Deirdre, set your amp volume a little louder than you need it, and play with the volume pedal about 1/2 way down. Pick a chord and as the sound fades, press lightly on the pedal to draw out the sound. Then come back to the middle position before picking the strings again. The correct range of motion for the volume pedal is from about 1/2 way down to about 3/4 way down.
There are two mistakes that beginners make with a volume pedal... either they "pump" the pedal too much, which sounds awful, or they stomp down on it all the way and leave it there, which defeats the purpose of the volume pedal. It should be used to draw out notes/chords when necessary and then to soften your string attack when necessary. If used properly it will enhance your overall sound, make it smoother. If you watch a pro steel player's foot on a volume pedal you'll notice that the foot (and pedal) move very little.

[Ray Montee (RIP)]

To get an idea of one way that a volume pedal can be used, you might visit the jerrybyrd-fanclub.com site.


The home page this month features an old George Morgan tune with Jerry's fabulous guitar throughout.

[Deirdre Higgins]

Thanks for the Tips guys, your the best.

[Liz Williams]

Thanks for the question too, Deirdre. Very often, I come to to forum looking for an answer and find it under a question you've posed.

So, guitar volume open all the way, amp a little too loud and default volume pedal position is halfway. Lightly press to 3/4 to draw out a chord you've already played.

That shouldn't take too long to master. <falls>

[Tom Keller]

I find the volume pedal more difficult to use with a non pedal guitar. Too much volume pedal and one starts sounding like a musical saw player. Ohhhh!


Tom Keller

[Fred Layman]

Think of the volume pedal as a means for sustaining volume and refrain from "pumping" it. After you have plucked the strings, slowly push the pedal down to sustain the amount of volume that you want.

[Tom Campbell]

Thanks Doug...I needed that!

[Doug Beaumier]

Here's a video I made last year. I've been told that it's a good demonstration of volume pedal usage, although I wasn't thinking about that when I made the video. The pedal is pressed to draw out the sustained notes and chords, and then brought back when the next notes are picked. After a while this becomes part of your playing technique and you don't even think about it. It just happens.

---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1pJUQAYYxc

[Jack Aldrich]

Jeff Newman showed me how to use the volume pedal for pedal steel. As Doug said, you set the volume control on the amp higher than you want and keep the volume pedal about halfway to max and work from there.

[Jack Aldrich]

Also, I don't use a volume pedal to play Hawaiian and non-pedal Western Swing.

[John Mulligan]

Some people WANT to sound like a musical saw! I came across a guy who got a lap steel because he wanted his steel to sound like a theremin. If you never heard of one, google it! it is best known for making spooky noises in old scary movies!

Sometimes I use my volume pedal to make my steel sound like a violin. I'm not very detail-oriented and I'm a slow learner. I would say hook up the volume pedal and play around with it for a few hundred hours until it starts making noises you like! I never worry about doing things the wrong or right way, I just play until it sounds good. The tips from all the other players here are excellent tips, too.

Enjoy!

[Bill Creller]

I still have the DeArmnod volume pedal I bought from the late 40s when I played country music.
Getting into Hawaiian music after a 40 year hiatus from music, I didn't use the pedal much again. It's still OK if used right.....

And it EATS volume pots !

[Andrew Roblin]

GREAT lesson on volume pedal, vibrato, melody interpretation and just all-around artistry from the GREAT Doug Beaumier!

[Chris Walke]

Here's a video I made last year. I've been told that it's a good demonstration of volume pedal usage, although I wasn't thinking about that when I made the video. The pedal is pressed to draw out the sustained notes and chords, and then brought back when the next notes are picked. After a while this becomes part of your playing technique and you don't even think about it. It just happens.

---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1pJUQAYYxc

Also a fabulous illustration of pick blocking technique. Enjoyed that, Doug. Thanks!

[Doug Beaumier]

Thanks, guys!

[John Booth]

Never "Pump" it like a car accelerator.
That's all I have to say bout dat