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Topic: Out in Left Field - Pedal Psaltery |
Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2019 3:41 pm |
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Or maybe in another state or on another planet.
For the last four years I have been making and playing Baltic Psalteries and have been ignoring my pedal steel. However, earlier this year I came across mention of b0b's F diatonic copedant. It got me thinking about my pedal steel in a new role.
As background, the Baltic Psaltery is in the harp/zither/lyre family of instruments. It has no frets so its strings are fixed pitch. The Baltic Psaltery can have 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, or otherwise number of strings. My psalteries mostly have 9 strings which consist of a diatonic scale in the key of C with a low G drone. The two most common modes are ionian (the do re mi scale) an mixolydian (the seventh string is flatted). Everything you play on the psaltery uses the same scale. This is somewhat limiting when trying to play music with other instruments and songs which are not in your scale.
So, b0b's F diatonic copedant gave me an aha moment. I could modify my pedal steel into a diatonic psaltery. The missing piece was having to use a bar. That was solved when I found Charlie's Slide Pro Capo.
I proceeded to finish my instrument with a maple body and aprons and new strings. Here is the end result.
This week I strung it up (it's an E diatonic with low E and low B). I am able to use my Baltic Psaltery techniques so I am able to actually play the instrument without relearning grips or fingerings. I have not decided what pedals and knee levers to use for my mode and playing changes. Initially I won't need my full complement of five pedals and four knee levers.
Karlis |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 18 Sep 2019 6:08 pm
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| Way cool! Would love to hear it. |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 18 Sep 2019 6:12 pm
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| Way cool! Would love to hear it. |
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Gabriel Edell
From:
Hamilton, Ontario
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Posted 18 Sep 2019 6:14 pm
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Super cool. So the heavy strings are away from the player?
_________________
GFI S-10 P U, Moyo Volume, Fender Steel King, Fender 5F4 Super-Amp |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 19 Sep 2019 12:10 am
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Karlis, it would be good to see a photo of a regular psaltery for comparison as I'm sure few of us have seen one.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2019 6:34 am
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The Baltic Psaltery has the lower strings away from the player. I retained that on my pedal psaltery. My style of playing has the right hand strumming toward me.
Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWvs5VECFfo is a video of me playing an exercise.
Karlis |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 19 Sep 2019 6:54 am
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That's extraordinary! It never occurred to me that there might exist an instrument where you finger the notes you aren't playing 
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Charley Bond
From:
Inola, OK, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2019 10:15 am Wow, that makes PSG look easy
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Very nicely made instrument. I'm sure you are quite proud. You are quite the craftsman. I think I'm sticking with my Sierra 5 & 4... Besides that.. Can you imagine playing that instrument, with pedals & knee Levers...?
_________________
Steel Guitar players are members of a Special Family |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2019 2:34 pm
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Wow that’s really cool can’t wait too here this instrument.
Also very nice looking keyless steel build. |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2019 2:36 pm
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Wow that’s really cool can’t wait too bear this instrument.
Also very nice looking keyless steel build. |
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Sep 2019 3:36 pm Re: Out in Left Field - Pedal Psaltery
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| Karlis Abolins wrote: |
For the last four years I have been making and playing Baltic Psalteries and have been ignoring my pedal steel. |
So, your house is now peppered with psalteries?  |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 20 Sep 2019 10:01 am
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Karl's,That's sooo coo!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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