U12 lessons online?

[Jerome Reinan]

I'm new to PSG. I currently have a really great old Excel D10 that I'm learning on. I've read a lot of the threads on U12 and/or Johnny Cox's D13 tuning and I'd like to take a leap that direction before I get too set in the ways of E9th. I'll probably end up calling Toshi when he recovers and see what he has to offer. My biggest problem, however, is that there are very few online lessons, and I live in a very remote area, so that's how I'd have to learn. Is there anywhere you good folks could point me? Thanks, and have a great thanksgiving, all!

[Daniel Morris]

How new are you to pedal steel, Jerome?
I've been playing U12 steels since '79.
Never had a double neck.
I wish I could steer you to some online site dedicated to learning U12, BUT I've always been able to translate someone's C6 instruction to B6 on my U12.
I've done a couple ZOOM sessions with Doug Jernigan (I believe he's still doing them), and he has a Patreon site where he offers beginner to advanced instruction on E9 and C6. Jeff Newman's U12 course got me rolling years ago, and you may be able to find that.
If you have zero experience with U12, I'd be willing to help talk you through some things. PM or email me if you like.

[Jared Ruari]

Once you understand the basics of how the D13th tuning relates to the 10 string e9 and c6 tunings, it is pretty easy to adapt all those teaching materials. With a d13th setup it is also much easier to get the full complement of standard c6 knee levers. The lack of those changes on most e9/b6 u12 setups is what made me commit to D13th.

[Jerome Reinan]

How new are you to pedal steel, Jerome?
I've been playing U12 steels since '79.
Never had a double neck.
I wish I could steer you to some online site dedicated to learning U12, BUT I've always been able to translate someone's C6 instruction to B6 on my U12.
I've done a couple ZOOM sessions with Doug Jernigan (I believe he's still doing them), and he has a Patreon site where he offers beginner to advanced instruction on E9 and C6. Jeff Newman's U12 course got me rolling years ago, and you may be able to find that.
If you have zero experience with U12, I'd be willing to help talk you through some things. PM or email me if you like.

Daniel, happy Thanksgiving and thanks for the advice! I just started a few months ago. The local guy that set up my steel highly recommended that I learn on a single neck, and that started me down the path of thinking about a U12 since I used to play bass and thus I’m sort of drawn to lower chords as a result. Anyway, no real science behind it — just thought that if I decided to stick to a single neck, might as well be a 12 string and might as well do it before I get too far into the E9th.

[Jerome Reinan]

Once you understand the basics of how the D13th tuning relates to the 10 string e9 and c6 tunings, it is pretty easy to adapt all those teaching materials. With a d13th setup it is also much easier to get the full complement of standard c6 knee levers. The lack of those changes on most e9/b6 u12 setups is what made me commit to D13th.

Jared, happy Thanksgiving and thanks for the advice!

[Dennis Detweiler]

I played a D9/D6 U-12 tuning for a few years before the E9/B6 became standard for U-12. I switched to E9/B6 and found that I could relate to it better because I played a D-10 for 8 yrs prior to the 12 string. I was only one fret away from any C6 tab, intro/outro and lesson materials. So, it fell into place easily for me. Just a quicker learning curve. I can't speak to the latest D13 tuning since I've never tried it.

[Markus Mayerhofer]

Big shout out for D13 here.
Well, Dennis is right when it comes to the transferation of standard E9/C6 tabs to a E9/B6 U-12 tuning. I found that to be easier. When it comes to all of the low stuff, that can be easier transfered to B6, simply because B6 exceeds C6 in the low range.
On D13 you may sometimes have to rearrange some of the low register voicings, or in the worst case play them 10 frets up.

But in my opinion the game changer is, that you have ONE root note for both 9th and the 6th-"mode", which makes this tuning truly universal. All your standard levers serve on the 9th- and the 6th-side of the tuning, which gives you a more or less full emulation of a D-10 setup.
I'm still kind of overwhelmed by the vast possibilities of this tuning has to offer.

[Sonny Jenkins]

Don't forget Joe Wrights material,,,,available on his website and the old Sierra website!!!

[Preston Turner]

I’m taking the jump and learning Universal right now as well. Like Sonny said, I am using the Joe Wright material on the Sierra website. Has been good so far!