| Author |
Topic: Thinking of buying a Pedal Steel |
John D. Carter
From:
Canton, Ohio, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2015 2:13 pm |
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| I have been dabbling in c6 non-pedal for some time. I saw a demonstration of a Hudson 6 with two pedals and 2 knee levers. I was impressed with the quality, sound and price. My question to you peddlers, could I stay with my current standard c6 tuning (CEGACE) and make good use of the pedals and levers? I would definitely prefer to have some tab to get me started. Does tab for such a set-up exist? Thanks for any advice that can be given. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 25 Nov 2015 4:42 am
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You COULD, but you'd shortchange yourself. If I was wanting to take a 6 string approach and wanting the E9th pedal steel sound, I'd use G#EBG#F#E with P1 pulling the B string to C#, P2 pulling the two G#s to A and a lever dropping the Es to D#.
The C6th pedal steel really needs at least 8 strings and the full 5 pedals, And at least the one knee
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2015 5:27 am
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Do it the right way E9 tuning. 10 strings 3 pedals 4 knee levers. Anything else is just a shortcut. You won't get "that sound" any other way.
_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 25 Nov 2015 6:23 am
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| I don't think there is any tab or learning materials available for a 6-string C6th pedal steel, so if you wanted to stay with this tuning, you're going to be pretty much on your own. I'm certainly no expert, but I think you could get enough variations with 2 pedals and two levers to make it interesting and versatile. But, as to how long this setup would keep you happy and occupied, I couldn't say. You'll just have to keep in mind that you won't be able to get a lot of the C6th and E9th sounds that you usually hear on a pedal steel. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2015 8:47 am
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| Rich Upright wrote: |
| Do it the right way E9 tuning. |
C6 is as right as E9 and maybe righter.
| John D. Carter wrote: |
| could I stay with my current standard c6 tuning (CEGACE) and make good use of the pedals and levers? |
Yes, absolutely. The pull-release system may work best with one pull on each string (maybe more?) so here are a couple of ways you could add a lot to the tuning that you already know
| Tab: |
knee P1 P2 knee
E --D
C -B
A
G -F#
E -Eb
C -B
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| Tab: |
knee P1 P2 knee
E +F
C ++D
A +Bb
G -F#
E -Eb
C
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John D. Carter
From:
Canton, Ohio, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2015 4:36 pm
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John D. Carter
From:
Canton, Ohio, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2015 4:47 pm
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| Something went wrong with previous post. sorry. Thank you for the responses, especially the specific examples by Mr. Bovine. Much appreciated. I would anticipate a sound that is somewhere in between a pedal steel and a lap steel. This is the aspect of the instrument that appeals to me. |
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2015 5:40 pm
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you can get a lot of music out of 6 strings 2 pedals and 1 or 2 knees
_________________
proud parent of a sailor
Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!
Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 27 Nov 2015 12:29 am
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| John D. Carter wrote: |
| Something went wrong with previous post. sorry. Thank you for the responses, especially the specific examples by Mr. Bovine. Much appreciated. I would anticipate a sound that is somewhere in between a pedal steel and a lap steel. This is the aspect of the instrument that appeals to me. |
John, As you are already playing C6, you should be able to find your way around A6 without too much effort.
When I first got my six string pedal steel, I went and did a gig with it almost straight away, spending most of my time with both pedals down and playing all my usual stuff, adding pedal bends when I started to feel my way around a bit more.
If you tune your six string pedal steel to strings 3-8 of a regular E9 pedal steel (or even B E F# G# B E) and configure your pedals as A and B, then with both pedals down you'll get an A6.
You can easily re-tune your guitar to A6 to dip your toe in the water (C# E F# A C# E). The relationship between the strings on that A6 is the same as if you added a high G to your C6 and moved everything down 3 frets (not as complicated to get your head around as it sounds).
After a while of using that on my six string pedal steel, I decided I would prefer the sound of strings 3-8 of an E9 (which is sort of an extra step away from your C6 tuning so maybe play around with the one I mentioned above first.)
Like you, I see the six string pedal steel as a lap steel with extras.
After playing with it for a while, I got the urge to go for a full 10 stringer but have no plans to het rif of the 6. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 27 Nov 2015 5:12 am
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I think Jimmie will build any copedent you want into a 6-string, but you'd need to design it first,
bearing in mind that a pull-release can't have a raise and lower on the same string (correct me if I'm wrong).
Here is the C6 tuning b0b uses on his 6-pedal Rickenbacker, minus the top and bottom strings:
Eliminate columns 1 and 5 and you have pretty much the same changes that Earnest suggested.
It's kind of a thing where you select from a Chinese menu, 'one from column A, one from column B...'
Plenty to choose from, you just have to know what you want to begin with.
Mr. Hudson builds a good guitar, believes in the tone of the changer, and is very helpful to talk to. |
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Charley Bond
From:
Inola, OK, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2015 10:34 am buying a Pedal Steel
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If you buy a good guitar... you have more or less put the money from one bank into another bank... it is not a loss, unless you go & buy a new something or other.
If you find a good used Steel Guitar, it might cost you upwards of $2000.00. If taken care of & it is a popular guitar, you might $2000 when you sell it.
Trying to play the Pedal Steel without any music background is difficult to say the least. Yeah, you'll learn to pick a few songs, but when someone wants to hear something you can't play... you need to learn to smile real big & hope that no one realizes you can't or ain't playing..... with the band.
Good Luck... learning is great fun. |
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