Unusual knee lever change?

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 30 Nov 2004 1:56 pm

Hi All,
With regard to the E9 neck, I have a ZB which has a knee lever which operates the First a seventh strings and raises them both to a G. Nothing odd about that.
I also have an Emmons and the same lever raises the first string to G but it lowers the sixth string to F#.
The lower on the sixth string does not operate if the B pedal is depressed.
I have often wondered if this was an error when the guitar was originally set up(I have owned it from new)I cannot find a lot of use for the six lower other than an occasional "twang"
Perhaps someone can advise me if there is a proper use for this change.
Best regards
Billy

Dan Galysh · Post by **Dan Galysh** » 30 Nov 2004 2:34 pm

Hi Billy,
There is nothing wrong with the 6th string not being able to lower with the B pedal depressed. If it is indeed a push pull Emmons, a raise will override a lower inherently.
I use the G# to F# lower along with the E to Eb lever two frets down from the pedals down position on strings 10, 8, 6, 5 and 4 to get another major chord position primarily.
-Dan

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 30 Nov 2004 5:35 pm

It's the "Amen" change.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 30 Nov 2004 6:36 pm

You can find a 1/2 position by ear (G# -> G) that turns your E major into an E minor.

And if you can do that, you can get a moving voice w/in an A chord on the 6th string, starting with the A+B pedals down, release the B pedal to move the root to a major 7th, and then 1/2 engage the knee lever for a 7th, full knee lever for a 6th. That's an A major chord on strings 4,5,6 -- notes on the 6th string are A,G#,G,F#.

Or, coming from the other direction starting on the 8th string, A+B pedals down, then engage the F lever, then move to 7th string, then to 6th string w/ lever 1/2 engaged. It starts as an A major chord using strings 5,6,8 -- notes are E,F,F#,G. This will resolve into a D chord.

Tricky for sure, but it gets easier every time I practice it.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 1 Dec 2004 11:04 am

Try this:
Lower your E's and your sixth string with knee levers.
Pick strings 4 5 6 twice.
Keep E's lowered, raise sixth 1/2 tone, press A pedal, pick twice again.
Keep E's lowered, release all other knee levers and pedals, pick twice.
Keep E's lowered, press B pedal, pick once.
What tune is it??<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by richard burton on 01 December 2004 at 11:06 AM.]</p></FONT>