Pentatonic Lever on a pedal?

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 22 May 2006 7:19 am

A little while back there was a discussion of the string 2 D#-C# and string 9 D-C# lever, and Paul Franklin mentioned this lever is very convenient for pentatonic scales. I have been doing some experimenting, and boy is he right about that! Up until now, I have been using only a D#-D lower on string 2, since I don't like half stops.

However, I did notice that there are positions where the "pentatonic lever" can be combined with B-A# lever and the E-D# lever simultaneously. Unfortunately I cannot hold in 3 levers at the same time.

Since the "pentatonic lever" also works in conjunction with the B pedal, and if the C pedal is not there (I don't use one), I am considering putting this change on the pedal to the right of the B pedal.

For clarity, my pedal setup would therefore be

Pedal 0 - G#s to G
Pedal 1 - Standard A pedal
Pedal 2 - Standard B pedal
Pedal 3 - D#-C# and D-C#

The pedal 3 is currently the F#-G# and D#-E change on strings 1 and 2, but I am not using this much.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 22 May 2006 7:46 am

If you want to play a pentatonic scale without moving the bar or pedals, there are at least 5 easy ways on E9:

However, I did notice that there are positions where the "pentatonic lever" can be combined with B-A# lever and the E-D# lever simultaneously.

That gives you a pentatonic scale:F# G# A# C# D#, the black keys on the piano.

Unfortunately I cannot hold in 3 levers at the same time.

By just lowering D and D# to C# you have a pentatonic scale E F# G# B C#.

Lowering E to D#, and D/D# to C#, it is the pentatonic scale B C# D# F# G#.

The B pedal, plus lowering D and D# to C#, gives you this pentatonic scale: A B C# E F#.

Just lower D# to D and you have D E F# A B.
[This message was edited by Earnest Bovine on 22 May 2006 at 09:09 AM.]

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 22 May 2006 8:55 am

Which is mostly why I tune my 2nd string to C# and then raise it to D/D# with a half-stop lever. It's an especially good idea on an E9/B6 U-12.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 22 May 2006 1:04 pm

Sometimes I think I'd like to "lock" the 2nd and 9th strings to C# on certain tunes. The old knee gets tired...

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 22 May 2006 8:36 pm

Holding the A pedal down and using the 10th string as the root gives a great pentatonic tuning across most of the strings. The 3b is on strings 8 and 4, and these can be taken up to the major 3rd with the F lever. The 7th and 1st strings are the 4th, and my vertical lever takes these up to the 5b. The roots on strings 9 and 5 can be dropped to the 7b by releasing the A pedal. The 2b on string 9 is not very useful, but if you have a lever that drops it a half step you get a unison root, and a whole step gives a major 7th. It's all there. On my uni, I have an entire additional low octave giving great power chords (one of the reasons I prefer a uni to an extended E9). If you drop down one fret and use the A and B pedals you have the V chord. My vertical lever (raising strings 7 and 1 a half step) makes that the V7. There are many useful chords within a few frets in this box. This is THE box for minor blues, but it also works for major blues because of all the pentatonic notes available.

------------------
Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 22 May 2006 at 09:42 PM.]