Pedal steel like nobody else played it

[Jeffrey McFadden]

The topic of "traditional" pedal steel, and pedal steel's future or lack thereof, often comes up here on the forum. It doesn't take anything away from traditional country and pedal steel's undeniable creators and roots to say that the instrument is wildly capable and can find a creative home in virtually any musical genre.
This is Jackson Browne's version of Take It Easy, which he co-wrote with Don Henley of the Eagles, whose version is better known.
Sneaky Pete Kleinow played C6 pedal steel on this cut, and on much of this album.
I didn't grow up on traditional country. This is the album, and the player, who made me notice and love pedal steel. I've only recently come to understand that he did it, not with the "normal" E9 tuning, but with C6. Got me thinking.
Anyway - if you don't know this cut you might give it a listen.
https://youtu.be/FMA3lIeqV8M?si=A-TMw3XuSQeZmmHy

[Jeffrey McFadden]

Another rip-snorter of Sneaky Pete pedal steel off the same album.
https://youtu.be/zKVMR1uq0u0?si=_5we3nyB25VHJyCI

[Brad Bechtel]

Another rip-snorter of Sneaky Pete pedal steel off the same album.
https://youtu.be/zKVMR1uq0u0?si=_5we3nyB25VHJyCI

That's David Lindley on lap steel, not Sneaky Pete.

[Dave Mudgett]

Pete played B6, not C6, and the tuning and pedals were set up very differently from a typical Buddy Emmons C6 type of setup. Here's the setup - https://b0b.com/tunings/stars.html#b6pk


Pedals 1 and 2 function effectively as E9 tuning A and B pedals. With A and B pedals down, you're in E. Of course, there are a lot of other things going on here, and Pete's style was definitely unique. Count me in as a big fan. I think his playing on Jackson Browne's Take It Easy is quintessential Sneaky Pete, and some of the best pedal steel playing I've heard.

I also don't think it's necessary to use Pete's tuning to get in the ballpark of Pete's style. I think it was Pete's musical brain, not his tuning, that led to his groundbreaking approach. Lots of single notes and very creative use of melody, counterpoint, and effects to get a very unique style and sound.

And yeah - that's David Lindley on Red Neck Friend.

[Jeffrey McFadden]

Another rip-snorter of Sneaky Pete pedal steel off the same album.
https://youtu.be/zKVMR1uq0u0?si=_5we3nyB25VHJyCI

That's David Lindley on lap steel, not Sneaky Pete.

I stand corrected.
Still Sneaky Pete on Take It Easy.
As a long time David Lindley fan I'm quite embarrassed.

[Jeffrey McFadden]

Pete played B6, not C6, and the tuning and pedals were set up very differently from a typical Buddy Emmons C6 type of setup. Here's the setup - https://b0b.com/tunings/stars.html#b6pk


Pedals 1 and 2 function effectively as E9 tuning A and B pedals. With A and B pedals down, you're in E. Of course, there are a lot of other things going on here, and Pete's style was definitely unique. Count me in as a big fan. I think his playing on Jackson Browne's Take It Easy is quintessential Sneaky Pete, and some of the best pedal steel playing I've heard.

I also don't think it's necessary to use Pete's tuning to get in the ballpark of Pete's style. I think it was Pete's musical brain, not his tuning, that led to his groundbreaking approach. Lots of single notes and very creative use of melody, counterpoint, and effects to get a very unique style and sound.

And yeah - that's David Lindley on Red Neck Friend.

I stand corrected again. I'd read that he played C6, but obviously I didn't know correctly.
Yes, I already ate a bite of crow on Redneck Friend. Obviously I'm not as skilled a hearer as many others. (Sigh)

[Donny Hinson]

Along the lines of what Dave said, I'm not hearing anything in that version of Take It Easy that couldn't be done on a standard E9th.

[Jeffrey McFadden]

Along the lines of what Dave said, I'm not hearing anything in that version of Take It Easy that couldn't be done on a standard E9th.

I'm nowhere near the musician nor pedal player that you are, Donnie, but to me it sounds like lower registers than the E9 I know can reach.
I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough to evaluate anything else regarding the two, and obviously I could be wrong even about that.

[Franklin]

Along the lines of what Dave said, I'm not hearing anything in that version of Take It Easy that couldn't be done on a standard E9th.

I'm nowhere near the musician nor pedal player that you are, Donnie, but to me it sounds like lower registers than the E9 I know can reach.
I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough to evaluate anything else regarding the two, and obviously I could be wrong even about that.

Jeffrey, give your ears a little more credit..It would take a 12 string E9 which is an extended E9th to get those lower note licks in one fret like Sneaky played.
If your goal is to exactly duplicate everything Sneaky plays consider a 12 string E9. ...Texas players were using Bb6 and B6 tunings back when pedals were developing. Nashville leaned on E9 and C6 because Emmons and Byrd inspired so many that recorded in Nashville...

[K Maul]

A little piece of trivia on the song Redneck Friend. Rockaday Johnny, an alias taken from Bob Dylan’s Talkin World War III Blues - is actually Elton John.