Good explanation and information. I practice in whatever footwear I’m wearing and rarely find it makes a difference. My left ankle doesn’t pivot a lot to the right and over the years I’ve kept my A pedal lower than the B to assure it’s not activated accidentally. That’s just my physicality.
Bo, thanks for sharing. I always feel you should try and stay with what ever is natural and is working. Glad you posted this and hope others share their insight on topics as well. We want to help ,and promote the steel. Keep Picking! Aaron
Boy this really clears up a minor concern I have had. I am new the the Pedal Steel Guitar and wondered why my pedals were not level. Knowing this will actually make things easier knowing how to use the pedals. Even when I would look at other PSGs I always noted that the pedals were uneven...this will not longer be a concern. Thanks for the video!
Nice video. I've tried other adjustments over the years, but I always come back to this setup - the U configuration. It comes in handy if you have a lick where you want to "milk" the A pedal in a pedals down position too. Having the A higher than B also helps to make sure the A pedal bottoms out. You sit off-set from the pedals, over to the right, so when my leg is extended over to the left on the pedals, the higher A pedal is easier to push down. This works.
This is great! You hit it right out of the park. I've been playing for about 40 years and one thing I've learned is a guy can't know it all. I've been wondering why as I get older, hitting a 2 minor has been tougher and tougher. Finally out of desperation I went on youtube and caught your teaching on pedal height adjustment for ABC. I play a 97 Carter 12 5 X 7 universal. This adjustment is a breath of fresh air! With this little "u" adjustment and playing minor "B & C", it's back to right on the money. Yeah, I've subscribed and hit the thumbs up (I've got to wonder what two dweebs hit that thumbs down button? Perhaps it's just one guy and he missed twice? Then on the third time he finally hit the proper thumbs up key. Well, practice makes perfect : ) Oh, did I say Thank You!!?
Thank you for the kind words, Timothy! I'm glad that the video could help out your setup and that you found the channel! Welcome to the family! Keep picking!
I bought my D-10 used and I'm a new player. I had wondered why my pedals were not perfectly level but had assumed the previous owner deliberately set them up that way. Now I know why, thank you for the explanation.
Exactly what I was going to say! Thanks for the lesson and the comment! It's always so much better if you are using something with knowledge rather than just plugging thru...
Back when I was taking lessons from Buddy Charleton he said that when he was playing with Ernest Tubb you HAD to wear cowboy boots! If you didn't wear cowboy boots on stage you didn't play with his band! I asked him how he managed to do it & he said he learned how. I've been playing for almost 19 years & have never been called upon to wear cowboy boots. Hope I never am! Btw someone left a link for a dating site in the comment section for this video. I took the liberty of reporting it. Dating sites are great & all but this site's for pedal steel guitar.
Mike, thanks. My son says those are bots and we reported and blocked it. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish I had gotten the chance to meet Bud Charleton. My dad and I went to several Saint Louis conventions but he wasn't on Scott's line up the years we were there. Anyway you had a great player teaching you and I am sure he had a ton of great stories. Keep Picking! Aaron
When Emmons was being run by Ron Lashley Sr; they adjusted each pedal to 1 and 3/4" high; measured from the floor to the bottom of the pedal tip. And as Aaron says, the B pedal is slightly lower than the rest. But there are many ways to do it.
My left wrist joint disintegrated & bone fragments removed so I switched to pedal steel with a fingerslide on my left thumb. Now I have to learn to play with an amputated left foot & a prosthesis. Yes, I can play a diminished chord with a half depressed 1st pedal, a fully depressed 2nd pedal & the left knee right lever somehow. I can play the 7th & augmented chords with the left knee left lever & 1 or 2 pedals. I can see why they like pointy cowboy boots.
Yeah man... I make sure I can fully depress all 4 of my E9th pedals individually. That way I can do pedal squeezes any way I choose to and at some point or another, I have used everyone of them alone.... even the C pedal. I raise my Es on LKL and lower them with my RKL. I always thought people who had their Es on the left would lower the Es on the side that the B pedal is from the A pedal ( LKL for Day setup. LKR for Emmons) i like them split. Makes lowering, releasing and raising the 4th and 2nd string much easier. I lestned exactly what you said about pedal height; that if they are higher (i have mine to where my toes are when wearing flat bottom shoes), ot helps with playing faster . For the longest time I had them as low as I could... not a good idea for me. Good info Aaron! Alot of guys dont know this stuff. Your video and sound quality has improved a lot since I first started watching 3 years ago man! Nice work. Keep it up!
so i did the adjustment and what a huge difference. my pedals are right there now and no real effort needed to mash em or release. i seem to like my C a little closer to my B and my A higher like you showed but i know that is all preference but until i saw this video, my pedals were not right.
Brian, thanks so much. We always hope our lessons are helpful. The feedback we get from our steel family gives us insight for future lessons. Keep Picking! Aaron
Hi Arron. I always enjoyed your videos. They taught me a lot. I practiced and practiced for a couple of years. I was getting competent and folks seemed to like my playing. Then I just stopped playing. It just sits there. I play my telecaster everyday but I keep telling my steel , tomorrow. Do think I'm just lazy. Any suggestions to motivate me?
I'm not Aaron, but I played guitar long before steel. Play your favorite melody on the Telecaster then try to duplicate it on pedal steel. I often work out songs on guitar 1st then transfer to pedal steel. Good luck.
Lewis, I know how you feel. Try setting a time each day to try and set behind your steel. Try duplicating something you are working on your tele to your steel. Also if you are having a rough practice session take a break for awhile and come back to it. My problem is getting my mind quiet from all the cares and distractions going on. I find if I stick it out for about 30 min I have a productive and most importantly fun session at my guitar. Anyway hang in there! By the way you are not lazy. Keep Picking! Aaron
This was so important for me. My brother gave me this pedal steel and the pedals were never set now I can get the show on the road. One thing I noticed when you press your pedals seems you press and the tuning is changed more quickly than my steel. I have to press further to get the change is there another adjustment? Thanks so much....
Yes, there is a way but should probably be done by a professional, unfortunately. Once you adjust the length of the pull, you'll have to make further adjustments elsewhere such as the bell cranks. This can get pretty complicated to balance out the pulls. If you do want to try it or if you want to find someone who can work on it, you might want to check the steel guitar forum for help with that. Thank you and keep picking!
Thanks. Good video. I’m gonna try this. I’d also like to know if you could maybe do a video on how to move the knee lever positions over. I want to change where mine are, but I don’t wanna mess anything up. Thanks! Sierra E9 Nashville tuning Peavy Nashville 112 amp
Mark are you talking about adjusting them. If so seed me some close up pics of the knee levers . I might be able to help you out. steelpicking@gmail.com Keep Picking! Aaron
@@SteelPicking thanks for the reply. I figured out how to “adjust” that LKL lever. There aren’t enough cutaways on the front support rail to move it, but actually carefully bending the lever to the left fixed me up just fine.
The common ABC pedals will be raising notes. The A pedal raises the open no bar B note on strings 5,10 to a C#. The B pedal raises the G# notes on strings 3,6 to an A. And last the C pedal raises open string 4 E to F# and open string 5 B to a C#. Hope that helps. Keep Picking!
Lee, due to the long travel on the zero pedal I set it a little higher than my A pedal.Also it is a stand alone pedal. Give it a try. Hope this helps. Keep Picking! Aaron
Aaron i recently acquired a push pull so I was adjusting my C6th pedals today. It seems they work best for me if they are in sort of a check mark shape. 4 is higher than 5, and about the same height as 6.... 7 is higher than 6 and 8 is higher than 7. How do you do your C6th pedals brother, just curious?. Thanks and God bless.
I don't have the normal pull on my 4th pedal on my C neck; so I normally have my 5th and 6th pedals pretty close to the same height with the 7th a little higher where I'll do a half pedal on that sometimes. My 8th pedal is the same height as the 7th. For my 4th pedal on my new guitar I use a "Jernigan" pedal. Jody Cameron talks about this on his UA-cam channel with his new MSA that he got. Hope that helps and keep picking!
Yeah but how high is the A and,B C pedal how high does the pedals go do we turn that nut as far as it will go you didn't explain that does it matter just so it's in that shape let me know thank you for send me your email address 👍 thank you
David, good point. I think the main thing will be the U shape. It will be some trial an error, just experiment some. But again the U shape is the starting point. Keep Picking! Aaron
I'm a beginner but I like playing barefoot or just socks. Someday I probably should play with shoes but it will be a while before I have enough confidence to play in public.
I have seen some really good bare foot players. Hey what ever is working for you. As long as you are having fun and learning keep at it. The confidence will come. I still get a bit of the nerves when I play out. It usually take a couple songs into the set before I clam down. It happens to everyone I think. Keep Picking! Aaron
I Always played in Socks. At home, in the rehearsing room, and even on stage. As Aaron said, play in whatever works for you. I always had trouble with the tip of my cowboy boots getting between the peddals. Also had no feel for the Pedals while playing in footwear.
So many people don't consider this...... I think ur the only person who's made a video about it
Thanks we are trying to help our steel guitar family be sharing.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
Good explanation and information. I practice in whatever footwear I’m wearing and rarely find it makes a difference. My left ankle doesn’t pivot a lot to the right and over the years I’ve kept my A pedal lower than the B to assure it’s not activated accidentally.
That’s just my physicality.
Bo, thanks for sharing. I always feel you should try and stay with what ever is natural and is working. Glad you posted this and hope others share their insight on topics as well. We want to help ,and promote the steel.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
Boy this really clears up a minor concern I have had. I am new the the Pedal Steel Guitar and wondered why my pedals were not level. Knowing this will actually make things easier knowing how to use the pedals. Even when I would look at other PSGs I always noted that the pedals were uneven...this will not longer be a concern. Thanks for the video!
Craig, glad to help. Let us know how it works out after you adjust them.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
Nice video. I've tried other adjustments over the years, but I always come back to this setup - the U configuration. It comes in handy if you have a lick where you want to "milk" the A pedal in a pedals down position too. Having the A higher than B also helps to make sure the A pedal bottoms out. You sit off-set from the pedals, over to the right, so when my leg is extended over to the left on the pedals, the higher A pedal is easier to push down. This works.
Thanks for sharing, Ken! Great information!
Keep picking!
This is great! You hit it right out of the park. I've been playing for about 40 years and one thing I've learned is a guy can't know it all. I've been wondering why as I get older, hitting a 2 minor has been tougher and tougher. Finally out of desperation I went on youtube and caught your teaching on pedal height adjustment for ABC. I play a 97 Carter 12 5 X 7 universal. This adjustment is a breath of fresh air! With this little "u" adjustment and playing minor "B & C", it's back to right on the money. Yeah, I've subscribed and hit the thumbs up (I've got to wonder what two dweebs hit that thumbs down button? Perhaps it's just one guy and he missed twice? Then on the third time he finally hit the proper thumbs up key. Well, practice makes perfect : ) Oh, did I say Thank You!!?
Thank you for the kind words, Timothy! I'm glad that the video could help out your setup and that you found the channel!
Welcome to the family!
Keep picking!
I bought my D-10 used and I'm a new player. I had wondered why my pedals were not perfectly level but had assumed the previous owner deliberately set them up that way. Now I know why, thank you for the explanation.
Glad I could help!
Exactly what I was going to say! Thanks for the lesson and the comment! It's always so much better if you are using something with knowledge rather than just plugging thru...
I needed this video so bad.I just got my Ritt y-day and it’s not completely set up.
Yes,I half release the A pedal on Together Again.
Cool. Send me a pic of the guitar at my Email if you can.
Your channel has been SOOOO helpful to me learning on my Sho Bud. Thank you so much sir!!!
Thanks we appreciate the kind words!
Back when I was taking lessons from Buddy Charleton he said that when he was playing with Ernest Tubb you HAD to wear cowboy boots! If you didn't wear cowboy boots on stage you didn't play with his band! I asked him how he managed to do it & he said he learned how. I've been playing for almost 19 years & have never been called upon to wear cowboy boots. Hope I never am! Btw someone left a link for a dating site in the comment section for this video. I took the liberty of reporting it. Dating sites are great & all but this site's for pedal steel guitar.
Mike, thanks. My son says those are bots and we reported and blocked it. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish I had gotten the chance to meet Bud Charleton. My dad and I went to several Saint Louis conventions but he wasn't on Scott's line up the years we were there. Anyway you had a great player teaching you and I am sure he had a ton of great stories.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
When Emmons was being run by Ron Lashley Sr; they adjusted each pedal to 1 and 3/4" high; measured from the floor to the bottom of the pedal tip. And as Aaron says, the B pedal is slightly lower than the rest.
But there are many ways to do it.
Thanks for sharing.
Aaron, as always you touch on a critical step in playing. I would say it's a pivotal moment, pun intended.
Larry, thanks. LOL
Keep Picking!
Aaron
My left wrist joint disintegrated & bone fragments removed so I switched to pedal steel with a fingerslide on my left thumb. Now I have to learn to play with an amputated left foot & a prosthesis. Yes, I can play a diminished chord with a half depressed 1st pedal, a fully depressed 2nd pedal & the left knee right lever somehow. I can play the 7th & augmented chords with the left knee left lever & 1 or 2 pedals. I can see why they like pointy cowboy boots.
Mike , glad you are hanging in there and hope our lessons help you on your steel journey. Thanks for sharing.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
Thank you for the zero pedal suggestion, Aaron!
Any time!
Yeah man... I make sure I can fully depress all 4 of my E9th pedals individually. That way I can do pedal squeezes any way I choose to and at some point or another, I have used everyone of them alone.... even the C pedal. I raise my Es on LKL and lower them with my RKL. I always thought people who had their Es on the left would lower the Es on the side that the B pedal is from the A pedal ( LKL for Day setup. LKR for Emmons) i like them split. Makes lowering, releasing and raising the 4th and 2nd string much easier.
I lestned exactly what you said about pedal height; that if they are higher (i have mine to where my toes are when wearing flat bottom shoes), ot helps with playing faster . For the longest time I had them as low as I could... not a good idea for me.
Good info Aaron! Alot of guys dont know this stuff. Your video and sound quality has improved a lot since I first started watching 3 years ago man! Nice work. Keep it up!
James, thanks for sharing. Good info.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
This is awesome and EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks
so i did the adjustment and what a huge difference. my pedals are right there now and no real effort needed to mash em or release. i seem to like my C a little closer to my B and my A higher like you showed but i know that is all preference but until i saw this video, my pedals were not right.
Brian, thanks so much. We always hope our lessons are helpful. The feedback we get from our steel family gives us insight for future lessons.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
Thanks..I have been having trouble with my sho-bud pedals!
Glad that this could help, Marty!
Keep picking!
Good explanation on adjustments.
Frank, thanks and glad to help.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
That also helped me identify the pedals with my feet better. Thank you!
No problem so glad to help.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
Yeah thanks for the advice I'll do that concentrate on the u shape
Hi Arron. I always enjoyed your videos. They taught me a lot. I practiced and practiced for a couple of years. I was getting competent and folks seemed to like my playing. Then I just stopped playing. It just sits there. I play my telecaster everyday but I keep telling my steel , tomorrow. Do think I'm just lazy. Any suggestions to motivate me?
I'm not Aaron, but I played guitar long before steel. Play your favorite melody on the Telecaster then try to duplicate it on pedal steel. I often work out songs on guitar 1st then transfer to pedal steel. Good luck.
Lewis, I know how you feel. Try setting a time each day to try and set behind your steel. Try duplicating something you are working on your tele to your steel. Also if you are having a rough practice session take a break for awhile and come back to it. My problem is getting my mind quiet from all the cares and distractions going on. I find if I stick it out for about 30 min I have a productive and most importantly fun session at my guitar. Anyway hang in there! By the way you are not lazy.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
This was so important for me. My brother gave me this pedal steel and the pedals were never set now I can get the show on the road. One thing I noticed when you press your pedals seems you press and the tuning is changed more quickly than my steel. I have to press further to get the change is there another adjustment? Thanks so much....
Yes, there is a way but should probably be done by a professional, unfortunately. Once you adjust the length of the pull, you'll have to make further adjustments elsewhere such as the bell cranks. This can get pretty complicated to balance out the pulls.
If you do want to try it or if you want to find someone who can work on it, you might want to check the steel guitar forum for help with that.
Thank you and keep picking!
Thanks. Good video. I’m gonna try this.
I’d also like to know if you could maybe do a video on how to move the knee lever positions over. I want to change where mine are, but I don’t wanna mess anything up. Thanks!
Sierra E9 Nashville tuning
Peavy Nashville 112 amp
Mark are you talking about adjusting them. If so seed me some close up pics of the knee levers . I might be able to help you out. steelpicking@gmail.com
Keep Picking!
Aaron
@@SteelPicking thanks for the reply. I figured out how to “adjust” that LKL lever. There aren’t enough cutaways on the front support rail to move it, but actually carefully bending the lever to the left fixed me up just fine.
Great video. My question is do I lower the B pedal or raise the A and C pedal? Thanks, again.
The common ABC pedals will be raising notes. The A pedal raises the open no bar B note on strings 5,10 to a C#. The B pedal raises the G# notes on strings 3,6 to an A. And last the C pedal raises open string 4 E to F# and open string 5 B to a C#. Hope that helps.
Keep Picking!
You speak of the "Zero Pedal" what's it for ? Thank You !
Hey, Michael! Paul Franklin has a great video discussing the pedal a bit. It is called "Using the Franklin Pedal: P4 on E9 and C6".
Keep picking!
How do you position the height of your Zero pedal, in reference to your A pedal? Thanks!
Lee, due to the long travel on the zero pedal I set it a little higher than my A pedal.Also it is a stand alone pedal. Give it a try. Hope this helps.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
Aaron i recently acquired a push pull so I was adjusting my C6th pedals today. It seems they work best for me if they are in sort of a check mark shape.
4 is higher than 5, and about the same height as 6.... 7 is higher than 6 and 8 is higher than 7. How do you do your C6th pedals brother, just curious?.
Thanks and God bless.
I don't have the normal pull on my 4th pedal on my C neck; so I normally have my 5th and 6th pedals pretty close to the same height with the 7th a little higher where I'll do a half pedal on that sometimes. My 8th pedal is the same height as the 7th.
For my 4th pedal on my new guitar I use a "Jernigan" pedal. Jody Cameron talks about this on his UA-cam channel with his new MSA that he got.
Hope that helps and keep picking!
Do you have an example of rocking the b/c pedals with e- flat knee lever in any vids?
I might do that on the Together Again video. If not, that is a great idea for a video!
Keep picking!
Talk about the travel distance
Yes, that is a good point, Tom. That can come into play depending on what type of floor you are playing on.
Keep picking!
Yeah but how high is the A and,B C pedal how high does the pedals go do we turn that nut as far as it will go you didn't explain that does it matter just so it's in that shape let me know thank you for send me your email address 👍 thank you
David, good point. I think the main thing will be the U shape. It will be some trial an error, just experiment some. But again the U shape is the starting point.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
I'm a beginner but I like playing barefoot or just socks. Someday I probably should play with shoes but it will be a while before I have enough confidence to play in public.
I have seen some really good bare foot players. Hey what ever is working for you. As long as you are having fun and learning keep at it. The confidence will come. I still get a bit of the nerves when I play out. It usually take a couple songs into the set before I clam down. It happens to everyone I think.
Keep Picking!
Aaron
I Always played in Socks. At home, in the rehearsing room, and even on stage. As Aaron said, play in whatever works for you.
I always had trouble with the tip of my cowboy boots getting between the peddals.
Also had no feel for the Pedals while playing in footwear.