When touring in the 50's taking a piano with you was a very difficult thing to do. Renting a piano at every stop was very unreliable at best. This is where the pedal guitar came in. It could lead, rhythm and do background fills. This was the synth of it's day. And Don Helms was it's Jimi Hendrix.
Not really. The pedal steel wasn't created nor ever intended to be some kind of alternative or substitute for a piano. It's simply a more complex evolution of the previous form of the instrument, which was an 8 string, non pedal electric steel guitar, which was just an evolution of the older acoustic Hawaiian guitar.
Although it hasn't the range and sustain, I tuned my electric guitar to drop D the other day and used a steel slide. It has a wonderful Americana sound using a pick and/or a bow.
I am a jazz pianist. I don’t enjoy much country but when I hear pedal steel I can’t stop listening. Something about just grabs my heart real deep. I don’t understand it. Thanks for a heartfelt explanation of this beautiful instrument. You make me want to get one and start playing!
Ambient Americana...never heard that phrase before. My first thought was Brian Eno plus cowboy chords, which seems within my skills and I’m inspired to have a go at creating that sound. Thanks!
My dad had collected stringed instruments from upright bases to Gibson les Pauls and j 200s. He always wanted a pedal steel and never got one before he died. I'm going to get one and learn to play it to honor him.
When you mention textural sounds I think of Daniel Lanois steel playing. Listened to him sound checking for a few hours once , amazing sounds he made with a pedal steel
I was in a band many moons ago that did a demo in Danny Lanois's Grant Ave. Studios in Hamilton. Danny engineered the session. This was before he became a well-known producer. We didn't end up with the greatest sounding demo, but... early days. No pedal steel btw. I also took his sister Jocelyn to a Springsteen concert in Toronto. She was a bass player in a local band and we knew each other thru a mutual friend.
pedal steel is so cool be it country twang or awesome hawaiian music. i had no idea it was such a mechanical contraption. as a sitar (20 strings) player i understand the required patience and its totally worth it.
As someone who played old school honky-tonk from the 60’s for years ( of course pedal steel was essential) it’s nice to see someone under 60 introduce people to a great instrument that has largely been abandoned by the music genre that spawned it. I remember playing at a popular music club several years ago that pretty much focused on “modern country.” I don’t think a pedal steel had been inside that place for years. At the start of our mid-evening break this young fellow in probably his early 20’s comes up to the bandstand and says “ I really like what you guys are doing, but I have one question for you. (Pointing down at the pedal steel) “What is that thing?”
Still lots of pedal steel in modern "ahem" country. It's just not the sweet licks and moaning sounds us old timers want to hear. It's a note and a swell and it's buried in the mix. Still there but not prominent.
Lol I’m 36 and from the Bronx. Even I knew what a pedal steel was when I was 20. The extent of my country knowledge is Hank Williams, Gene Autry, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, etc… but with what little I know I can tell the genre is in trouble. Scratch that-it’s become something else that isn’t country. Then again what passes as rock n roll now is mostly pathetic, too.
@@catfishcooler1566 im 26, I fell in love with country because of the pedal steel from the 60 and 70s. I too hate how they barely use it in modern country and usually to swell the notes than a separate instrument. Modern guys like Whitey Morgan and the 78s, Jesse Daniel and other neotraditionalists use it very heavily like the old eras
Oh cool. Always love hearing the pedal steel in Old Man. Dying to learn what the scoop is with these things. This instrument is like other peoples dogs: "Glad you own one so I can enjoy it, and then it can go home with you."
"I've had this one, oh, 13 years" - Whilst world financial markets crashed Mr. Haugen rode out the possibility of the world going full Mad Max by buying a pedal steel guitar. Love it! The first time I saw a pedal steel played live was 2003 when The Legendary Rich Gilbert was the sideman for Frank Black on the "Show Me Your Tears" tour. Probably a more enjoyable show than the next time I saw Mr. Thompson IV who was then paying down the mortgage with the Doolittle Pixies reunion tour. The Frank Black gig had a few hundred people rocking out, the Pixies show had a few thousand people tweeting solid for 2 hours.
I bought a pedal steel two years ago at 67 years old. I love it and play every day. I'm not very good and will probably never be, but improvement is steady. and every once in a while sweet phrases eminate from it.
Man, that was likely the most insightful pedal steel instruction I have ever seen. Amazing. I have always loved the instrument but afraid my limited music theory (had a year in high school) would count me out. I love the fact you just keeping kicking the stool out from under your qualifications. Makes me think I could achieve. I remember I went into a music shop in Joplin when I was 17 and sat down on one. My hero guitarist and steel was Skunk. This guy came over and showed me this little twirl with the non-steel hand and I was twanging' it. I may have to buy one.
I really enjoyed this, thanks so much Eric, spot on. So great that you made this video. I was playing guitar in my early 20s back in the early 1970s (cough, cough) and working in a pizza & beer joint. One of the entertainers had an old pedal steel, an eight string Gibson from the 50s. He was giving up on it so I bought it for a song. I eventually upgraded but because the music scene was awash in guitarists, I got sucked into playing both kinds, Country and Western. Also country rock but because it was the disco era and live music in bars was scarce we had to play fraternal clubs, American Legions etc. I really enjoyed playing pedal steel; it is so evocative and has a lot of potential that we don’t often see used to full effect. It’s like a string section, a horn section, blues slide and a lead guitar depending on how you use it and how much you want to slide around. I developed arthritis in my left hand so it’s hard to hold a bar, so I’m playing electric guitar with too much string bending lol . If folks are interested in trying one I highly recommend it. If you aren’t used to fretless instruments check out a $99 lap steel and learn what kind of bar you like and how to control it. Muting is essential and learning how to move from note to note without sliding is the key. With a volume pedal you can do great textures. The E9 tuning gives you the classic Nashville sound. Double necks add a C6 tuning. I used in A6 “universal” tuning, based on chord building, but not on the same fret. It doesn’t get the exact Nashville sound but you can certainly play country, plus swing (loved this) and rock and some other styles may come a little more easily to a guitar player. Learning to play with thumb and three fingers has served me well playing guitar. Learning the pedals helped me drive a clutch lol. I hope some of you are encouraged to go down this rabbit hole. So cool. PS In addition to bar slants on a lap steel you can pull a string with your third finger behind the bar to make a stretch that sounds like a pedal.
What I love about your channel is that it feels like it's the ultimate place for musicians who care more about being solid musically than being flashy!!! Keep up the good work!!!👍👍👍🤘🤘🤘🙏🙏🙏🎵🎼👌
You have what you need for you and it sounds to me like you have it nailed. I have worked at it, lost it, went back to it, lost it, rinse and repeat. What can I say? I have always loved the sound I guess I just don't have the drive to deal with it. What I just saw you doing could get me rolling again. Thanks for this vido.
Amazing timing! I just bought one! I have played a bit of lap steel over the last few years and graduated to an eight string, which I actually found easier 'cos I'm rubbish at bar slants! The funny thing is, even though I'm still an absolute tourist on the instrument, it has a sound that people want. I end up being asked to record it in studios much more than I do guitar, which is my main instrument. Everyone's a damned guitarist, so you have to be super good to compete, but if you can play something simple but pleasing to the ear on lap or pedal steel, you'll have work coming out of your ears!
I can’t thank you enough for doing this one and for being YOU, Eric! I have way more fun playing now thanks to your added insights, and frankly, it’s the levity! I don’t take myself too seriously but on occasion I take my playing a bit too seriously and forget to have FUN and laugh! That’s important stuff, and I’m very grateful you include it! 🙏🏼🍕👋🏼😁🎸
I love it when the pedal steel is used by other genres. The KLF’s Chillout album, and Will Van Horn are great examples of this. Another inspiring video Eric! Happy holidays.
The pedal steel is very cool! Especially on Dylan's Nashville Skyline album. Jerry Garcia also used it in the very early 70's. Thanks Eric! 😎✌🏻🎶👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻☘
Eric, I’ve been watching your videos for years. Just so happens that I picked up a 1972 Sho Bud a couple weeks ago and I’ve been trying to make sense of it, and this video has been the greatest single piece of instructional material I’ve seen so far. Thank you!!!
I recently bought one of those Nut Extenders to quickly convert any of my 6-string guitars to a Lap Steel. I tuned to Open C, and it sounds great. Now add lots of echo and reverb and you have an ambient machine.
I'll try open C on my Teisco guitar. Currently using drop D. With a steel slide I'm getting some great ambient or dirty country sounds. Depending on the pedals used. The Holy Grail is giving a traditional 'Old Time' sound.
I’m a guitar player who dabbles in pedal steel… it’s tons of fun to play around with. But I am in awe of the real Steelers. You can tell they approach the instrument differently from guitar players.
I play in a country band and am always trying to get that pedal steel sound on regular guitar..am a huge Jerry Garcia fan, he got into the pedal steel, and he played it for Teach Your Children for C.N.S.Y..He played it on a couple of albums and even on tour a bit in 69' and for a few years in the early 70s. Thank you for this insight for this iconic instrument, looks like a cool and rewarding journey to embark on...
you should check out my producers band the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Buddy Cage recently passed away but was an amazing pedal steel player he was also in great specked bird.
@@sumtin05698 yep Jerry was one of the founding members of the New Riders of the Purple Sage..I’m a big widespread panic fan and they cover the song Dirty Business, new riders’ version has Jerry on pedal steel it’s quite cool wah pedal and all..
Thanks, the fact that Jerry picked pedal steel up so easily kind of goes against everything in this video Eric tries to dissuade players from trying pedal out.
@@MrChopsticktech it probably wasn’t that easy for Jerry.. there is a cool interview from like 85 for this acoustic mag. He talks about how both the banjo and pedal steel are not like each other and how neither are like playing the guitar.. it’s a cool interview if you’re a Jerry nerd like me..
This made my day. I recently bought a pedal steel from Brian Setzer off Reverb. This video was an incredibly helpful first step in understanding what I have and how to proceed with it. Thanks!! Oh, and I’m a HUGE Sarah Shook/Disarmers fan!
@@rulax8608 The price was about 15% less than comps that have sold on Reverb over the past few years and it's in great condition, so I think I got a good deal.
Something will make me think of Brian Setzer pretty much everyday. He's just the coolest cat ever... and YOU have his pedal steel which could only make you a little bit cooler too. Enjoy it in good health.
Hi Eric- You're absolutely CORRECT... I've personally always considered the Pedal Guitar as more of a sonically textural instrument, too. An interesting expiriment that you may try, would be to get your hands on an older 8 or Double 8 pedal guitar and use the old E13 and C6 tunings... Even though there are theoretically less "choices" on it, it's audibly different than a 10 or more string guitar, and incredibly fun. Have you delved into the older players like Bert Rivera who played behind Hank Thompson? There was also the incomparable Ben Keith (who's more recent style reminds me of yourself)... Ben "started out" with Faron Young. He used a few different brands of guitar and made the most incredible racket I think I've ever personally heard. Walter Haynes played behind Little Jimmy Dickens, there was Doc Watson who played on Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee... And of course Speedy West... So many, I can't name the all. Years ago, and still today with more "vintage style" players, the pros usually ran their guitars first through a volume/tone pedal, then directly to an amp that had Tremolo and a truckload of power. They used a combination of "bar tricks", knob tricks and that Volume/Tone pedal to make some incredible sounds. The reverb and delay we hear from the Sixties and on wasn't a "thing" back then... So you'll hear a lot of kool bar tricks in the music from the Forties and Fifties that seem to have been forgotten since then... The bar crashes, bounces and boo-wahs are a lot of fun to figure out, and I'm certain they'd have a place on a "modern" steel guitar... And I'd bet they'd blow a few minds if used properly! Thanks for a great video! Cheers
Owned a single neck Blanton in the 70s that grew legs and walked with other musical items but after having listened to a pedal steel,, my harmonizing becomes much better. Able to hear obscure notes also. It is the most mechanical obviously, but if played. correctly can bring so much. Sometimes, it can drown out others . But again, when played well brings excellent opportunities. Maybe it’s the engineer in me that draws me to it. Understanding where and how the different keys are is fun.
You're the coolest Cat ever !!! I don't play pedal steel, but I freaking LOVE IT ! I don't know where my Spirit goes when I hear the steel. My eyes kinda roll back in my head and I'm no longer here ! I most def have noticed the touch of steel in your tracks and it ups your tracks to an ultra cool level. Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays !
@@EricHaugenGuitar A good defense technique. But totally not required in your case! Have you ever heard Super Furry Animals 'Phantom Power' album? That's what made me fall in love with the sound of pedal steel. Worth a listen if you don't already know it. It's not one of the main instruments; just adding textures here and there like what you're talking about in this video.
Nice, learned more than I ever have from this video than others on here on pedal steel. Some of the greats that come to mind are Pete Drake, Rusty Young, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Al Perkins, Dan Dugmore. Dugmores solo on Ronstadts "Blue Bayou" is a classic, remember hearing that at 5 years old.
eric, your joy in the instrument is infectious.. Next explore the 7th and 9th on the top 2 strings. Also the low D and F# some awesome sounds and extended chords there....
Thanks for sharing some truly smooth tones. I've wanted one of these instruments for a long time but have never seen one for sale (in Eastern Canada) . After hearing you explain how it all works, and showing how good it sounds, I know now that I must get one.
Fascinating stuff. I've always loved the sound of pedal steel, slide guitars, and just guitar in general. My main instrument was drums, but I'm definitely a guitar aficionado. Till I watched this vid, I wasn't aware of the knee levers. Learn something new.
hey thanks. I'm a bass player but constructed a lap steel a few year ago and have enjoyed messing with it. but a real steel guitar is pretty tempting. nothing else sounds like it
This was just the greatest "low key and relaxed" run down, of the magic of the "slidin" guitar, I have seen on RUclips! I have finally found a place where I can lay my head, and will now go on with my new old Supro Lap Steel! It's tuned to C6 and that fit's nice with ukulele. I bought it from a guy that had given up on it! I heard something when I tried it, and bought it... But C6 is something else from open E and G! Looking forward to get a Pedal Steel! Thank you very much Eric🙏 A heavy weight has been lifted from my weary shoulders👍😃
Im a drummer. Ive been blessed over the years to play with some fabulous steel players. Its like having a string section in the band, just makes things more full and melodic. One of the big reasons ive done a lot of country and folk gigs. You sound good!
@@EricHaugenGuitar i used to play with a singer that did patsy cline really well. At one point walter haynes joined the band. He was patsys original steel player. Since i heard he had played on Crazy, i asked singer to play that on his first song, first night. I had tears in my eyes, it was amazing.
Eric, Ran across your channel and love it. Sorry to say I’ve played pedal steel awhile. Been in different groups and since Covid it’s taken a back seat out playing. I still love playing with backing tracks and the best thing with that is you can stop and quit anytime you want. Keep the videos coming and Thank You for telling people about the pedal steel guitar. I’m like you when I first heard someone play it I fell in love with it. I would hate to see it die out. Most bands anymore don’t use them like they did years back. 5 Stars * * * * * Thanks
This is great! I play slide guitar with the same skill and love for it as you do. Cool video. Almost could title it Lofi Relaxing Slide Music with the soft narration.
Your opening tune was beautiful. To me it felt kind of like a Mazzy Star / Neil Young mashup. Pretty. Anyhow, another great video. I love pedal steel and know nothing about it so your "pedal steel primer" was perfect - more topical as opposed to instructional. Kept things interesting. Answered a lot of questions without getting too in the weeds on any one of them. Thanks! Enjoy your holiday break!!
I love pedal steel so much. I was a big Dire Straits fan in their heyday. (And I have never stopped loving Mark Knopfler's writing and playing since then.) The last studio album they put out, 'On Every Street', was largely forgettable, except he added Paul Franklin to the mix which added so much texture to songs that weren't up to snuff compared with the earlier records. I saw them on that tour and enjoyed the pedal steel mixed on lots of songs that were written and recorded without it, and it really kicked the band up a notch. I am sorry Knopfler felt the band had run out of gas, he was probably right- and he hated those large scale arena tours- and his solo work was not all that far removed from DS- I really wish they had continued with full time pedal steel playing. I never bought one, but I have a lap steel I don't take the time to property learn (as well as a few other instruments in the collection), I am lazy and just keep playing the guitar or uke, the ones I know best, that there's no way I would carve the time to properly tackled a PS. Maybe that'll be my hobby when I retire someday. :)
Please...do yourself and your nerves a favor , do not wait until you're retired to learn pedal steel. The younger you are when you take it up, the quicker you will adapt to it and retain all you learn. When you start, what I'm saying to you will become clear as glass. And your right about Dire Straits; I have the On The Night DVD, and listen & watch it about once a week. Paul Franklin, baby! Enough said.
Nigerian Rock star/Juju music artist King Sunny Ade has a pedal steel player in his band which adds to the about 7 guitarists including himself in the band. Magic...
I think the pedal steel is an incredible instrument! Thanks for the video! Love it!. What I will say is that I don't see it as a guitar. Just as Americans, our roots came originally from England, and although we speak English, we're not English, we're Americans. In the same vane, the pedal steel has it's roots has it's roots in a guitar, however it's not a guitar. As one example, as a guitarist, I can walk into a music shop in, say NYC, pick up a Stratocaster and play it. When I leave there I fly to London, England and go to a music shop where I pick up a Les Paul and play it. I leave there and go to Saville, Spain where in a music shop I play a Flamenco guitar. From there I travel to Tokyo and go into a music shop and play a Martin D28. Point being, I can go all over the world and play guitars, all of which are fundamentally and mechanically, the same. Then I go to, lets say Nashville, and walk into Gruen's and sit at a pedal steel. I look at the salesman and say "Okay, what the #%@& do I do with this thing?". They might as well of handed me an Oboe! Okay, like a guitar it has strings, however this has 10 strings. Now, as a guitar player, sure, some guitars have 12 strings, however, those extra 6 being octaves and/or doubles, I can play it the same as a 6 string. This pedal steel having 10 strings, all of which are tuned to a heavenly sounding chord, placing all of the notes are in different places. On a guitar, I can tune it to an open tuning, however I can also tune it back to standard. Frets? On a pedal steel they are painted on! There aren't any frets. Some call the neck on a pedal steel "the board". Les Paul invented "the stick", which I guess is as close to "the board" as a guitar gets! Back at Gruen's I'm doing the pedals with the inspiration coming from the last Porsche 911 I drove. "What do I do to get an A chord, downshift and double clutch?" The salesman suggests I try out the knee lever and I say "What the hell is next? Do I have to use my elbow to pump a windbag, like an Irish uillian pipes?" all of this happening as I double clutch and heel-toe breaking into turn one at Long Beach. 😅 Or, "Hey Clem! Lets go camping this weekend! Oh yeah, bring your pedal steel and we can sing some songs around the camp fire!" 🤣 I do hope this post brings a hearty laugh! All joking aside, the pedal steel is an incredible and fascinating instrument! However, within the mirth, the underlining point I'm attempting to make is that the Pedal Steel has evolved so far away from being a guitar, that it really is no longer a guitar, just as we are no longer English. 😉
I was really happy when Luke Schneider came out to play the anthem at a Sounds game for us with his buddy and our organ player, Micah Hulscher. They played together in Margo's band for years and it sounded so cool. It was peak Nashville and the most country sounding stuff we've had at the new ballpark since it opened. I totally agree with you on the pedal steel being for patient people, because the moments leading up to that performance could have only been put up with by a pedal steel player.
Cool, you taught me enough about pedal steel guitars that im going straight out and not buying one. They sound beautiful and I have always loved the sound. Good video bro.👍
Great choice of a video! Makes me want to break out my old sho’bud pedal steel, so oddly enough even here in Oklahoma you rarely see these being played anymore but you hear them all over the classic rock records and honky tonk county Pedal steels def need a revival
This is great man. Yeah, seems like slide guitar players and acoustic pickers have a leg up on the pedal steel. I've been a guitar player for over 25yrs, sat down cold at one of these and couldn't make heads or tails of it on my own.
Great vid…many thx! I have a Stage One that I practiced hot and heavy for a couple of years. I believe as a result developed a significant neck injury ,due to stupidity, requiring a couple months of therapy. Also was dealing with some tinnitus (most notable hitting a full C chord/8th fret). Needless to say I’ve been bummed out. So I haven’t touched it in two years, though doing other stuff musically. I said all that to say that your video has inspired me to venture back into the PS world. You’re an excellent teacher explaining things clearly and enjoyably. Thank you so much!
Really enjoyed your relaxed discussion about pedal steel . I’ve been a guitarist all my life and had own emmons pedal steel 30 years but never really gave it a good crack but I’m getting into a lot more these days and even playing in a band with it now . I love it . Took me a long time to get going with it . But it’s pretty special .
My favorite incarnation of this instrument is when Steve Howe plays it in Yes’s And You And I. What a gorgeous song and a gorgeous re-imagination of what these sounds could be used for.
@@pschroeter1 I’ve never seen them live, as I got into them around 2016 (RIP Chris Squire you absolute legend). So jealous you’ve seen them enough to spot things like this!! And You And I might be my favorite song of all time, tbh.
@@singerofsongss I have been going to see YES since 1977. I wished Chris Squire happy birthday while getting his autograph after the 90125 show in the 80s.
I believe I read that for "And You And I" Steve used a small lap steel (similar to the one David Gilmour has played live), before he acquired his pedal steel instruments.
Thanks for this. I love to see people playing an instrument out of love for the sound and the joy of playing it. A pedal steel (or anything) can be used for more than what it has "traditionally" been used for. I have seen people that make beautiful, interesting music quit an instrument because someone in Nashville "does it better". I say who cares? Who can do what YOU do better than YOU? No one...
That was a fun video! The Pedal Steel is such an awesome instrument. Had the chance to try one out and - boy - the grips were really hard for me. But the sound - glorious! And you're definitely right - with a certain amount of knowing theory you can get around quite quickly. After five minutes you won't play like Paul Franklin but you sure could jam along to a simple song and that for me was a huge success. Hope to find a used one someday. In Germany it's not very common to find used ones online.. Happy holidays and keep up the good work!
I know I'm biased, but when it comes to pedal steel for textures it's hard to beat Steve Howe of Yes. His style was more psych and rock than country, and he coaxed some absolutely unearthly sounds out of it. I consider it part of his distinct sound. And not many guitarists have ever used a pedal steel as a lead instrument (with a solo!) like he did on "Going for the One."
Your setup is gorgeous. That amp is nuts. Envy city over here. Thanks for reminding me that getting one of these should be my #1 priority in life. Keep it up!
If you want the feel of the steel pedals with a lap steel without all the frustration of a steel pedal (as there are many), check out the Certano Benders (he has some videos on YT). I put one on my lap steel and it's a lot of fun and very easy install. It does only allow you to bend two strings but you can make some amazing sounds with it. It's also cool because if you buy one you actually communicate with the guy that builds them (David Certano). David is also a great player.
Man you are one precise and meticulous guy....this is not a criticism...all your instruments so neat and your equipment too (nice to show us a reverse camera angle to see your cameras) and your playing is very precise and sharp. My guitar room is cleaned say once a week but looks more like Jimmy Hendrix and his pals stayed over the weekend. As I have commented before I am not the steve morse I just play his signature model guitar...you are a wizard on that pedal steel.
My favorite pedal steel guitarist is progressive rock guitarist Steve Howe of YES. Give the Apocalypse section of And You and I, Going For The One, or Gates of Delirium a listen. I've gone to YES concerts for decades and looked for his yellow Fender steel guitar on stage.
A great video that celebrates my own infatuation with this ethereal sounding instrument! I pulled my Carter Starter out from its storage nook a few days ago, and quickly reminded myself the fun that can be had even at my beginner level. And interestingly, I learned that the arthritis that's beginning in my left hand and making regular guitar playing challenging at times is absolutely no problem on the pedal steel. That makes me happy.
Daniel Lanois is the Man on that tune. Check out his vids on RUclips. Approaches PS from a totally different perspective…like him or not. If you’re into the alternate side of PS check out Lanois album Goodbye to Language. It’s on Spotify if interested.
I don’t know how you can play pedal steel and not know music theory. It is an E9 tuning. You have the 9th, 7th and 7th major. The rest are E chords: E G# B. So I think in terms of root, third and fifth. 10&5 are B(5th). 8&4 are the E(root). 6&3 are the G# (3rd). Then you have the 7th, 7th maj and 9th. Then the pedals help you shift the chords using the Nashville Numbering system, etc. You hit the right strings, and get open E. Then by using the different pedals get the I, IV & V then the minor chords ii, iii, iv. Etc. You then use the bar to get different chords as you would in a guitar tuned to open tuning. Give explanation. Great video.
Thanks for showing set up. Huge help. Always wanted pedal steel but price. The knee pedals and foot pedals seem complicated and mesmerizing. Thanks for explaining tuning!
Nice teaching 👍 I understand it now. It's kind of complicated if you don't really know music. Piano is easier, but if you're going to play the organ, it gets complicated. You got a know and understand how it all works.
The Stratocaster was Leo Fenders' invention of a stand-up steel guitar. He called his next variation of electric guitars an electric violin. Jeff Lynne came over to get some.
Nice intro to the pedal steel. I played guitar for 30 years before starting pedal steel in the early 2000s. I take a similar approach to yours and love the sound for filling in tracks. I also have that exact same guitar only mine is bright red. You got a great price for yours I paid around 2 grand for mine.
Cool job, hipster. Long wanted to try pedal steel. Couldn't find any reasonably priced, but know better now. Bought a lap steel with two levers for a pedal steel sound and mandolin. Was able to get a sound out of the lap steel right away and found the mandolin more immediately challenging so concentrating on that right now. Thanks for the tip.
RUclips algorithm brought me here lol. I Love the sound of a steel guitar especially with that phase 90 you have running with it. It is a beautiful sound and there isn't anything else like it. It totally gives me Waylon Jennings vibes.
G’day Doc Your use of the pedal steel in your background tracks is absolutely beautiful the ethereal sound and atmosphere you create is masterful to say the least It’s beautiful Eric 👍🇦🇺
The coolest, most awesome explanation of how pedal steel guitars work. Liked, subscribed, shared on social media! I'm just getting into steel and starting with an 8 string lap steel. Smart enough to stay away from anything with pedals for now. Thanks again for doing this cool video. Cheers!
"One of those hipster jerks." I'm crying. This is the best pedal steel video I've ever seen.
They can’t troll me if I troll myself - strategy :-)
When touring in the 50's taking a piano with you was a very difficult thing to do. Renting a piano at every stop was very unreliable at best. This is where the pedal guitar came in. It could lead, rhythm and do background fills. This was the synth of it's day. And Don Helms was it's Jimi Hendrix.
"This was the synth of it's day" That should be on a tee-shirt!
Not really. The pedal steel wasn't created nor ever intended to be some kind of alternative or substitute for a piano. It's simply a more complex evolution of the previous form of the instrument, which was an 8 string, non pedal electric steel guitar, which was just an evolution of the older acoustic Hawaiian guitar.
Bob! Say hi to Uma and the Dalai Lama for me! I listen to your podcast all the time!
Also, don't mind that guy^ 🙄
that guy is right @@sesa2984
When my oldest son was five years old he thought the violin was the sound of "love" and pedal steel was "broken love".
He isn’t wrong😂
That kid remembers his last life. Ain't nothing 5 years old about that.
He ain't wrong
He is correct.
Probably my favourite sounding instrument ever. Amazing sound. Ambient Americana forever!
What he said!
Although it hasn't the range and sustain, I tuned my electric guitar to drop D the other day and used a steel slide. It has a wonderful Americana sound using a pick and/or a bow.
I am a jazz pianist. I don’t enjoy much country but when I hear pedal steel I can’t stop listening. Something about just grabs my heart real deep. I don’t understand it.
Thanks for a heartfelt explanation of this beautiful instrument. You make me want to get one and start playing!
Ambient Americana...never heard that phrase before. My first thought was Brian Eno plus cowboy chords, which seems within my skills and I’m inspired to have a go at creating that sound. Thanks!
Agree, coming from a hard rock/alternative guitar player. The pedal steel is just an amazingly beautiful instrument.
My dad had collected stringed instruments from upright bases to Gibson les Pauls and j 200s. He always wanted a pedal steel and never got one before he died. I'm going to get one and learn to play it to honor him.
When you mention textural sounds I think of Daniel Lanois steel playing. Listened to him sound checking for a few hours once , amazing sounds he made with a pedal steel
💯
Y E S !
I LOVE his playing/production!
I’m jealous😆 If you haven’t seen his RUclips vids there are excellent ones to check out. Also his album The End of Language.
Oh yeah! Check out Daniel Lanois & Rocco DeLuca's "Satie" vid. Textural indeed.
I was in a band many moons ago that did a demo in Danny Lanois's Grant Ave. Studios in Hamilton. Danny engineered the session. This was before he became a well-known producer. We didn't end up with the greatest sounding demo, but... early days. No pedal steel btw. I also took his sister Jocelyn to a Springsteen concert in Toronto. She was a bass player in a local band and we knew each other thru a mutual friend.
I've been play Pedal Steel for over twenty years..
Not getting any better but I enjoy the heck out of it.
pedal steel is so cool be it country twang or awesome hawaiian music. i had no idea it was such a mechanical contraption. as a sitar (20 strings) player i understand the required patience and its totally worth it.
When I see another musician get excited about different chords and how cool it sounds it’s just epic
I love listening to people talking humbly about things they genuinely enjoy. Thank you!
Glad to see that Silvertone amp. Had one of those gigging in High School.
As someone who played old school honky-tonk from the 60’s for years ( of course pedal steel was essential) it’s nice to see someone under 60 introduce people to a great instrument that has largely been abandoned by the music genre that spawned it. I remember playing at a popular music club several years ago that pretty much focused on “modern country.” I don’t think a pedal steel had been inside that place for years.
At the start of our mid-evening break this young fellow in probably his early 20’s comes up to the bandstand and says “ I really like what you guys are doing, but I have one question for you. (Pointing down at the pedal steel) “What is that thing?”
😬😬😬😬😬
Still lots of pedal steel in modern "ahem" country. It's just not the sweet licks and moaning sounds us old timers want to hear. It's a note and a swell and it's buried in the mix. Still there but not prominent.
@@catfishcooler1566 barely enough to mention.
Lol I’m 36 and from the Bronx. Even I knew what a pedal steel was when I was 20. The extent of my country knowledge is Hank Williams, Gene Autry, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, etc… but with what little I know I can tell the genre is in trouble. Scratch that-it’s become something else that isn’t country. Then again what passes as rock n roll now is mostly pathetic, too.
@@catfishcooler1566 im 26, I fell in love with country because of the pedal steel from the 60 and 70s. I too hate how they barely use it in modern country and usually to swell the notes than a separate instrument. Modern guys like Whitey Morgan and the 78s, Jesse Daniel and other neotraditionalists use it very heavily like the old eras
Oh cool. Always love hearing the pedal steel in Old Man. Dying to learn what the scoop is with these things. This instrument is like other peoples dogs: "Glad you own one so I can enjoy it, and then it can go home with you."
Hahahaha ACCURATE!
Ben Keith RULES!
"I've had this one, oh, 13 years" - Whilst world financial markets crashed Mr. Haugen rode out the possibility of the world going full Mad Max by buying a pedal steel guitar. Love it! The first time I saw a pedal steel played live was 2003 when The Legendary Rich Gilbert was the sideman for Frank Black on the "Show Me Your Tears" tour. Probably a more enjoyable show than the next time I saw Mr. Thompson IV who was then paying down the mortgage with the Doolittle Pixies reunion tour. The Frank Black gig had a few hundred people rocking out, the Pixies show had a few thousand people tweeting solid for 2 hours.
Great video, one day I'll learn how to play one of these things lol. Buddy Cage from New Riders is one of my all time favorite steel players.
I bought a pedal steel two years ago at 67 years old. I love it and play every day. I'm not very good and will probably never be, but improvement is steady. and every once in a while sweet phrases eminate from it.
The only thing that matters is do you enjoy playing it, do you enjoy looking at it, do you enjoy knowing you have one?
Man, that was likely the most insightful pedal steel instruction I have ever seen. Amazing. I have always loved the instrument but afraid my limited music theory (had a year in high school) would count me out. I love the fact you just keeping kicking the stool out from under your qualifications. Makes me think I could achieve. I remember I went into a music shop in Joplin when I was 17 and sat down on one. My hero guitarist and steel was Skunk. This guy came over and showed me this little twirl with the non-steel hand and I was twanging' it. I may have to buy one.
Such a beautiful instrument, always loved the sound of it. Either lonesome, sad, wistful, or very sweet.
I really enjoyed this, thanks so much Eric, spot on. So great that you made this video.
I was playing guitar in my early 20s back in the early 1970s (cough, cough) and working in a pizza & beer joint. One of the entertainers had an old pedal steel, an eight string Gibson from the 50s. He was giving up on it so I bought it for a song. I eventually upgraded but because the music scene was awash in guitarists, I got sucked into playing both kinds, Country and Western. Also country rock but because it was the disco era and live music in bars was scarce we had to play fraternal clubs, American Legions etc.
I really enjoyed playing pedal steel; it is so evocative and has a lot of potential that we don’t often see used to full effect. It’s like a string section, a horn section, blues slide and a lead guitar depending on how you use it and how much you want to slide around. I developed arthritis in my left hand so it’s hard to hold a bar, so I’m playing electric guitar with too much string bending lol .
If folks are interested in trying one I highly recommend it. If you aren’t used to fretless instruments check out a $99 lap steel and learn what kind of bar you like and how to control it. Muting is essential and learning how to move from note to note without sliding is the key. With a volume pedal you can do great textures.
The E9 tuning gives you the classic Nashville sound. Double necks add a C6 tuning. I used in A6 “universal” tuning, based on chord building, but not on the same fret.
It doesn’t get the exact Nashville sound but you can certainly play country, plus swing (loved this) and rock and some other styles may come a little more easily to a guitar player.
Learning to play with thumb and three fingers has served me well playing guitar. Learning the pedals helped me drive a clutch lol.
I hope some of you are encouraged to go down this rabbit hole. So cool.
PS In addition to bar slants on a lap steel you can pull a string with your third finger behind the bar to make a stretch that sounds like a pedal.
What I love about your channel is that it feels like it's the ultimate place for musicians who care more about being solid musically than being flashy!!! Keep up the good work!!!👍👍👍🤘🤘🤘🙏🙏🙏🎵🎼👌
Yeah it's a wonderful change of pace. So many people are focused on technique or gear but making music isn't really about those things at all.
You have what you need for you and it sounds to me like you have it nailed. I have worked at it, lost it, went back to it, lost it, rinse and repeat. What can I say? I have always loved the sound I guess I just don't have the drive to deal with it. What I just saw you doing could get me rolling again. Thanks for this vido.
Amazing timing! I just bought one!
I have played a bit of lap steel over the last few years and graduated to an eight string, which I actually found easier 'cos I'm rubbish at bar slants! The funny thing is, even though I'm still an absolute tourist on the instrument, it has a sound that people want. I end up being asked to record it in studios much more than I do guitar, which is my main instrument. Everyone's a damned guitarist, so you have to be super good to compete, but if you can play something simple but pleasing to the ear on lap or pedal steel, you'll have work coming out of your ears!
That's my plan. Learn all the Hank Williams songs then rake in the dough.
I have never seen a lap player use pedal slants, and I never even heard of them until this video.
I can’t thank you enough for doing this one and for being YOU, Eric! I have way more fun playing now thanks to your added insights, and frankly, it’s the levity! I don’t take myself too seriously but on occasion I take my playing a bit too seriously and forget to have FUN and laugh! That’s important stuff, and I’m very grateful you include it! 🙏🏼🍕👋🏼😁🎸
Yes! Laughing is SO IMPORTANT!
I love it when the pedal steel is used by other genres. The KLF’s Chillout album, and Will Van Horn are great examples of this. Another inspiring video Eric! Happy holidays.
Yeah, kudos to Will!
As soon as he started playing I thought of Chill Out, amazing album!
Random Access Memories by Daft Punk has a surprising amount of pedal steel sprinkled throughout the album.
Definitely check out Luke Vibert and BJ Cole’s collaboration, Stop the Panic!
The pedal steel is very cool! Especially on Dylan's Nashville Skyline album. Jerry Garcia also used it in the very early 70's. Thanks Eric! 😎✌🏻🎶👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻☘
Dude,the pedal in candyman!!
Jerry's playing is amazing but he stopped because he thought he wasn't good enough haha
@@michaeldematteis9944 "The Wheel" has a gorgeous solo too!
@@Karl_Squell oh,yes.for sure
Eric, I’ve been watching your videos for years. Just so happens that I picked up a 1972 Sho Bud a couple weeks ago and I’ve been trying to make sense of it, and this video has been the greatest single piece of instructional material I’ve seen so far. Thank you!!!
Yay! Join the club of confused guitarists trying to make sense of pedal steel!
I recently bought one of those Nut Extenders to quickly convert any of my 6-string guitars to a Lap Steel. I tuned to Open C, and it sounds great. Now add lots of echo and reverb and you have an ambient machine.
That is a very smart idea!
I'll try open C on my Teisco guitar. Currently using drop D. With a steel slide I'm getting some great ambient or dirty country sounds. Depending on the pedals used. The Holy Grail is giving a traditional 'Old Time' sound.
I love your attitude. It’s fantastic to watch. I was smiling all the way through. Thanks mate I subscribed after 3 mins 😃
Yay! Welcome Kyle!
I’m a guitar player who dabbles in pedal steel… it’s tons of fun to play around with. But I am in awe of the real Steelers. You can tell they approach the instrument differently from guitar players.
I play in a country band and am always trying to get that pedal steel sound on regular guitar..am a huge Jerry Garcia fan, he got into the pedal steel, and he played it for Teach Your Children for C.N.S.Y..He played it on a couple of albums and even on tour a bit in 69' and for a few years in the early 70s. Thank you for this insight for this iconic instrument, looks like a cool and rewarding journey to embark on...
you should check out my producers band the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Buddy Cage recently passed away but was an amazing pedal steel player he was also in great specked bird.
@@sumtin05698 yep Jerry was one of the founding members of the New Riders of the Purple Sage..I’m a big widespread panic fan and they cover the song Dirty Business, new riders’ version has Jerry on pedal steel it’s quite cool wah pedal and all..
Thanks, the fact that Jerry picked pedal steel up so easily kind of goes against everything in this video Eric tries to dissuade players from trying pedal out.
@@MrChopsticktech it probably wasn’t that easy for Jerry.. there is a cool interview from like 85 for this acoustic mag. He talks about how both the banjo and pedal steel are not like each other and how neither are like playing the guitar.. it’s a cool interview if you’re a Jerry nerd like me..
Robert Randolph cannot go unmentioned here!
When I think of pedal steel guitar, I immediately think of Steve Howe's use of it on the Yes albums Close to the Edge and Relayer.
This made my day. I recently bought a pedal steel from Brian Setzer off Reverb. This video was an incredibly helpful first step in understanding what I have and how to proceed with it. Thanks!! Oh, and I’m a HUGE Sarah Shook/Disarmers fan!
Has got to be the coolest guy to buy anything off of! (Except for the price)
@@rulax8608 The price was about 15% less than comps that have sold on Reverb over the past few years and it's in great condition, so I think I got a good deal.
Something will make me think of Brian Setzer pretty much everyday. He's just the coolest cat ever... and YOU have his pedal steel which could only make you a little bit cooler too. Enjoy it in good health.
I found this tremendously interesting. As a fan of old country and jazz standards this is great. Also I love your channel. Thanks so much
Hi Eric-
You're absolutely CORRECT...
I've personally always considered the Pedal Guitar as more of a sonically textural instrument, too.
An interesting expiriment that you may try, would be to get your hands on an older 8 or Double 8 pedal guitar and use the old E13 and C6 tunings... Even though there are theoretically less "choices" on it, it's audibly different than a 10 or more string guitar, and incredibly fun.
Have you delved into the older players like Bert Rivera who played behind Hank Thompson? There was also the incomparable Ben Keith (who's more recent style reminds me of yourself)... Ben "started out" with Faron Young. He used a few different brands of guitar and made the most incredible racket I think I've ever personally heard. Walter Haynes played behind Little Jimmy Dickens, there was Doc Watson who played on Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee... And of course Speedy West... So many, I can't name the all.
Years ago, and still today with more "vintage style" players, the pros usually ran their guitars first through a volume/tone pedal, then directly to an amp that had Tremolo and a truckload of power. They used a combination of "bar tricks", knob tricks and that Volume/Tone pedal to make some incredible sounds.
The reverb and delay we hear from the Sixties and on wasn't a "thing" back then... So you'll hear a lot of kool bar tricks in the music from the Forties and Fifties that seem to have been forgotten since then... The bar crashes, bounces and boo-wahs are a lot of fun to figure out, and I'm certain they'd have a place on a "modern" steel guitar... And I'd bet they'd blow a few minds if used properly!
Thanks for a great video!
Cheers
Owned a single neck Blanton in the 70s that grew legs and walked with other musical items but after having listened to a pedal steel,, my harmonizing becomes much better. Able to hear obscure notes also. It is the most mechanical obviously, but if played. correctly can bring so much. Sometimes, it can drown out others . But again, when played well brings excellent opportunities. Maybe it’s the engineer in me that draws me to it. Understanding where and how the different keys are is fun.
You're the coolest Cat ever !!! I don't play pedal steel, but I freaking LOVE IT ! I don't know where my Spirit goes when I hear the steel. My eyes kinda roll back in my head and I'm no longer here !
I most def have noticed the touch of steel in your tracks and it ups your tracks to an ultra cool level.
Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays !
Don't put yourself down. You sound like a great pedal steel player, and a great teacher.
Thanks man!
Sometimes I troll myself - that way trolls can’t get me 🤓
@@EricHaugenGuitar A good defense technique. But totally not required in your case!
Have you ever heard Super Furry Animals 'Phantom Power' album? That's what made me fall in love with the sound of pedal steel. Worth a listen if you don't already know it.
It's not one of the main instruments; just adding textures here and there like what you're talking about in this video.
Nice, learned more than I ever have from this video than others on here on pedal steel. Some of the greats that come to mind are Pete Drake, Rusty Young, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Al Perkins, Dan Dugmore. Dugmores solo on Ronstadts "Blue Bayou" is a classic, remember hearing that at 5 years old.
eric, your joy in the instrument is infectious.. Next explore the 7th and 9th on the top 2 strings. Also the low D and F# some awesome sounds and extended chords there....
Probably the best quick introduction to pedal steel I have seen/heard (and (I've seen A LOT of them). KUDOs.
Might be the most hauntingly beautiful sounds ever in music.love these things
Thanks for sharing some truly smooth tones. I've wanted one of these instruments for a long time but have never seen one for sale (in Eastern Canada) . After hearing you explain how it all works, and showing how good it sounds, I know now that I must get one.
Fascinating stuff. I've always loved the sound of pedal steel, slide guitars, and just guitar in general. My main instrument was drums, but I'm definitely a guitar aficionado. Till I watched this vid, I wasn't aware of the knee levers. Learn something new.
hey thanks. I'm a bass player but constructed a lap steel a few year ago and have enjoyed messing with it. but a real steel guitar is pretty tempting. nothing else sounds like it
This was just the greatest "low key and relaxed" run down, of the magic of the "slidin" guitar, I have seen on RUclips!
I have finally found a place where I can lay my head, and will now go on with my new old Supro Lap Steel! It's tuned to C6 and that fit's nice with ukulele. I bought it from a guy that had given up on it! I heard something when I tried it, and bought it... But C6 is something else from open E and G! Looking forward to get a Pedal Steel!
Thank you very much Eric🙏 A heavy weight has been lifted from my weary shoulders👍😃
Im a drummer. Ive been blessed over the years to play with some fabulous steel players. Its like having a string section in the band, just makes things more full and melodic. One of the big reasons ive done a lot of country and folk gigs. You sound good!
Yeah! I think of it as a string section too!
@@EricHaugenGuitar i used to play with a singer that did patsy cline really well. At one point walter haynes joined the band. He was patsys original steel player. Since i heard he had played on Crazy, i asked singer to play that on his first song, first night. I had tears in my eyes, it was amazing.
Eric, Ran across your channel and love it. Sorry to say I’ve played pedal steel awhile. Been in different groups and since Covid it’s taken a back seat out playing. I still love playing with backing tracks and the best thing with that is you can stop and quit anytime you want. Keep the videos coming and Thank You for telling people about the pedal steel guitar. I’m like you when I first heard someone play it I fell in love with it. I would hate to see it die out. Most bands anymore don’t use them like they did years back. 5 Stars * * * * * Thanks
Thanks for showing your set up. I I have never seen any one do that , nice to know what’s going on behind the scenes.
I have been curious about the pedal-steel for years. Thank you for this overview.
This is great! I play slide guitar with the same skill and love for it as you do. Cool video. Almost could title it Lofi Relaxing Slide Music with the soft narration.
Weird, but both slide and bagpipes always give some chills. Thanks for posting
Your opening tune was beautiful. To me it felt kind of like a Mazzy Star / Neil Young mashup. Pretty. Anyhow, another great video. I love pedal steel and know nothing about it so your "pedal steel primer" was perfect - more topical as opposed to instructional. Kept things interesting. Answered a lot of questions without getting too in the weeds on any one of them. Thanks! Enjoy your holiday break!!
Cheers to you too my buddy!
I love pedal steel so much. I was a big Dire Straits fan in their heyday. (And I have never stopped loving Mark Knopfler's writing and playing since then.) The last studio album they put out, 'On Every Street', was largely forgettable, except he added Paul Franklin to the mix which added so much texture to songs that weren't up to snuff compared with the earlier records. I saw them on that tour and enjoyed the pedal steel mixed on lots of songs that were written and recorded without it, and it really kicked the band up a notch. I am sorry Knopfler felt the band had run out of gas, he was probably right- and he hated those large scale arena tours- and his solo work was not all that far removed from DS- I really wish they had continued with full time pedal steel playing. I never bought one, but I have a lap steel I don't take the time to property learn (as well as a few other instruments in the collection), I am lazy and just keep playing the guitar or uke, the ones I know best, that there's no way I would carve the time to properly tackled a PS. Maybe that'll be my hobby when I retire someday. :)
Please...do yourself and your nerves a favor , do not wait until you're retired to learn pedal steel. The younger you are when you take it up, the quicker you will adapt to it and retain all you learn. When you start, what I'm saying to you will become clear as glass. And your right about Dire Straits; I have the On The Night DVD, and listen & watch it about once a week. Paul Franklin, baby! Enough said.
This video took me right back to the sixties, thanks.
Nigerian Rock star/Juju music artist King Sunny Ade has a pedal steel player in his band which adds to the about 7 guitarists including himself in the band.
Magic...
I think the pedal steel is an incredible instrument! Thanks for the video! Love it!. What I will say is that I don't see it as a guitar. Just as Americans, our roots came originally from England, and although we speak English, we're not English, we're Americans. In the same vane, the pedal steel has it's roots has it's roots in a guitar, however it's not a guitar. As one example, as a guitarist, I can walk into a music shop in, say NYC, pick up a Stratocaster and play it. When I leave there I fly to London, England and go to a music shop where I pick up a Les Paul and play it. I leave there and go to Saville, Spain where in a music shop I play a Flamenco guitar. From there I travel to Tokyo and go into a music shop and play a Martin D28. Point being, I can go all over the world and play guitars, all of which are fundamentally and mechanically, the same. Then I go to, lets say Nashville, and walk into Gruen's and sit at a pedal steel. I look at the salesman and say "Okay, what the #%@& do I do with this thing?". They might as well of handed me an Oboe! Okay, like a guitar it has strings, however this has 10 strings. Now, as a guitar player, sure, some guitars have 12 strings, however, those extra 6 being octaves and/or doubles, I can play it the same as a 6 string. This pedal steel having 10 strings, all of which are tuned to a heavenly sounding chord, placing all of the notes are in different places. On a guitar, I can tune it to an open tuning, however I can also tune it back to standard. Frets? On a pedal steel they are painted on! There aren't any frets. Some call the neck on a pedal steel "the board". Les Paul invented "the stick", which I guess is as close to "the board" as a guitar gets! Back at Gruen's I'm doing the pedals with the inspiration coming from the last Porsche 911 I drove. "What do I do to get an A chord, downshift and double clutch?" The salesman suggests I try out the knee lever and I say "What the hell is next? Do I have to use my elbow to pump a windbag, like an Irish uillian pipes?" all of this happening as I double clutch and heel-toe breaking into turn one at Long Beach. 😅 Or, "Hey Clem! Lets go camping this weekend! Oh yeah, bring your pedal steel and we can sing some songs around the camp fire!" 🤣 I do hope this post brings a hearty laugh! All joking aside, the pedal steel is an incredible and fascinating instrument! However, within the mirth, the underlining point I'm attempting to make is that the Pedal Steel has evolved so far away from being a guitar, that it really is no longer a guitar, just as we are no longer English. 😉
I was really happy when Luke Schneider came out to play the anthem at a Sounds game for us with his buddy and our organ player, Micah Hulscher. They played together in Margo's band for years and it sounded so cool. It was peak Nashville and the most country sounding stuff we've had at the new ballpark since it opened. I totally agree with you on the pedal steel being for patient people, because the moments leading up to that performance could have only been put up with by a pedal steel player.
Cool, you taught me enough about pedal steel guitars that im going straight out and not buying one. They sound beautiful and I have always loved the sound. Good video bro.👍
Great choice of a video! Makes me want to break out my old sho’bud pedal steel, so oddly enough even here in Oklahoma you rarely see these being played anymore but you hear them all over the classic rock records and honky tonk county Pedal steels def need a revival
This is great man. Yeah, seems like slide guitar players and acoustic pickers have a leg up on the pedal steel. I've been a guitar player for over 25yrs, sat down cold at one of these and couldn't make heads or tails of it on my own.
Great vid…many thx! I have a Stage One that I practiced hot and heavy for a couple of years. I believe as a result developed a significant neck injury ,due to stupidity, requiring a couple months of therapy. Also was dealing with some tinnitus (most notable hitting a full C chord/8th fret). Needless to say I’ve been bummed out. So I haven’t touched it in two years, though doing other stuff musically. I said all that to say that your video has inspired me to venture back into the PS world. You’re an excellent teacher explaining things clearly and enjoyably. Thank you so much!
Really enjoyed your relaxed discussion about pedal steel . I’ve been a guitarist all my life and had own emmons pedal steel 30 years but never really gave it a good crack but I’m getting into a lot more these days and even playing in a band with it now . I love it . Took me a long time to get going with it . But it’s pretty special .
My favorite incarnation of this instrument is when Steve Howe plays it in Yes’s And You And I. What a gorgeous song and a gorgeous re-imagination of what these sounds could be used for.
I've looked for Steve's yellow Fender steel guitar onstage at YES concerts for decades. It usually meant they were performing And You And I.
@@pschroeter1 I’ve never seen them live, as I got into them around 2016 (RIP Chris Squire you absolute legend). So jealous you’ve seen them enough to spot things like this!! And You And I might be my favorite song of all time, tbh.
@@singerofsongss I have been going to see YES since 1977. I wished Chris Squire happy birthday while getting his autograph after the 90125 show in the 80s.
I believe I read that for "And You And I" Steve used a small lap steel (similar to the one David Gilmour has played live), before he acquired his pedal steel instruments.
@@yes_head Oops, I think you’re right! My bad. Still, what an incredible sound.
Thanks for this. I love to see people playing an instrument out of love for the sound and the joy of playing it. A pedal steel (or anything) can be used for more than what it has "traditionally" been used for. I have seen people that make beautiful, interesting music quit an instrument because someone in Nashville "does it better". I say who cares? Who can do what YOU do better than YOU? No one...
That was a fun video! The Pedal Steel is such an awesome instrument. Had the chance to try one out and - boy - the grips were really hard for me. But the sound - glorious!
And you're definitely right - with a certain amount of knowing theory you can get around quite quickly. After five minutes you won't play like Paul Franklin but you sure could jam along to a simple song and that for me was a huge success.
Hope to find a used one someday. In Germany it's not very common to find used ones online..
Happy holidays and keep up the good work!
I know I'm biased, but when it comes to pedal steel for textures it's hard to beat Steve Howe of Yes. His style was more psych and rock than country, and he coaxed some absolutely unearthly sounds out of it. I consider it part of his distinct sound. And not many guitarists have ever used a pedal steel as a lead instrument (with a solo!) like he did on "Going for the One."
This is such a beautiful and inspiring video!!! It makes me want to learn this so badly; you explain it so well.
the quick rig rundown was a great idea
BTW Buddy Emmons was the best. Nightlife.
Brilliant, Eric. The video I've been waiting for! Great to see pedal steel from a guitarist's perspective - really makes me want to get one.
My kind of country! Thank you Eric. You are gold mine.
Robert Randolph completely changed my perspective on what was possible with a pedal steel guitar. Unreal player.
Your setup is gorgeous. That amp is nuts. Envy city over here.
Thanks for reminding me that getting one of these should be my #1 priority in life.
Keep it up!
Brilliant video. I’ll stick with my under used lap steel but I agree the pedal steel is the ultimate slide guitar.
If you want the feel of the steel pedals with a lap steel without all the frustration of a steel pedal (as there are many), check out the Certano Benders (he has some videos on YT). I put one on my lap steel and it's a lot of fun and very easy install. It does only allow you to bend two strings but you can make some amazing sounds with it. It's also cool because if you buy one you actually communicate with the guy that builds them (David Certano). David is also a great player.
Such a great intro tutorial. It's always alluded me but now it makes more sense. Thank you.
Man you are one precise and meticulous guy....this is not a criticism...all your instruments so neat and your equipment too (nice to show us a reverse camera angle to see your cameras) and your playing is very precise and sharp. My guitar room is cleaned say once a week but looks more like Jimmy Hendrix and his pals stayed over the weekend. As I have commented before I am not the steve morse I just play his signature model guitar...you are a wizard on that pedal steel.
That sound take me back to the early days of the New Riders Of The Purple Sage!
I love the old Silvertone amp in the background.
My favorite pedal steel guitarist is progressive rock guitarist Steve Howe of YES. Give the Apocalypse section of And You and I, Going For The One, or Gates of Delirium a listen. I've gone to YES concerts for decades and looked for his yellow Fender steel guitar on stage.
A great video that celebrates my own infatuation with this ethereal sounding instrument! I pulled my Carter Starter out from its storage nook a few days ago, and quickly reminded myself the fun that can be had even at my beginner level. And interestingly, I learned that the arthritis that's beginning in my left hand and making regular guitar playing challenging at times is absolutely no problem on the pedal steel. That makes me happy.
Yay! That's the great think about slide - it's easy on the hands, and so expressive!
Ever since I heard Eno's Apollo, I've been obsessed with the pedal steel too.
Daniel Lanois is the Man on that tune. Check out his vids on RUclips. Approaches PS from a totally different perspective…like him or not. If you’re into the alternate side of PS check out Lanois album Goodbye to Language. It’s on Spotify if interested.
I don’t know how you can play pedal steel and not know music theory. It is an E9 tuning. You have the 9th, 7th and 7th major. The rest are E chords: E G# B. So I think in terms of root, third and fifth. 10&5 are B(5th). 8&4 are the E(root). 6&3 are the G# (3rd). Then you have the 7th, 7th maj and 9th. Then the pedals help you shift the chords using the Nashville Numbering system, etc. You hit the right strings, and get open E. Then by using the different pedals get the I, IV & V then the minor chords ii, iii, iv. Etc. You then use the bar to get different chords as you would in a guitar tuned to open tuning.
Give explanation. Great video.
Thanks for showing set up. Huge help. Always wanted pedal steel but price. The knee pedals and foot pedals seem complicated and mesmerizing. Thanks for explaining tuning!
Nice teaching 👍 I understand it now. It's kind of complicated if you don't really know music. Piano is easier, but if you're going to play the organ, it gets complicated. You got a know and understand how it all works.
Ah man, all those hours listening to my old man’s Eagles and Neil Young records as a kid make me weak at the knees for pedalsteel. Such a cool sound!
You are SO skilled at this ! So cool❤️🔥
I'm fairly confident the pedal steel is the best sounding instrument ever made. Close second is an accordion (this is not a joke!).
The Stratocaster was Leo Fenders' invention of a stand-up steel guitar.
He called his next variation of electric guitars an electric violin. Jeff Lynne came over to get some.
You're weird. I like you.
Nah. Fender Rhodes
I mean Cello is up there too.
Rickenbacker 360 12-string
Great video, great sound! Matthews Southern Comfort did Joni Mitchell's Woodstock with pedal steel. Cool song.
Cool dude and a cool instrument. Thanks for taking the time to do this man. Really enjoyed it
What an amazing machine!
Nice intro to the pedal steel. I played guitar for 30 years before starting pedal steel in the early 2000s. I take a similar approach to yours and love the sound for filling in tracks. I also have that exact same guitar only mine is bright red. You got a great price for yours I paid around 2 grand for mine.
Cool job, hipster. Long wanted to try pedal steel. Couldn't find any reasonably priced, but know better now. Bought a lap steel with two levers for a pedal steel sound and mandolin. Was able to get a sound out of the lap steel right away and found the mandolin more immediately challenging so concentrating on that right now. Thanks for the tip.
RUclips algorithm brought me here lol. I Love the sound of a steel guitar especially with that phase 90 you have running with it. It is a beautiful sound and there isn't anything else like it. It totally gives me Waylon Jennings vibes.
Super cool video! I love that old school sound man!
So good. Just what I needed tonight. Happy holidays to you, sir.
G’day Doc
Your use of the pedal steel in your background tracks is absolutely beautiful
the ethereal sound and atmosphere you create is masterful to say the least
It’s beautiful Eric
👍🇦🇺
Great tutorial and I like your sense of humor.
Thanks Bro !!!!
Sounds delicious, Love the Pedal steel and the good old 1484 silvertone amp.
The coolest, most awesome explanation of how pedal steel guitars work. Liked, subscribed, shared on social media! I'm just getting into steel and starting with an 8 string lap steel. Smart enough to stay away from anything with pedals for now. Thanks again for doing this cool video. Cheers!