Pedal Steel/Lap Steel

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:56 pm

I've got a cheap lap steel as well as an Epiphone guitar with the action set way high, to simulate a lap steel (The epiphone actually does it a little better!). With a nice quality bar, some reverb, and an Ernie Ball volume pedal, I can get a pretty decent sound out of it.

But at heart, i'm just a wannabe pedal steel player.

I got to play one once, pretty recently - at a Guitar Center, believe it or not. It's a pretty intimidating instrument: 10 strings, three pedals, a few knee levers, and a volume pedal - all used almost simultaneously!

After 20 minutes or so, I was able to get a so/so sound out of the thing, and even started pulling off some really cool licks.

My next project with Dale is for him to install a B-bender on my battered Tele - y'know a facsimile for us lowly 6-stringers, and something for me to get by on. But ultimately, I want to learn pedal steel. I want a decent starter instrument, a book, some sheet music, some lessons if possible! Can anyone help? Are there any pedal steel players here?

I'll leave you with a really cool video from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xslQCqlTdYA

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:44 pm

There is that RIC pedal steel right down the street from me, ya' know!

captsandwich · Post by **captsandwich** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:09 pm

moi aussi

http://www.capsulemusic.com/retail/detail.asp?ID=2549

byu · Post by **byu** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:42 pm

Pedal steel is definitely a difficult instrument to learn. It takes 5 years just to suck at it.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:37 am

John, like you, I’ve always been fascinated with the pedal steel. And thought maybe, maybe, someday…. But I know it’s never going to happen. Too many strings. Too many pedals. Too many levers. Etc.

By coincidence, I just saw one of the best pedal steel players – Buddy Cage – perform at the ranch. It was a fantastic, very loosie, concert.

Here are a couple of shots of Buddy in action:

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/FirstBassman/FPR%202006-11%20Concert/P1010059.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/FirstBassman/FPR%202006-11%20Concert/P1010076.jpg

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:54 am

Here's a site with some good info on slide..not pedal..maybe help with some licks etc
www.bigroadblues.com/slide

nab · Post by **nab** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:15 pm

I've always toyed with pedal steel idea (play slide and lap steel). Pedal to me is kinda like Organ except with strings instead of keys.

A few months ago saw an Austin City Limits re-run featuring a guy named Robert Randolph. Absolutely amazing player! If you closed your eyes, you could swear he was playing a cranked Strat at times! If you ever get the chance, worth checking out.