Robert Randolph on Pedal Steel Styles, Influences, and Developing His Own Sound | Reverb Interview

Reverb's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide: bit.ly/3ojmKNW
Treat yourself or find the perfect gift for your favorite music maker. Robert Randolph, pedal and lap steel extraordinaire, came by the Reverb office to discuss his style of pedal steel and where it came from. Randolph begins with "Sacred Steel", a collection of pedal and lap steel gospel players that deeply influenced Robert as a child. His next influence is a little less traditional, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Watch Robert rip his way across the pedal steel and demonstrate where his influences have taken him.
Read more about Robert Randolph at bit.ly/2pBvnlf.
Listen to "Got Soul" by Robert Randolph & the Family Band,
available now on Sony Masterworks.
www.robertrando...

[@campbellbates394]

Did he just Karate chop a harmonic? Iconic

[@kevinr.3542]

Campbell Not Soup he did it right after I read your comment. it was too perfect

[@benjamingonzalezjr7021]

Lol

[@MarsLonsen]

BAR!!

[@stephencosta1599]

lol

[@davidpaul6656]

You must've missed it when he first did it with his elbow! The guy is amazing! Saw him live in a small club once and was just totally blown away!

[@The10000lbGorilla]

That Karate Chop Harmonic he does is about the coolest thing ever.

[@goodun6081]

The10000lbGorilla, you should check out Sonny Landreth, who plays bottleneck style on (mostly) a Strat, but his right-hand muting and harmonic-tap control is friggin' incredible----and his left hand fingers actually fret notes and do lead runs BEHIND the slide simultaneously.

[@s0dfish110]

How Robert Randolph is not a household name IDK. I literally just KZbin spiralled myself here and there is nowhere else to go except back to the classics. I'm 4 years after post so I can only hope this good sir is doing ridiculously extremely very well for himself, as he very clearly deserves.

[@Meltedcheese567]

Literally???

[@jacobfoster4690]

@S0dfish he plays lap for a few different groups, i found him on instagram randomly a year after finding this video. He rips with the zac brown band!

[@ryanlaube4859]

Saw him open for Clapton in 2004. I was blown away, and have been a fan ever since. He’s awesome live, if you get the chance to see him.

[@willc5405]

Ryan Laube me too! It was actually my first concert.

[@dr.corneliusq.cadbury6984]

Ryan Laube When I saw Captain he had a big entourage of great musicians at the show. It’s great how he tries to get other musicians some exposure.

[@scottrgood]

I think that’s where I first saw him too, Clapton 2004. He’s actually an extremely talented and unique player, unlike someone today like Gary Clark Jr. who is just a complete joke. Robert Randolph can actually play.

[@jdthornton78]

That's when I first saw him, too! I was amazed at all the sounds that Robert could coax out of a pedal steel. He made it sound bluesy, metallic, funky, and soulful, almost all at the same time! If I weren't looking directly at the stage, I would have sworn he was playing a regular electric guitar with some kick-ass effects pedals. Randolph has his own unique sound, and I love it - the first ever major steel player that doesn't sound Hawaiian or Country (nothing against either of those styles, I like a good, clean Hawaiian or Country style of steel playing, too).

[@Iheartdgd]

2:00 wow.. I can honestly say I’ve never seen anyone play a steel like that before

[@kappiiee]

Sounds like some jimmy hendrix lick

[@peterwelsh1932]

We got ONE guy in New Orleans that does it. ONE, and hes been shredding it apart since?? 80s?? Forever. But, so =he gets EVERY gig! The biggest snootiest Jazz shows. Rock shows at the dive bars. Blues jams all night. He’s the only game in town. Dave Easley

[@josebarragan6627]

@@kappiieebcs it is he’s a big hendrix fan

[@josebarragan6627]

no one plays steel guitar like him tbh

[@Amoeba744]

Taking the pedal steel to areas outside of country! Robert is amazing I hope he continues to get more popular.

[@kevinblackburn3198]

I was watching Barbara Mandrel play on the Johnny Cash Show and this beast showed up! Why am I just learning about this guy!? Wow!

[@bennerdan]

I never knew it could be played in so many different ways. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@DeadKoby]

Way cool... making the Pedal Steel sound like something outside of vintage country swing...... NICE.

[@jeremythornton433]

I just bought a Steel guitar a couple of months ago. Wow! I had no idea it could rock out like this! Awesome!

[@DaveDexterMusic]

I sometimes get worried about playing, say, my 24 fret guitars too much in case I become dependent on that extra range. I should stop worrying. This is the most specific guitar ever and he sounds like an angel on it.

[@adamlongbodyjenkins5228]

This man is soooo overlooked! He's in my top 5 of all time ! Thank you, sir!!

[@Olaboard]

#1

[@roundchaos]

Holy shitballs, this is the coolest thing Ive seen all year

[@elathos]

I could listen to this forever and die happy, I'll tell you

[@eden821]

One of the worlds most underrated musicians for sure

[@littleteethkeith]

I love that sound. I’m a metal head at heart but that pedal steel sounds delicious.

[@keithrandall1492]

Bless him for crediting Stevie Ray. And he is GREAT himself.

[@TempleGuitars]

Goodness gracious, that man is a beast! What an incredible talent.

[@jesusismegacool]

He's so much fun to see live, highly recommend it if he comes to your local area

[@platevoltage2011]

2:52 that bass line

[@ersatzvitamin1]

BUZZY BASS

[@buddyollie180]

Dude! That so cool! I've never heard of this style of lap steel! Wah pedal too...

[@lincoln-wav]

In order to play pedal/lap steel (we’ll), board hand control is paramount. This guy’s control is the stuff of legends

[@RNmike96]

I got the privilege of seeing RR & The family band probably 13 years ago now. His cousin Danyel was amazing on the bass and could sing sooooo high. His cousin Marcus on the drums was great too. And then he had this white dude playing organ and his name was Cribs. Best concert I’ve ever been to. He jammed for like 4 hours straight. I was like in middle school lol.

[@RebSike]

0:50 I need more of this please

[@freesillywilly]

Just amazing!😮

[@Muzikman127]

That instense microtonality when he plays "like a singer". All this 12edo "blues" is missing the point. This was AMAZING to hear.

[@AliasJimWirth]

Mr.Randolph is freakin' awesome. Just learned of him now. Wow have I missed a lot.

[@keraatkins7833]

One of the best gospel musicians out there!

[@radius2372]

Good grief I have loved him and his band since the first moment I saw em. Love brother!

[@deepwater2652]

Robert was one of my main influences to start playing pedal steel!

[@ZackRL96]

This completely changed my conception of what a pedal steel guitar is capable of

[@isaacjohnson.]

Wow. He's amazing. Coaxed some great sounds out of that Pedal Steel. Great musician.

[@vox1962]

This is the coolest player I've heard in years! Great, simply great

[@deepwater2652]

Hearing Robert Randolph playing was one of my first influences on wanting to learn to play the pedal steel guitar!

[@bushmanwest5109]

This guy is incredible

[@glencoe6305]

I bought the Sacred Steel CD back in the 1990s. I love everything Robert does. I grew up on Hillbilly and Gospel Music. Love Robert's styles.

[@jamesryan5436]

I seen him play with Clapton over here about 10 years ago some of the coolest tones out of a steel I've ever heard.

[@Nonokast]

I just love this so huge great artist, musician and guy !!! You're the best Robert !!!!!!

[@jonathanbachman2339]

Well done young man. Keep the music alive!!!!!!!

[@mississippisteeler95]

Though what he does is not considered "traditional" pedal steel I still think its super awesome.

[@CaptainRaab]

Daniel McKee In his community it is traditional, though. Country players don't own pedal steel.

[@danielstein5290]

true

[@Docsjeff]

Digging the Henry Nelson vibe. Brother,your playing is 100%BAD ASS!!!

[@joseignaciosisterna9772]

Do you know wich song it is?

[@robertforrester578]

That's just plain old good work Brother. Thanks from Philly

[@FeelsLikeSunshine]

This is magical.

[@laurieharper1526]

Wow. Can he play or what? Fabulous.

[@tpap6827]

This dude is absolutely incredible and doesn't get nearly enough credit.

[@cowboymachito]

WOW WOW WOW! I can just see you playing in a live band shredding steel. Excellent.

[@originaljamtracks]

What an absolute legend! Blown away

[@danielkelly1210]

Shot Jackson was the first steel guitarist I met ... about 1963 ... I was a kid !!

[@glencoe6305]

Cool. Shot was great on Dobro,too. He played Non Pedal Steel on the Opry/Louisiana Hayride with the Bailes Bros in the 1940s. He was in the Service,too. He joined on Johnny & Jack ,playing Dobro, and would switch to Non -Pedal 8 String Steel for Kitty Wells, who was Johnny's wife.

[@kokotootokok502]

Damn!! Those harmonic chops...🤘

[@joshuapdavis74]

your voicing are unreal. top shelf. blown away.

[@kentbeery8653]

Saw him open for Eric Clapton he just blew me away. .....taking the Pedal steel to a whole new level

[@TrillBill]

I could watch this forever

[@kevinraabe457]

You da man Mr Randolph!!!

[@jonphillips416]

God damn I can see the smoke coming off that thing. WOO

[@zippy3711]

Ya, this guy can play anything.

[@TheRealForrestGeorge]

He is SO GOOD!

[@kenburnett2445]

MY GOD !!! WHAT A MONSTER PLAYER !!😮

[@DannyStarr1976]

saw him one time and the show was pretty mind blowing.. I think it was Billie Jean he did that was off the hook and I think he did some hendrix too

[@misterroberts4240]

saw him at ACL fest when jeff shunk baxter( steely dan ) showed up and did some hendrix. mindblowing

[@emilybrown8022]

This is amazing! I just ordered my own Mullen Discovery yesterday. Glad I stumbled across this inspo today.

[@ritchienegrea5779]

God damn man. You play that thing boy. Best I ever seen

[@HorrorBoi84]

Dude shredded on a fucking pedal steel guitar. Holy shit.

[@rutheshelman2483]

He makes it look easy

[@PootaurStuff]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are AMAZING on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@JamesWilliamHoughton]

This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen/heard. Hats off, Sir! 🎩

[@Notjay95]

I️ really try to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan. Plays Steve Vai riff

[@billnu]

Jay Vavricek I wonder if that was the editing of the video. Dude surely knows a SRV lick

[@truthseeker3954]

billnu I think you're right.

[@sireliot2149]

Yeah that was hilarious

[@ezzong]

Maybe it's really SRV lick, but played with slide it sounds like played using a floyd rose? Idk

[@peterwelsh1932]

Yeah, that’s what I thought!

[@bevo65]

What a cool guy.

[@edwinsamuel5065]

0:50 😍😍😍 I wish I could play that on my guitar.

[@bmangetsulm6968]

Check out Derek Trucks ;)

[@blossomrusso6457]

If they had sacred steel where I'm from, I'd probably still go to church!

[@budandbean1]

That's some great chickin pickin... I didn't know you could do half that stuff on a pedal steel guitar... love it!

[@kristiankrokfoss2899]

What a player!

[@Pappysjuice]

God damn I love pedal steel players

[@jamesortiz5388]

Yeah Robert.

[@jakekraweckyj2801]

I was blown away by the first 20 seconds or so, never mind the rest 😂

[@sean_shimmer]

thats strum tone so good

[@mosacanite4533]

I barely see this type of instrument being played here on the island of Oahu where I live. God I miss it 😌

[@bennydanielz8762]

OMG!!!!!!!!!! *YOU ROBERT* are the reason I want to play!!!! You're my favorite steel guitar player.

[@kaboomerty1638]

i’ve really wanted to learn pedal steel but after hearing this man! HOLY SHIT

[@dillonmann6409]

This guy is incredible 😱😱

[@tmvps]

so much new information so mucho to listen so happy

[@bigmarkdarula]

Respect

[@deannederhoff]

Damn son make that thing talk.loved it man

[@Soullesschump]

This is insane! Had no idea this had so many sounds! And he doing it like it’s nothing.

[@lionra4523]

Thank you!

[@ryanmelvey8764]

such an expressive player. makes it look easy!

[@scrapxiron]

This is so tight

[@AmericanMatt92]

I want to see this man live

[@markkeneson6806]

The strumming part reminds me of Bo Diddley.

[@swingset1969]

Amazing. Love it.

[@browill9]

Outstanding

[@victorfernandes5191]

His playing with the wah reminds me a lot of Hendrix. Whoa!

[@ciprianokritzinger3636]

Phenomenal

[@7hertzMusic]

amazing

[@tonywaber8482]

What awesome talent!

[@octaviusdelmonte9019]

Badass

[@kgipe]

Wow! That thing is literally singing!

[@charlottemarceau8062]

Woah that's good playing

[@herFLYness79]

Amazing!!!

[@iplaymytele]

Good Lord Hoss......!!! You have got a great sound.....🎵🎶❤️🎵🎶❤️

[@samlunn7079]

Whats that first song? WOw.

[@gabrielquinn7208]

Sam Lunn I don’t know but he has a live version of a song called “squeeze” that sounds like that

[@wahwahjames]

Sounds like "heaven's calling" off of Got Soul

[@jackhope982]

That’s really cool man!

[@OngoingBox]

rad!