How to Effectively Use the A B C Pedals | Pedal Steel Guitar Lesson

In this video, I show an overview of the A B C pedals as well as how to effectively use them.
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[@peterfleming6094]

That's very helpful and easily explained, thank you so much.

[@SteelPicking]

Thank you for the kind words, Peter! Glad that it could help! Keep picking!

[@atxatxatxatx]

My mother has a pedal steel guitar and I've finally managed to get her to pull it out of storage and start playing again. I really enjoy these videos and I'm going to share them with her.

[@SteelPicking]

That is awesome!

[@SteelPicking]

Please let us know how it goes. Hope she has fun and we can help in some way!

[@anthonyp5200]

Thank You !!! I sold my ldg .... Now I have to get another !!! I need these sounds !!!

[@SteelPicking]

No problem, Anthony! Yes, Sho Bud makes great guitars! Wish you the best on your search! Keep picking!

[@godwink]

Amazing tutorial, great teacher, very easy to understand. Thank you for taking the time to do this video.

[@SteelPicking]

Glad you enjoyed it! Keep Picking! Aaron

[@randyfennell3058]

Very good job. You are really helping a lot of beginner psg players get a better understanding of the instrument. Best teaching I’ve seen yet. RF/

[@SteelPicking]

Randy, thanks for the kind word. My son Jacob and I are glad to help. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@chisumcattle5557]

Just amazingly useful! Thank you so much!

[@cincinnatipedalsteel4347]

Good video Aaron! Its always smart to review the basics

[@SteelPicking]

Most definitely! James it is always a good plan to have a starting place. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@terrythompson472]

Hi Aaron... after watching this lesson a light finally went on. I've been struggling with the various relationships of each of the pedals and how they can determine what minor or suspended chords can be fabricated. This is one of the greatest lessons I have watched since trying to get this 77 year old brain to be able to at least play somewhat on this very complex instrument. I can now find a relative minor with no issues or a sus chord when required. Thanks again and keep up the good work.. looking forward to the beginners course when it becomes available.

[@SteelPicking]

Terry, thanks so much! Keep Picking! Aaron

[@psycoticreaction9135]

I love the Blue color of your guitar!!!

[@frankortega4280]

Very informative lesson Aaron. Thank you as always.

[@SteelPicking]

Frank, thanks. Glad to help. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@Junior-jw1bb]

Excellent lesson . As a fairly new beginner this helps explain the chord theory which is where I lack, thanks for posting it.

[@SteelPicking]

Junior, you're very welcome! Keep Picking! Aaron

[@thomasstankus9924]

Wow. Very clear helpful introduction to an intimidating instrument! Thanks!!

[@SteelPicking]

Thomas, glad it was helpful! Keep Picking! Aaron

[@larrydering1598]

Thanks Aaron. Always a good lesson.

[@SteelPicking]

Larry, glad you liked it! Keep Picking! Aaron

[@fedeesna2604]

Another great lesson!! Thank you so much!!

[@SteelPicking]

Federico, thanks so much. Glad to help. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@jackschlamp7598]

I recently bought a GFI student model and am starting from scratch and your style of teaching is EXACTLY what I need. It is bite sized and achievable. I owned a double 10 about 15 years ago and after a few years got rid of it because non of it really made sense. With your lessons I'm starting to understand what happens and why it happens. I have new hope :) Thank you.

[@SteelPicking]

Jack, thanks so much. My son and I really want to share and advance this wonderful instrument. Glad to help. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@modularcuriosity]

I'm thinking the GFI is going to be my first steel guitar. it's good to know these lessons apply to that student level guitar.

[@music65605]

I just too purchased a GFI Student Model, with very little knowledge of how to play. The major chords I had no problem with, but the minors and sus chords were difficult to find. With Aaron's videos it makes it alot clearer. I'm 63 and suspect the GFI with be the only one I'll ever need. Great sounding and well built. Good luck in your picking adventures.😀 @@modularcuriosity

[@stevepethel6843]

I am not a steel guitar player probably never will be but this is a great explanation ABC pedals.Thank you Jesus for this man's video on steel guitar... Yes thank you sir this is light on understanding ABC pedals you did a excellent educational video. Man this is a very complex instrument and that is just 3 pedals . that's lots of music

[@SteelPicking]

Wow, thanks Steve.

[@darlenegolden9251]

What a great lesson. As a dobro playing, lap steel sliding, mandolin picker envious of you pedal steel guitar players. I thank you. I'm too old to get good but i'm young enough to get adequate thanks to folks like you. \

[@SteelPicking]

Darlene, as long as you are having fun along the way, that's all that matters. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@skydog4393]

You know Aaron, I know this is an older video, but I'm just starting out learning the pedal steel. I have a Carter D-10 with a E9 and C6 neck. Just wanted to say that this video was such a help in learning where the certain chords are located and which pedals make them what they are. I'm loving all of your videos and about to delve into the one that deals with knee levers next. Thank you for taking the time to create this forum, because I can tell you, it really helps. And, of course I've already subscribed a while ago. Thanks again, my friend. Wish you were closer so I could take real time lessons from you, but this will do nicely.

[@SteelPicking]

Thanks so much!

[@stratplayer10]

This is really enlightening, im into lap steel and know nothing about pedal steel. until now. i can see the whole thing. excelent tutorial

[@SteelPicking]

Raymond, glad you enjoyed it! Keep Picking! Aaron

[@jamesdubois8468]

Very helpful thanks a bunch

[@SteelPicking]

James, glad to help. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@robertquinn9490]

Thank you very much!

[@SteelPicking]

Robert, no problem. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@elperfildelhorizonte]

Thank you so much! Very clear for begginers like me! Regards from Argentina

[@SteelPicking]

No problem, glad that the video could help! Stay tuned for more beginner videos in the future! Thank you and keep picking!

[@alejandroperez4051]

tenes un pedal steel papa???

[@elperfildelhorizonte]

@@alejandroperez4051 obvio

[@lesterwaldrop838]

good stuff there thanks

[@SteelPicking]

Glad that the video could help, Lester! Keep picking! Aaron

[@peterfleming6094]

Bought my first pedal steel today im 73yrs old what's my chances,been a semi pro drummer for well over 50years, love all the advice you can give me,thanks

[@peterfleming6094]

Thank you Aaron, I find your lessons for the absolute beginner very good and helpful 👍

[@SteelPicking]

Best of luck!

[@SteelPicking]

Hope your journey is a fun and rewarding one!

[@peterfleming6094]

@@SteelPicking Thank you, I find your video lessons very helpful.

[@Docsjeff]

Congrats.Hang in there and do NOT give up.

[@psycoticreaction9135]

I love the "Scales of justice" fretboard inlays.

[@GaryBook]

Using the Nashville Numbering system, when you press the A pedal, you take the I chord to the vii chord or minor. So the G chord becomes the Em. If you press the A & B pedal, the I chord becomes the IV chord or G -> C. In the key of G I ii iii IV V vi vii diminished. Essentially G am bm C D em f #diminished. In G, G B D becomes G B E or E G B e minor. The 10 & 5 string is the 5th (B), 8 & 4 are the root (E), 6 & 3 are the 3rd (G#) when played openly. Right? So if you play G chord it would be D, G, B, or G B D. The A pedal raises the 10 & 5 strings a full step from B to C# and the B pedal raises the 6 & 3 string 1/2 step, so G# to A when played open. In G, the D goes to E if you press the A pedal and if you press B pedal, B goes to C. So you go from a G chord (I) to a C chord (IV). On piano, an inversion. So G B D goes to G C E. Am I on the right track? I am a beginner, so please excuse the basic questions. For beginners, it is a challenge to crack the code. I deeply appreciate your channel.

[@Docsjeff]

I call my B&C together the Johnny Rodriguez pedals.

[@Docsjeff]

Can we just go to the Fret we need the minor in and use our A pedal? I’m trying the think of an easy way to rmbr it. Ok,we can just stay in the 1 fret and get our 2min. Chord by pressing B&C and playing the 7 string?

[@Jason-bg7jc]

Do you have or are you planning on doing a similar videos for the C6 pedals?

[@SteelPicking]

Jason, we will do that some time. I really hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks for the idea. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@PhilippedeBersuder]

Hello SteelPicking thanks for sharing, what is doing the 0 pedal on the left ?

[@SteelPicking]

Hello, I have the Franklin pedal split on the 0 pedal, and I am only lowering 5 and 10 a whole from B to A with that pedal. The 6th string whole tone lower is on a knee lever. Hope that helps and keep picking!

[@SynthMan65]

I'm learning the pedal steel guitar and one of the things I'm struggling with is learning the bar move and pedal coordination in a lick form Jason Aldean's version of Are the Good Times Really Over. My ear is telling me that this is played with: A+B pedals down, the bar on 3rd fret picking strings 5+6 moving the bar to the 8th fret while releasing pedals A+B smoothly at the 6th fret. This cover has some excellent steel licks that really attracted me to learning the instrument.

[@SteelPicking]

Yes, it can definitely be confusing knowing when to do what with the steel because of all the different elements of the instrument, but you will get the hang of it with practice! Keep picking!

[@SynthMan65]

@@SteelPicking I'd like to see you demonstrate the technique of coordinating the movement of the bar with releasing the a and b pedals

[@brianbarrett4192]

Good to know that 7th string can go with B&C pedals. On the 3rd fret it's an A minor, but it can also substitute for a D7 can't it?

[@SteelPicking]

Brian, yes that will work. Its like playing 5,6,8, at the 10 which is D than going to the 8th fret and playing 5,6,8, with your A pedal down. That is an A min but it works over a D7. So you could play 4,5,6 at the 5th with A,B pedals than play 4,5,6,7 at the 3rd with B,C pedals. That would be a good D to D7th lick or sound. Good point thanks. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@gmeck100]

I’ve had a GFI student model for years but I’m a big guy and it really doesn’t fit me and I think it’s time for something of a higher quality and more than one knee. Could you do a video on the zero pedal or explain it’s use so I could decide if it’s worth adding to a new build. Thanks!

[@SteelPicking]

Gary will do. Paul Franklin did an interview with Tommy White that you might Goggle and check out. Paul is attributed for the creation of this pedal and Tommy did a variation of it. In the video they discuss this. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@robertjones6324]

Is your left shoe a unique pedal steel shoe? I notice a modified sole at the toe. I have been fiddling with my Sho-bud LDG E 9th for sometime and have reached a plateau. Your videos are very helpful.

[@SteelPicking]

Hey, Robert! I actually think I bought these from Wal-Mart, lol. I think they just have a weird design on the sole which makes it look like part of the bottom is cut back. I think it is just a different color at the toe. They are comfortable to play in, though. Glad that they videos are helping and keep picking! Aaron

[@robertjones6324]

@@SteelPicking lol!

[@tvbobbyd]

Aaron where can I get the picks you wear ?? and I have experimented with playing with just my thumb pick (no pick noise) I have been working on picking then pedal in ( question on string attack maybe you could address ?) Thanks Bob

[@SteelPicking]

Hey, Bob! We have a video called "What Picks do I Use" that discusses the picks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hp26c2pre5aEpbM The description of that video should list them out. And, that is a great video idea! We are hoping to cover picking in our beginner course. Thank you and keep picking!

[@jackiel279]

I play piano. So what is the first video to start learning. I am thinking about buying a steel guitar. I just love the sound. I often wonder why they are not used in churches here. ???

[@SteelPicking]

That's great to hear, Jackie! We post a Steel Snippets series which are currently geared more toward beginners; so they can be a great place to start. We also are working on a beginner course that we hope to have posted in the near future as well!

[@leosampieri]

Hey, thanks a lot for this. Can I ask you about the picks?. when I wear mine they kind like hurt. I feel like they're squeezing the last part of my fingers. Is this OK? If I open them up a little bit, I feel that they're about to fall off all the time. Any tips to share on this?, thanks !!

[@SteelPicking]

That is a good question. That is an issue that I also have. I am usually always messing with my picks to get them to fit right. You might want to try a lower gauge pick as the heavier gauges have less give. It's kind of a trade off on keeping the shape and comfort. You might also check out the steel guitar forum under their questions as there might be more in depth discussions about picks there as well. Hope that helps and keep picking!

[@leosampieri]

@@SteelPicking You got me thinking with the lower gauge picks. Thanks !!

[@Junior-jw1bb]

I’m not playing very long but I have a question. What is the function of the Franklin \ Zero Pedal ? I’ve seen it in a few videos but never see it being used.

[@SteelPicking]

There is a good video of Tommy White and Paul Franklin discussing the pedal in the video series "A Conversation With Tommy White". There's also a video of Paul Franklin discussing it called "Using the Franklin Pedal: P4 on E9 and C6" It's a bit hard to explain here, unfortunately, but hopefully those videos can help you out! Thanks and keep picking!

[@Docsjeff]

So the 6min is your A pedal in the (1) chord fret.

[@kamspork8408]

picking up my first pedal steel tomorrow and I know almost nothing. Thanks so much!!

[@SteelPicking]

Have fun!