The Two Most Common Pedal & Knee Lever Combinations & How to Use Them | Pedal Steel Guitar Lesson

[@simonsimon325]

Thanks for the great lesson. Trying to learn about pedal steel before deciding whether or not to take the plunge. Your content is making the transition from regular guitar seem less daunting. I'm sure the learning curve will still be a steep one, but at least with your help I have stuff to work on, and the way you describe it, it turns all that confusion about pedal and lever combos into something that makes total sense to anyone who's been playing another instrument for a while.

[@SteelPicking]

Awesome, thank you!

[@larrydering1598]

Aaron, some solid basics that we can get tons of mileage out of. Thanks for your dedication to the craft.

[@SteelPicking]

Larry, thanks buddy. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@jaelynedwards3057]

This helped me alot I needed to figure out a few moves and this helps !!! Thanks

[@SteelPicking]

Glad it helped!

[@rickypollock9100]

I bought my Sho-Bud D10 Pro 2 back in 1975. Still have it. I lowered my E's with my RKL. Thanks for the info. Appreciate what you do!

[@SteelPicking]

Ricky, thanks and glad to help! Keep Picking. Aaron

[@axeman2638]

it makes more sense to me to have both Eb and F on the same side because you never use them together.

[@LeeChavezMusic]

Aaron, thank you for helping me finally understand the LKL lever. Much appreciated, and thank you as always!

[@SteelPicking]

Lee, glad to help and thanks. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@robertn8423]

Find your instructions on E9 very useful as I’m new to pedal steel but an experienced guitarist. Very helpful show and tell in learning the instrument. Thank you.

[@SteelPicking]

Robert, glad to help. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@axeman2638]

so much useful stuff in this video thanks.

[@SteelPicking]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertquinn9490]

I've got an old ZB custom. Only 1 knee for E flat..I'm told an F knee might be added..I'm a newb to the instrument. 50 yrs at guitar though. These are great lessons. Helping me a lot. Thank you!

[@SteelPicking]

Robert, thanks and hang in there. The E to F is a good one to have. If you get that added let me know. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@wisconsinrecords]

Thank you !

[@SteelPicking]

No problem! Keep picking!

[@ethansims3923]

Great lesson!

[@SteelPicking]

Ethan, thanks!

[@antolinuriarte6286]

Fantastic Aaron!!! Thank you so much

[@SteelPicking]

Antolin, thanks so much. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@skauniversal]

Thank you for another great explanation. Your videos helps a lot with expanding my "library". I'm currently in the midst of upgrading and giving my old Dekley S10 a good overhaul. So far I've installed a Franklin pedal, and am waiting for some more parts from Mr. Tom Bradshaw (I cannot praise that man enough!), so I can finish re-arranging my knee levers and adding another change to my RKR. I was curious to see what type of setup you were using on your guitar. It looks like I'm on the same track. Thanks again!

[@SteelPicking]

Glad that the videos are helping! One of my first guitars was a Dekley; they are really well made and still going strong! Hope your setup goes well! Feel free to email us a pic of it when it's done if you want to! Here is an older video of my basic pedal setup if you need it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moeYdJWbm5aEiLs Keep picking!

[@skauniversal]

@@SteelPicking Thanks! The Dekley seems like a solid, sturdy instrument - not exactly a lightweight! And I like the fact that they are so modular. It's pretty straight-forward even for amateurs like me to modify and add changes to it. The only two real problems I've faced is there is some wear and tear, that required a bit of attention. And the fact that Dekleys aren't being made anymore, makes finding parts a bit challenging. This is where Tom Bradshaw has been a real life saver!

[@andy_travis]

Awesome~! Excellent content!!! And as you say, "Keep Pickin'"

[@SteelPicking]

Andrew, thanks and glad you liked it. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@randyfennell3058]

Not many players take the time to show basics. Very good job. RF/

[@SteelPicking]

Randy, thanks. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@endtimejunkie]

I have an old shobud 10 string. If you were going to add two knee levers .... which two would you add ? Thanks

[@SteelPicking]

The two most common and that I would recommend would be the 4th and 8th string lower from E to Eb and the other would be to raise the 4th and 8th from E to F. If you get to add a 3rd and 4th knee I would add the B to Bb 5th and 10 string lower for sure and lower your 2nd Eb to D and the 9th D to Db. Let me know how it turns out. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@brianbarrett4192]

I meant would you go from G with pedals down on the 10th fret to G7 on the 8th fret then to C. But then from C on the 8th fret, is there a way to make the D7 before going back to G with pedals down on the 10th? I would like to learn how to make those real pretty 7ths up and down the neck. I should have proof read my previous message better to clarify what I was trying to say.

[@SteelPicking]

You can play 8,7,5 at the 8th with A pedal or 5,6,8 at the 8th with the B to Bb knee or 5,6,8 with the A pedal only at the 8th . All of these will work over a D7th chord. At the 10th I am thinking none pedal for a D. To get a Dth at 10 I would play 5,6,9 no pedals. You can also get a D7 at the 7th fret 6,8,10 with B and F knee. Hope this helps. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@brianbarrett4192]

That does help, thanks

[@jimbolson]

What does the zero level do?

[@SteelPicking]

Not sure about that. Some guitars have a zero or Franklin pedal. That normally lowers both the 5 string B to A and 6 string G# to F#. Hope that helps.

[@hypnothang]

quick Q, Why does your C pedal move when you press the A pedal? I'm new to SG so not sure if that is even a good Q.

[@SteelPicking]

You get that sometimes. The A pulls your 5th string and your C also pulls 5. So the rods are in close proximity and sometimes touch. No problem just a mechanical thing or alignment.

[@brianbarrett4192]

I found on the 10th fret there's a D7 on the 2nd string with the D lever in 1/2 and I've seen that played real pretty as well but I'm not sure how to phrase it into a progression.

[@SteelPicking]

I will check it out thanks.

[@Junior-jw1bb]

What is the purpose of the zero pedals ?

[@SteelPicking]

Junior, Google Paul Franklin and Tommy White Franklin pedal. They have a good discussion on this topic. Franklin came up with the pull so who better to explain it. I have had the pedal a couple times and changed it to other pulls. So if you have a extra slot you might give it a try. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@Junior-jw1bb]

@@SteelPicking Thanks Aaron, I just saw your reply. I don’t think youtube is notifying us of replies for some reason but thanks again for this info I’m going to look it up.

[@brianbarrett4192]

Good lesson, I use that F lever all the time, but I usually play the major chord instead of the 7th, but I would like to start using that Eb lever a lot more, cause there's some real pretty stuff there. You was in the pedals up position, but if you were in the pedals down in G on the 10th fret, would you play the G7 instead going to the 4chord of C or is there a way of going to D7 from C then back to G with pedals down on 10th fret?

[@SteelPicking]

Brain, not that I know of. Let me get on my guitar and do a little digging. Keep Picking! Aaron

[@mombasaflash]

I disagree that there is no practical difference between using LKR and RKL for lowering the E's. With raise and lower on the same (left) knee, it is virtually impossible to go smoothly between the raise and lower, There is always a slight pause between releasing the LKL and starting to activate the LKR. For this reason, I lower the E's with RKL. I also like the other by-products that are open with this choice of lever.

[@SteelPicking]

Thanks for your comments!