This book is an excellent introduction to one of America's most quintessential instruments, the pedal steel. The first part of the book covers the skills required to play the instrument, including technique for the pedals and knee levers, bar control, and picking. The second half includes songs and licks that illustrate the full spectrum of the pedal steel's capabilities. Exercises and songs are presented in tablature and standard notation. The book comes with accompanying audio and video download available online, including play-along tracks.
Contents
Section One: About the Pedal Steel
Tuning the Pedal Steel
What's Going on on Top - Picks, Bar, Hand Position
What's Going on Down Below - Pedals, Levers, Volume Pedal
Music and Tablature Explanation
Explanation of Floor Pedals
Explanation of Knee Levers
Pedal Combinations, How to Practice
Floor Pedals and PSMTs
Knee Leverrcises
Matching Minor Chords
The Volume Pedal
Pedal/Lever Muscle Memoryrcise
D Lever and Outside Stringrcise
Using Pedals and Levers Together
A Pedal and B Pedal Individually
Complete Section Review
Section Two: Playing the Pedal Steel
Basic Technique Tips - Short Slide, Vibrato, Pedal Roll