Major 7 chords on pedal steel

[Nick Bidmade]

I have not been at my steel much recently. Some of the following might be blindingly obvious, but I've never come across it before...
So, Major 7th chords are, by default, 4 note chords. This doesn't come easily when we tend to use thumb and two fingers...
Pedal steel players also tend to use the second string (no pedals) to give the major 7th.
I was messing about today, trying to play without looking at the bar or fingering, and must have shifted my grip from 8,6,5, to 9,7,6. By adding string 5, I had immediately found a Major 7th chord. Not easy to play, but T, T,I,M does it. Nice Major 7th.
For example, a G chord at fret 3 becomes a GM7 at fret 5, A+B, strings 9,7,6,5.
So there I was, playing Gymnopides (spelling?) by Eric Satie... and having a lovely time, when the tuning on my guitar went slightly off.
I was trying to get the E lowers in unison, but must have tweaked one of the tuners the wrong way, when...
Lo and behold, I had just created a 'feel' stop on LKL. I was now lowering string 4 a half tone, before the 8 string began to lower.
I've now got a Major 7th by lowering the E lever until I feel some tension, and this creates another Major 7th chord on 8. 6,5,4.
I wonder, what are the benefits (or pitfalls) of keeping this tuning?
I do prefer to play 'standards' to classic 'country' tunes, so this change seems to be a winner for me, but I'd appreciate the thoughts of players much better and more informed than me.

[Haddock]

Hi nick
Just the thought of Trois Gymnopedies on steel has me off to the room to suss out what you are saying. I’ve always called it ‘Three Bikes’ because I feel gymnopedie ‘should’ be the French word for bike even though it isn’t. I suppose we can now decide for ourselves as a country what it means.....
Cheers
Calum

[Haddock]

Hi again Nick
Played around with this idea and it’s a nice change but I don’t think I can fit it into my copedent. I often use A and B down and play 9,7,6,5 to get the same chord. But you have got me working on the Satie though!
Cheers
Calum

[Haddock]

Obviously two frets up!

[Will C]

9, 7, 6, 5 is one I discovered way back but you forgot to mention you have to put the A&B pedals in, Calum.

[Haddock]

I think I may have mentioned ‘A and B down’ Will, but it may have been written in special forum invisible type. Actually I have another way of doing Maj7ths. I have a sort of modified Franklin pedal that drops 5 and 10 a tone, missing out the 6 drop as I can do that with a lever, but also adding a semitone drop on 9. Once again, it turns everything into a nice Maj7th. This post reminded me that other people have mentioned working on Gymnopedie. Perhaps we should share?
Cheers
Calum