The British Steelies Society

Greetings to all, I recently purchased a 12-string pedal steel and am currently learning to tune and play it. I'll probably need all sorts of advice as I go on, so please be patient.

As far as music knowledge and ability is concerned, I can play organ (all styles), guitar and bass guitar. I've spent most of my life in ballroom style dance bands, and a few show/concert style combos. The Pedal Steel is an old interest (mostly Hawaiian and rock) which I hadn't been able to follow at all seriously until now in my retirement.

Until the next time!

Raf

Yes , what JD said Raf, welcome to our forum hope to hear more from you in the near future. Plenty of clever heads here for you.

Thanks for the welcome. I'll try to research any topic among the answers already given before I add to the "same old queries", and I will be most grateful for all responses. At the moment, I'm looking at tuning of pedals and knee levers. It seems that major chords and simple additions like 7ths are easily found, but what about the minors, diminished and augmented? This will take me a while to check out, but if I hit a snag, be sure I'll be asking (hopefully in the appropriate subdirectory) for advice.

Thanks again.

Raf

Hi there and another welcome
What tuning are you using? A 12 string guitar suggests either universal or extended E9th - and there are variations on the uni. depending on who you, or whoever set it up, followed! We can give you all kinds of help once we know.

Thanks for your responses, I'm using a White (UK build) 12-string with 7 pedals and 3 knee levers, tuned to a modified E9/B6(or C6?) setup. I'm currently trying to find a standard set-up for the tuning. Looking underneath, it looks like there were more pedals/knee-levers (judging by the holes in the wood) which may have been removed for use elsewhere, or the rodding has been slightly modified by the previous owner. Certainly, there were a few spare rods available with the PSG.

Every day, I'm learning more and more about this fascinating instrument, and all suggestions and advice would be most welcome.

My very best to you all,

Raf

PS. "demolished and argumentative chords"... I like the description!

Yes we know the Cliff White guitars, he worked out of Little Driffield in Yorkshire, John's worked on one and so have I - some were difficult to alter depending on the era they were made (he welded bell-cranks onto the cross rods in early days). Cliff was predominantly a "6th" tuning player.
The set-up sounds like the universal that Reece Anderson championed, Bb6/E9? Look out on-line for some material on that tuning and see if it fits with your guitar. There are a number of Uni players on here, let's hope one (at least) gets onto this thread with more suggestions.

Hi John, Yes, I did get it from Jimmy. He's a lovely chap, and very skilled. If I play half as well as he does, I'll be pleased.

All the very best

Raf