Hello! and I'm struggling (am I too old to take this up?)

[Michael]

Hi - I'm Michael - I'm an artist, musician, (and a non-pro contemporary dancer, but that's neither here nor there - but I guess that's another contributory factor to my knee issue...!)

At 74, after 50 years of yearning, I finally got an old Russ-Ler pedal steel. Which I love. I've played lap steel for years, but I would really like to learn the PSG properly. It needs a bit of tweaking (the LKR Eb is really hard to shift - not good on the back - and it dips the 2nd string down before it lands on D!) so I hope someone can help with this.

But even more important - can anyone recommend good on-line lessons? I'm in Lewes, East Sussex and there don't seem to be any steelies within the county for face-to-face lessons. Unless there are?!

Please advise. I must say - I'm really scared of the underneath of this machine...

With compliments on the site - and all best wishes!
Michael

michaelmunday.art

[Danny Mitchell]

Hello & welcome, Michael.
That's one interesting CV. I, too am an artist (piss), musician (so- so) and a something that rhymes with dancer and starts with a 'C'.
Although I can't help you with the technical aspects of your post (I haven't even heard of your guitar maker, but between you and me, I know nothing!), but there are plenty of helpful forum members that will come to your aid, I'm sure.
What I can do, at least, is point you to Joe Wright's online lessons (free) They were/are a great help to me.

http://sierrasteels.com/lessons/e9th-lessons.html

Good luck, and let us know how you're getting on.

[Michael]

Thanks a lot, Danny! This looks really promising.

What a friendly place this is!

All best
Michael

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum, when you ask for help it depends where your at with it, I have put some very basic help videos on the tube starting with this one



You may be well past that point but there is lots of good help out there and we are all still learning here....

[Michael]

John - that's really helpful! Thank you!

I've learnt the basic inversions as you suggested, but flowing them into each other is clearly what I need to practise.
Thanks for the tip about the use of the E raise/lower levers. My LKR is really stiff and needs adjusting (it also drops the second string from Eb down to C before struggling finally back up to D at full stretch!) and I'm sure if it was easier I'd use that inversion B+LKR more than I care to at the moment.

I don't know if other newbies find this, but i'm also finding it difficult to hit the A+B (and B+C) with confidence every time. Fairly basic thing, that!

Once again, thank you. And lovely sounds there!

Best wishes Michael

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Michael, if you are within travel distance to St.Neots Cambs. I would be happy to have a look at your steel to see if it could be improved.

[Michael]

Thanks a lot for your kind offer, John! But I live near Brighton. Cheers Michael

[Danny Mitchell]

don't know if other newbies find this, but i'm also finding it difficult to hit the A+B (and B+C) with confidence every time

Hi Michael,
As I'm sitting in my son's gaff, waiting for a delivery, I thought I'd try and post a wee exercise that helped me with that move.

G at fret 3, no pedals or levers.
Amin at fret 3, B+C pedals down.
Bmin at fret 5, B+C pedals down.
C at fret 8, no pedals or levers.
D at fret 10, no pedals or levers.
Emin at fret 9, B+C pedals down.
D7 at fret 13, Left Knee Lever Left.
G at fret 15, no pedals or levers.

An alternative.
G at fret 3, no pedals or levers.
Amin at fret 3, B+C pedals down.
Bmin at fret 5, B+C pedals down.
C at fret 3, A+B pedals down.
D at fret 5, A+B pedals down.
Emin at fret 3, Right Knee Lever Right.
D7 at fret 1, Left Knee Left.
G at fret 3, no pedals or levers.

It really helps if you do them slowly, concentrating on smoothness and intonation. I know these are invoking your 'dodgy' lever, but hopefully might be of some use.
Chancer Dan.

[Michael]

Thanks Dan! That's really helpful. I know the scale now, but I realise how impatient I am - I need to work methodically, slowly, and cleanly. And gradually get faster, not pile into it and get despondent when I can't do it properly - basic common sense.

BTW my RKR raises the 9th string only, B up to D, which is fairly dramatic (but can sound cool)! My A pedal at fret 3 gives me the Eminor though.

I'm really impressed by how helpful you steelies are!

Cheers Michael

[Danny Mitchell]

Sorry about that Trumpish disinformation, Michael! Of course, the RKR on mine lowers the Es, and at the third fret gives you Bmin.
Your basic tuning sounds different to mine. I'm straight up Emmons setup, so, my 9th string is D to start with.
Anyhow, apologies, and, if nothing else, it proves the adage, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!