E9 Pedal Steel: The Main Positions
These charts display the three main positions used in a lot of E9 playing for all of the keys. Click on any image to zoom in…
E9 Pedal Steel: 5 of the Best Practice Exercises
As an Amazon Associate Playpedalsteel.com earns from qualifying purchases. This page contains affiliate links. The pedal steel is renowned for being one of the most challenging instruments to learn and play, but it has one of the most worthwhile sounds in music. Spending time practicing is probably the best investment you can make as a
E9 Pedal Steel: The Three Main Positions
When playing E9 pedal steel, you’ll likely notice that a majority of the licks, melodies, etc. that you learn are located at certain positions on the fretboard. This is no coincidence, they are likely found at one of the E9 pedal steel’s “main positions”. Learning how to play fluidly at these main positions is one
E9 Pedal Steel: Tabs for C Major Modes (Pockets)
These tabs or fretboard maps display the modes of the C Major scale in pockets on the E9 tuning. Learning each of the five pockets can be incredibly helpful for knowing the fretboard. Click on any image to zoom… C Ionian D Dorian E Phrygian F Lydian G Mixolydian A Aeolian B Locrian
E9 Pedal Steel: Harmonized Thirds (Pockets)
The E Lower and AB positions, as well as the Open position on the pedal steel’s E9 tuning, are very useful for all forms of playing. The positions lend themselves well to playing chords, scales, and harmonized melodies, especially when the pedals and levers are utilized. Here’s a tab that displays harmonized thirds in the
Practice Exercises to Improve Bar Control (E9 Pedal Steel)
On pedal steel, we use the bar a lot. Since we use the bar instead of our fingers (to “fret” notes like on six-string guitar), the bar is essentially our main apparatus for sounding notes. Besides our right hand picking the strings, the bar plays a prominent role in our voice on the pedal steel.