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The E9 tuning is the most commonly used tuning on pedal steel guitar, and for good reason. It offers a wide range of melodic, harmonic, and expressive possibilities, especially when combined with pedals and knee levers.
At its core, the E9 tuning is similar to a guitar’s open E tuning, but expanded with additional strings and chromatic notes. Most setups use ten strings along with foot pedals and knee levers that mechanically change the pitch of certain strings.
This combination is what gives pedal steel its distinctive sound and makes the E9 tuning so versatile across different styles of music.
The Functions of the E9 Tuning
When tuned from lowest to highest pitch, a standard 10-string E9 tuning uses:
B, D, E, F#, G#, B, E, G#, D#, F#
The F# strings act as the 9th of the chord, while the D and D# strings are often referred to as chromatic strings.
Here’s a table showing the layout:
| String # | Note Name (At Open String) |
| 1 | F# |
| 2 | D# |
| 3 | G# |
| 4 | E |
| 5 | B |
| 6 | G# |
| 7 | F# |
| 8 | E |
| 9 | D |
| 10 | B |
In its simplest form, the tuning provides an open major chord when certain string groups are played without pedals or levers.
If you include the 9th string (D), it creates a dominant 7 sound. Adding the 2nd string (D#) introduces a major 7 sound. The F# strings add a 9th, giving the chord more color and depth.
These relationships are part of what makes the E9 tuning so useful for both chords and single-note playing.
Using Pedals and Knee Levers on the E9 Neck
The real power of the E9 tuning shows up when you start using pedals and knee levers.
By changing the pitch of specific strings, you can move between chords, create melodic movement, and connect ideas without needing much bar movement.
If you want a deeper understanding of how these changes work, you can explore how the pedals and knee levers function on pedal steel.
Even simple movements with the pedals can create smooth transitions between chords and notes, which is a defining characteristic of the instrument.
The Sound
The E9 tuning has a very recognizable sound, especially when pedals and knee levers are used together.
Listeners often hear the pitch changes as smooth bends between notes, which gives the instrument a vocal-like quality.
When combined with techniques like vibrato and volume pedal control, the E9 tuning produces the expressive sound that pedal steel is known for.
Musical Styles and Genres
While the E9 tuning is closely associated with country music, it’s used in a wide range of styles today.
You’ll hear it in:
- rock
- pop
- indie
- blues
- jazz
If you want to hear how it’s been used in recordings, you can explore classic songs featuring pedal steel.
Greg Leisz and many other players have built careers out of playing this tuning, using it on recording sessions and performances with various artists and styles.
Artists and groups such as Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Daft Punk, Eric Clapton, and Wilco have also sought out the sound of pedal steel for some of their music.
Glissandos
One of the most distinctive aspects of the E9 tuning is its ability to create smooth glissandos.
By combining bar movement with pedals and knee levers, you can move between notes and chords without re-picking the strings.
This creates a fluid, connected sound that’s unique to pedal steel.
If you want to visualize how chords and scales move across the fretboard, you can find tabs, charts, and scale diagrams for pedal steel throughout this site.
The Diatonic Nature of the Tuning
When the chromatic strings are not used, the E9 tuning behaves similarly to other open tunings.
In many cases, you can stay in one position and use pedals and levers to move through chords within a key.
For example, at the 3rd fret (key of G), you can access:
- G major
- A minor
- B minor
- C major
- D major
- E minor
This ability to stay in position while still accessing multiple chords is one of the most powerful aspects of the tuning.
If you want to understand how these positions connect across the fretboard, you can explore the three main positions on E9 pedal steel.
Taking This Further
The E9 tuning becomes much easier to understand when you approach it in a structured way instead of trying to piece together random concepts.
If you want a step-by-step approach to understanding the fretboard, chords, and musical application, you can explore the instructional materials.
If you’d rather apply this directly to your playing and get feedback, you can also reach out about one-on-one lessons.