Minor Scales & Modes: Harmonized In Sixths for E9 Pedal Steel

Minor Scales & Modes: Harmonized In Sixths for E9 Pedal Steel

The E9 tuning, with the use of pedals and levers, lends itself well to playing harmonized sixths. These can provide an abundance of expression for playing licks, melodies, solos, and more.

Having options for playing minor scales or modes, which are harmonized in sixths, can be beneficial when playing in minor keys, over chord vamps, and for playing over certain chords in a progression.

Below are tabs for the natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) and the Dorian scale/mode, both harmonized in sixths…

Feel free to click on an image for an enlarged view. The E lever denotes lowering that string a half step.

Harmonized Sixths - A Aeolian Scale

Harmonized Sixths -D Dorian Scale

Thanks for checking out this page, hope it is helpful and makes playing more enjoyable! If you’re interested in diving deeper into playing E9 pedal steel, check out these resources and guides…

The Chord Guide for E9 Pedal Steel (E-Book, Digital Download)

Pedal Steel Guitar Instruction Book

Learn the chords on the E9 neck in a way that makes playing simple and enjoyable…

  • Almost Every Chord You’ll Ever Need for E9
  • Intuitive and Easy to Use
  • Make Use of Pedal and Lever Combinations
  • Example Tabs of Chord Movements
  • Easily Utilize the Nashville Number System
  • Great For Any Key and Style of Music

Includes a bonus section of over a hundred pages of extra chord charts, key references, and more!


Playing Pedal Steel:
The Essentials

An easy and intuitive approach to mastering the pedal steel…

  • An in-depth look at bar control, the right hand, using pedals, & the volume pedal
  • Multi Angle Views – that you can always reference.
  • Ways to Practice, How to Practice, What to Practice.

An online pedal steel lesson series – includes a free pedal steel EBook!


More Digital Downloads for Pedal Steel…