On pedal steel, the bar is your primary way of sounding notes.
Unlike six-string guitar, where your fingers fret notes, the bar controls pitch, movement, and expression across the entire instrument.
Along with your right hand, it plays a major role in your overall sound and accuracy.
Here are a few reasons why bar control is so important:
- The bar “frets” every note you play
- It connects positions, chords, and scales across the fretboard
- It controls expression through vibrato, slides, and glissando
If a lick or phrase requires precise bar movement, your ability to execute it depends directly on your control and accuracy.
These exercises are designed to improve that control in a practical way. When combined with solid right hand technique, bar control opens up more of the instrument than almost anything else.
Practicing these consistently—even in small amounts—will go a long way.
Exercise 1
This exercise focuses on one of the most important aspects of E9 playing: connecting the main positions along the fretboard.
If you can move fluidly between the Open, AB, and AF positions, you’ll begin to unlock a large portion of the neck.
Each of these positions requires specific bar movement. For example, the AF position sits three frets above the Open position.
This exercise helps you coordinate:
- bar movement
- pedal/lever engagement
- timing between both
Getting these elements working together smoothly is a core part of the pedal steel sound.
Once the movement feels accurate, gradually increase your speed while maintaining control.
To expand this further:
- move through the 1 chord (root position)
- then apply the same movement to the 4 and 5 chords
This begins to connect the fretboard in a musical way.
Exercise 2
A lot of E9 playing comes from moving between the AB position and the Open position.
This exercise uses those two positions to outline a major pentatonic scale across the neck.
Repeat the pattern ascending and descending, focusing on:
- clean bar movement
- accurate fret placement
- smooth transitions between positions
You’ll also notice how certain notes repeat across positions. Recognizing these overlaps helps you navigate the fretboard more efficiently.
If you want a deeper understanding of how these positions connect, it’s worth exploring the three main positions on E9 pedal steel.
Exercise 3
Single-note bar movement is often overlooked on E9, but it’s one of the best ways to develop control.
This exercise uses a Mixolydian-based idea and focuses on:
- two-fret movements
- staying within a small position
- maintaining accuracy without relying on pedals
A great way to expand this is to take scales you normally play with pedals and practice them without pedals.
This forces the bar to do more of the work, improving both accuracy and control.
It also connects back to lap steel-style playing, where all movement comes from the bar itself.
If you want to develop this further alongside clean articulation, it pairs well with right hand blocking.
Conclusion
Improving your bar control will directly improve your playing.
As your control becomes more consistent, you’ll notice:
- better intonation
- smoother position changes
- more controlled vibrato
- greater freedom across the fretboard
When bar movement, right hand technique, and position awareness start working together, the instrument opens up in a much more natural way.
Taking This Further
These exercises are most effective when they’re part of a structured approach to technique and fretboard understanding.
If you want a step-by-step way to develop control across the instrument, you can explore the instructional materials.
If you’d rather work through this directly and get feedback on your playing, you can also reach out about one-on-one lessons.