Now Hear This
Here’s an ear challenge to anyone who learns anyone else’s steel parts from recordings. Do this so that the ear can also interpret the exact moves, in addition to memorizing the physical moves.
Paul
A New Era
The pedal steel guitar as we know it has been played in the “modern” manner ever since Bud Isaacs recorded his famous intro on Webb . . .
How I Practice
“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good – Malcolm Gladwell FOCUS ON TODAY’S WEAKNESS…
Memories To Learn
HEY, WHAT HAPPENED? Anytime I miss something that I am going for on a gig or session, it is caused by not having a physical move or…
Chord Tones and Extensions
Here are the intervals derived from the Harmonized Major Scale chords that made the 60’s steel guitar styles famous. From John Hughey . . .
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Muscle Memory
I continually practice playing any new idea or problematic issue until I can sit back down to the guitar day after day and never mess it…
Making It Fit
What I play onstage in any situation goes towards “How do I arrange my role for what is played onstage” The more musicians that are…
Number Theory
The Nashville Number System (NNS) uses the formula of the diatonic harmonies. It is a shorthand system which does not follow exact textbook
A Perfect Copy
Let’s look at how to learn to play a part from a popular song. We can get the notes right, but sometimes it still does not sound exactly …
Dynamic Phrasing
Everyone that wants to play fast or slow starts out copying their heroes (as I did) in my early teens. Most players that learn this way …
Backing A Singer
Becoming a good backup musician depends on knowing where the “holes” are located. We either pad or layout until those holes appear.
Change Is Good
When I played the 1 & 2 & 7 raise lever and the PF4, many said they were just “lick pedals”. That’s not how I was looking at it, and . . .
Musician’s Honey-Do
The pedal steel often can not invert every chord type like a piano can, so you’ll need to learn as many inversions as you can find.
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Copedent Coping
The secret to finding logical copedents is to understand how chords and single note phrases are created. We do that by having a complete …
Pedal Toning
A question about pedal trills and adding quick pedal moves came up on the Facebook Group…
Improve Your Swing
Steelers were never really taught the importance of volume dynamics while it seems like all other instruments are taught to master this …
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Eternal Beginner
When I listen to Buddy Emmons, Robert Randolph, Lloyd Green, Tommy White, Curly Chalker, or other pedal steel guitar legends, I hear . . .
Diminished Chords
Student: I was taking another look at your diminished chords lesson and I found that I can get another diminished chord option. , , ,
Speed Trap
A question about the challenges of playing fast was recently posted on the Paul Franklin Method Facebook Group. Many students joined . . .
Soloing Options
I don’t limit myself to one side or the other. If I did my career would have ended years ago. There are many valid approaches to recording
E9 Blues Emotion
Paul replies to a student on the The Paul Franklin Method private Facebook Group, who as a regular guitar player is accomplished at . . .
Progress
One of the best things about The Paul Franklin Method is the students-only Facebook Group that gives active students the ability to have …
Right Or Wrong?
Many of our students tell us the private Facebook Group is their favorite part of the Method. Here’s an edited excerpt from a question a …
Slow Down-Speed Up
The key to unlocking great technique is to find the fingerings that work best for you. Some players who are having issues playing clean .,,
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Chord Cadences
Learning where all of your chords are on the neck is an essential skill for all musicians on any stringed instrument. Applying that . . .
Tipping The Scales
The difference between a pedal steel and guitar has to surface for students to realize a one-size-fits-all approach is not necessarily . , ,
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Threes and Fours
I improvise thinking in 3 and 4 note combinations. I learn everything this way. Thinking in small amounts frees my mindset to rearrange …
Church In A Box
I had the pleasure of meeting the great Daniel Lanois at a video shoot I did recently for D’Addario’s “Guitar Power” YouTube series.
Office Hours
When you enroll in the Paul Franklin Method, you will also have access to a private Facebook Group, just for students. This is a place . . .
Christmas Past
The Christmas album I recorded many years back, began as a test of sorts. I had three DA-88 digital recorders (24 tracks) and a 32 . . .
