Exploring the Pedal Steel Guitar's Sound with Standard Electric Instruments

Understanding Pedal Steel Guitar Techniques

The quest to recreate the mesmerizing sound of a pedal steel guitar with a standard electric instrument is both fascinating and challenging. The term 'pedal' is crucial, as it encompasses an entirely different playing technique than what might be intuitively attempted with a stock electric guitar.

The standard electric guitar can be modified to some extent to emulate the sound and technique of a pedal steel using tunings, accessories, and techniques, but achieving a truly authentic sound requires a completely different setup and playing method.

Limited Alterations on a Standard Electric Guitar

You can change the tuning of your electric guitar, perhaps raise the action, and play it on your lap, giving you a crude form of a 'lap steel guitar'. Using a steel or glass bar, you can slide into notes or 2-3 string chords over the frets. With significant skill, you can angle the bar while holding the notes, giving a slight emulation of a pedal steel guitar. However, this technique is limited and difficult to perfect.

The Complexity of Pedal Steel Guitars

A traditional pedal steel guitar typically has 10-12 strings and around 8 pedals and levers that you manipulate with your knees and feet. These pedals are essential to the guitar's sound, as each touch gradually sharpens or lowers the pitch of selected strings, changing individual notes and chords without moving the steel bar. Without these, you will not be able to achieve an authentic sound.

Advanced Modifications for Electric Guitars

For those unwilling to purchase a pedal steel guitar, there are modifications and accessories designed to make the standard electric guitar serve as a closer approximation to a pedal steel guitar. Some of these solutions include:

Parsons B Bender

The Parsons B Bender is a device that allows you to pull down on the front shoulder strap to change the pitch of the B string or G string. This is quite a sophisticated modification that involves attaching a brace to the side of the guitar body and pulling it with your shoulder while playing.

HipShot String Bender

The HipShot String Bender is a pedal behind the bridge that you press with your palm while playing. This pedal can change the pitch of one or several strings. The HipShot is a more advanced solution that integrates directly into the guitar's structure, making it easier to use but still quite costly.

Skill and Experience

These modifications require a considerable amount of playing experience to master. Listening to Clarence White's amazing solo on "Jesus Is Just Alright" by The Byrds, particularly his riffs after each refrain (at: 0:34, 0:50, 1:10, and 1:45), can give you a taste of what's possible when you have the technique down.

While it's fascinating to explore these techniques, it's important to note that nothing beats the authenticity and expressiveness of a pedal steel guitar. However, with the right modifications and a lot of practice, you can come very close to achieving the desired sound on a standard electric guitar.