Cool Things To Perform On E9th Pedal Steel

Cool Things To Perform On E9th Pedal Steel

By David J. Stewart | March 2011 | Updated September 2015

—GFI Custom Built Pedal Steel Guitars for the Disabled—

Cool Things (Must Haves) For Every E9th Guitarist!!!
Playing Hawaiian Music On the E9th Pedal Steel

(Here's some E9th pieces that will raise some eyebrows!)

I use the standard E9th pedal steel setup (3 pedals and 4 knee levers). I use the "Emmons setup" (for Buddy Emmons), i.e., ABC pedals (A raises strings 5 and 10 a whole tone. The less common setup is reversed, known as the "Day setup" (for Jimmy Day), which has the pedals arranged CBA instead.

I have tried to include sound clips for many of these licks...

ABC pedals are standard
E = Lower both E's to Eb
F = Raise both E's to F
R = Raise string a half-tone
RR = Raise string a whole-tone
L = Lower string a half-tone
LL = Lower string a whole-tone

Lowering The 2nd String, Half-Stops & More | Helpful Advice For Steel Guitarists

The White Light (my tabs of a Lloyd Green classic instrumental)

I sincerely apologize if any of my tabs seem confusing. I had difficulty even reading my own tabs that I wrote a year ago. So in my latest tabs I just use “R” for a half-step (one note) raise, or “RR” for a whole-step (two notes) raise, and then “L” for a half-step lower or “LL” for a whole-step lower. I've also edited the old tabs to reflect this change. So instead of using a “G” for lowering string 2 a whole-tone, now I just use “LL,” which I think makes more sense. I think this is helpful. God bless!
Piece 01
 
BELOW: This piece works best with a digital delay. I use a Boss DD-3 delay stompbox, but a Boss DD-7 delay is fine too, 
et cetera. I set the Boss DD-3 to repeat about 3 times, at 800ms. My setting: Echo Level = 9 o'clock; Feed Back = 10 
o'clock; Delay Time = 3 o'clock. The delay (echo) really compliments this musical run.
 
F#_______*vibrato_________________________________________________
D#______*14~15~14~~~~~~~~~~12LL~10LL~9LL__________________________
G#________________________________________________________________
E____14__________14~12C~12F~~~~~10F~~9____________________________
B_________________________________________________________________
G#________________________________________________________________
F#________________________________________________________________
E_________________________________________________________________
D_________________________________________________________________
B_________________________________________________________________
 
 
Awesome Lloyd Green Piece
 (from Lloyd's original composition, 'The White Light')
*BELOW: Use a forward bar slant. This run is brilliant. Once you learn this musical piece, you can use it again in many other songs, and it sounds awesome!!! Listen to the original 2014 recording to hear how this piece below sounds.

F#________________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________8__*~9~~11~~11LL~~13LL~~15LL_________________

G#________________________________________________________________________

E ______________________________*~8~~10~~11F~~~13F~~~15~~~____15~~~_______

B _____15A~~15__11A~10A__8A___________________________________15~15A______

G#_____15B~~15____________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________________

E __~15~~~~~~~___________8________________________________________________

D __~15~~~~~~~____________________________________________________________

B ________________________________________________________________________

Piece 02

F#_______*vibrato_________________________________________________

D#______*14~15~14____14~15~14LL~12~~~~~~~12G~10LL~~9LL____________

G#________________________________________________________________

E____14___________14~~~~~~~~~~~~~~12C~12F~~~~10F~~~9______________

B_________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 03

F#________________________________________________________________

D#____________10---11--13LL-12LL-10---10LL________________________

G#__10B--10___10B--11--13---12B--10B--10B_________________________

E___10C--10C______________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 04 and Piece 5 (similar) - No clip for right lick (unison sound)

F#_______________________________________|________________________

D#__10---10--8--8LL______________________|_____*8--9--8___________

G#__10B--10--8--8___8____________________|________________________

E______________________10--8C--10---10___|___8---------___________

B___________________8____________________|________________________

G#___Play the above____10--8---10B--10___|________________________

F#___quickly!____________________________|__*Forward bar slant.___

E________________________________________|________________________

D________________________________________|________________________

B________________________________________|________________________

Piece 06 and Piece 7 (Tommy White made this chord change combination famous)

F#______________________________|_________________________________

D#______________________________|_________________________________

G#______________________________|_________________________________

E_____7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~~3F____|_____7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~~~3F_____

B_____7~7A~7~7LL~~~~~~~5~~3A____|_____7~7A~7~7LL~~~~~~~5A~~3A_____

G#____7~7B~~~~7B~7LL~~~5~~~_____|_____7~7B~~~~~7B~7LL~~5~~~~______

F#______________________________|_________________________________

E_______________________________|_________________________________

D_______________________________|_________________________________

B_______________________________|_________________________________

Piece 08

F#________________________________________________________________

D#___11--10---10LL-13LL-10LL-10---11--11__________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

G#___11--10B--10B--12B--10B--10B--11--10__________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 09 (Lloyd Green uses this extensively. Also 18, 19, and 20)

F#___*Reverse bar slant (place tip of bar directly________________

D#____between strings 9 and 10 (a lap steel technique)____________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_____10~~~~~~~~~~~~~10~~~~~8~~~~~~~~_____________________________

B_____10~~10A~~10~~~~10A~~~~8A~~~~~~~_____________________________

G#____10B~10B~~10B~~*9~~~~~~8B~~8B~~8_____________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D___Since Lloyd doesn't raise his 7th string a half tone, this____

B___is how he obtains the G note._________________________________

F#__________________|_____________________________________________

D#___10---11--13____|___10---11--13--11--10---10LL________________

G#__________________|_____________________________________________

E___________________|_____________________________________________

B___________________|_____________________________________________

G#___10B--11--13____|___10B--11--13--11--10B--10B_________________

F#__________________|_____________________________________________

E___________________|_____________________________________________

D___________________|_____________________________________________

B___________________|_____________________________________________

Piece 10

F#___________________8___________________|________________________

D#_______________________________________|__13--12--10--10LL______

G#___________________________6______5B___|__13--12--10--10________

E____________5___________________________|________________________

B________5A_____~8A_____6A______5A_______|____Play quickly________

G#_____5B________________________________|________________________

F#______________~8_______________________|________________________

E____5__________~8F_____6F______5________|________________________

D________________________________________|________________________

B________________________________________|________________________

Piece 11 (Jimmy Day made this lick famous. Also, Piece 17)

F#________________________________________________________________

D#______*Reverse bar slant________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________8_______________________________________

B_____8~~*8~~~~8~~~~~~____________________________________________

G#____8A~~9A~~~8A~~8~~____8_______________________________________

F#____8B~~10B~~8B~~~~~____________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________8_______________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 12 (Jimmy Day uses this piece in 'Danny Boy')

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

B______~16A~~~~~~~~16~~~____~15A__________________________________

G#_____~16B~~~~~~~~16B~~____~15B__________________________________

F#__________________________~15___________________________________

E______~16F~~~~16E~~~~~~__________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 13 (tabs aren't exact here, but you get the idea)

F#_______________________|________________________10______________

D#____13--11--10---10LL__|___13G--12LL-10---10LL______11--10______

G#____13--11--10B--10B___|___13---12B--10B--10B___________________

E________________________|________________________________________

B________________________|________________________________________

G#____Play quickly_______|____________________________11--10B_____

F#_______________________|________________________________________

E________________________|________________________________________

D________________________|________________________________________

B________________________|________________________________________

Piece 14 (tabs are exact)

F#________________________________________________________________

D#___13LL-12LL------------------10G--10___________________________

G#___13---12B-------------------10B--10B__________________________

E__________________________________________10_____________________

B__________________________________________10_____________________

G#____________12--12B--10--10B_____________10_____________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E___This is really neat. Let strings 2 and 3 ring while___________

D___pumping the B pedal and sliding down._________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

F#___15--15---15__________________________________________________

D#___15--15---15____________________________11--10---10LL-10______

G#_________________13--13---12B--10B___10___11--10B--10B--10B_____

E_________________________________________________________________

B____15--15A--15___13--13A--12A--10A___10_________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 15 and Piece 16

F#__________________________________|_____________________________

D#_____15--15*____15--13____________|_____________________________

G#__________________________________|___0B----------------________

E__________________________10_______|_____________________________

B______15--15A*___15--13___10A______|___14A--15A--14A--12A________

G#_____15--15B*___15--13___10B______|_____________________________

F#__________________________________|_____________________________

E_______*use volume pedal swells____|__Let open 3rd string ring___

D______(press up and down quickly)__|__with B pedal kept down.____

B___________________________________|_____________________________

Piece 21

F#________________________________________________________________

D#______*Forward bar slant________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_____6~~~9F~~~11~~~13~~*15____13~~~11~~~9F_______________________

B_____6~~~9A~~~11A~~13A~~14A___13A~~11A~~9A_______________________

G#____6~~~9~~~~11~~~13~~~13____13~~~11~~~9________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 22 and Piece 23

F#_____*back-raking technique (has many applications)_____________

D#____________M = middle finger__I = index__T = thumb_____________

G#__*5M___________________________________________________________

E_____5I________5M________________________________________________

B________5T______5I_______5M______________________________________

G#__________________5T_____5I_______5M________________5M__________

F#___________________________5T______5I_______5M________5I________

E_______________________________________5T_____5I__________5I_____

D_________________________________________________5T_______5T_____

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 24 (from 'Song For Sarah'... Paul Franklin plays this great!)

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E______0______0~~~~~~~~~~_________________________________________

B______3~3A___3~3A~~1A~~1_________1~~3A~~8A____11~~~11A___________

G#__________________________1B____1~~3~~~8B____11~~~11____________

F#________________________________________________________________

E______________________________________________11F~~~~____________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 25

F#_________________15~15RR~15_______|___13________________________

D#__________________________________|_____________________________

G#__________________________________|___13________________________

E______________________________15___|___13________________________

B_____15_______________________15___|_____________________________

G#_______15~~15B~~~~~~~~~~~____15___|_____________________________

F#__________________________________|_____________________________

E___________________________________|_____________________________

D___________________________________|_____________________________

B___________________________________|_____________________________

F#___________15--15RR-15________|___3--3RR_(raises a whole tone)__

D#______________________________|_________________________________

G#______________________________|_________________________________

E__________________________15___|___3_____________________________

B__________________________15___|___________~8A--5A--3A--3___3____

G#___15--15B------------___15___|___3--3B___~8---5B--3B--3B__3____

F#______________________________|_________________________________

E_______________________________|___________~8---5---3---3E__3____

D_______________________________|_________________________________

B_______This is awesome!________|_______An awesome sound._________

Piece 26

F#_____2~2RR_____________________________2~~~__*2_0_2_0_2_0______**Finder harmonics using____

D#_________________________________________________________________middle finger_____________

G#___________________________________2_________#bar bounce__________________________**2(14)_

E_____2~~~_______________________2___________________________2__2~~~___2___2~~~~~___**2(14)_

B_____________~7A___4A~~2A~~2________2_________________________________2____________________

G#____2B~~____~7____4~~~2B~~2B___2_______2~2B________________2__2~2B_______2B~2B~___________

F#__________________________________________________________________________________________

E_____________~7____4B~~2~~~2E________________________________________*1____________________

D_________________________________________________________________*Forward bar slant________

B________________________________2___________________________2__2~2A_______2A~2~~___________

Piece 27, 28 and 29 (I learned this from Lloyd Green and Tommy White)

**Note below that to play this requires proper timing. If you listen closely, there's a short pause after letting off

pedal A. And then the short section that follows is played fluidly, as one lick (keep it flowing so it sounds seamless).

F#___*You can use either a forward bar slant (which I use) or_______________

D#____you can use the knee levers to raise the 8th string.__________________

G#__________________________________________________________________________

E________________________________________________________________4__________

B____7~7A~9~9A~10A~~~~~~___**9A~9__7A~7~6~~4A__7~5A~4A~4_____4______________

G#_______________________________________________________4B______4__________

F#__________________________________________________________________________

E____7~~~~9~~~~*9~10~10F_____9~~~__7~~7~6F~4________________________________

D___________________________________________________________________________

B________________________________________________________________4__________

Piece 30 (Lloyd Green plays this in 'Cold, Cold heart.' Original recording.)

F#________________________________________________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________________________________________________

G#______________________________________________________________17~16~17___15~~14~~15~~14B___12B~~~~~_____

E_____10~13F___13F____13F____15_____15A____17A____17A___~18F______________________________________________

B_____10~13A___13A____13A____15A____15_____17_____17____~18A____17~16~17___15A~14A~15A~14____12~~12A~_____

G#____10~13________13____________15___________17________~18_______________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Piece 30 Continued

F#_______________10_______________________________________________________________________________________

D#____________________11~~10~~10LL______________________________11~~~~~~10LL~10~~11_______________________

G#___~11B~~10B____________________________________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________12C~12___10C~10_________________________________________________

B____~11~~~10A______________________10____________________________________________________________________

G#____________________11~~10B~10B___10B___12B~~~___10B~~~___*10~~~~12B~~10B~_~~~~10_______________________

F#________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

D______________*use bar slant. I learned this awesome piece from Lloyd Green in 'Cold, Cold heart.'_______

B_______________Although awkward at first, with practice it becomes second nature. _______________________

Piece 31 (a great Lloyd Green lick)

F#________________________________________________________________

D#____13~~10~~~10LL_______________________________________________

G#____13~~10B~~~~~________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Piece 33 and 34(two ways to obtain a G note. Lloyd doesn't raise string 7, nor

does he lower string 6 with a knee. So here's two alternative ways to get a G

(note: I'm not playing at the 12th fret, so it's technically not a G).

F#_______________5~~~~______________5~~~~~~~~~____________________

D#_______________5~~~~______________5~~~~5LL~5____________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_____7~~~~_______________________________________________________

B_____7~~7A_______________________________________________________

G#___*6~~~~______5~~5B______________5~~5B~~~~~____________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_____*use a forward bar slant. The trick is to place the tip_____

B______of the bar exactly between strings 4 and 5__________________

Piece 35 (classic Lloyd, from 'Storms Never Last.' Original recording.)

Note: my recording is a bit out of pitch. Believe it or not, the original recording

of Lloyd from 1995 is out of pitch, because my old tape player was off. So I learned

to play the piece between the frets, and subsequently recorded it that way without

realizing what I did. I didn't realize it until I went to tab it.

Anyway, if you can learn these very unique chord changes, it will forever change your

playing with some new ideas. This is so cool stuff!)

F#___________________________________________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________________________________________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________________________________________

E_____22~~~~____22~~~~~~18F___18F~~*17____17~~~15~~~14~~~13___11F___10~~~~~~8~~8~8~~8~~~6C___________

B_____22~22A____22~22A~~18A___18A~~~16A___16A~~15A~~14A~~13A__11A___10~10A~~8A~8~8A~8~~~6C___________

G#____21~~~_____22~~~~~~18____18~~~~15____15~~~15~~~14~~~13___11____9~~~~~~~8B~8~8B~8~~~6____________

F#___________________________________________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________________________________________

D_______*Use forward bar slant.______________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Piece 36

F#______*slide down into the fret from a few frets higher_________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________9____M9~~9B_____________________________

E____*~6~~7_________9~9F~~~_______________________________________

B_____~6A~7A____9A~~~~~~~~~_______________________________________

G#____~6~~7_____9~~~~~~~~~~______________M = Middle finger________

F#_______________________________________I = Index________________

E______________________________I9~~~~____T = Thumb________________

D_______________9~~~~~~~~~~_______________________________________

B______________________________T9~~9A_____________________________

Piece 37 (a classic Lloyd Green ending using harmonics)

F#______________________________________________________________________________________________

D#___*chime all notes at 15th fret (12 frets higher). I use my ring finger, laying it flat______

G#____across the strings). Every note in this piece is chimed.________3(15)_____________________

E_____________________________________________________________________3(15)_____________________

B____*3(15)_____________________________________________________________________________________

G#____3(15)___3~3B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~________________________________________________________________

F#____________3~~~____3~~~~(after releasing knee lever, block 7th string with same ring finger)_

E_____________________3D~~~3~~~_________________________________________________________________

D_______________________________________________________________________________________________

B___Note: you have to block the 7th string or it will sound sour._______________________________

Piece 38

F#___________________________________________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________________________________________________________________________________

G#__________________________________________________________________3~4~~5~~6~~~~10B~9B~8B___8_______

E_____~6F~~5F~~4F~~3F__3~~~~_______6F~~~~~~~~~5F~~4F~~3F__3~~~~_____3~4F~5F~6F~~~10C~9C~8C___8_______

B_____~6~~~5~~~4~~~3___3~~3A_______6~~~6A~~6~~5~~~4~~~3___3~~3A_____3~4~~5~~6~~~~10C~9C~8C___8_______

G#____~6~~~5~~~4~~~3___3~~3B_______6~~~~~~~~~~5~~~4~~~3___3~~3B______________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________|_______________________________

D#________________________________|__Lloyd loves to play this.____

G#________________________________|________(me too)_______________

E____8--8---8--8---*8----8---8____|___10---10--*10---8---8---8____

B____8--8A--8--8A--*9A---8A--8____|___10--10A--*10A--8A--8---8____

G#___8--8B--8--8B--*10B--8B--8____|___10--10B--*9----8B--8B--8____

F#___________*Reverse bar slant.__|_______________________________

E______Jimmy Day used this a lot._|___*Bar slant technique._Make__

D______So does Lloyd Green._______|___sure tip of bar is exactly__

B______This is awesome!___________|___between strings 4 and 5.____

F#_______________________|__Use middle finger on 6th string. 1st__

D#_______________________|__finger on 7th string. Then strum______

G#_______________________|__9 and 8 with your thumb afterwards.___

E_______5________________|__This all must be done very quickly.___

B____________5A--6A--5A__|__Only 9 and 8 are allowed to ring._____

G#_______________________|__5_____________________________________

F#_______________________|___5____________________________________

E____5____5______________|____5____This is an awesome sound_______

D________________________|____5____once you get the hang of it. 9_

B________________________|_________and 8 give a dissonant sound.__

F#___Use the back-rake technique here.____________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E___*5M__________7~~5~~~5_________________________________________

B_____*5I_________________________________________________________

G#________5T~~7B~~~~5B~~5_________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E___Same technique as above. Use middle finger on string 4, and___

D___first finger on string 5. The strings are picked separately___

B___but VERY close together. Thumb picks string 6.________________

F#_______________________________|___________9____________________

D#_______________________________|________________________________

G#_______________________________|________________________________

E_____10--13F--10C--10--10_______|_____________9__________________

B_____10--13A--10C--10--10A______|___8A--9A_______9A--8A__________

G#____10--13---10B--10--10B______|___8B--9B_______9B--8B__________

F#_______________________________|________________________________

E____Played moderate speed.______|___8---9E_______9E--8___________

D________________________________|________________________________

B________________________________|______Jimmy Day lick____________

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E________13F--13F---*13---*12___13C--12C--10C_____________________

B________13---13A---*13A--*12A__13C--12C--10C___10________________

G#___13__13---13----*12---*11___13---12B--10B___10B_______________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_____________________*Forward bar slant technique._______________

D______________________Make sure tip of bar is exactly____________

B______________________between strings 4 and 5 on frets 13 & 12.__

F#________________________________________________________________

D#___3--2---2LL____*2--3--2--2LL__________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E________________2-------------___2--5---6F_______________________

B_________________________________________________________________

G#___3--2B--2B____________________2--5B--6________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E______________*Forward bar slant.________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

F#________________________|_______________________________________

D#________________________|___15LL-15LL-15LL_13LL-13LL-13LL_______

G#________________________|___15B--15B--15B__13B--13B--13B________

E_________________3C--3___|___15---15C--15___13---13C--13____13___

B_________________________|__________________________________13___

G#___3--5B--3--3B-----3___|__________________________________13___

F#________________________|_______________________________________

E_________________________|__Keep 2nd string lowered entire time__

D_________________________|__and B pedal pressed. Pump C pedal.___

B_________________________|_______________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________~6______________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E______5____________________________________________12---10---10__

B___________~8A--10__________________10___________________________

G#___________________~12B--10B--10___10___10---12B__12B--10B--10__

F#________________________________________10---12_________________

E___5_____________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

D#____Playing C6th licks on the E9th neck (just drop E's)_________

G#________________________________________________________________

E________8__7__6____________________________________3____1________

B____3____________6______________________________3_________2__3___

G#___3_______________5__4__3__2_____3__2_______3_______1______3___

F#___3___________________________3_______3__2________1________3___

E____3E_______________________________________________________3E__

D_________________________________________________________________

B_______________________This is a popular Hawaiian run.___________

F#________________________________|_____________10-----8__________

D#________________________________|_______________________________

G#________________________________|____8__________________________

E_________________________________|______10--10C___10C--8C________

B________3________6A________10A___|_______________________________

G#_____3________6________10B______|_______________________________

F#________________________________|_A lot of unison sounds here.__

E___3_______6F_______10___________|_______________________________

D_________________________________|_______________________________

B______speed picking._____________|_______________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#____5--6---7---8____8B--8B--12B--16B--20B_______________________

E_____5--6F--7F--8F___8F--8F--12F--16F--20F_______________________

B_____5--6---7---8____8---8A--12A--16A--20A_______________________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#____5--6---7---8____12B--11B--10B--8---8--8____5B--5B___________

E_____5--6F--7F--8F___12C--11C--10C--8E--8--8F___5-----___________

B_____5--6---7---8____12C--11C--10C--8---8--8____5---5A___________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

F#________________________|_______________________________________

D#________________________|_______________________________________

G#________________________|_______________________________________

E_____14C-14__12-12C__12__|_______________________________________

B_________________________|_______________________________________

G#____14B---__12B---__12__|_________3________6________10B_________

F#________________________|______3________6________10_____________

E_________________________|___3________6F_______10________________

D_________________________|_______________________________________

B_________________________|_____quickly___________________________

Lloyd Green kindly shared the following run with me, from the first song on his

REFLECTIONS album, BLUE BONNET SPRING. The goal Lloyd says is to play as

"seamless" as possible...

F#__________________________________________|__T = Thumb________________

D#__________________________________________|__M = Middle_______________

G#__________________________________________|__I = Index________________

E___6--8---9F--11F--13---15---16F--18--20___|___________________________

B___________________________________________|___________________________

G#__6--8B--9---11---13B--15B--16---18--20B__|__*3M__*backrake strings___

F#__________________________________________|___*3I_____________________

E___________________________________________|______3T___________________

D___________________________________________|_Pick 6 & 7 quickly._______

B___________________________________________|_hold thumb note___________

Here's a similar run as above, except I've included the 5th string here...

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E____6--8---9F--11F--13---15---16F--18--20________________________

B____6--8A--9A--11A--13A--15A--16A--18--20A_______________________

G#___6--8B--9---11---13B--15B--16---18--20B_______________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

Here's a beautiful Lloyd Green style harmonics ending...

F#____*These are all harmonics played_____________________________

D#____12 frets above the bar position.____________________________

G#____Bar rests on 3rd fret entire time.__________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

B___*15~____________Lets notes ring_______________________________

G#__*15~_*15-15~__________________________________________________

F#_______*15-15B~__*15--15__silence 7th string while raising 8th__

E__________________*15E-15~__to eliminate sour note.______________

D_________________________________________________________________

B___*use 3rd finger to play chimes and mute 7th string at end.____

F#____________________|___________________________________________

D#____Cool lick_______|___________________________________________

G#____________________|___________________________________________

E_____________________|___________________________________________

B_____________________|______________________3__3-3A-3_____3______

G#___3--2B--1B--1_____|__3--2B--1B--1_____~3__________________3B__

F#_________________1__|________________1__________________________

E_____________________|_________________________3-3F-3__3_____3___

D_____________________|_________________________________3_________

B_____________________|_______________________________________3A__

Here's an awesome country music piece I learned from Tommy White. This is a 
great lead-in chord run...

F#___7~~~8~~~9~~~10_______________________________________________

D#___7~~~8~~~9~~~10______*Pump A pedal going into fret 10. I'm____

G#________________________not sure if Tommy pumps A or A and B.___

E_________________________They both sound great. I use A only.____

B____7A~~8A~~9A~~10A______________________________________________

G#___7B~~8B~~9B~~10B_____*Rake across strings 6 and 5 with thumb._

F#________________________________________________________________

E____*Slide down into the first chord. I do it by feel, not an____

D____exact number of frets. I'd say about 3 or 4 frets.___________

B_________________________________________________________________

Here's a great thing to play that I learned from Tommy White. It's a lead-in chord

progression. You can see and hear Tommy play the piece on Part 6 of "The Legends Of

Steel Guitar" on YouTube. The tabs aren't exact, but close. You might prefer to pick

strings 5 and 6 together on string 10 (raking both notes with the thumb)...

F#_____________~7~~~8~~~9~~~10~~~~________________________________

D#_____________~7~~~8~~~9~~~10~~~~________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_____10~~~_______________________________________________________

B_____10~10A________________10~10A________________________________

G#____10B~~~___~7B~~8B~~9B~~~~~~~~________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

D#________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________

E_________________________________________________________________

D_________________________________________________________________

B_________________________________________________________________

A technique that will revolutionize your steel playing, opening a whole new world of

possibilities is to rake across the strings. There are a few ways to do this.

You can pick with your thumb first, then the next string with your forefinger and

then the last string with your middle finger.

Lloyd uses this technique very much. You're playing triads of notes instead of picking

them all at once. It's really beautiful and expressive to rake across the strings,

playing them almost instantaneously, yet individually. This technique involves simply

forward raking the strings, but picking them each with a different pick.

Another way is to rake your thumb pick forward across the strings, which is

extremely popular with non-pedal steelers. Jimmy Day used this technique a lot. Not

enough steel players today use this technique anymore. It is common in Hawaiian on the

C6th tuning, and on the A6th.

The third method is to back rake one of the metal finger picks on the strings, ending

on one particular note. Tommy White does this a lot. It comes naturally with experience,

when you master control over pick blocking, picking patterns, and learn all the cool

things you can do with timing.

Lloyd stands out from all other steel players in my mind for one main reason, he has

mastered impeccable timing and tone. It's a great challenge to try to learn some of his

new ideas. I hope some of these E9th tabs have been helpful to you, increasing your

repertoire of things to play. Jeff Newman taught that you need to play something over

and over about 20-times before it absorbs into your mind. So the key to incorporating

some of these new ideas into your playing is repetition.

I've noticed that Lloyd has always played unison notes on strings 3 and 6, and on strings

5 and 10, which you'll hear in his playing, old and new. It is a permanent part of his

playing repertoire that he learned in his early career that has defined his playing. I

hear very few steelers play strings 3 and 6 together. The sound is very unique and pretty.

I play these notes trying to imitate Lloyd's awesome version of Mona Lisa.

Don't forget to do some string muting at the bridge (but not on the bridge itself). To

mute, just place your palm as close to the string bridge as possible without deadening

the strings. Touching the bridge will deaden the string. Turn up your volume pedal while

muting to compensate for loss of volume due to the nature of muting. It really popular

in Hawaiian, and done at the right place is awesome for country music too.

Don't forget to do some chicken-pickin. This is a different technique than muting,

and requires a bit more work to get it right. To chicken-pick, you pick your strings,

say 5 and 6, and then lift up the bar off the strings as soon as you pick them. In fact,

you're lifting the bar so close after the picking that it feels the same to me. Just

lift the bar as soon as you pick, simultaneously. You'll hear the sound and then can

master it from there. You'll be making authentic chicken sounds like Sol Hoopii before

you know it. Lloyd is famous for popularizing the chicken-pickin technique on thousands

of Nashville albums.

Lastly, but far from exhaustive, use harmonics in your playing. Jerry Byrd said using

harmonics says, "I have a secret to tell you." Some guitars , like Fender Champs, don't

play harmonics well. Rickenbacher (pre-war) are the best (or spelled, Rickenbackers,

post-war). A Ricky has awesome harmonic, as do Jerry Byrd Frypan from Fuzzy Guitars in

Japan, and CANOPUS are great. Ricky's are better though for harmonics, in my humble opinion.

It's the "Bakelite" material that Ricky's are made of. There a lot of junk out there, so be

careful. You need to feel good about the instrument that your playing. Alan Akaka told me that

in 2010. I recently met with him again in 2011 and he's doing fine. He just released his

first album called, "SIMPLY STEEL."

Cold, Cold, Heart by Lloyd Green (partial) |  For the Good Times by Lloyd Green

Here are several different Rhythm Track versions for Beyond the Reef:

Beyond the Reef Track (This version has an organ intro and solo. Here's the tabs in key of Eb. Tabs in key of F. All of the BB rhythm tracks are done in the key of F.)

Beyond the Reef Track (Cha-Cha version)

Beyond the Reef Track (Country version with a fiddle intro and solo. Key of F. This is a really great BB track!)

Beyond the Reef Track (The same Country track as above, but in the key of D. I made this track for the E9th pedal steel guitar, so it can be played on the 5th fret.)

Beyond the Reef Track (The same Country track as above, but in the key of C. I made this track for the E9th pedal steel guitar, so it can be played on the 3rd fret. Take your pick!)

Beyond the Reef Track (Jazz version)

Beyond the Reef Track (Latin version)

Beyond the Reef Track (This version has a ukulele and some waves at the intro and ending)

Beyond the Reef Track (a pretty acoustic guitar version)

Great E9th Pedal Steel Tabs

Cool Things (Must Haves) For Every E9th Guitarist!!!
(Some great chops by Hal Rugg, Lloyd Green and Tommy White!)

Here me play When They Ring Those Golden Bells on E9th pedal steel

Concerning Steel Guitar Tone

C6th Pedal Steel Simplicity and Variations

Beyond the Reef using a C# on the 6th string

More Song Tabs

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven!