E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

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Doug Beaumier
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E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Doug Beaumier »

This is a warm-up exercise I've been using lately. It's played on the upper 5 strings and uses pedals A & B and the knee lever that lowers string 2, a half-step (D# to D). No tablature for this, but you can probably figure it out by listening and watching... or create something similar using the chord positions listed below.

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zT91b82gyHg

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DNBH3IcOeXS/

Key of E. There are four quick chord changes: E, A, B7, E.

E... fret 3, pedal A & F knee lever
A... fret 5, no pedals or levers
B7... fret 7, knee lower lowering string 2 a half-step (D# to D)
E... fret 7, pedals A & B

* Then play the same pattern 1 fret higher for the key of F.
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George Madrid
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by George Madrid »

Very cool Doug!
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Doug Beaumier
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Doug Beaumier »

Glad you like it, George.
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Dale Rottacker
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Dale Rottacker »

Doug, I'm horrible at exercise's, but thats a good one I might have to learn ... very useful for connecting things.
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Doug Beaumier
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Doug Beaumier »

Yeah, it’s unusual (for me anyway) because it starts on the A pedal/F lever position for the 1 chord. And it makes use of strings 1 and 2 a lot.
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Dale Rottacker
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Dale Rottacker »

Doug Beaumier wrote: 9 Aug 2025 4:34 pm Yeah, it’s unusual (for me anyway) because it starts on the A pedal/F lever position for the 1 chord. And it makes use of strings 1 and 2 a lot.
I use 1&2 a lot, just not quite like that… they really should be used a LOT, there’s so much inter-twine-age possible with them.
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Doug Beaumier
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Doug Beaumier »

I agree! I’m still finding new ways to use strings 1 & 2 after all these years.
Chris Brooks
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Chris Brooks »

Me too, Doug. I am thinking these days of 1, 2, 3,4 and maybe 5 as a 'group' or cluster. I suggested that to a student today.
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Doug Beaumier
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Re: E9 Pedal Steel - Warm-up Exercise

Post by Doug Beaumier »

It's amazing, Chris. 50 years of playing and suddenly something new pops up! What a crazy instrument.