by Joe on February 1, 2010
Well after trying the latest streaming video technology live, we here at www.pedalsteel.com are just going to utilize all the power I have to edit video and stop live broadcasting. I can make a much better lesson with all kinds of cameras and angles when I don’t have to worry about being live.
When you were live you had no control over the engineering of the WebCast. If it froze or timed out I didn’t know it. Now it’ll be better because we can concentrate on making each video a better quality product. From video to audio I can edit everything in Final Cut Pro and then output it for the webcast.
To take a test run on an edited WebVideo, go to Online Video Instructional Download. You can utilize the code: Free Pages to discount your copy of the download to $17.50. A great price for a one hour video. It includes a scale instruction video and more. These are growing each time as Joe gets better at editing, playing and teaching pedal steel guitar. A 515 meg video is high quality. 560 X 400 is the size. Try one.
by Joe on February 1, 2010
There are two ways to look at your hand position. We can look at how picks go towards the strings. I call this the angle of attack. We also can look at where are palm or side of hand is located across the strings. One way is to have the hand laying next to the strings. This is what I call a traditional method. We can see how this would allow for utilizing the side of the hand as a block or damper to control the strings. This places your hand at in a position that has your first knuckle higher than the rest. To describe it as a 45 degree angle is appropriate.
Another method that is used I call the modern. This is with the top of your hand in a flat position. This places your picks on the strings with all of the pick in play. The traditional rotates the hand and puts the edge of the pick on the strings.
The thumb angle is different with both because of the rotation. With the hand in the traditional position then you have the thumb pick attacking the strings at a slight angle. In the modern method the thumb pick is placed flat across the string. A good way to see is how well your thumb pick looks. A chewed thumb pick usually comes from the angled attack created by the rotation of the right hand.
All of this also relates to the position of the rest of the arm. We will break it all down in later posts. But for the most part this video will get you started on your way. I talk about the different ways that you can hold your hand. The WebVideo is dated December, 19 2009. It also has a section on scales using Excel and recording the screen on my computer.
