When it comes to playing a pedal steel guitar, the Right Hand is where it is at. No matter what you want to learn on your guitar, the right hand will ultimately be involved. Want to learn a scale? Right Hand. Want to play a harmonic? Right Hand. The list can go on and on but each of the different parts that combine to play the steel, such as, bar hand, pedals, knee levers and volume pedal are all dependent. The key to a pedal steel guitar is getting the string to vibrate, then you can change the pitch by using the bar as a slide.
The fact that the tuning demands exact string groups when you are playing makes it even more important to learn. I believe the best way to learn to advance your right hand is to take a training approach. Dedicated drills that are derived from the moves you’ll need to know is the easiest and most efficient method.
The right hand can be exercised with small movements that will eventually be combined to play more advanced licks. You learn to look at the Thumb as an individual digit, then the first finger and the same is applied to the second finger. After you learn to play them individually then you start to study groups of 2 and 3. When you do repetitions of the various drills you will start to not only know the move but you will be exact and be conditioned. Hands that in playing condition definitely get better tone. Hours of work at practice and on the job are the only way to get to the next level in your musical journey.
Work on your hands and everything else will be better. Picking the string(s) that you want, when you want is the key. After all why slide the bar if you can’t pick the strings? It will always come back to what can your right hand do for you now.
