FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The founder of justinguitar.com lends GT his insight as one of the world’s most successful guitar teachers. This Month: Mysteries Of The Pedal Steel!

So I finally went and bought myself a pedal steel guitar! For those that are not familiar with the these instruments, they’re the quintessential sound of country music. I’ve loved the sound of the steel since I first heard Neil Young's album Harvest, but always thought it would be too difficult to learn.

I remember transcribing Mark Knopfler’s beautiful song Redbud Tree which has some delicious pedal steel parts - and the idea of buying one started percolating. Then, at Eric Clapton’s tribute to Jeff Beck at the Royal Albert Hall, an incredible steel player called Robert Randolph tipped me over, and a few days later I took delivery of a new box of misery.