This page will list a variety of resources and articles, which will help you understand and provide information about where to obtain publications and teaching materials for the pedal steel guitar. If you are an intermediate or advanced player, check out our Pedal Steel Guitar Resources Page, which contains further details on purchasing a new Carter, pedal steel guitar resources, and steel guitar web sites of interest.
As a aid for you in selecting and purchasing any brand of steel guitar, we have developed a set of Practical Guidelines, which many steel guitar players have found useful.
For all you newcomers and beginners, you will need a few things when "Starting Out on a Pedal Steel Guitar". Aside from the obvious, which is a pedal steel guitar, you will also need:
- Lessons or a teacher
- Picks
- Bar
- Volume Pedal (see a 3D volume pedal)
- Guitar or Steel Guitar Amplifier (you could use amplified headphones but the sound is not as good)
- Cords (to connect the steel to the volume pedal and amp)
- Steel Guitar Bench or Seat
If you would like to obtain any of these items, please refer to our Pedal Steel Guitar Resources Page.
PSG 101: Explore, Discover, and Learn . . .
Many of the Different Parts of the Modern, All-Pull Pedal Steel Guitar:
Pedal Steel Guitar Illustrated
We also suggest that you read Mike Perlowin's book on music theory, available for purchase on Mel Bay's web site.
After reading that article and if you have not already visited our Pedal Steel Guitar Resources Page, we recommend that you take a look at it. Our Resource Page contains many resources for beginners and others interested in learning the instrument and how to get started. It also includes several other web sites of interest.
What Type of Pedal Steel
Guitar
Should I Buy?
For the pedal steel guitar beginner, we recommend one of the following:
- a Pre-Owned ("used") Professional-Model pedal steel guitar, in good condition;
- a Demo Model, if available, such as a Demo Model Carter;
- a NEW Entry-Level or Beginner Model pedal steel guitar; or
- a NEW Professional-Model pedal steel guitar, such as a New Professional Model Carter.
To see if we currently have Select, Pre-Owned
("used")
Professional Model Steels in stock
or to see if we have any Demo Model Carters available at this
time,
please feel free to visit our INDEX of
Select,
Pre-Owned Steels & Carter Demo Models.
For information on purchasing NEW Carters, please feel free to browse our
Web
Site,
starting from our Home Page or you might take a
look at
these pages, which may be of particular interest for a beginner: