John 5: pedal steel laid-back arpeggios!

John 5 says:

Pedal steel guitars are practically synonymous with Nashville and the country music style, but rock and metal players can also benefit from learning how to emulate pedal steel sounds on standard guitar. Why? Because it sounds cool! The basic technique involves bending one or more strings while holding stationary notes and allowing them all to ring together. These are also known as oblique bends.

The featured music example is a laid-back arpeggio passage incorporating several pedal steel bends. I’m picking with my fingers only, but you could also use a pick if you’d prefer, or even a pick and fingers together. Plant your fret-hand ring and pinky fingers on the B and E notes, respectively, at the 14th fret. You’ll want to keep those two fingers planted firmly as you perform the ensuing whole-step bend with your index finger. To execute the bend, use the tip of your index finger to pull the G string down toward the floor while allowing the previous plucked notes to ring along with it. It helps to keep all three fingers arched significantly so the strings aren’t inadvertently muted. Hold the bend while continuing the arpeggio sequence and then release the bend in the rhythm shown. The same bend returns in the next measure, but this time it is played in a quicker bend-and-release grace-note rhythm.

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