Any thoughts on the Paul Franklin Method?

[Rick Tschantz]

I'm a beginner wanting to learn the pedal steel guitar. I signed up for on-line lessons offered by Paul Franklin. Any thoughts on whether this is a good course? Is it a good way to start off as a beginner? Any other alternatives to learning to play? I have no musical background but really want to play this instrament.

[Bill McCloskey]

Paul's course is great. I joined when I first started playing recently. There are a number of excellent free sources if you just want to get started without a huge money commitment at first.

1. Steel Picking is excellent https://www.youtube.com/@SteelPicking

2. Here is an index to Mickey Adams lessons. viewtopic.php?t=182789

[Tom Spaulding]

Welcome , Rick!

You’ll definitely be challenged by choosing the pedal steel as your first instrument, but it can be done with focused studying. “Seat Time” is the key, meaning spend as much time as you can at the instrument. There’s plenty for beginners to learn away from it as well. We recommend you spend some time early on in the RESOURCES section and study the lessons on Basic Music Theory as that knowledge is crucial.

Be cautious trying to learn licks and songs too soon, your initial time will be better spent (at a beginner’s level) getting the physical aspects of playing together. Licks will always be there later, a solid technique and playing in tune is the first step.

Be sure to join the Facebook Group where you can ask Paul any questions and get help if you get stuck.

[Rick Tschantz]

Thank you Tom and Bill for your quick responses. I really appreciate the added links Bill. I understand there is a lot of music theory and memorizing I need to grasp away from the instrament so I'll just take my time. Thanks.

[Steve Mueller]

No better way to learn than Paul's course. I wish something similar had been available when I learned many moons ago. I suggest you also learn some music theory. Otherwise you'll miss a lot of context on many of the lessons.

[Bill McCloskey]

The music theory isn't overwhelming. Here are the important parts for a steel guitarist:

1. Learn the Nashville number system. I wish I had known about this when I started: Chas Williams has a wonderful book on it.

2. Learn how to construct a major scale. Learn how chords are constructed from the major scale.

3. Learn the intervals of your neck.

4. Memorize the circle of 5ths.

If you know the above, you'll be in good shape.

[Tom Spaulding]

For those interested in learning more about Music Theory as it is applied to the pedal steel, click the link below for a FREE online eBook.

Just set up an account to access. If you already have an account, follow the instructions at "checkout" and it will be added to your existing Student Dashboard: Intervals: Learning The Language Of Music

[Mike Wilson]

It is a great course. Paul is a great teacher. Its not just good for beginners , but even for people that have been playing awhile. You don't just learn how to do something, but why it works. You can't go wrong getting this course, especially if you are a beginner.

[Rick Tschantz]

Thank you Mike. I've heard nothing but good things about the course so I'm confident to go forward and study it well. I appreciate your input.

[Rick Tschantz]

And thank you Steve for your thoughts also. Looks like I'm on the right track.

[Bryce Van Parys]

I'm a lifelong professional musician, and lifelong learner. (degree in Classical/jazz double bass). I came to PSG in 2021 and started out on the Franklin courses, in addition to several other transcriptions for the gigs I was preparing for. I can say that these course are very valuable, and I warm up every morning with a chosen Permutation from the course (with metronome!), and a new lick or lesson from a Franklin course, just to set my day off right and keep up on the technique and repertoire. Well worth the investment, so long as you do the time (and use your metronome!!)

[John Larson]

I'll second the learning music theory suggestion. It's imperative due to how many permutations exist on the PSG to play chords and their various voicings.

[Rick Tschantz]

I really appreciate the responses I'm getting. I'm steeped in the music theory at the moment. It may take quite a while to get to instrament.

[Tom Spaulding]

Rick Beato's YouTube channel is a great resource for a deep dive into Music Theory info, both Basic and Advanced. He has an engaging style and a player/teacher's command of the material.

Rick Beato Music Theory Videos

[Carl Mesrobian]

Paul's Course is great. I just subscribed about a month ago. I've been playing over 12 years, but it's the hours playing, not the years one has played. I review basics -- for me they get forgotten, (bar position, 4 grips, harmonized scales, expression, etc.). Plus you can select sections you want to work on, but you get a lot of mileage on a lot of them, and should be done over and over.

Don't be in a hurry to learn sections. Learn the nuances, try different things. Paul explains that all very well. You can't master anything until you get it perfected at whatever pace you need to go to get it perfect. Speed will come after that. Too many musicians speed through stuff and don't get the phrasing right. I remember my brother, a classical pianist, teaching me how to transcribe music from a sound track - no tab, just manuscript paper, a PENCIL (lol), and your ears, and tapping time. A slow process that gets faster, like anything else.

A lot of YT videos are just show and tell without explaining why something works. Paul shows you how AND tells you why. To me, "why" is important, such as why do Dm7, Em7 fit in a song in the key of C, etc. My years of studying jazz guitar certainly have helped me with a lot of that.

For about $50/month, it's the best thing out there! [EDIT] The mentioned sites ARE good YT sites to visit

[kevin ryan]

Paul is the Maestro on steel guitar. I bought all his tapes when they came out, went to the Newman-Franklin west coast 3 day seminar in 86 and have studied all of his recorded playing. His is top notch. Also agree with Tom about Rick Beato's stuff. What wealth of info we have these days.

[Tommy White]

All of the post above are correct.
There has never been a teaching/playing method such as Paul’s.
Paul’s course is the only course I’ve subscribed to in my 50 years with pedal steel guitar. The method covers so much from every genre. It is also a history lesson and refresher for those of us who are and have been steel players through many eras. It reminds me why I play and love the pedal steel guitar, from picks and bar to melodies and chord structure.
Just the best!

[Bill McCloskey]

At the moment I'm focused on Paul's Complete C6 course, although I subscribe to the entire method. I also have my steel setup with Pauls exact copedence. I find it extremely valuable but you do need to view each lesson a number of times to really understand everything Paul packs into a lesson.

[Jack Stanton]

Paul just did a tuning lesson about REALLY tuning the guitar, way beyond sweetened tuners and harmonics that to me was worth the entire yearly cost of the program.
Likewise for a lesson he did about volume pedal technique a few years ago. I love the licks, but the method goes WAY deeper.