Background on the Pedal Steel Guitar
A Pedal Steel is like a regular guitar mounted sideways on a stand. You don't play it by holding it, but by sitting at it and picking the strings, somewhat like a keyboard. A variety of string options is available, from 6 to 10 strings on one neck, and some even double- neck versions for a total of 20 strings. The strings can be played with only the right hand picking each one (playing the strings 'open'), and to achieve greater freedom of pitch, a metal slide is used to effectively change the string length at any 'fret' position on the neck of the instrument by sliding it left and right up and down the strings.
One of the most expressive features of the instrument is that, unlike keyboards or guitars or other instruments with set 'notes' or 'keys' or 'frets', the slide guitar is 100% dynamic. You can place the slide anywhere you like on the string and get totally microtonal if you want. On top of this, what gives the pedal steel its' name are the numerous pedals found underneath the instrument. There are a number of foot pedals near the floor, and also some directly under the instrument for the knees to use which can be bent both left and right and also up and down. Each pedal is coupled to one string, and by activating the pedal, the strings' tuning is changed, usually a semitone. This allows the instrument to change open tunings very easily, and also allows for bending of notes during play.