Pedal steel copedent
The E9 · E lowers on RKL copedent
10 strings · 3 pedals · 5 knee levers
A copedent is the map of what each pedal and knee lever does to each string. Players set theirs up differently, so if you’re not sure what yours is, press each pedal and lever one at a time and listen for which strings move — then compare with the chart below.
Where everything is — and what it does
Pedals sit under your left foot; knee levers hang under the guitar where your knees push them. Colors match the app and the chart below.
Left knee
Levers by your left knee
- LKL E→F lever
Push your knee to the left
Raises your E strings (4 & 8) a half step to F.
- String 4 E → F
- String 8 E → F
- LKR-half D lever (half-stop)
Push your knee to the right
Lowers string 2 (D♯) a half step to D at the half-stop; push on past it for C♯ with string 9.
- String 2 D♯ → D
- LKR-full D lever (past the stop)
Push your knee to the right
The same lever pushed past its half-stop: takes string 2 (D♯) on down to C♯ and brings in string 9 (D), a half step down to C♯.
- String 2 D♯ → C♯
- String 9 D → C♯
A few student and older guitars stop at D, with no C♯ position.
- LKV G♯ lower lever
Vertical lever — push your knee up
- String 6 G♯ → F♯
Not on every guitar
Pedals
Under your left foot, left to right
- A A pedal
Press with your left foot
Raises your B strings (5 & 10) a whole step to C♯.
- String 5 B → C♯
- String 10 B → C♯
- B B pedal
Press with your left foot
Raises your G♯ strings (3 & 6) a half step to A.
- String 3 G♯ → A
- String 6 G♯ → A
- C C pedal
Press with your left foot
Raises string 4 (E) to F♯ and string 5 (B) to C♯ — a whole step each.
- String 4 E → F♯
- String 5 B → C♯
Right knee
Levers by your right knee
- RKL E→E♭ lever
Push your knee to the left
Lowers your E strings (4 & 8) a half step to E♭.
- String 4 E → E♭
- String 8 E → E♭
- RKR F♯ & D♯ raise lever
Push your knee to the right
- String 1 F♯ → G♯
- String 2 D♯ → E
Not on every guitar
Usually not used together
- A pedal + C pedal
One at a time (same knee)
- E→F lever or D lever (past the stop) or D lever (half-stop)
- E→E♭ lever or F♯ & D♯ raise lever
Copedent chart
Strings run top to bottom — string 1 is farthest from you. Each column shows the note a string moves to when that pedal or lever is engaged.
| Str | Open | A | B | C | LKL | LKR-half | LKR-full | RKL | RKR | LKV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯4 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | ↑G♯+2 | no change |
| 2 | D♯4 | no change | no change | no change | no change | ↓D−1 | ↓C♯−2 | no change | ↑E+1 | no change |
| 3 | G♯4 | no change | ↑A+1 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| 4 | E4 | no change | no change | ↑F♯+2 | ↑F+1 | no change | no change | ↓E♭−1 | no change | no change |
| 5 | B3 | ↑C♯+2 | no change | ↑C♯+2 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| 6 | G♯3 | no change | ↑A+1 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | ↓F♯−2 |
| 7 | F♯3 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| 8 | E3 | no change | no change | no change | ↑F+1 | no change | no change | ↓E♭−1 | no change | no change |
| 9 | D3 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | ↓C♯−1 | no change | no change | no change |
| 10 | B2 | ↑C♯+2 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
+1 = a half step, +2 = a whole step.
How it differs from standard E9
- RKL makes the E→E♭ lever change (E→E♭) — LKR on standard E9
- No F♯ & D♯ raise lever (F♯→G♯ + D♯→E + G♯→F♯) — RKL on standard E9
- LKR makes the D lever change (D, then C♯ with string 9) — RKR on standard E9
- Extra: RKR — raises string 1 a whole step (F♯→G♯); raises string 2 a half step (D♯→E)
- Extra: LKV — lowers string 6 a whole step (G♯→F♯)
Play every chord on this setup
Pedal Steel Atlas ships with this copedent built in — or build your own, change by change, for free. Every chord, grip and tab re-voices for exactly the pedals and levers you have.