Pedal steel copedent
The E9 · half-stop setup copedent
10 strings · 3 pedals · 4 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 E→E♭ lever
Push your knee to the right
Lowers your E strings (4 & 8) a half step to E♭.
- String 4 E → E♭
- String 8 E → E♭
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 F♯ & D♯ raise lever
Push your knee to the left
- String 1 F♯ → G♯
- String 2 D♯ → E
- String 6 G♯ → F♯
Not on every guitar
Older and student guitars often raise strings 1 & 7 F♯→G instead, and some players keep the 6th-string lower on another lever.
- RKR-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
- RKR-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.
Usually not used together
- A pedal + C pedal
One at a time (same knee)
- E→F lever or E→E♭ lever
- F♯ & D♯ raise lever or D lever (past the stop) or D lever (half-stop)
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 | RKL | RKR-half | RKR-full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯4 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | ↑G♯+2 | no change | no change |
| 2 | D♯4 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | ↑E+1 | ↓D−1 | ↓C♯−2 |
| 3 | G♯4 | no change | ↑A+1 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| 4 | E4 | no change | no change | ↑F♯+2 | ↑F+1 | ↓E♭−1 | no change | no change | no change |
| 5 | B3 | ↑C♯+2 | no change | ↑C♯+2 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
| 6 | G♯3 | no change | ↑A+1 | no change | no change | no change | ↓F♯−2 | no change | no change |
| 7 | F♯3 | 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 | ↓E♭−1 | no change | no change | no change |
| 9 | D3 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | ↓C♯−1 |
| 10 | B2 | ↑C♯+2 | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change | no change |
+1 = a half step, +2 = a whole step.
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.