What the heck are modes?!Hello Steel-ists,I just released a video about how to take 1 lick and give it a different feel or context by using the concept of modes.I'm a very modal dude. Love em'. Fantastic! Here's some background on me, I went to Jazz school for about 2.5 years, and I learned a lot, especially that I don't really like jazz. As a youngster I attended jazz school camps and hesitantly played in Big Band/Be-Bop combos at non-jazz school, just regular school. They didn't offer any other combos, just Count Basie and Glenn Miller, Miles Davis stuff, etc. Even Uriah Heep would've been way more fun. I digress, what I'm trying to say is that I'm basically a failed jazz guitarist.

Who is Eric Heywood?!Hello obscure musical table machine massagers,If you're like me and you mention the name Eric Heywood in average musician company eyes kind of glaze over, and you get remarks like, "yeah I kind of remember Son Volt didn't they have a tune on a Volkswagen commercial?" But, if you started playing steel 15 years ago and Nashville and Texas were thousands of miles away, the name Eric Heywood is probably a lot more relevant.It certainly is to me, as a guitar player who was active in the alt. country scene circa 2005, the records he made had a big impact in that realm of music, and I didn't even know it at the time! Later as I turned to the steel and tried to procure gig's in the remnants of the Alt. Country scene giving way to the burgeoning singer-songwriters, there was a treasure trove of licks and solos to glean from Son Volt's "Trace",  Richard Buckner's "Since" and Ray LaMontagne's chart topper "God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise". What I found is that he provided a framework

Hello Rady Guide Friends,I wanted to let you know that the new site, Jeff's Guitar & Steel is finally here! We released the site last week and I couldn't be more pleased. With the new site you'll be able to track your progress by being able to check off and mark complete the videos you've already watched. For those looking to build their guitar skills incrementally, the content from Beginner to Advanced is arranged in such a way that you'll be able to improve step-by-step if you follow the songs and Exercises/Techniques in order for each level. Also, you can now pay with PayPal, Credit Card, or Apple Pay. Not to mention we have a new fresh logo, name, and look! What does this mean for you?

Hi Everyone! I wanted to let you know we've got some fantastic new steel tutorials, most importantly the ENTIRE TRANSCRIPTION OF TOGETHER AGAIN by Tom Brumley!. Sorry for all the caps, but I mean that's a big deal! We've also put in some time in upgrading our audio quality. I'm using a new Lavalier mic suggested by a Rady Guide subscriber and doing some light mixing with pro-tools. I think you'll be able to see an improvement in audio quality in this recent batch of videos and as the site continues. Also, not to toot our own horn but Rady Guide now has almost 150 pedal steel videos with tab. New Tutorials: Together Again by Tom Brumley (Trailblazer Backgrounds and Pads) - We cover this entire song in the original key of C#. I play, tab, and breakdown every verse, solo, and tag. I also breakdown the basic scale or pockets for each chord within the song so you can translate these phrases to other keys. Most of these phrases are off of string 3 and 6 using the A and B Pedal with some tricky bar slants to keep it nice and challenging. 3 Weepy 5 Chord Licks Using Bar Slants or LKV

Hello Fellow Steel Players!I’ve got some great new tutorials I think you are going to like. I hope you are able to check them out. I had as much fun learning them as I did recording them. My personal favorite of this this recent batch is Tom Brumley's solo on the Don Rich tune "Cajun Fiddle." It's got a great chromatic lick that is super whimsical and challenging. It's played out of the closed position and can be used in all kinds of different applications.I also released both of Robby Turner's solos from Waylon Jenning's live version of "Till I Gain Control Again." This took me a long time to figure out and tab accurately. I've found this to be almost like a solo pedal steel piece in itself as it's a great example of how to arrange and build a solo off of a singular beautiful melody.Here’s what’s new!Cajun Fiddle by Tom Brumley (Trailblazer): This tutorial features one of Tom's kookiest chromatic licks out of the closed position. This is a good solo for showcasing how to play something fitting over a "Cajun" country groove.Above and Beyond intro by Ralph Mooney (Journeyman): This is one of Ralph's most classic

Hello Steel Players,Thanks for a wonderful year at Rady Guide! We've made a lot of updates to the site, and you'll start to see them come to fruition in the New Year. This month the site will be mobile friendly. Now you can access Rady Guide on your phone or tablet with more responsive video and more intuitive navigation!This year has been a milestone for me! I had a beautiful baby daughter, Gloria. This is our first child, and it has been exciting, wonderful, and quite the adventure. As a result, I haven't released as much material as I would like to, but I will be producing more by waking up very, very early and with a larger intake of coffee. :-)For you steel players here's what's new!Crazy Arms Instrumental by Ralph Mooney (Trailblazer): This is one of the most extensive Rady Guide lessons in our 5 year history! The video lesson encompasses the WHOLE SONG!. Not just a lick, not just a solo, but the whole shebang! I like this version the best because it's from the guy who wrote the thing in the first place. Plus, it's got a great Bakersfield vibe that is heavy on unique Mooney-esque

We've been hard at work on the Rady Guide website!  We will be improving it's functionality as we work to make it more mobile friendly. With the world relying more than ever on mobile phones, we want to make sure to accommodate that trend by making Rady Guide easy to use on any platform. We hope to have all of our updates and mobile friendly programming done by the end of 2017.New Tutorials:If I Could Only Fly by Blaze Foley (Finger-Style): This is a pretty note perfect rendition of Blaze's version of the record, "Sittin' By The Road" Like a lot of Blaze tunes it has a pretty long verse form (16 bars) with a lot of variations and a shorter chorus form. This is one of our first examples on Rady Guide that features a 4 finger Travis Picking Pattern.Don't Let it Bring You Down by Neil Young (Trailblazer) - A Neil classic featuring a tuning which double drops the E's to D, and then you tune the entire guitar down a whole step. This creates a super resonant and beautiful tonality. This song shows you some common tricks and chords you can use in this tuning.How to Phrase

Hello Fellow Steel Players!I’ve got some great new tutorials I think you are going to like. I hope you are able to check them out, I had as much fun learning them as I did recording them, my personal favorite of this this recent batch is Pete Drake’s parts and solo to an old George Harrison deep cut, “I Live for You”. Which by the way, this song’s intro, verse, and bridge tutorial is now up in the free section for you to enjoy!Here’s what’s new!I Live for You Intro, Verse, and Bridge by Pete Drake: This tutorial features one of Pete’s coolest intro licks using the A Pedal and both Left Knee Levers, a funky chromatic lick that will blow your audience’s mind should you ever release it on the general public. Please do not attempt this lick if you are currently under prescription medication or have a pacemaker. This one also features some great intermediate licks that are simple and yet effective for both major chord transitions and minor chord phrases.I Live for You Solo by Pete Drake: This one has a lot of Pete’s cool legato approach, where he really creates an atmosphere with his minor licks

Hello Guitarists! Here are my early fall guitar jams on Rady Guide! “I’ll Be Here In The Morning” by Townes Van Zandt (Finger-Style): One of his most popular finger-style tunes from the iconic “Kitchen album” this one features a cool quirky intro, some measures of 2/4 to navigate, and a simple way to employ a G/F# in the chorus. “Hello In There” by John Prine: (Finger-Style): This track has endured as one of John’s most famous and beautifully written tunes. It features a Gmaj7/D used to create a nice ambient effect. Once you learn the intro, the verse is pretty much the same minus a few embellishments.  “Spanish Pipedream” by John Prine (Greenhorn): A great tune for learning how to do a country/bluegrass alternate bass strum pattern featured in countless songs across the Americana spectrum. “6 Am Pentatonic Licks” (Trailblazer Lessons):  A lot of beginning soloists ask me how one starts the path to being able to solo fluently. I believe the best way to start soloing is to learn a few licks and begin to phrase them or place them within a 12 bar blues context. This video gives you 6 easy two measure Am Pentatonic licks you can start using to build your solo repertoire.

How Do I Upgrade with a Promo Code for a 1 Month Free Subscription? Only Free memberships can upgrade.To upgrade:1. Go to RadyGuide.com and Login2. Click on "My Guides and Accounts" at the top of the page.3. Scroll down where it says "Upgrade My Plan" and click on promo code, enter your promo code.4. Click on Upgrade My Subscription5. Go through the necessary steps with Paypal6. Go back to RadyGuide.com and LoginNow you have a 1 Month Free Subscription which includes access to all Pedal Steel and or Guitar video tutorials and tabs depending on the promo code used.Note: Login at Paypal anytime to cancel your subscription.