pedal steel guitar

noun

1. an oblong, floor-mounted electrified guitar, usually having ten strings, fretted with a steel bar and producing a wailing sound that is modulated by use of a foot pedal.

pedal steel guitar

noun

1. a floor-mounted, multineck, lap steel guitar with each set of strings tuned to a different open chord and foot pedals to raise or lower the pitch

Word History and Origins

Origin of pedal steel guitar¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

The track puts a string section behind a country band topped with pedal steel guitar, while Phosphorescent stays serenely inconsolable.

From New York Times

The song is gothic lounge music for a listener who only has about two minutes to have their heart broken - a silky soft slow burn stacked with a choir, organ, bass and most critically, pedal steel guitar, the kind favored by country and western purists.

From Washington Times

The song is gothic lounge music for a listener who only has about two minutes to have their heart broken — a silky soft slow burn stacked with a choir, organ, bass and most critically, pedal steel guitar, the kind favored by country and western purists.

From Seattle Times

It was a stew of steelpans, trombones and pedal steel guitar.

From Washington Times

They were the first bluegrass group of national renown to incorporate drums, electric bass, pedal steel guitar and even, on records, string sections.

From New York Times