How do I change one string on a pedal steel without retuning everything?

A pedal steel is a balanced system. When one string is slack, the changer and body settle a little, and when the new string comes up to pitch, they settle back. That's why the neighbors drift slightly during a change, and why they usually come back once the new string is tuned and stretched.

Steps:

1. Check the gauge and position. On E9 and universal tunings, the gauges aren't in ascending order, so confirm which string you're replacing.
2. Remove the old string and anchor the new ball end at the changer, making sure it's fully seated in its finger.
3. Run it over the bridge roller and nut to the keyless tuner, and wind neat wraps.
4. Tune it close to pitch, then stretch it gently along its length and retune. Repeat until it holds.
5. Recheck all the open strings and correct any that moved.
6. Engage each pedal and lever that changes the new string, and tune those changes at their tuning nuts or screws if they've shifted.

Keeping spares on hand makes this a two-minute job on a gig. The E9 3rd string is the one that breaks most often, so carry an extra .011. Our Pedal Steel Plain Steel Singles come in PG009, PG010, PG011 and PG012, in Specialty Singles. Our BEE9TH and PS-BEE9TH E9 sets also include an extra .011. For a wound string, take its replacement from a fresh set with the same part number as your current strings, in Pedal Steel Guitar Strings.