pedal steel
noun
variants
or pedal steel guitar
plural pedal steels or pedal steel guitars
: a box-shaped electric steel guitar with legs that has usually 10 strings which can be altered in pitch by the use of pedals and which are plucked while being pressed with a movable steel bar
[Ben] Keith broke into the business playing pedal steel on Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces" …—
Kevin Dettmar
compare hawaiian guitar, lap steel
Kevin DettmarExamples of pedal steel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The breezy acoustic guitars and sneaky pedal steel almost make her intention to change sounds easy, a rewarding tension underneath such a sunny song.
—Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
Her soft-focus voice is quietly commanding here, backed by the tranquil ambience forged by layers of guitar, mandolin and pedal steel.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
Ballantyne and Noble will be joined by Heather Kollmer and Karen Samata (vocals), Leslie Walle-Santos (drums), Mike Fleming (guitar) and Gabriel Stutz (pedal steel).
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Currently, Clay Street Unit is Walker on guitar and vocals, mandolinist Scottie Bolin, pedal steel player Brad Larrison, drummer Brendan Lamb, bassist Jack Kotarba, and fiddle player Dan Andree.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pedal steel
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Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
Her soft-focus voice is quietly commanding here, backed by the tranquil ambience forged by layers of guitar, mandolin and pedal steel.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
Ballantyne and Noble will be joined by Heather Kollmer and Karen Samata (vocals), Leslie Walle-Santos (drums), Mike Fleming (guitar) and Gabriel Stutz (pedal steel).
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Currently, Clay Street Unit is Walker on guitar and vocals, mandolinist Scottie Bolin, pedal steel player Brad Larrison, drummer Brendan Lamb, bassist Jack Kotarba, and fiddle player Dan Andree.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pedal steel
Cite this Entry
“Pedal steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedal%20steel. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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