Left Knee Vertical

[Bill Duncan]

I never had an LKV lever until two years ago when I purchased my Ultra, and I can never seem to remember to use it. I suppose I am too set in my ways after working with 3 and 4 on E9 for so long. I have it tuned 5&10 b to A#. Any suggestions as to ways to use it that possibly I could not live without? Bill

[Tim Rose]

Play 4 and 5 starting with vertical engaged - quickly release - engage- repeat -- cool bluegrass lick.

[Peter J Birch]

I have mine tuned up from B to C +1 which makes the open G chord at the 3rd fret a Gaug chord

[Tucker Jackson]

Several years ago, someone posted a similar question. The funny thing was that almost all of the (many) posts basically said the same couple of things, if you sifted through and translated their descriptions:

You can use the B to Bb lever to get a 7th chord. Actually, it's a 'partial' 7th, because you're just playing 2 of the notes in that 4-note chord. You can find it 2 frets back from open on, say, Strings 4 and 5.

That means if you are playing the 1 chord, and want to play a 2-7th, you could leave the bar in the same fret and just engage the B to Bb lever.

And you can get interesting movement under a 7th chord by doing this, 2 frets back from open on strings 4 and 5 (i.e., C7 would be at Fret 6):
A-pedal
Release A-pedal
Engage B to Bb lever

Release lever
A-pedal

The other main use... if you have split-tuning ability, you can engage the lever with pedals-down and that converts it from a major chord to a minor.

[Chuck Lemasters]

Lowering B string to A# split with the A pedal allows for a minor chord chromatic descending line…press A pedal, engage vertical, release both, engage vertical….minor..minor maj 7, minor 7, minor 6 ….

[Richard Sinkler]

If you have split capabilities, use it with the A&B pedals to minor the A chord (open). I have it on a pedal next to my A pedal and combine them for the minor (without string 6). I use it mostly as a way to go from a 1 chord to a 2 seventh chord, similar to the 5th pedal on C6. Love that change.

[Rich Ertelt]

Play 3,4,5 at 5th fret, A chord.
Move down to the 3rd fret, engage A pedal, you have A9.
Release A, then engage B-Bb lever, you still have A9, but walk down from 5 to 4 to 3 under it.