Fun things to do with the Franklin Pedal

[Bill McCloskey]

Like many, I've had the Franklin pedal on my p4 position for a while but never really used it, or to be honest, knew how to use it.

But with my current Mullen G2, I have it on the zero pedal, which makes more sense ergonomically, especially since the Franklin and the A pedal work well together in licks.

But just playing around I've found a nice use for it. In pedals up position, strike various two note string groups and then slide up 2 frets while engaging the Franklin pedal. Different effects depending on which 2 string notes you pluck, but definitely something I'll be incorporating into my practice schedule.

[Craig A Davidson]

The most fun I found with it was removing it and putting a different change in place.

[Bill McCloskey]

what change did you find that you liked?

[Jerry Dragon]

Being a guitar player, I switched mine to drop both G#s to G so when I play a G on the "third fret" and hit the Franklin I get the G minor. Then someone told me hit the Franklin and the A pedal for the 5seventh chord. I still have to explore it more set up this way.

[Paul Strojan]

I find the Franklin pedal good for counterpoint. I have an affection for the great old cathedral hymns and I find that a number of them have a 451 counterpoint. A little octave reverb and delay down creates a massive sound.

[Larry Allen]

After trying a few things I moved it to the 0 position..raises 6 G# to A#——open strings 8.7.6.5.4.= E2. Add 0 and A. Open strings 8.7.6.5.4.= F# 7/9…..

[Tommy Shown]

I have mine on the 0 pedal and it drops that 5th from b and flattens to an a . I love it
Tommy Shown

[Jon Voth]

I think it has to lower 4, 5, and 10 by a whole step or it can't be called Franklin Pedal

[David W.D. McCormick]

I had a true Franklin pedal for like 5 minutes before realizing I should split the changes. My 0 pedal drops s5/10 a whole tone and I have a knee lever that drops s6 a whole tone.

I like splitting the Franklin changes because it gives you more options. Dropping s5/10 gives you a maj7 chord at the pedals down position, and also just sounds nice leading into an AB pedals down chord. Dropping s6 gives you sus2/add9 at the pedals up which is a nice adjunct to the pedals down sus4 when you hit the B pedal. Hitting both changes gives you a nice dominant 7th voicing if you lower your E's and also a minor7 chord two frets back. I haven't figured out anything else yet but it's generally nice to weave those drops into melodic playing.