Do additional pedals/knee levers and split tuning affect how other things function?

[Brandon Keene]

I am a new player with 3 pedal/4 lever E9 steel on back order. My understanding is that this is the best setup to start with and learn the basics. However, I’m considering adding a fourth pedal and 5th lever with split tuning to my order so it will be there when I’m ready to get more complex.

If I add these extras, however, will I still be able to play it as if it doesn’t have them? Or will that change how the rest of the guitar functions, making it way more complicated to learn the basics?

[Fred Treece]

No. The standard pedals and levers should function and stay in tune as they normally would without the additions as long as you don’t use the additions. Even when you do start using them, they should only have the intended effect on the standard changes, say, if one of the options splits the A pedal on string 5 to lower it exactly 1/2 tone.

The only thing to consider is where on the guitar’s configuration that you place the additional pedal and lever. If it’s a vertical lever on the left knee and a pedal in either the first or fourth position, no problem with tuning or technique.

[Chris Templeton]

I like raising and lowering the E's both on the left knees.
I had a guitar, that raised the E's on the LL lever and lowering the E's on the right left, probably so there was no need to reversing the pull.
I'dreally learn just what those do, then finding out what you'd like to add, like raising the first string F#-G# and lowering the 6th string G#-G (split)-F#.
Those changes are nice, but are what I sometime think of as bonus changes.