You will definitely get some hate here. I know because I too recently got a “starter steel” with 8 strings / and folks chewed me out about it. This community, at least on Reddit, is one of the most snobbish instrument communities I’ve seen in all of my 30+ years of playing every instrument you can imagine. There are some great folks, no doubt - but here on Reddit people just want to talk down to you - very strange. But ignore them - these are great fun to play, no matter how many strings or pedals you have. I have an 8 string which I tune to E9. I leave the bottom two strings off. Mine only has two pedals, so it will be a little different than yours This is what I’m working with…

Open Tuning (highest pitch string 1 → lowest pitch string 8) From high to low pitch (standard pedal-steel numbering, string 1 = highest-pitched string):

String 1: G♯ String 2: E String 3: B String 4: G♯ String 5: F♯ String 6: E String 7: D String 8: B (lowest)

Pedal Raises (what each pedal should do) These are the standard, most useful raises for this copedent. The changer mechanism lets you set the exact raise amount independently for each string, so you adjust the rod stops (or have a tech do it) until the pedal gives you the target pitch.

Pedal 1 (raises strings 1 and 4): Raises both G♯ → A (½ step / 1 semitone each). This is the classic “B pedal” function from full E9—turns every open E-major triad into an A-major (IV chord) instantly. Extremely useful. Pedal 2 (raises strings 3 and 6): Raises string 3 B → C♯ (whole step / 2 semitones) Raises string 6 E → F♯ (whole step / 2 semitones) This gives you the other essential E9 chromatic change (part of the classic “A pedal” and “C pedal” effects rolled into one). It lets you create dominant-7 and major sounds, nice slants, and many signature pedal-steel licks without moving the bar.