Bobby Ingano's "Yellow Roses"--tuning, tabs?

David Lee Myers · Post by **David Lee Myers** » 12 Jan 2009 11:29 am

Hello all, new guy here. Beginning to learn C6th tuning on a Dynalap and have been in love with Bobby's rendition of this tune. Don't know its origin--haven't heard it elsewhere--but I like the video even better than his album recording of it.

http://www.hsga.org/new_design/video.htm

It *sounds* to me as if it would be comfortable in C6 but I can't seem to find it on my own. Any help?

TIA, this is a great place for sure!

David Lee Myers

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 12 Jan 2009 11:45 am

I almost got sea sick watching the video. You'd think they'd at least invest in a cheap tripod.

Dave, Bobby uses a 7 string C6. You can hear the use of that high G string on the country licks toward the end of the song.

Low to high:

Bb E G A C E G

The best rendition of this song is by Gabby Pahinui. It's on Ry Cooder's vinyl album called Chicken Skin.

David Lee Myers · Post by **David Lee Myers** » 12 Jan 2009 12:08 pm

Thanks Derrick, just got a copy from Amazon. Lovely playing by Gabby. I've been using Scotty's G A C E G A C E (low to high) as a start, but may try this one. Just out of curiosity, if you were doing this on 8 strings, what do you think you'd add on the bottom?

Somewhere, I found a tuning attributed to Bobby, a little different:
C E G A C E G
Obviously an added A on the bottom could be logical there.

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 13 Jan 2009 12:42 pm

Hi Dave,

The tuning I gave you is what Bobby uses exclusively.
I'm one of his students and have followed his playing for the last 5 years since I've started steel guitar, so I can assure you that this is correct.

The tuning you found that was different probably came from the HSGA Tuning Index which Bobby told me was incorrect.

For an 8 string with the high G, Bobby once told me to use a C on the 7th string and drop the Bb to the 8th string like this, Low to High:

Bb C E G A C E G

If you're not going to be using a high G, this tuning is what most of the top Hawaiian players have used for an 8 string steel, Low to High:

C Bb C E G A C E

Jayson Makar · Post by **Jayson Makar** » 13 Jan 2009 12:52 pm

Thank you for posting that link, David. Real nice playing by Mr. Ingano. I absolutely love the version on Chicken Skin Music, it was certainly one on of the reasons I decided to learn more about the instrument. As a relative newcomer to steel, would anyone be able to provide some tab or shed a bit more light on how it's played? Would be much appreciated!

David Lee Myers · Post by **David Lee Myers** » 13 Jan 2009 7:49 pm

Derrick,

Thanks a lot for the info. I will try that tuning. If you have any suggested string gauges, I wouldn't mind hearing about it.

I'm rather new to this, but alongside Jerry Byrd, Bobby is the one player that really knocks me out. You're lucky to work with him. I think you're right, that one tuning was probably from the HSGA site.

Anyone with some sort of tabs for "Yellow Roses", please help us out!

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 14 Jan 2009 3:38 am

Dave,

John Ely's Steel Guitar Website has a string gauge chart which I use as a rough guide. Use his recommended string gauge, then later you can fine adjust by going one gauge heavier or lighter according to your preference.

There was just a thread a few days ago about John's Website and a link to get there. Once you get to his home page, click on GETTING STARTED > ABOUT STRING GAUGES.

Here's what I'm using for my 8 string C13th tuning.

E C A G E C Bb C
14 17 21 24W 30W 36W 42W 68W

Sorry, I don't know of anyone who has tabbed this song out. Me and Bobby find all of our songs the hard way by listening to the old records, then finding them on the fretboard.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 14 Jan 2009 6:26 am

Come on Derrick, give me a break. I filmed that clip of Bobby at Winchester.

I was sitting on the floor in front of the stage and used my Casio digital camera balanced on my right knee. The Casio is not a dedicated video camera, it has limited video capabilities.

But I did document the performance - better than nothing.

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 14 Jan 2009 12:45 pm

Sorry Gerald! Just joking there . . .

But seriously, thanks for the video. I back up Bobby a lot on his solo playing, and he rarely does this song. Someone must have requested him to do it???

Anyway, great song for the archives.
Hope to see you at the Hawaii Convention if you can make it!

Aloha

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 14 Jan 2009 12:49 pm

No prob Derrick - just joking around.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 17 Jan 2009 5:29 pm

That was a Hank Snow tone from around 1952, and likely on one of his 78s of the day, or maybe an LP.
The old timers who know country tunes will remember it.

Edit; I just checked online, and a CD called "All American Country" , Hank Snow tunes, has that tune on it.

William O Connor · Post by **William O Connor** » 10 May 2015 12:14 pm

Please, can anybody give me full details of the little Amp which Bobby Ingano works with, e.g. Make, Output, Where I can buy one, etc.??? Thank you very much.

William O'Connor,
Co. Kerry,
Ireland.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 11 May 2015 6:27 am

William,

Rather than tacking on a message to a 2009 discussion that's unrelated to your question, you should either contact Mr. Ingano directly or post a new message in the Electronics section of the forum.

James Kerr · Post by **James Kerr** » 12 May 2015 12:06 pm

I'm a bit late to the party here but if anyone is still interested in "Yellow Roses" here is my video showing the playing positions, I used 6 string C6th with G on top. I probably still have the backing track too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPVb6mdN-dI

James.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 16 May 2015 4:47 pm

If I'm not mistaken, the Sons Of Hawaii gang recorded that tune some years ago, which brought other Hawaiians to play & record it.....

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 16 May 2015 5:15 pm

I did a transcription of Gabby's version with Ry Cooder. It's available here with a backing track:
http://www.steelinstruction.com/?page_id=64

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Bobby Ingano's "Yellow Roses"--tuning, tabs?

Bobby Ingano's "Yellow Roses"--tuning, tabs?

yellow roses

Details of Bobby Ingano's little Amp with two speakers