Learning Cajun Steel

James Burns · Post by **James Burns** » 17 Apr 2011 9:36 am

Hi .. I'm new to the forum and the steel guitar world .. I 'm am trying to learn cajun steel guitar using an open G tuning on an eight string rig. I have played guitar in a cajun band for several years and also play some cajun fiddle so I have a lot of the standard melodies in my head ....additionally I have been listening to the recordings of bands led by Aldus Roger, Joe Bonsall, Austin Pitre and Lawrence Walker .. also Randall Foreman with Walter Mounton's outfit and Murnel Babineaux's youtube videos. But the whole steel thing is completely new to me ... I want to get off on the right foot especially with learning a blocking technique .. is their one style of blocking that is preferable for Cajun music? If anyone can point me to resources for learning Cajun style steel I would sincerely appreciate it .. I've looked around the web and I don't see too much out there.

many thanks ahead of time

Jim

Bruce Terrell · Post by **Bruce Terrell** » 17 Apr 2011 6:08 pm

Hi Jim. I don't know if I can give much help, only to say, I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out the same. I lived in Baton Rouge for a number of years and picked up cajun fiddle, but could never quite figure out what tuning steel they were using. I always used DL Menard's "Back Door" as my goal. Like you, I used open G on a 6 string, but it never sounded quite right. I could not find many helpful resources on the web. If you don't get many answers, maybe we can try to try to work this out. I'd like to get this worked out, once and for all, myself.
Bruce

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 17 Apr 2011 11:31 pm

Welcome to this great forum James
i'm sure you're gonna love it here
may i suggest you try to contact Murnel through the forum
he is & member & good people to boot
you could also ask Joe Rogers, Daniel & Justin Cormier, Marty Broussard, Ricky Thibodeaux & Richard Comeaux
they're all ragin' Cajuns & members here as well

Justin Cormier : steel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAMdj0VUzEI

Murnel Babineaux
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yegkv6guAI4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZGPuvPR9a4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/user/htpmusic#p/u/0/_ccwN0S9km4

Joe Rogers & Murnel Babineaux
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXQOsIV67PE

http://www.youtube.com/user/htpmusic#p/u/3/s-otimHrccU

http://www.youtube.com/user/htpmusic#p/u/1/qOlI3P97RQI

Karel van Bezooijen · Post by **Karel van Bezooijen** » 18 Apr 2011 12:57 am

thanks for the links, Crowbear.
I always wondered how these Cajun pickers did it,
but these videos clear it up a little!
Fantastic picker, that Murnel!

James Burns · Post by **James Burns** » 18 Apr 2011 6:47 am

I appreciate your help and the links ... what blocking method should be learned .. or do you have to learn all varieties?

thanks
Jim

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Apr 2011 7:56 am

basically there are 2 ways of blocking James
- palm blocking w: the side/edge of your hand for chords for example
some steelers extend their pinky some don't
pick blocking which consists of diggin' in first, - pickin' & puttin' the pick right in to block
for fast runs & chords too
runnin' scales is a great way to learn it

either way, learn both & see if you can hook up w: some steelers who know

Bruce Terrell · Post by **Bruce Terrell** » 18 Apr 2011 2:05 pm

Unfortunately, they are all playing pedal steel.

Justin Cormier · Post by **Justin Cormier** » 18 Apr 2011 4:15 pm

Bruce Terrell wrote:Unfortunately, they are all playing pedal steel.

I didn't use any pedals in the clip that's listed above...

John Allison · Post by **John Allison** » 18 Apr 2011 5:59 pm

As far as I can tell, you've found all the right stuff, James.
For some of the forum members who haven't run across Irby Begnaud on steel (with Aldus Roger), here's a couple of links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSdB74zl4cE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1ZWEH3UCys

There's other good ones, but that's the sh*t...period!

James, if you manage to get the feel of those two steel solos, you'll be well on your way!

Bruce Terrell · Post by **Bruce Terrell** » 18 Apr 2011 6:45 pm

Justin Cormier wrote:
Bruce Terrell wrote:Unfortunately, they are all playing pedal steel.
I didn't use any pedals in the clip that's listed above...

My apologies. I think yours was a dark video and somebody in Youtube may have referenced pedal steel. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

David Cook · Post by **David Cook** » 19 Apr 2011 7:30 am

Thanks for posting this. I always wanted to see the cajun steel live in action.

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 19 Apr 2011 1:35 pm

Bruce Terrell wrote:Hi Jim. I don't know if I can give much help, only to say, I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out the same. I lived in Baton Rouge for a number of years and picked up cajun fiddle, but could never quite figure out what tuning steel they were using. I always used DL Menard's "Back Door" as my goal. Like you, I used open G on a 6 string, but it never sounded quite right. I could not find many helpful resources on the web. If you don't get many answers, maybe we can try to try to work this out. I'd like to get this worked out, once and for all, myself.
Bruce

Bruce, Archange "Ti'Coon" Touchet played on that original DL Menard recording of The Back Door and many more. He's one of my favorites. He plays a Fender Pro D-6 and that G tuning is GDGBDG (low to high) and you'll get that right sound.

By the way, it's me who's the masher, not Mr. Touchet.

Bruce Terrell · Post by **Bruce Terrell** » 19 Apr 2011 7:16 pm

Thanks so much Jim. I know how I'm spending my Saturday this week.

Karel van Bezooijen · Post by **Karel van Bezooijen** » 19 Apr 2011 11:53 pm

Suddenly remembers this post from some time ago:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1726354

Hope this helps!

James Burns · Post by **James Burns** » 20 Apr 2011 12:13 pm

I downloaded that if I ever make it to the E9th tuning I'm going to check it out ..

Jim

Karel van Bezooijen wrote:Suddenly remembers this post from some time ago:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1726354

Hope this helps!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Learning Cajun Steel

Learning Cajun Steel

Thank you Crowbear

Thanks Karel!