Don Helms "Your Cheatin Heart" now available in E-Book.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 5 Feb 2014 11:14 am

I've been wanting to buy this book for a while, but I really wanted it in digital format instead of print / cd. I was about to break down and order the regular book but decided to check the Mel Bay site one more time as they have been converting their library to E-Books. It was available and I downloaded it and I can tell you from previewing it on my computer while listening to the audio tracks, it is great.

The tab not only includes the intro / solo, it also includes the fill and comp as well. What a great way to learn licks and fill from a master as well as steel instrumental. The tab is written as one piece of music, not individual tabs for intro, solo, etc. which is much better for playing along with the included background tracks.

This book would be worth the price just for the audio recordings of Don's playing.

I personally prefer E-books because I can print them and put them in a binder and they are easier to play from than trying to keep a bound book open.

It also allows me to archive the files so I don't lose them, and even if you do you can always re download them from the Mel Bay site. Of course there are exceptions to this, for instance The pedal steel course by Scotty would be quite lengthy to print out, so I have the printed version of that one, however it is spiral bound. Any music book one is expected to actually play from should always be spiral bound IMO.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Feb 2014 2:17 pm

Thanks for letting us know, Jim.

Here's a link to the eBook on the Mel Bay website.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 5 Feb 2014 2:19 pm

The book is pretty good but I remember I was really disappointed with "I'm So Lonesome I could Cry" - one of my absolute favourites - as he either doesn't include the solo or plays it differently from the record (can't remember which as it's a long time since I looked at it).

The rest of the book seems pretty spot-on though.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 5 Feb 2014 2:30 pm

Hmmm, haven't listened to that particular one yet. Some of my favorites are Cold Cold Heart, Mansion on the Hill, and Wedding Bells. Can't wait to get home and try some of this stuff.

PS: I went on youtube and listened to a couple of recordings of I'm so Lonesome, one from 1949 and one from 1951. The one from 1949 mentioned that Jerry Byrd played steel on that release, I'm not sure when Don started playing with them, so that could be the reason there is a difference possibly?

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 6 Feb 2014 12:13 am

With all the great Hank stuff he DID play on to choose from, I wonder why he chose to include one he didn't play on?

I've worked it out myself since but one of the main reasons I bought that book was to find out what was happening in a couple of specific parts of that solo

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 6 Feb 2014 4:57 am

i was listing to a johnny cash best of cd at my workbench yesterday. "fool to fall" came on. i thought it was jerry byrd it sounded so nice. went online and checked....don helms. fabulous sound and playing.

Ryan Hulin · Post by **Ryan Hulin** » 6 Feb 2014 4:26 pm

I have the ebook and love it know if most of you saw my thread on the non pedal section I'm a bare bones beginner and I've already figured out the intro to Your Cheating Heart with this great book, it's super accessible and I think relatively easy.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 6 Feb 2014 7:32 pm

Jeff, he probably did play on later versions or performances of it but the early one was JB.