Vince Guaraldi's Christmastime is Here - C6th + Dmaj7 Tabs

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Dec 2016 5:28 am

Best greetings of the season, forumites!

Here's a re-up of the link to a free download of my C6th lap steel arrangement of Vince Guaraldi's classic "Christmas Time is Here."

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/717 ... 20Here.pdf

And here's a link to a free backing track for the tune:

http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/play/ ... s_here.htm

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 10 Dec 2016 6:51 am

Thanks Andy!

However the dropbox link is not working - it brings me to my dropbox page.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Dec 2016 9:55 am

Link repaired above. Hopefully, it works now.

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 10 Dec 2016 10:27 am

Andy Volk wrote:Link repaired above. Hopefully, it works now.

It works, thanks, Andy.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Dec 2016 5:07 pm

I was playing around with my Dobro and realized "Christmas Time is Here" lays out perfectly in D major seventh tuning. So here's the acoustic version - it's the same as Open D with the first string lowered 1/2 step to C#: (Low to High) D,A,D,F#,A,C#.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 12 Dec 2016 3:53 am

Here's a quick & dirty recording clams and all. I just arranged this yesterday so not much finesse yet.

https://soundcloud.com/aev/christmas-ti ... aj7-tuning

Miles Lang · Post by **Miles Lang** » 12 Dec 2016 8:43 am

That arrangement is really nice. Thanks for posting it, Andy

Randy Chow · Post by **Randy Chow** » 13 Dec 2016 12:07 pm

Stupid question time.

I downloaded and printed out the pdf file and was curious how one would play the Gb13#11 chord?? The two top strings are fretted/barred at 8, the third string at 7 and the fifth string at 6. Any info appreciated. Thanks!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 13 Dec 2016 1:43 pm

In the C6th version, if you have narrow string spacing you can play strings 1&2 with the nose of the bullet bar while also getting the bass notes. Some downward pressure can help intonate the 3-fret slant. But it's admittedly difficult to get in tune so, truth be told, I usually just eliminate string two and make a 3-note slant. I actually prefer the Dmaj7 tuning for this song.

Frank Agliata · Post by **Frank Agliata** » 14 Dec 2016 4:13 am

Thanks for sharing that Andy. Been reading your book about the lap steel recently. Excellent.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 14 Dec 2016 4:38 am

Thank you, Frank.

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 14 Dec 2016 9:00 am

Miles Lang wrote:That arrangement is really nice. Thanks for posting it, Andy

I really like the use of the open strings.

Jim Wilmoth · Post by **Jim Wilmoth** » 18 Dec 2016 3:17 pm

Andy Volk wrote:In the C6th version, if you have narrow string spacing you can play strings 1&2 with the nose of the bullet bar while also getting the bass notes. Some downward pressure can help intonate the 3-fret slant. But it's admittedly difficult to get in tune so, truth be told, I usually just eliminate string two and make a 3-note slant. I actually prefer the Dmaj7 tuning for this song.

The slants are brutal for me to intonate correctly but I keep trying.

Randy Chow · Post by **Randy Chow** » 18 Dec 2016 10:46 pm

Andy Volk wrote:In the C6th version, if you have narrow string spacing you can play strings 1&2 with the nose of the bullet bar while also getting the bass notes. Some downward pressure can help intonate the 3-fret slant. But it's admittedly difficult to get in tune so, truth be told, I usually just eliminate string two and make a 3-note slant. I actually prefer the Dmaj7 tuning for this song.

Egad!!
(:^O

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 19 Dec 2016 3:20 am

When I started playing, I was told that slants were a regular part of steel playing and therefore, I never viewed them as unachievable. That said, it took me a long time to grab them in tune on the fly - hours of practice - especially for the three-fret variety.
You can play fine steel music with zero slants buts it's satisfying to have a technique in your quiver that took a certain amount of blood, sweat and tears to acquire.

The best way to practice them is to play each individual note than match those tones to your ear with the slant. Where you are on the fretboard makes a difference as to how easy or hard they will be to play as does bar dimension and string spacing. Some slants are more easily accomplished on certain instruments while others may be impossible. In steel guitar, there's always another way to accomplish a given sound. Sometimes just finding the right tuning for a tune solves 95% of your problems. Keep at it and you will see results!

Mark Roeder · Post by **Mark Roeder** » 19 Dec 2016 9:34 am

thanks Andy
I love that song

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 19 Dec 2016 10:20 am

You're very welcome. Vince Guaraldi captured the poignance in sound that was always underlying the early Peanuts comics.

David DeLoach · Post by **David DeLoach** » 20 Dec 2016 3:06 am

Hey Andy, really appreciate you sharing that with us!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 20 Dec 2016 6:35 am

I think it really is a beautiful song and its melody and harmony are as easy sounding as the breeze, yet full of magic.