Early Emmons Copedent

Anthony Locke · Post by **Anthony Locke** » 29 Mar 2017 5:58 am

Hello, does anyone happen to know what tuning and copedent Emmons used on "Half a Mind?" Was he still using the Issacs E7? According to his website he recorded the tune on a Fender 1000 and it was the first time he split the pedals (B and G# no longer on same pedal.) Some of the chords he gets on his solo sound like the E7 tuning to my ears. Any info greatly appreciated!

https://youtu.be/47xX9NDpxJo

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 29 Mar 2017 6:17 am

Sounds like the E9 on the intro and solo, but during the verse (the tremolo part) it sounds like the C6 neck.

Great stuff!

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 29 Mar 2017 9:10 am

Here's a link to a live version with the other Buddy (Charleton) playing the E9th tuning, pretty much note for note what the Big E played on record. I concur, with Mike, it's the E9th tuning. After all the E9th tuning is really the E7th tuning with the major 7th and 9th intervals added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KqB188pYiE

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 29 Mar 2017 10:38 am

It was the E9th tuning. Also the first recording Buddy did after he "split" the pedals, so, no on the Issacs set up.
One more thing, the F# & D# strings were not in the mix at that time. That came along in 1962. Another innovation of Buddy's. The first record those were used on was "You Took Her Off My Hands" by Ray Price.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 29 Mar 2017 11:01 am

Just to clarify, the E9 from low to high was:

E G# B D F# G# B E

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 29 Mar 2017 11:05 am

8 string E9th tuning with at least one bar slant. Try playing a SESSION for Ray Price with the 2 high chromatic strings on the bottom!

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 29 Mar 2017 4:30 pm

There is another discussion currently about Buddy's early Sho-Bud in the CMHOF. It sounds like that was the guitar on Half a Mind. Apparently it was a D8 at that time but was later converted to a D10 for Pete Drake.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 65#2614865

Anthony Locke · Post by **Anthony Locke** » 30 Mar 2017 1:13 pm

It sounds like he recalled recording the song on his Fender 1000. http://www.buddyemmons.com/QApage4.htm

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 30 Mar 2017 1:30 pm

The quip in the link you posted refers to using the 1000 to play bass for Ray Price while hitching a ride back to Nashville, not about recording Half a Mind with it. Cool anecdote though.

J Fletcher · Post by **J Fletcher** » 4 Mar 2022 2:30 pm

Reviving an old thread here . I have been listening to Ernest Tubb's "Half a Mind" lately , and working out the steel intro and solo . So , I wondered if Emmons was playing , low to high , E G# B D F# G# B E , at this time . Sounds like it , as there doesn't seem to be an E between the D and the F# , at least that I can hear . Or a high G# for that matter .
When did the E9 tuning add the G# and the E between the D and the F# ? Just curious .
Jerry