Jimmy Day and The Least Amount

Shaun Marshall · Post by **Shaun Marshall** » 15 Dec 2019 3:48 am

I notice when Jimmy Day really lays into a ballad, he plays the least amount of notes with a lot of heart, thanks JD!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 15 Dec 2019 6:47 am

Yes, sometimes less is more.

Erv

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Dec 2019 10:13 am

Jimmy was a very expressive vocalist as well as arguably the most expressive ballad player on steel guitar. He told me more than once that he wanted his listeners to "hear the lyrics" when he played his solo. So he played in a very "vocal-ese" style on ballads.

Depending on individual style, singers enunciating lyrics seldom add syllables to the words they're singing (unless, of course, the singer is a show-off diva adding a multi-note mellisma to the end of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl

). Likewise, Jimmy played sparsely on ballads. Often in a song, the singer's last note/syllable will be on beat 1 of bar/measure 15, holding the note a measure and three quarters to the end of bar 16, essentially 7 quarter notes without lyric.

Sometimes Jimmy would end his solo at the place the lyrics ended, as above, holding a sustained note for those 7 quarter notes. I discussed this one time with Buddy, and he told me "y'know, that used to drive me nuts about him. I wanted to yell out 'finish the damn solo.'"

I told Buddy my opinion was that Jimmy DID finish the solo, only his approach was as a singer of the song, not an instrumentalist wanting to fill out space/time.

I think Miles Davis said something alluding to the fact that the notes we don't play are as important as the notes we do play. I agree with Miles and with Jimmy.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 15 Dec 2019 12:14 pm

"I wish I could do that...and then I wouldn't"...

Words to live by...

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 15 Dec 2019 12:33 pm

Some folks try to put â€œ100 notes in a 50 note bagâ€ but to my slower brain/ears, Iâ€™d rather hear Jimmyâ€™s playing style. Nothing against those who can really play the fire out of it (okay, maybe a little jealous here) ðŸ˜‰. More power to ya!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Dec 2019 12:49 pm

Steve Hinson wrote:"I wish I could do that...and then I wouldn't"...

Words to live by...

Hey Steve, that story has entered the "folk legend" tradition about Jimmy but it actually involved me.

It was at ISGC sometime in the early 1990's. Jimmy and I were standing by the sound booth listening to a steeler who shall remain anonymous since he's a member of the Forum and I wouldn't want to embarrass him. But this picker was burning it on Orange Blossom or some tune like that, fast enough to intimidate a bluegrass banjo picker, clean and super fast.

In a fit of professional envy, I turned to Jimmy and said "I wish I could play like that," and he turned to me and said "... and choose not to." Four of the most powerful words he ever said, and he was a man of few words, indeed.

I still envy the guys that can do that bluegrass stuff... Doug, Austin Stewart, Mike Sigler..., but for now and the future, I just sing my song the way I'm able to.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 15 Dec 2019 4:23 pm

I'm always impressed by the artists that can play super fast and super clean. But John Hughey could move me to tears playing a slow ballad.

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 16 Dec 2019 5:42 am

Thank you, Herb!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Dec 2019 8:01 am

Whenever I tab out a song, I watch the lyrics very closely.
When the lyrics end with a period, I stop, and start picking again at the next group of lyrics.
I want my tab to follow the flow of the lyrics.

Erv

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 16 Dec 2019 9:29 am

I try to compose my E9 ballad solos with the Jimmy Day mindset.

Iâ€™m playing the lyrics. Every syllable of each word. I think the listener likes to hear the steel that way. I know I do. Itâ€™s the most relatable.

If Iâ€™m taking it around the block twice, Iâ€™ll get a bit more color on the second lap, but I still stay close to the melody.

I think the listener should be able to listen to a solo, isolated from the song, and identify the melody. Just crapping out a starburst of notes doesnâ€™t do it for me.

I learned it from JImmy, and it works for me.

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 16 Dec 2019 3:26 pm

I was at the Dallas show in about 1986(ish?). As part of his introduction of Jimmy Day, Scotty called hinm the best left foot in the business. I thought, "Hmmm." Then Jimmy started playing and demonstrated what Scotty was talking about.

David Zornes · Post by **David Zornes** » 17 Dec 2019 4:07 pm

Larry Jamieson wrote:I'm always impressed by the artists that can play super fast and super clean. But John Hughey could move me to tears playing a slow ballad.

people will long remember your conviction and phrasing on a beautiful slow song than a blazing fast one. Itâ€™s more about QUALITY than QUANTITY.

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 18 Dec 2019 6:45 am

+1 for what David said.

I wish I had clean, fast, blazing single note speed, but I donâ€™t.

Iâ€™ll let the other instruments beat their brains out playing a billion notes. My voice has something special that the others donâ€™t have. Iâ€™ll try to concentrate on that.

I think itâ€™s the slow, soulful, pretty, â€œvocal likeâ€ sounds that people relate to from the steel, at least on a slow ballad..

I want to be that other voice, Do the things the other instruments canâ€™t do.

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 18 Dec 2019 6:52 am

Double post.....

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 19 Dec 2019 9:10 am

Herb Steiner wrote:
Steve Hinson wrote:"I wish I could do that...and then I wouldn't"...

Words to live by...
Hey Steve, that story has entered the "folk legend" tradition about Jimmy but it actually involved me.

It was at ISGC sometime in the early 1990's. Jimmy and I were standing by the sound booth listening to a steeler who shall remain anonymous since he's a member of the Forum and I wouldn't want to embarrass him. But this picker was burning it on Orange Blossom or some tune like that, fast enough to intimidate a bluegrass banjo picker, clean and super fast.

In a fit of professional envy, I turned to Jimmy and said "I wish I could play like that," and he turned to me and said "... and choose not to." Four of the most powerful words he ever said, and he was a man of few words, indeed.

I still envy the guys that can do that bluegrass stuff... Doug, Austin Stewart, Mike Sigler..., but for now and the future, I just sing my song the way I'm able to.

I know that story and that line. I have been using it for years. Can't remember who told it to me. Maybe you Herb....

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 28 Dec 2019 10:01 pm

I once heard or seen an interview with Jimmy Day. The spokesman asked Mr. Day how to play a Steel Guitar. His answer.

"Hook you Heart to the Bar, And your Soul to the Pedals".

I have Jimmy Day's Golden Steel Guitar Hits/Steel and Strings CD reissue released by Bear Family Records of Germany. It is a very interesting album to listen to, And study phrasing on the Steel Guitar.

Diane Diekman · Post by **Diane Diekman** » 29 Dec 2019 7:43 am

I have Jimmy Day's "Steel and Strings" LP, if anyone wants it. I bought it on eBay when I was writing Faron's biography.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 29 Dec 2019 9:08 am

Still available on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Strings-Go ... B000024283

Lynn Fargo · Post by **Lynn Fargo** » 29 Dec 2019 9:29 am

Steel and Strings - My favorite steel guitar album Ever! Wish I could do that - and then I would!

Pete Bailey · Post by **Pete Bailey** » 29 Dec 2019 10:21 am

I've noticed this too. The better I get, the less I play.

One of these days I'll be so good you won't hear a thing.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 29 Dec 2019 10:23 am

Lynn Fargo wrote:Steel and Strings - My favorite steel guitar album Ever! Wish I could do that - and then I would!

There's a lifetime of learning in that one album.

When learning those tunes, know that Jimmy was playing Blue Darlin'#1 in D9 tuning. He does a bunch of open string playing that will drive you crazy if you think he tuned to E9.

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 29 Dec 2019 3:55 pm

I agree with you Pete. I am the same way.

Lynn Fargo · Post by **Lynn Fargo** » 30 Dec 2019 8:29 am

Herb, Thanks! I won't have to keep pulling my hair out.

And my Dad wondered why when I was a kid on a double 8 Stringmaster I couldn't play like that. Sheesh, guess I STILL can't play like that. At any rate, I certainly do admire his tone, attack, left foot and use of volume pedal. Still a lot there to strive for.

Tore Blestrud · Post by **Tore Blestrud** » 31 Dec 2019 5:41 am

Like Herb said: There's a lifetime of learning in that one album.

The first steel album I bought, still a favourite. I first thought this sounded pretty easy to play, then when studying Jimmys playing more thoroughly it was obvious that this his playing was on a different level. Jimmys phrasing, touch, tone and feel was impossible to copy. The master in my ears

Paul Norman · Post by **Paul Norman** » 2 Jan 2020 5:02 pm

Willie has a whole album with Jimmy Day playing.

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