Open E early Western swing recordings

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 7 Dec 2022 6:55 am

Leon McAuliffe used the open E tuning early in his career. Specifically the song White Heat 1937. (Thanks Guy Cundell ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEmAZHQuV8Q
Is there any other early (or modern) examples of Western swing using this tuning? It seems he switched between open A and open E and C#m and that by 1941 he was using 8 string tunings. I really like the simplicity of open 6 string tunings and I am looking for some more inspiration!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 8 Dec 2022 4:34 am

Blue Guitar Stomp - Leon McCAuliffe. This might be E13 but mostly playable on Open E or E7. Sounds like he snuck in a reference to Charlie Christian's Seven-Come-Eleven lick in there?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_xMZ7A2rY

Jouni Karvonen · Post by **Jouni Karvonen** » 8 Dec 2022 6:55 am

Steel Guitar Rag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxzxH6wIPCY

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 8 Dec 2022 9:40 am

Andy Volk wrote:Blue Guitar Stomp - Leon McCAuliffe. This might be E13 but mostly playable on Open E or E7. Sounds like he snuck in a reference to Charlie Christian's Seven-Come-Eleven lick in there?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_xMZ7A2rY

His tune T-U-L-S-A is pretty much a direct lift of the Seven Come Eleven riff. Like Steel Guitar Rag it seems Leon was happy to borrow freely from other sources.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urigbb-HL5A

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 8 Dec 2022 12:32 pm

Andy Volk wrote:Blue Guitar Stomp - Leon McCAuliffe. This might be E13 but mostly playable on Open E or E7. Sounds like he snuck in a reference to Charlie Christian's Seven-Come-Eleven lick in there?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_xMZ7A2rY

I heard this first by Tom Morrell, who was always amazing. I figured it was a popular song, of course it comes from Leon. Great to hear this version! I remember trying to play this in E13 and butchering it badly. Ill have to see what I can get in good old E.

His tune T-U-L-S-A is pretty much a direct lift of the Seven Come Eleven riff. Like Steel Guitar Rag it seems Leon was happy to borrow freely from other sources.

I know it is common in jazz to quote other songs, hard to say when they are stealing or quoting. I think all the greats stole to some degree.

It's always fun to play Steel guitar Rag. The first tune many learn I expect. It just sits perfectly in E tuning. Its a good tune to gain some confidence. I always assumed Leon was playing it in his E13, but looking at the date it would make sense that it is straight E. This leads me to the idea that I just need to find a discography of Leon's with the recording dates. I am guessing anything before 1939 or 40 is in a 6 string tuning.

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 8 Dec 2022 7:55 pm

I think that he probably recorded Blue Guitar Stomp with E13 but I wouldn't mind betting that he wrote it on C#m (E6) as it lays out better in that tuning IMO.

Whoops! Correction: I was thinking of Blue Bonnett Rag. Blue Guitar Stomp is definitely E13.

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 8 Dec 2022 8:05 pm

Tim Toberer wrote: It's always fun to play Steel guitar Rag. The first tune many learn I expect. It just sits perfectly in E tuning. Its a good tune to gain some confidence. I always assumed Leon was playing it in his E13, but looking at the date it would make sense that it is straight E.

Tim, here is my take on it.

https://b0b.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2 ... r-Blag.pdf

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 9 Dec 2022 6:55 am

Well regardless of which tuning it was written in or usually played, it is fun to try to play open E. It forces you to get creative when the notes seem to be missing, You start finding other places to play it thinking outside the box. You also realize pretty quick why these players abandoned these simple tunings for more harmonically dense ones!

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 9 Dec 2022 8:15 am

Guy Cundell wrote:
Tim Toberer wrote: It's always fun to play Steel guitar Rag. The first tune many learn I expect. It just sits perfectly in E tuning. Its a good tune to gain some confidence. I always assumed Leon was playing it in his E13, but looking at the date it would make sense that it is straight E.
Tim, here is my take on it.

https://b0b.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2 ... r-Blag.pdf

A very thoughtful and interesting essay Guy.

Tim Toberer · Post by **Tim Toberer** » 9 Dec 2022 10:33 am

Guy Cundell wrote:
Tim Toberer wrote: It's always fun to play Steel guitar Rag. The first tune many learn I expect. It just sits perfectly in E tuning. Its a good tune to gain some confidence. I always assumed Leon was playing it in his E13, but looking at the date it would make sense that it is straight E.
Tim, here is my take on it.

https://b0b.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2 ... r-Blag.pdf

Sadly this is a common theme in early American music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqWQ769b-eA

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 9 Dec 2022 2:05 pm

Quite a piece of scholarship as well as a fair and balanced appraisal, Guy.

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 11 Dec 2022 11:05 pm

Guy Cundell wrote:.... Blue Guitar Stomp is definitely E13.

Guy, what is the hint or tip that tells you that this is played on E13? I'm not challenging you, just curious what you hear or have transcribed to say this a piece is played in a certain tuning?

\ paul

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 14 Dec 2022 3:58 pm

Paul Seager wrote:
Guy Cundell wrote:.... Blue Guitar Stomp is definitely E13.
what is the hint or tip that tells you that this is played on E13?
\ paul

The main melody lays out nicely but isn't definitive. The chords in the B section pretty much nail it down, IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8TuJBb-5_Q