Boot Heel Drag (?)

[John Steele]

I've decided I'd better get cracking, and learn this Herb Remington tune.
I'm fine with the first chorus, but I'm having trouble finding the right places to do the slides which comprise the second chorus. Does anyone have suggestions? How do you play it?
Any key is fine. Thanks in advance.
-John

[Ricky Davis]

Hey John; in the key of "A", here is how I play it on the pedal steel C6th tuning. Now If you want it tabbed on the no-pedal, I can do that also, just let me know.
<font size="3" face="monospace"><pre>
1._____________________________________________|
2._4(6)~~9__9~~~~12___|_12____16(6)_12____9____|
3._4~~~~~9__9~~~~12(L)|_12(L)_16____12(L)_9___9|
4._4~~~~~9__9~~~~12___|_12____16____12____9___9|
5.____________________|_______________________9|
6.____________________|_______________________9|
7.____________________|________________________|
8.____________________|________________________|
9.____________________|________________________|
10.___________________|________________________|


1._____________________|_______________________|
2._____________________|_______16(6)_12____9___|
3._9~~~~~12__12~~~16___|_16____16____12(L)_9__9|
4._9~~~~~12__12~~~16___|_16____16____12____9__9|
5._____________________|______________________9|
6._9(6)~~12__12~~~16(6)|_16(6)________________9|
7._____________________|_______________________|
8._____________________|_______________________|
9._____________________|_______________________|
10.____________________|_______________________|


1._________________________________________|
2._________________________________________|
3._____9__11~~~~~12____11____12~~~~~~~~4___|
4.___9_9__11~~~~~12____11____12~~~~~~~~4___|
5._9_9_______________________12~~~~~~~~4___|
6._9___9__11(6)~~12(6)_11(6)_12(6)~~~~~4(6)|
7.___9_____________________________________|
8._9_______________________________________|
9._________________________________________|
10.________________________________________|


1._______________|
2._______________|
3.______9_9_____9|
4._8~9__9_9__9__9|
5._8~9__9_9__9__9|
6._8~9_______9__9|
7.______________9|
8._______________|
9._______________|
10.______________|
</pre></font>
Hey John; on the second slide up first row; I will either half 7th pedal the 3rd string or lower it like I tabbed; depending on wheather you want a major chord there or ninth chord. Hope this helps and I hope this was the section you were talking about. I tabbed the triplet intro some time ago to this song; if you have that.
Ricky

[John Steele]

Wow!
Yes, that's exactly the place I meant, and exactly what I needed to know, with pedals and all. It was the pedal moves that were tricking me.
Thanks Ricky ! Your kindness in sharing your knowledge with others is heartwarming, and I appreciate the time you took to type it out alot.
I'm printing this off to go try it right now! You're the greatest.....
-John

[Ricky Davis]

Hey John; my pleasure. You know I tabbed that at the airport on one of my layovers; and I can't tell you how much of a kick I get out of doing that then; when I really need to do something, so I'm not completely bored. When I got home; I loaded it from a floppy on my home computer and printed it and took it over to my steel and made sure it was right; and wow; I learned something very important. I would suggest that to anybody; is to tab something out that you know; without the guitar; then go back and see if it is right. I taught me to really look at my guitar; without having it right there; and WHAT a learning experience. Glad to do it.
Ricky

[John Steele]

OK, it's Lt. Columbo of the Steel Guitar Forum here I've just investigated your tab, and there's a few loose ends...
Ha.. just joshin' Ricky...it's great. But I noticed something about that slide from the 12th to 16th fret. Do you use 3 fingerpicks? C'mon,'fess up! I do, and the 12th fret chord sounded kinda odd until I used the 5th string too, and then *wham* it filled in beautifully. I'd never noticed that inversion before, although I use the same thing on E9 all the time.
I'm still unclear on the half-pedaled version of that chord though.. that would half-raise the 4th string too, wouldn't it?
Thanks again,
-John

[Ricky Davis]

Well hey John; your right. I don't really half pedal the 3rd string for that particular lick; cause yes indeed, it does raise the 4th string, that's why I always just lowered it for the ninth inversion. I use the half pedal on the 3rd, when I'm not playing the 4th, on other things; I just got mixed up. Now as far as the slide from 12th to 16th; make sure if your playing the four notes, that the 5th string is lowered a half tone on the 12th, for that ninth chord also; or I guess it would make that a sus. if you didn't lower it; but you knew that.
I only use two finger picks; but I do play four and five note inversions, by the use of the thumb rake; the way Buddy Emmons explains it. Does that answer some questions; if not, then can you answer them for me ha......
What else ya workin' on John?
Ricky

[Ray Montee]

Somebody recorded this in C#min.tuning....on a record with a yellow label The slides were done on the 2nd and 3rd strings. It must be too old fashioned by the tone of these complicated sheet music versions. My oh my, what's this world a comin' to? I guess that was an old Bob Wills record I'm referring to. It's too simple; too old fashioned.

[John Steele]

Hey Ray,
Thanks. If it weren't for that old Bob Wills record, I guess none of us would be trying to learn it, would we?
And you're right. Ricky and I are constantly being berated for being too mod - too cutting edge. No respect for tradition. We'll work on that, right Ricky ? ;o)
-John
p.s. I will NOT wear a hawaiian shirt.

[Ricky Davis]

Well I can play the song each way; but then I would be a copy cat. No really; I usually play the song on the no-pedal steel; but for the c6 pedal; I like to fill it out a bit; and I am wearing a hawaiian shirt right now
Ricky