Merle's "Big City" intro

Chad Smith · Post by **Chad Smith** » 28 Oct 1999 6:36 pm

Hi everyone. I'm relatively new to the forum, mostly looking at posts for advice and tips. I would love to get some help on the intro to Big city, and also some ideas on the lead break (other than playing the intro over again) as I am the only lead instrument. I usually play guitar but am finally going to bring my steel out from the basement. Thanks a million.

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Chad Smith
GFI S-10 3+4

Tony Chavez · Post by **Tony Chavez** » 29 Oct 1999 6:18 pm

All I know is its in the key of F,and I know this cause I play a little guitar.

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[This message was edited by Tony Chavez on 10-31-99]

Kevin Walker · Post by **Kevin Walker** » 30 Oct 1999 12:09 am

You got the wrong song bro'.
The song is in the key of E, right off the track. No key change.
I'll tab it for you some time this week-end. As far as the split parts, I always pretty much just copied the fiddle line.

Chad Smith · Post by **Chad Smith** » 30 Oct 1999 5:12 am

Kevin,
Thanks a million for your time. On guitar I usually do the exact same thing (try to copy the other instruments). I also play keys, but with the picks on it will be impossible to split like I can on guitar. I'll look forward to your reply with the tab.

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Chad Smith
GFI S-10 3+4

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 30 Oct 1999 8:38 am

This is a quick version of the Big City intro. There are any number of ways to play most of it and I am very interested to see what others put forth (Kevin, you especially). This works but I'd love to know exactly where Norm plays it. The stuff in bar 3 starting on strings 5&6, 7a&7b could easily stay on those two strings up to 10 and 12.

<pre>
p.u. 1 2
1------------|------------------|----------------------
2------------|------------------|----------------------
3--0--0b--1b-|-2b---4-5-----6-7-|--12~12b--12--11~10---
4------------|------------------|----------------------
5--0--0a--1a-|-2a---4-5-----6-7-|--12~12a--12--11~10---
6------------|------------------|----------------------
* * * * * * * * * * *

3 4 5
1-----------------------|-----------------------|---------
2-----------------------|-----------------------|---------
3--7b-------------------|----12----14b-13b~12b--|--12-----
4---------------5----7--|----12----14c-13c~12c--|--12-----
5--7a------7a---5a---7a-|-----------------------|---------
6----------7b-----------|-----------------------|---------
* * * * * * * *
</pre>

[This message was edited by Jon Light on 10-30-99]

Kevin Walker · Post by **Kevin Walker** » 30 Oct 1999 3:51 pm

Big City: Merle Haggard
Key of E
When we do this song, the guitar player and I will usually split the parts to cover a non-existent fiddle. Something like this, the guitar player will kick the song, I play the written steel part.
Bridge: I'll play the fiddle part, the guitar player plays the written part.

<pre>
1._______________________________________|
2._______________________________________|
3._______________________________________|
4.____________12___7~7~~7________________|
5.___7~7A__8A_12___7~7A~7__7A____________|
6._________________________7B____________|
7._______________________________________|
8._7_____________________________________|
</pre>

<pre>
1.__________________________|____________|
2.__________________________|____________|
3.__________________________|____________|
4.____5~5~~5__5____5~5___5__|____________|
5.____5~5A~5__5____5~5A__5__|___2A~~2____|
6.__5____________5__________|_________2B_|
7.__________________________|____________|
8.__________________________|____________|
</pre>

<pre>
1._______________________________________|
2._______________________________________|
3._______________________________________|
4._______________________________________|
5.____7A~~~~~~~~~~~12A~~12_______________|
6.____7B~~~~~~~~~~~12B~~12_______________|
7._______________________________________|
8._______________________________________|
</pre>

Take it for what it's worth. It's a simple part that pretty much goes hand in hand with the fiddle part. Once in awhile, I'll just come up with a single-string something or other to cover the whole progression.
Just play off the top of your head.
The intro that Jon Light tabbed is almost exactly like I play it with the exception of some sixth string grace notes on the scale walk-up.
Hope this helps you out.

Tony Chavez · Post by **Tony Chavez** » 30 Oct 1999 5:35 pm

Hey Chad,The only reason I play it in that key is cause I learned it that way from the net on OLGA,a guitar website,Transposed by Ken Keefover at ken@visicom.com

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[This message was edited by Tony Chavez on 10-31-99]

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 31 Oct 1999 11:38 am

I went ahead and tabbed this intro out on Me and Grahams steel clip sight; since there was a sound clip for it. It's on the 1982 page and will be on there probably later this evening when Graham gets it on. Have fun.
Ricky
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

Chad Smith · Post by **Chad Smith** » 2 Nov 1999 2:50 pm

Ricky,

Thanks a lot for tabbing the intro for me. Being new to the steel, I sometimes have no clue what position I should be in to get the proper changes and such. Your work, as well as Rebel's is a wonderful help to me and I would just like to say thanks. Also to Jon and Kevin, thanks for the tab you gave me. I'll have plenty to work on to fill the lead break!! Appreciate all the help and advice from everyone.

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Chad Smith
GFI S-10 3+4

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 2 Nov 1999 3:42 pm

Glad to be of some help Chad. Along with Jon and Kevin; I think we got ya covered. Never hesitate to ask; and anyone that can, will be more than willing to help out another in the steel guitar community.
Ricky