Learning C6 at 64?

Larry Gerdeman · Post by **Larry Gerdeman** » 14 Mar 2003 6:18 pm

I just turned 55 in Feb. and my wife bought me a D-10 for my birthday. This is my first try at C-6, but I figure your never too old to learn. Good luck.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 15 Mar 2003 4:24 am

Hi. The Pedal Steel Guitarist issue is May 1981.. Same year as my Sho-Bud !!
I know this because Tom Bradshaw just sent me a free copy with some Jeff Newman tapes and courses and a Curly Chalker Counterpoint cassette, that I just got this am.
Very good advice in that issue. And a good Paul Franklin interview too. Thanks Tom!

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 15 Mar 2003 7:49 am

Is there any way to get a copy of that Buddy Emmons article on C6 pockets? Maybe it could be posted here on the Forum, or maybe somebody knows where it already is somewhere on the internet.

I'm 56 and just got a Universal and am trying to figure out the B6 part of it. I am finding that for an E9 player the U has one major advantage over C6, and that is that when you lower your Es to go to the 6th mode it gives you the V6 chord for whatever fret you are at, but with the root on the 9th string instead of the 8th. So thinking backwards from that you just have to think of the E neck frets and the V chords that go with them to know the B6 frets. And as Reece says, once you start thinking like that you are doing all your thinking on one neck all the time, not jumping back and forth.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 15 Mar 2003 8:02 am

Ernie Renn has reprinted them on his Buddy Emmons web site. Go here:
http://www.buddyemmons.com/tab_from_buddy.htm
and scroll down to "C6 Licks". Check out the last four.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 15 Mar 2003 8:17 am

The article was referencing this
MINOR ABRASIONS IN THE POCKETS (from "Steel Guitarist" magazine]

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 15 Mar 2003 7:27 pm

Wayne, it's never too late to do anything unless it's the day after you die. The C6 intimidates a lot of E9 players and they mostly use the rear neck to make indented lines on their forearms. In the right hands the C6 opens up a whole new world that fits into Western Swing, Jazz and Country Jazz. I too prefer that tuning over the E9 because I started out on it by listening to Chalker 40 years ago and he has been my hero since that time.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 15 Mar 2003 7:29 pm

Wayne, it's never too late to do anything unless it's the day after you die. The C6 intimidates a lot of E9 players and they mostly use the rear neck to make indented lines on their forearms. In the right hands the C6 opens up a whole new world that fits into Western Swing, Jazz and Country Jazz. I too prefer that tuning over the E9 because I started out on it by listening to Chalker 40 years ago and he has been my hero since that time.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 16 Mar 2003 1:13 am

Gary , what's your choice of an indespensable Chalker recording / album?

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 16 Mar 2003 9:01 pm

David, I have always considered the "Big Hits on Big Steel" by Curly done in '66 to be the most awesome. That coupled with the "Counterpoint" project will be Curly's greatest masterpieces. I realize that's just my biased opinion but it was this man's playing that lit my fire. It was his work on the "Travis" album in '61 by Merle Travis on Capitol that blew me away and was done on a Fender 1000 D-8. I would recommend that also for making an impression on the C6, Gary.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 17 Mar 2003 9:03 am

Thanks I have Counterpoint and there is some fine PSG on it. Some of the tunes while fine are dated, but CC is top shelf throughout.

I have no Travis on this side of the pond, but he's cool. "Big Steel" I would like to find. Is it on CD?
I expect to be much more C6 than E9 when something with pedals gets here in the next few days.

Carlton Harmon · Post by **Carlton Harmon** » 24 Mar 2003 7:31 pm

Slick, I am now 67 years old and have been playing 5 string banjo since 1951. two years ago a lady that graduated high school with me wanted me to teach her banjo. I did and now she is very good with her music. I was so suprised at her progress that last month I bought myself a carter 10 to learn the pedal steel. I am taking lessons at billy coopers music in orange,va. He is a fantastic teacher and I'm having a ball with the guitar.

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country?--only with pedal steel. carlton

JACK HEERN · Post by **JACK HEERN** » 26 Mar 2003 5:22 pm

Slick,
If you are going to make the plunge, Both Doug Jernigan and Herby Wallace have some good material to make the transition with.

Jack