Tommy White's Style

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 4 Dec 2004 8:52 pm

Hello,
Tommy White has one of the most distinguishing playing styles to my steel-neophytic ear. I'm not particularly familiar with his playing; I only know it through Joe Nichols' "You Can't Break the Fall" and "Don't Ruin It for the Rest of Us" (hi-larious song!), and the E9th video he and Lloyd Green did together. I was watching that video today with my good friend and teacher Barney Miller and I was noticing that on the tunes where he's cut loose, he favors very chromatic phrasing, and his picking gets very, for lack of a technical term, "bloopy", similar to Pat Metheny's rapid picking, which is a sound I really get a kick out of.
Where and what on Earth did he develop this style from? It's great and it makes me smile in a "That's disgusting--Play some more, I love it!" way.

Chris

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 4 Dec 2004 8:54 pm

"Bloopy"? Wazzat?

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 4 Dec 2004 9:03 pm

It's the sound. It's when the note "blooms" out of the amplifier. In rapid succession, though, the blooming notes sound "bloopy". Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny are two jazz 6-string cats that had/have this sound when they play quickly.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 4 Dec 2004 10:12 pm

Chris not sure I follow what your trying to say.But Tommy's playing just knocks me out.Always full of surprises.I guess he's my favorite all around player period.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 4 Dec 2004 10:34 pm

David Turner · Post by **David Turner** » 4 Dec 2004 11:01 pm

I want some of what Chris is smoking!

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 5 Dec 2004 3:04 am

Tommy,can make em talk,so plain and clear!yep and at the speed of light!That tape of Evening of E9th,i have wore my tape out.so many steel players i really enjoy,but Lloyd Green,and Tommy White,i could listen to for hours.and Tommy on that Dobro,man,he makes her smoke!! Great guys toooooo farris

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 5 Dec 2004 6:10 am

Chris, I do not exactly understand what you are referring to but this I do know, I could sit down all day and listen to Tommy White play. What you saw was just the E9th. He never played any C6th since that was an E9th showcase. Lloyd Green even commented to Tommy White that he never saw his hands go to the C6th neck. Tommy's reply was I wouldn't do that, I am a man of my word. Tommy White is one great picker. I had trouble with trying to figure some of his pulls and what levers pulled what strings. I say Tommy White needs to do another video.

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 5 Dec 2004 8:49 am

I've been digitizing many of my LPs and cassette tapes and a few days ago found a Whites tape I forgot I had. It's titled Old Familiar Feeling and I'm 95% certain it's from the days when Tommy was their reso player. And the reso playing on it fantastic ... I was blown away! Just awesome!
Anyone know if Tommy recorded with them back them? The copyright date on the tape is 1983. If it wasn't Tommy, I'd sure like to know who it was.

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 5 Dec 2004 9:13 am

Chris, being a big fan of Pat Metheny,Wes Montgomery and Geo. Benson, I think I know what you're saying. It is hard to put into words but, in Tommy's case his style seems to be very minimally affected by the mechanical aspects ie, bar, picks, pedals etc. as you said this is particularly evident during uptempo passages. The best word I can use to define it is "liquid" and yes I mean that in a very positive sense. Tommy is absolutely one of the greatest.

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 5 Dec 2004 9:18 am

Oh and BTW, both Tommy and Paul Franklin take a very "modal" approach especially during solos that presents a very soulful almost r&b style. I dig it for sure!

Mike Sigler · Post by **Mike Sigler** » 5 Dec 2004 10:03 am

Just my 2 cents but Tommy (BY FAR) is without a doubt the best over all player around..... Not takeing anything away from anyone else, I am just in awwww of his style. Tommy you Still da man!
Mike

Again Just my 2 cents!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 5 Dec 2004 10:42 am

One beautiful example of TW's playing is on the album by Joe and Abe Manuel, the name of which I don't have, but it's a lot of Cajun country stuff with playing by TW, Joe on guitar, and Abe Jr. on fiddle.

Joe and Abe are central TX residents now, incidentally, and are opening some eyes and ears around here.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 5 Dec 2004 11:17 am

I have to agree Tommy is a true modern master. I'm glad I don't have to decide who's playing I "like better" on the Evening of E9 video!
Don, "Old Familiar Feeling" was the White's first album, and that's Jerry Douglas on Dobro. He played with them for quite a while. Here's some bio on their early years: http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/whites_the/bio.jhtml
Tommy's a monster on the reso as well for sure!

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 5 Dec 2004 12:07 pm

Tommy White's secret weapon is his "Bloop-O-Tron" stompbox. If you knew where to buy one, you could sound just as bloopy as Tommy!

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 5 Dec 2004 2:45 pm

Thanks, Mark. That explains the playing ... but it could have been TW

[This message was edited by Don Walters on 05 December 2004 at 02:49 PM.]

Jimmie Misenheimer · Post by **Jimmie Misenheimer** » 5 Dec 2004 3:08 pm

What Mike said! T.W. is without a doubt the BEST all around steelman that I've ever heard in my 55 years. The imagination to come up with the "lines" that he comes up with are in my opinion without equal. The same goes for his tone, and how clean he does it. There are MANY players out there, GOOD players, and I like the work of all of you. If I could only hear one though, it would be Tommy. Good holidays to all... J.

By the way, this is in no way a "slight" against ANYONE else - when it comes time to listen, the "Ole Fat Boy" here loves you all... J.

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 5 Dec 2004 3:47 pm

Mike,
You are no slouch yourself

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D.S. Rigsby
Wilcox SD10 3&5

Mike Sigler · Post by **Mike Sigler** » 6 Dec 2004 3:47 am

Thanks Dustin,
But Tommy is my Hero! I have had the chance many times to stand on the opry stage and watch tommy, He is Totally Flawless to say the least. He gets such a groove going when he plays... Not only that but he is a great guy too!
MS