How to get Don Helms harmony on a PSG

[Bob Merritt]

What is best way using a "standard / modern" PSG, to get close to the type of harmonies /chords that Don Helms used on the Hank Williams recordings of circa (?) early /mid 50's on such tunes as Hey Good Lookin, Honky Tonk Blues, Your Cheatin Heart, Jambalaya.

If can't exactly duplicate, then how best to approximate his sounds on a standard D10. Maybe C6 neck with one or 2 pedals always down. Maybe even E9.

Thanks for all thoughts,
bob

[b0b]

Strings 8, 6, 5, 4, 3. Use the first pedal to get the C# note, but don't press it while the string is ringing.

[J Fletcher]

On the E9th, I use either, E's lowered to play B6th, or AB pedals down to play those old Hank intro's. Some of those licks are played up around the 15th, 17th fret area. They are really high up there! "Hey Good Looking" for example, on the 4th, 5th, 6th strings...Jerry

[b0b]

Don Helms' parts can be played note-for-note using the method I described. The parts are tabbed out in his "Your Cheatin' Heart" songbook, available from the Forum catalog or from Scotty.

To play from Don's tab, you need to do the following string substitutions on your head: [tab]Helms E9 string
1 G# 3
2 E 4
3 C# 5 pedaled
4 B 5 open
5 G# 6
6 E 8 [/tab]
It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. He never plays his 3rd and 4th strings together, which is part of what makes his style sound so clean.

[J Fletcher]

I find it easier to play these parts with the pedals down, or the lever engaged, for the whole lick if possible,and not have to step on a pedal to change a note within the lick. Seems to be easier, and more in the spirit of the song. But that's just my way of doing it!
I did learn the intro to "Hey Good Looking" the other day, and it starts on the 17th fret, on the 4th and 5th string, with A and B down, if I recall, and goes up from there. If it was played using no pedals position you'd be at which fret to start? The 22nd maybe? ...Jerry

[b0b]

Yes, that intro is high. The D7 chord is at the 22nd fret. It drops to the G7 at the 15th fret, then resolves to the C at the 20th. That's how he gets that sound.

If high frets are a problem, the notes are often available using a lower A6th (pedals down) or B6th (E's lowered) position. Using those positions for all of the licks will give you a much darker sound than Don Helms, though. When you play his plain string notes on wound strings, it just doesn't sound the same.

[Bob Merritt]

Don Helms' parts can be played note-for-note using the method I described. The parts are tabbed out in his "Your Cheatin' Heart" songbook, available from the Forum catalog or from Scotty.

To play from Don's tab, you need to do the following string substitutions on your head:

b0b,
The songbook looks like it might be great for showing the way to get Don Helm’s sound. Few more Questions:
1. What are the other 2 strings in Don’s tuning? Does the book cover those?
2. Do you use S7 or S2 for the F# in E13, and S9 for the D?
3. What about the A? (In E13)

(Have a feeling I’m getting too wrapped around the axil here.)

Never thought to look in the lap steel section of the Forum courses before. There's a TON of info and courses offered by the FORUM. Thanks.

[Dan Burnham]

Use Zane's tuning. It's there for the most part in the open tuning.

[Matthew Prouty]

I have this tab book and the CD and the CD is worth the money just for the listening.

I play all of this stuff on the E9 neck using the A pedal like mentioned above.

Some notes:

1. It is important to note that Don Helms played E6th not E13th as we know it. Call it what you want its really E6th for the most part. You can play this stuff on the C6th neck but the intonation is off as you are playing up the neck.

2. Don had no F# in his tuning.

3. Don rarely used the bass strings in the recordings. If you get this book you can play all of the voices 99% using the A pedal, you string spacing just tightens up compared to the E6th tuning.

[b0b]

b0b,
The songbook looks like it might be great for showing the way to get Don Helm’s sound. Few more Questions:
1. What are the other 2 strings in Don’s tuning? Does the book cover those?
2. Do you use S7 or S2 for the F# in E13, and S9 for the D?
3. What about the A? (In E13)

(Have a feeling I’m getting too wrapped around the axil here.)

Never thought to look in the lap steel section of the Forum courses before. There's a TON of info and courses offered by the FORUM. Thanks.

1. It doesn't matter what the low strings are. He never plays them in the Hank Williams songs.
2. Don Helms doesn't have an F# string in his tuning.
3. Ditto with the A.

[Matthew Prouty]

I should note that Don Helms STILL PLAYS E6th!!! I hope I am that active when I am his age!

M.

[James Morehead]

I should note that Don Helms STILL PLAYS E6th!!! I hope I am that active when I am his age!

M.

For that matter, he still plays the same guitar that he used back when he was playing for Hank.