The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi,

This is a first post, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me how Buddy Emmons plays the first four notes on 'Take Me In Your Arms And Hold Me' from Willie Nelson's "You Don't Know Me" album.

The first 10 seconds of the song can be found here:
http://www.highwater.co.nz/~trev/TakeMeInYourArms.mp3

(Sorry if the download is slow or breaks, but I'm on a rather slow connection.)

Thanks,

Trevor.

Trevor,

Try this:

Pick string 9 at Fret 5,
Pick string 8 at Fret 5, slide down to Fret 4 with both strings ringing,
Pick string 7 at Fret 4, slide down to Fret 3 with all three strings ringing,
Pick string 6 with all 4 strings ringing
This gives you a super G7(9) (I think!)
I don't know if Buddy plays it like this, but I think he probably does.
Please post if this works for you. Thanks.

Gerry

Thanks Gerry, that sounds perfect. I guess I should sit down and figure out the rest of the song now...

The steel is on one side listening with headphones. Pan to that side and you can really hear what he is doing.

Good ear Gerry... That works very well.
maybe the Boss will post how he did it or confirm..

this is not one of his best intros

I LOVE this intro. Cool droopy sound. Sounds like the record is melting. Its very distinctive and memorable...for me at least.

I recall the Maestro using that move before...

This thread reminds me where I stole it from!

RR

Jeff Newman showed us that one in the late 70's.
It's the type of run you can use to lead you from a I to a IV or a V back to a I.
He explained it thus: This is not a lick you 'chicken out" on because it departs from the usual progression and is a-tonal until it resolves into the expected chord. It's a real attention-getter. I love it, sadly I have forgotten how to play it. I printed off the tab...hopefully I can re-learn it

I think it's Weldon Myrick

Its Mr. Emmons on this record. Great record.
Anyone care to tab out the rest of the intro (I am not smart enough)?

Great lick! One more reason why PSG is in a class by itself!

Calvin Walley wrote:this is not one of his best intros

Why'd ya have to go and do that?

Calvin,
I certainly count you as one of my friends, and I wouldn't dare try to take away your right to have and express your own opinion, but hoss, in my opinion, you've really missed the boat on this one. :
I think it's a great, well thought out and perfectly matched intro for this song.
Thanks for your imagination "Cheeze".
BB

"...and this contributed to the thread, how?"
Candidly, C.W's post gave me the corner of a smile, whereas this one kinda didn't...but no biggie either way.

Bobby

nothing is wrong with it . its just not my taste in music, he has done some beautiful intros that i simply love , just not this one...hey we all have some things we like/don't like right ??? i was not putting it down. i just didn't think it was one of his best

Hi Ben,

This is almost certainly *not* what is played on the record, but the following is my feeble attempt...
The R on the seventh string is an F# to G raise.

You're welcome to try this until someone else comes along with a better version.

Trevor.

Never mind.

"How does he do it?" Well duh ...The best it can be done!

Edited for peace on earth and good will toward man .

the intro Buddy played can't be duplicated by anyone else on earth,......SAY WHAT!!!! did i miss something ?
without question Buddy Emmons is a super steel player
certainly far beyond my meager playing, but to make a statment like that boarders on insanity.
one of the best players anywhere is Bobby Bowman. having sat in his living room and hearing him play first hand i can tell you Bobby can hold his own with the best of them . in short yea Bobby can play it

Calvin,
Before we get a needless "range war" going here, perhaps I should straighten out what I meant to say to you.
Knowing you as I do, I don't really think you meant it to be interpreted the way it has been interpreted as myself and others may have done. I think you probably meant that it was not your favorite.
Now, knowing Buddy the way I do, I can assure that he settles for nothing less than the very best in his music endeavors as well as his station in life in general. For Buddy, trying to do "his best" happens each and every time he sits to his guitar,,,,even in his music room when he works out a tune, intro, turn around, ride, outtro, pads, back up, ideas, arrangements or anything else musically. He absolutely give it his very best. So, it's hard to say that "this or that" is Buddy's best, everything he does is his best. It's just his nature.
I thank you for the compliments. It's much appreciated,,,,I can probably play the intro you're talking, but holding my own with the likes of Buddy, Tommy and all the other great players just might be a bit of a stretch don't you think. Now, if you were to say that I had as much fun and enjoyed playing as much as those guys,,,yea, I'd go along with that.
Peace, and may God bless,
BB

the intro Buddy played can't be duplicated by anyone else on earth,......SAY WHAT!!!! did i miss something ?

Yes, Calvin - I think you did miss something. "Duplication" is not just playing the notes. I also have no doubt that lots of players can "play it". But it's not the same as duplication. There are other elements besides note choices - for example, subtlety, feel, soul.

The other issue is that it's one thing to play it after hearing it, but to think of it in the first place is a skill of a different order. IMHO, of course.

Calvin said: nothing is wrong with it . its just not my taste

Are we talking about a T bone steak in the kitchen or the greatest pedal steel player in the world???