The Steel Guitar Forum

Iv just spent a morning trying to fathom out the b section of this tune as played by Billie Hew Len here on u tube, ( love the way he gets bluesy, my favourite version )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IrSq1rO ... re=related
I cannot for the life of me work out the chord at 33 seconds, just before he goes to D7, some say its A but surely that cannot be correct, thought id 'call a friend' to help out, thanks in advance.

Kevin, to my ear it's a D9th going to D7 ... probably a D root on top voicing.

After reading Mike's message below I took out my flatop. Sounds like key of A to my brass ears but Mike's golden ears may be more trustworthy.

I don't have a guitar in front of me, but it sounds like he's playing in the key of Bb. The chord you're trying to figure out would be Fm7. It is a ii-V going to the IV--Fm7 Bb7 Eb (IV).

Thanks Andy and Mike, I think Iv defo now nailed it its definitely the one, typed it into band in a box pressed the 'add cheese' icon and voila ! Its actually very interesting to witness how differently our ears work, to my ears there was something not quite right about andy and mikes thoughts ( no disrespect ) I kept at it and the mystery chord finally came through and was actually quite simple, lets see if any other thoughts come through before I reveal, it took all day for me.
We'll think of it in the key of A, altho Billy's utube is in Bb, woe betide me if Im wrong !!

For any one wishing to try Billy Hew Lens version Im pretty sure the mystery chord is A9 at the 12 fret position, works perfectly, hope this is of some help to others thanks again Andy and Mike

A9 is the correct chord for the start of the bridge (in the key of A), but I usually think of that as alternating bars of Em7 / A9. Billy Hew Len is playing that in A6 tuning, you can tell by the slant for the ninth chords.

You might be able to see how I do it in this video (B11 tuning):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zPbA1ID4Gs

Back when I made that video, I didn't know the tune all that well. I've since modified the way I play some of the parts slightly.

All, please refer to the Tablature section:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=183574

I hope someone finds this useful.

Thanks,

Craig

Enormously helpful, Craig and Jerry, many thanks, glad to know it was a9 afer all.

Kevin, while it's true that the rhythm section is probably playing an A9 chord, the steel player plays the notes B and D, which could either be interpreted as being an Emi7 chord or an A11 chord (which is essentially a G triad over an A bass note) finally resolving to the A7 chord. The most common choice would be the Emi7. The top melody note D (the b7 of Emi7) resolves to the C# (the maj 3rd of A7).

And darned if that doesn't look like Billie's playing a gold-plated fry pan like the one previously discussed and presently on ebay.

Al, that's the original finish on most of the frypans, but it usually flakes off or disappears. The one we were talking about actually looked like a completely different process, like gold plating.

Ah, okay. I guess I've never seen one so nicely preserved. The contrast to the silver pickup is quite sharp. Thanks, Mike.

Thanks Mike, sorry if I misled you, it was in fact the chords of the rhythm section I was after, not the steel part, Im a few yards off that still.

Considering that the first section is 2m7 to a 5 seventh it would be logical to consider that the middle section also uses the same convention, which it does. 5 minor seventh to a 1 seventh, used on almost every one of the versions recorded by the pro's. Especially this one and also the composer's one.
The main difference is that the composer has a harmonic middle section which is part of the tune, omitted by Billy on THIS version of his because How D'ya Do was only PART of a medley.

It's Momi Kahawaiola’a the niece of Aunty Genoa on acoustic guitar, she'll know for sure..

Mike and Baz: I agree with you guys 100%. Done and done.

Please refer to the Tablature section for the edited version.

Thanks.

basilh wrote:Considering that the first section is 2m7 to a 5 seventh it would be logical to consider that the middle section also uses the same convention, which it does. 5 minor seventh to a 1 seventh, used on almost every one of the versions recorded by the pro's. Especially this one and also the composer's one.
The main difference is that the composer has a harmonic middle section which is part of the tune, omitted by Billy on THIS version of his because How D'ya Do was only PART of a medley.

It's Momi Kahawaiola’a the niece of Aunty Genoa on acoustic guitar, she'll know for sure..

Bas, that is the incomparable Violet Pahu Liliko'i on rhyhtm guitar in this cut.

Where you been?

Hello stranger !

OK Bill, I've been 'Up to my Eyes" in a new album of Bob Brolly, and last week we were in Tenerife fundraising for the charity "Help for Heros"

Thanks for the 'Heads up' Regarding the rhythm guitar part being Violet Pahu Liliko'i, how would one big fat Haole know about the smarties ? I was only guestimating whomsoever it was.

basilh wrote:Hello stranger !

OK Bill, I've been 'Up to my Eyes" in a new album of Bob Brolly, and last week we were in Tenerife fundraising for the charity "Help for Heros"

Thanks for the 'Heads up' Regarding the rhythm guitar part being Violet Pahu Liliko'i, how would one big fat Haole know about the smarties ? I was only guestimating whomsoever it was.

Well, I'm glad you are healthy and active.

I see the Mrs. Henriques all the time on that other social networking site. I told her to send my regards. But that just doesn't seem adequate.

Miss you.

P.S. I really only knew that was Auntie Violet because it has always been my understanding that really bad steel players aspire to be the best rhythm guitarists they can be to overcompensate. So I have studied my rhythm guitarists.