The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi
If anyone can help me figure out what Al Perkins is playing on this beautiful tune I would be most grateful.Is it mostly B&C pedals? I just can't seem to get that crying sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeGuwZxXJPQ

Regards
Phil

Hi Guys
Even the intro would help. I could mess around with the fills and break.

Thanks
Phil

Hey Phil, I used to play this song years ago on a six string Martin. The song is in "A" Major. It's hard to see everything that Perkins is doing 'cause Stills is in the way. The intro sounds to me like a classic "kickoff at the 12th fret,sounds to me like a three note kickoff(possibly 4 notes) starting on the eight string (blocking the first three notes)..strike eighth string open (no pedals)sixth string open pedal in "B" pedal,strike fifth string open,Pedal in A&B strike strings 3,4&5, release pedals, strike strings 4&5,slide up to the 14th fret (A sus)- back to 12th fret pedal in A&B strike 4&5, release A pedal-strike string 6, strike strings 4&5 no pedals(open) slide down to 7th fret, pedal in A&B, slide to 9th fret strings 4&5 open(NO pedals E sus) slide to 7th fret strings 4&5 and he loses me at this point...but I think he's playin an E7th at the fifth fret(strings 5,6&8 pedal in "B" and engage "D" lever/E to Eb)and he slides off to an open position where he hits two or three notes(E/E7) and works his way back to the fifth fret A postion open,probably some wide grips and works his way lower in the scale at the fifth fret!
Phil, the intro is a play on E7th to A. 4/4 time, three bars after the tacet. then into the body of the song. It is basically A to A sus to E to E7 to A. Perkins repeats the classic "kickoff a few times(at the begining of each verse) later too. I'll mess with this song more later. Phil, experiment with some chromatic rundowns with the A&B pedals engaged to the E position at the 9th to 7th fret(3,4&5 strings). He also looks like he is playing up at the 17th fret also, maybe some Harmonics too!? I think that crying sound is all in the hands of the player!To me it sounds like he has quite a bit of treble and a little "dirty", maybe playing thru an old Marshall... I don't think he's using the B&C pedals but I could be wrong! I hope this helps! Good luck, Dana

Hi Dana
Thanks so much. I will try out your ideas and let you know how I get on.
Thanks again,Phil.