The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi There

Can anyone tell me what are the first four notes played on the steel on Rambling Man by Hank Willians as played on a C6. According to my internet sources it is an A minor chord and seems to be E A C and E but it would be good to get a confirmation. If anyone knows who is the steel player that would be interesting to know too.

thanks

It was Don Helms on the recording.

I've been playing around with the 6 string version of his E13 tuning and it's in one of the string combinations that uses the 3rd string, strings 5,3,2,1. You don't hear that combination as much in Don's playing but it gives me a good insight playing minor chords within that tuning. The notes I come up with when matching the recording (and your research) are E-A-C-E played at the 20th fret. I don't know where they would be on C6th.

C6th is the same as Am7th so on the C6th tuning the notes A C & E, without pedals or levers, would be found open or on the 12th fret or the 24th fret if you're in Hughey land.

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I think I is simply the Am chord played from the bottom up. I play it on the 24th fret on my C6. It is so simple and yet sounds so good. I had thought it was likely to be Don Helm but didn't sound like one of his typical licks which is why I wondered.