The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been playing for a while now with a group doing a combination of western swing/country material, but also incorporating a number of cajun tunes. So far, I've been getting by on my D8 but would like to transition to pedals.

So, what cajun players should I be listening to for inspiration?

Danny Cormier and Marty Broussard are members here, they should be able to help. Most of the Cajun Steelers use an open tuning like an open G. You can search for Aldus Roger, Belton Richard and other Cajun French artists . You can then slow the video down on YouTube to figure out what they are playing. My dad was one of the players that played on tons of records and is in the Cajun music hall of fame.
Regards

Danny Cormier and Marty Broussard are members here, they should be able to help. Most of the Cajun Steelers use an open tuning like an open G. You can search for Alexus Roger, Belton Richard and other Cajun French artists . You can then slow the video down on YouTube to figure out what they are playing. My dad was one of the players that played on tons of records and is in the Cajun music hall of fame.
Regards

From the 1940s and 1950s era:

Ron Ray "Pee Wee" Lyons

Carrol Broussard

Amos Hebert

Ray Clark

Red Fabacher

Giles "Candy Man" Castillo

Papa Cairo

Berlan LeBleue

Roscoe Whitlow


There was a very strong western swing influence in Cajun music in the 40s and later, so you ought to take a look at early western swing steelers--if you haven't already.

Anyone with an interest in Cajun music should go here:

http://www.bluesandrhythm.co.uk/cajun-records/

You can download a free copy of this 70 page publication.

You can also contact Junior Martin @ Martin Accordions. He may have just what you need as he is one of the best Cajun steel players in Louisiana. In addition, their is a music store called Modern Music in Crowley, La. that will have any recordings you might need.
Their number is 337-783-1601

Brennan, here's a YouTube which might be of interest to you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKTCSaEB12U

Don R Brown wrote:Brennan, here's a YouTube which might be of interest to you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKTCSaEB12U

Great stuff! If that doesn't inspire you, nothing will.
I believe Jeff Lambert is a forumite also.

Thanks, all! It looks like Mr. Broussard literally wrote the book on the subject. This should set me straight for a while...

http://www.martybroussard.net/Works%20& ... ged[1].pdf

Brennan, a suggestion, try to find Jerry Douglas’ course on Dobro. He lays out some open tuning scale notes that Cajun Steelers use regularly. I didn’t include that type of stuff in my book but wish I had. The book was done in the early 90’s and was based upon a CD that I’d played on. I did the course with the intention of doing a second one. Family and Job responsibilities squashed that plan....LoL. I was also going to have my son upload the soundtracks for the book but he graduated and joined the Navy...another glitch. If you look through my posts you can find the name of the CD that the book is based upon. It was originally entitled Cajun Pickin’ but the rights were transferred and maybe the name has changed. There was some really great players on it:

Johnny LEE Carpenter - Fiddle, Tracy Byrd’s band Mgr for many years
Billy Carpenter - Drums, Tracy Byrd’s drummer for several years
Joe Manuel - Lead Guitar, currently with George Strait, but previously with Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and likes...a REAL Super Picker
Abe Manuel- Fiddle, formally with Merle Haggard
Tim Broussard- Bass & Accordion, formally with Mark Chesnutt
Belton RIchard - vocals on select tracks(you’ll know when you hear him), ICON in Cajun Music as an accordionist, songwriter , and vocalist

It was an honor to be in the same studio with those guys.

Good luck and holler if I can help.

BTW, google Swallow Records and you’ll find an abundance of Cajun material there.

[Brennan, a suggestion, try to find Jerry Douglas’ course on Dobro. He lays out some open tuning scale notes that Cajun Steelers use regularly.]

Marty - or anyone - is tHE Jerry Douglas course a book or DVD?

Might it be this?

https://www.amazon.com/DVD-Jerry-Dougla ... B0007QQW36[/quote]

Joe, the link didn’t work with my phone. When I purchased it the format was VHS...LoL. The original course has a pic of Jerry with a (leather?) jacket holding a Dobro in regular guitar style. I don’t think he’s ever offered another course. I’m sure you could obtain the same material from other accomplished players offering a basic course.

Thanks Marty. I’ve been listening to a lot of Cajun music and want to play it better. In fact I’m headed to Eunice, LA end of January to sit in at their Cajun jam, and see as much live music as I can find.

Fred Treece wrote:

Don R Brown wrote:Brennan, here's a YouTube which might be of interest to you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKTCSaEB12U

Great stuff! If that doesn't inspire you, nothing will.
I believe Jeff Lambert is a forumite also.

This steel player is using the E9 tuning by the way.