The Steel Guitar Forum

I was having some fun last weekend just jamming over this simple 2 chord Bossa Nova groove - C6/9 to D6/9 looped 30x. This is playable on the page as a loop and/or downloadable (click on "More"): https://soundcloud.com/aev/bossa-2-chor ... king-track

Here's a favorite arpeggio run of mine that's adaptable to all kinds of feels and genres but works especially well over this kind of progression - found in lots of songs from "Old Joe Clark" to "Tequila." You can play it in either direction and/or break up the pattern to generate all kinds of easy to play but cool-sounding licks:



Here's another simple but nice-sounding arpeggio run for a Cmajor/Cmaj7 tonality.



This harmonized D Mixolydian scale pattern is another handy pattern for generating licks. Note that you can play just the top and bottom note of the chords as an alternative to the three-note grips.



See what cool improv ideas you can come up with over this progression. I'd love to hear 'em!

Hey thanks Andy! After about 3 years of scratching away at C6 tuning I've been looking for ways to improvise, these look like fun.

Thanks, Andy!

Back to the woodshed (when I get off work)

Those aren't actually bad Byrd style split bar slants on bottom tab, bar slanted right (bar slanted left is hard on my wrist) (as anybody that's worked thru the copper and green Exploring C6 book knows).

Gene, you'll have an easier time if you use more fingers than wrist for those slants.

Thanks Andy. This is something I have been thinking about while working on Quiet Village from your Surf Guitar book, although I don't intend to emulate Danny Gatton.

I think it's worth mentioning that one can use these charts for A6th tuning by retarding one fret on the 2nd string, and advancing one fret on the 4th string.

Or use the tabs directly, but up 3 frets and down 2 strings. Best for 8 string guitars. Its more complicated to write than play.

The first arpeggio idea would work in Quiet Village for sure. With any arrangement I create my hope is people won't play it verbatim but change it around and improvise to make it their own. There are many ways to get to the same place on the steel guitar that can be equally cool and the road is wide open for alternative ideas.

Hey David, I've been doing just this lately! I've got E13, C13, and A6 on a triple neck 8-string and have become obsessed with playing the same thing on all 3! It's really just a matter of where that whole note tuning interval is. E13 is between strings 2(C#) and 3(B), C6 is between strings 3(A) and 4(G), and A6 is between strings 4(F#) and 5(E). This was really an epiphany for deciphering these particular different tunings. Also makes me want to experiment with Jerry's Diatonic Tuning.

Nice lines. I gotta get your surf book, Andy

Thanks Andy, I've been neglecting my C6 studies, I'm enamored with B11 at the moment and working my way through your 18 arrangements book but ill give these a shot.

You're welcome. B11th is magical for the right songs.

Interesting.... thanks for sharing this Andy.