Pete Drake kills it on this one

About Steel Guitarists and their Music

Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn

Gary Hoetker
Posts: 343
Joined: 19 Aug 2013 11:05 am
Location: California, USA

Pete Drake kills it on this one

Post by Gary Hoetker »

so versatile and melodic !! E9 or c6??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9QO85RGDV8
Bob Carlucci
Posts: 6965
Joined: 26 Dec 2003 1:01 am
Location: Candor, New York, USA

Post by Bob Carlucci »

Thats got to be E9.. I loved the tone,,,,That type of steel sound went out well over 50 years ago, but to my ears its sounds like beautiful glass bells... bob
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
User avatar
David Ball
Posts: 1229
Joined: 18 Feb 2010 1:37 pm
Location: North Carolina High Country

Post by David Ball »

I agree
User avatar
Chris Templeton
Posts: 2576
Joined: 25 Sep 2012 4:20 pm
Location: The Green Mountain State

Post by Chris Templeton »

Along with Pete's playing, that shuffle beat is also great. Country reggae.
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
Joe Krumel
Posts: 1282
Joined: 5 Feb 2008 12:34 pm
Location: Hermitage, Tn.

Post by Joe Krumel »

Yep. Pete gets a cold shoulder from so many. He played a lot of cool stuff to my ears that helped sell records and make folks a bunch of money. No he didn't play machine gun speed licks or deep jazz improvs,but he played to the audience,the record buyers. He played in the style at the time and sold records with his unique style. jmho.I think he sounds great. Just another style of playing.
Bernie Watruba
Posts: 414
Joined: 19 Sep 2006 12:01 am
Location: Ohio, USA

Post by Bernie Watruba »

No, It’s C6 tuning all the way.
User avatar
Rick Campbell
Posts: 4283
Joined: 8 May 2006 12:01 am
Location: Sneedville, TN, USA

Post by Rick Campbell »

Joe Krumel wrote:Yep. Pete gets a cold shoulder from so many. He played a lot of cool stuff to my ears that helped sell records and make folks a bunch of money. No he didn't play machine gun speed licks or deep jazz improvs,but he played to the audience,the record buyers. He played in the style at the time and sold records with his unique style. jmho.I think he sounds great. Just another style of playing.
I agree.


RC
User avatar
b0b
Posts: 29108
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Cloverdale, CA, USA
Contact:

Post by b0b »

Bernie Watruba wrote:No, It’s C6 tuning all the way.
I think so, too. Pete had a high G on his C6th with a pedal that raised it to A. I think that's what we're hearing in this clip. It's all played on the top 4 strings. That's what I hear, anyway.
[tab] P2 P3 P4
G ++A
E +F
C ++D
A ++B
G -F#
E -Eb
...
[/tab]
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video
User avatar
Greg Cutshaw
Posts: 6610
Joined: 17 Nov 1998 1:01 am
Location: Corry, PA, USA
Contact:

Post by Greg Cutshaw »

Easily played with identical notes on either tuning if your willing to substitute Pete's C6 high G string hammer off using the E9th 1st and 4th strings at the E9th 4th fret. The hammer off sounds like it's done on C6 but the slide down to the D7 chord sounds like E9th given the way all the D7 notes seem like they are played without bar movement.

If you capo E9th at the 1st fret, the high F# string becomes a G, same as Pete's high C6 string. You can then hammer off it just like the recording. Also the E9 F# to G# knee lever becomes a G to A change just like Pete's. I don't think anyone would be able to hear any difference on this particular riff if it was played that way on E9.
Last edited by Greg Cutshaw on 18 Mar 2022 5:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Bob Carlucci
Posts: 6965
Joined: 26 Dec 2003 1:01 am
Location: Candor, New York, USA

Post by Bob Carlucci »

I suppose it could be played on C6, just like some good players can make an E9sound just like C6, I mean all the same notes are somewhere on both necks until you get above or below the range of one neck or the other...Lets put it this way.. It SOUNDS like typical good commercial country E9 playing of its era.. Could he have been using his C6??. of course.... bo
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
Donny Hinson
Posts: 21192
Joined: 16 Feb 1999 1:01 am
Location: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Post by Donny Hinson »

C6th, without a doubt.

°
User avatar
Kenny Davis
Posts: 1370
Joined: 10 Apr 1999 12:01 am
Location: Great State of Oklahoma

Post by Kenny Davis »

Correct, Donny - C6th For Sure - That was his "For Pete's Sake" era!
Last edited by Kenny Davis on 17 Mar 2022 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..."
User avatar
Kenny Davis
Posts: 1370
Joined: 10 Apr 1999 12:01 am
Location: Great State of Oklahoma

Post by Kenny Davis »

Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..."
Bobby D. Jones
Posts: 2235
Joined: 17 May 2010 9:27 am
Location: West Virginia, USA

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

That was a style of steel guitar in that period. It shows below the video released 1963-10-8. I remember hearing a lot of steel of that style, From April 6, 1962 to April 5, 65, That was my tour in US Army in USA and France.
User avatar
Charles Kurck
Posts: 154
Joined: 15 Mar 2010 1:14 pm
Location: Living in Arkansas but Heaven is home

Little Ole Dime by Jim Reeves

Post by Charles Kurck »

"Life is better if we're saved, and death is too."
User avatar
Bill Cunningham
Posts: 2092
Joined: 6 Aug 1998 12:01 am
Location: Atlanta, Ga. USA

Post by Bill Cunningham »

That’s Pete’s C6 style probably best known on his instrumental “For Pete’s Sake” and then adapted to dozens of hit country records as studio players are always searching for something new and fresh.

https://youtu.be/Dm31iNQkGqM
Bill Cunningham
Atlanta, GA
Franklin
Posts: 2142
Joined: 6 Feb 2000 1:01 am

Post by Franklin »

On May 1st Pete Drake is being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame...A first for the instrument.
User avatar
scott murray
Posts: 2752
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Asheville, NC

Post by scott murray »

hard to believe it's taken this long to induct a steel player, and of course Pete had other talents as well, but hopefully he will be the first of many.
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster
User avatar
Kenny Davis
Posts: 1370
Joined: 10 Apr 1999 12:01 am
Location: Great State of Oklahoma

Post by Kenny Davis »

Franklin wrote:On May 1st Pete Drake is being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame...A first for the instrument.
Bravo!!!

Paul - I know Pete was a big part of your early career. He was most important to our instrument and the shaping of the sound Country Music of his era. I've always had a hard time describing his playing style, but the synonyms listed for "Quirky" seem to fit...and I say that with all respect. Overall, as a session player and his producing skills, in my opinion he has no equal!

On a side note, I rehearsed with a band this evening that I'm playing with tomorrow night. I just realized that no fewer than six songs on the set lists featured Pete playing on the original sessions.
Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..."
User avatar
Charles Kurck
Posts: 154
Joined: 15 Mar 2010 1:14 pm
Location: Living in Arkansas but Heaven is home

Jim Reeves - Little Ole Dime - 1977 Version

Post by Charles Kurck »

Who played steel on the 1977 version ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbEt44uuI2o
"Life is better if we're saved, and death is too."
Steve Hinson
Posts: 3879
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Hendersonville Tn USA

Re: Jim Reeves - Little Ole Dime - 1977 Version

Post by Steve Hinson »

Charles Kurck wrote:Who played steel on the 1977 version ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbEt44uuI2o
I'm gonna say Buddy Emmons...

SH
Lem Smith
Posts: 2063
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Long Beach, MS

Re: Jim Reeves - Little Ole Dime - 1977 Version

Post by Lem Smith »

Steve Hinson wrote:
Charles Kurck wrote:Who played steel on the 1977 version ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbEt44uuI2o
I'm gonna say Buddy Emmons...

SH
Yessir, according to the video description it says it was Gene “Buddy” Emmons.
David Mitchell
Posts: 1033
Joined: 18 Apr 2015 4:35 pm
Location: Tyler, Texas

Post by David Mitchell »

I'm a big Pete Drake fan as well as all the other Nashville cats but listen to that rhythm section on the original version. So tight it sounds like a big ol machine running. Makes the lead parts sound even better when it's so tight nothing is in the way. Not sure why they even re-released it. I like the first one best. Buddy sounded good as always but the rhythm mix had that modern clunky sound to it.
User avatar
Greg Cutshaw
Posts: 6610
Joined: 17 Nov 1998 1:01 am
Location: Corry, PA, USA
Contact:

Post by Greg Cutshaw »

The rhythm section is world class and the recording and mixing is stunning and has a fullness and warmth that escapes most modern recordings. The tick tack bass and drums are perfectly synched.

At some point, in their early careers, Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day looked at their achievements and figured they and their peers had done everything that was possible with the pedal steel. There was just nothing more that could be done with the instrument. Then along comes Pete Drake, Lloyd Green, Ralph Mooney, Sneaky Pete and Curly Chalker with exciting new styles and sounds that were nothing like anyone else. it amazes me that these guys took the same basic copedants and came up with entirely different styles of playing.
User avatar
John Larson
Posts: 298
Joined: 8 Jul 2020 10:00 am
Location: Pennsyltucky, USA

Post by John Larson »

Pete's playing on David Allan Coe's 70s output is some of the most tasteful well mixed steel playing I've ever heard on wax.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5
Post Reply