The Steel Guitar Forum

so versatile and melodic !! E9 or c6??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9QO85RGDV8

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 agree

Along with Pete's playing, that shuffle beat is also great. Country reggae.

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.

No, It’s C6 tuning all the way.

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

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]

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.

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

C6th, without a doubt.

°

Correct, Donny - C6th For Sure - That was his "For Pete's Sake" era!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adUR32v--f0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm31iNQkGqM

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Who played steel on the 1977 version ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbEt44uuI2o

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbEt44uuI2o

I'm gonna say Buddy Emmons...

SH

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.

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.

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.

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.