The Steel Guitar Forum

My all-time favorite traditional song? Hands down, it would have to be "Shenandoah". I find it endlessly beautiful and open to creative arrangements. It just seems to make a perfect canvas for beauty and emotional depth. I have a personal tradition of playing Jo Stafford's stunning version (with string arrangements by her husband, Paul Weston) on or near Thanksgiving.

Here are two versions I did a few years back. Electric (C6th on an Asher electro Hawaiian) and on Weissenborn in El McMeen tuning (low to high)CGDGAD.

Andy Volk - electric version: https://soundcloud.com/aev/shenandoah-c6th-lap-steel-1

Andy Volk - acoustic version McMeen tuning: https://soundcloud.com/aev/shenadoah-mcmeen-tuning

My favorite recorded versions ....

JO STAFFORD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC_hUuZKC-E

BILL FRISELL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLomqv3_AaY

JOHNNY BELLAR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4yHqH1 ... 4yHqH1hRSc

And of course, Buddy's gorgeous arrangement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8O2NdDEFEA

But for my taste, Johnny Smith's is THE definitive instrumental version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bJUJuvSSo

Thanks so much!!
Everyone was so awesome and inspiring
Do you know what Johnny's tuning was
I know he had a 4th on top
Maybe DADGAD

Not sure. Could it be standard Dobro G?

Probably not DADGAD but I sure hear that A to D on top

Probably just open D.

You're versions are really great, Andy! I think it's better on acoustic as it's more of a traditional sound but you've got some great substitute chord ideas on your electric version in C6. Thanks for posting the others as well. I have never heard Johnny Bellar before. He is awsome!

Thanks, Joe! Glad you enjoyed 'em.

Johnny is a great player. I love his version of this unexpected cover of a 70s song by the band Bread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1McnsGQ1Es

Thank you Andy! It is easy to see why this song still inspires people. It is so deceptively simple, yet listening to all the versions, you can see so much potential is lying beneath. Johnny Smiths solo recordings are a constant inspiration. I love your version using El Mcmeens tuning too. These Celtic inspired tunings have a ton of potential for these free flowing folk tunes. How do you think about this tuning? Kind of a combo C and D tuning I guess maybe. I have avoided it on guitar, but have loved El's playing for years. I may have to give it a go.

Thanks for your kind words. I find in general, McMeen has more typical guitaristic sounds than typical steel steel sounds. I use the McMeen tuning so seldom that I don't really have a good mental map of it other than, as you say, a D/C combo with DADGAD on top. So, technically: Dsus/C tuning.

I usually just find cool sounds by ear and later go back and do the analysis if needed. Not 100% helpful for our one-finger steel chords, but El has a free chord chart for the tuning here:

https://elmcmeen.com/wp-content/uploads ... -PAGES.pdf

I just did a little research and some people believe this tuning was developed from the Hawaiian C Ni'hau tuning CGCGAD, which I have never heard of. I am in the process of looking for a 6 string acoustic and these would both work with a standard set of strings, so I will surely be trying these tunings. I also want to try CGCGCE, which Kelly Joe Phelps used on some finger style arrangements. I will probably just leave it in open D, but always fun to experiment!