Jerry Byrd

[Chris Templeton]

I took lessons with Jerry Byrd at Harry's Music on Oahu, and at my lessons, he never played steel, always rhythm guitar. He'd tap on my shoulder, saying not to use it when using my bar arm. John Ely (AATW) had to stop playing, for a time. because he didn't have that advice.
Also Jerry stressed, when executing forward and reverse slants, bend at the wrist and not the whole arm, and when doing forward slants, and with reverse slants, kick the bar out with the thumb.
Jerry also use half wound strings.

[Michael Kiese]

I took lessons with Jerry Byrd at Harry's Music on Oahu, and at my lessons, he never played steel, always rhythm guitar. He'd tap on my shoulder, saying not to use it when using my bar arm. John Ely (AATW) had to stop playing, for a time. because he didn't have that advice.
Also Jerry stressed, when executing forward and reverse slants, bend at the wrist and not the whole arm, and when doing forward slants, and with reverse slants, kick the bar out with the thumb.
Jerry also use half wound strings.

Nice! Thanks for sharing! I didn't know Jerry used half wound strings, that's what I like to use too. Must be on the right track if I have that in common with Jerry. lol.

One of the very first bars/venues I ever started performing in was called "Top of the Hill", it was about a block up the street from Harry's in Kaimuki.

I unfortunately never met Jerry. He passed in 2005, and I was totally not into Hawaiian music at that time. You take for granted what is around you when you're young.

But even being a young budding musician, everybody knew of the Legendary Jerry Byrd.

Did you grow up in Hawai'i, Chris?

[Chris Templeton]

Flatwounds minimize the scratching for a nice mellow tone.
I have some JB stories I'll post on the stories section, at some point, but I have to tell this one.
I had Jerry's phone number and was at Buddy's house and decided to call Jerry, and when he answered, I said hello and said, "someone wants to speak with you" andI handed the phone to Buddy.
They spoke for a time and when they were done, Buddy looked at me with "The Look" and said. "you're kind of pushy aren't you, Chris?"
What a treat to see my heroes speak with each other.
Check out this Gabby Pahinui & Ry Cooder, if you haven't: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... +ry+cooder

[Mark Eaton]

He'd tap on my shoulder, saying not to use it when using my bar arm. John Ely (AATW) had to stop playing, for a time. because he didn't have that advice.

Can you explain this section of your post? I read it four times but I still have no idea what you're talking about.

[Chris Templeton]

When doing vibrato, don't use your shoulder. it can cause injury.
Also, remember that the vibrato gets smaller/tighter as you go up the neck.
Like a singer, hit the note and THEN add vibrato.
Often, an insecure player starts right in with lots of vibrato, figuring the the right note will be in there somewhere,
Think of vibrato like a singer. Hit the note and slowly add vibrato.

[Mark Eaton]

Thanks for the explanation Chris. In your post that inspired my question, you didn't mention the word "vibrato" so I was thoroughly confused.

I took lap steel for lessons for going on three years (and some pedal steel toward the end) in the '60s beginning at age 9-10 at a Bay Area music studio and Jerry Byrd was sort of the "patron saint" of place. I never met him but the studio owners knew him and there was a signed glossy photo of Jerry in the business office behind the owner's desk.

That was a really long time ago, but in many lessons from the instructors there was a lot of "this is how Jerry Byrd does it" so some things became sort of implanted into my brain for life.

And I have never used my shoulder for vibrato.

[Chris Templeton]

Jerry's Biggest fan was Ray Knapp (maybe Ray Montee). He was from Ohio and Idolized Jerry since he was a kid. He called his wife, "The BattleAxe".
He pulled up stakes and moved to Maui and played at The Old Lahaina Luau. Then he got a job on a cruise ship that stopped on all the Islands. Mine being Kauai.
Once a week, Ray would get me on the ship to eat at the buffet.
Since Ray was not with his wife and he longed for some companionship, he thought if he got a tan, he would attract a companion.
He fell asleep in that hot Hawaiian sun, and the next time I saw him, he looked like a leopard. Where the sun shone, most of the skin had peeled off.
Jerry gave him his Trotmore 7 string guitar and his gold Buick.
He lived in Kehei, Maui and his house mate was a gorgeous anorexic model. and also played and recorded with the "The Waeihu Sons"".
Jerry Shipped his big Buick to Ray on Maui and Ray would collect beach sandals, it didn't matter if it was a pair or just one, and, put them in the huge trunk.