The Steel Guitar Forum

I'd love to see tab for the head of Emmons playing of the old Neil Hefty classic "Lil Darlin". This tune is on the lp with Buddy Spicher "Buddies", as well as an incredible live version on the Danny Gatton CD recorded at the Cellar Door in DC in '78. I don't recall the CD's name, but I strongly suggest getting it.

Learning to plat Lil Darlin has been a long time goal of mine, and I've never had much luck at getting it.

Lynn,
I started into learning that arrangement some time ago, but one thing halted me:
I have the Gatton/emmons album you refer to, where they appear to play it in C. A tape of have of the "Buddies" session, they seem to play it in Db (??) Or, maybe the other way around.
Because of the overwhelming fear that Buddy was going to bend my brain with some brilliant open-string move (He's done that to me before) which I couldn't grasp because I was in the wrong key, I never got it done.
If I could confirm WHAT KEY he played it in, I'd go back at it and post the results. I already have a good chunk of it figured out.
Let me know
Basie Rules
-John

I guess a way to figure it out would be like this. On that Gatton CD they play Raisin the Dickens, which is played in D (Buddy tabbed out the outro on his site). If this songs appears to be in actually in D, then I'd say that whatever key Lil Darlin is played on that CD is correct. I'll try to check that tonight.

I see that Mike Idhe is selling an Emmons live video in which he plays Lil Darlin- perhaps the key could be determined from that.

Thanks for your help. It has actually been a while since I attempted to learn this tune- maybe I have learned enough that it will start to make sense this time

So Lynn, I run into you once or twice a year at Tom's bluegrass bananza, now you have another reason to drive from Fairfax to Maryland. Lil' Darlin! I'll show how to play it.

Gary Lee

Gary- why not post the tab??? that would be the "cowboy way" and we could all benefit....

Sounds like a good idea!!! And Gary you can always get Paul V to help you out with the tabbing.
Gary, while I have you here I gave your number to the band so they should be getting back to you soon. Again, good luck and thanks for all your help.
BobG
PS: I've heard Gary play this song and he really "nailed it".
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by BobG on 17 August 2000 at 09:43 AM.]</p></FONT>

I've decided it's in C.
Here's a few bars,
just for a tease:
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
Little Darlin' C6 key of C
From the "Buddies" album

D7 D- G7
1-------------|---------------------|
2-------------|---------------------|
3--9----------|-------------------2-|
4--9----------|--2R------------2R---|
5-------9---7-|--2-----2-------2----|
6--9(6--9(6---|--------2(6----------|
7-------------|--2------------------|
8-------9-----|---------------------|
9-------------|------------2(6------|
10------------|-----2---------------|


C F7#11
1-----------------------------|
2-----------------------------|
3-----7-------12(7~12---------|
4--7--------------------------|
5--------12-----------12------|
6--7-----12(6------------12(6-|
7-----------------------------|
8-----------------------------|
9--7-----12-------------------|
10----------------------------|


E/o A13 A7b13 D

1-------7------------6-------|-----
2----------------------------|-----
3--7------7---6L~~6-----6L---|-5L--
4----------------------------|-----
5--7----------6---------6----|-5---
6----------------------------|-----
7--7(8--------6(8-------6(8--|-5(8-
8----------------------------|-----
9----------------------------|-----
10---------------------------|-----
</pre></font>

Notes, disclaimers, and general lies:
-I haven't decided if BE is using pedal 8
or 5 & 7 together yet.. so for now..
-This differs from the version on the Gatton album slightly
-Basie played in much slower, and in F
-The turnaround relates very directly to our recent conversation about 13th chords.
-If anyone has different ideas on any of this, I'd love to hear about it.
-Buddy Emmons makes me crazy

-John <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 20 August 2000 at 11:41 AM.]</p></FONT>

Dave, as you know, writing tab for even some of the simple ditties, evolves a lot of time of which is in short supply at the Gimble house. Between my rambunctious teenagers, lovely wife and cocktail hour, I'll offer you such a deal. Email me your mailing address and I will mail you a walk through cassette recording complete with chord gripes, fret location, pedals that are being squashed, etc.,for Lil' Darlin.

Carry on!

Gary Lee

John;
More, more, more!
Lil' Darlin' is one of my favorite Buddy tunes, (as you probably know.)

------------------
My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

I want to thank Gary Lee Gimble for sending me a cassette with a detailed talk-through of Li'l Darlin'...

Gary's version sounds very close to the "Buddies" arrangement as I remember it (someone absconded with my copy so I have to rely on my audio memory) and he plays it quite well.

As I learn it I will try to tab it out; once I have it tabbed I will post it.

Thanks a lot GaryLee!