The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm learning the nice bluesy short solo someone ( Don Helms or Jerry Byrd ? ) plays on Hank Williams 1949 recording and am trying it in both C6 and E6 . I had to re-tune my guitar a wee bit to the CD as it was not quite the same as my electronic tuner setting. Has any forum non peddlars already decided which tuning of the two was the one used for that recording ? I can play it in both tunings but don't have the tone quite right yet.

thank you <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Kevin Ruddell on 21 August 2004 at 02:55 AM.]</p></FONT>

I probably cant help at all . I play an accoustic steel, and I tune GBD GBD , and play that song in tge E chord . That is the one that sounds closest

R. L. Jones <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by R. L. Jones on 24 August 2004 at 08:12 PM.]</p></FONT>

My best recollection is that the steel on H.W's recording was not Don Helms, but; rather Jerry Byrd, unless Billy Robinson snuck in there somewhere! In any case the tuning was C6. Of course, the tune may have been recorded more than once! In that case, it may well have been Don Helms, (E6) but; I haven't heard it.

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I play it on A6 and it is just fine because the song is in D and the solo centers around the 4th fret. It is best to have an 8 string neck, then everything just falls right into place for you. Hope that helps

Jon

As Jeff says: It was Jerry Byrd playing in C6th tuning on an old Rick Bakelite on that particular Hank Williams Sr., tune. That tune has recently gotten play in the "Bastards of .....County", where Jerry Byrd's solo was heard from beginning to end.
Years earlier it was featured in the same manner in "Space Odyssy-2000" I believe it was.... Another recent TV movie featured that same tune and once again, Jerry Byrd's fabulous playing thereon. While in retirement, Jerry's exceptional playing has been pushed to the forefront in these television movies. Not bad, right?
By the way, CONGRATULATIONS to Jeff Au Hoy, featured steel guitarists two nights in a row, Sept. 13th & 14th, along with Hale Seabury-Akaka, at the Halekulani Steel Guitar Week festivities. The celebration runs from Sept. 11th thro' the 17th.
That's the way to go Jeff! Wish I could be there to hear you.

Actually... I just figured this out for a gig last week. The song is played in C6 as far as I could tell. And you're right, it's not exactly at A440.

As for tone, my feeling is to be yourself. But for a little retro flavor I play my '60ish Fender Champ, toned rolled downd at least half-way, through a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive with the gain, tone and clean drive way down, through a Zoom reverb (it's just what I have at the moment, not ideal, but it works) into a Fender Pro Junior. This combo sounds great and is very portable. I should say that I only have the one guitar, I'm sure a bakelite ricky would sound much better.

Good luck. If I could do it I'm sure you can.

I play it on C6th, and it sounds like the record. You gotta do the tone control thing with your pinky to make it sound right. I'm pretty sure it was Jerry Byrd on the original. People love hearing that solo!

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I've waited here for awhile to see if someone else would mention it but it hasn't come up so far...

It the last few lines of this song; almost buried in the mix; are some of the most poignant chord voicings Jerry ever used: IMHO. It seems as if he is imitating the crying in the singers voice that only an individual singer's timbre and vibrato can perform.

I think it is the most unique voice to instrument accompaniment I have ever heard !!

Regards, Paul<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 21 August 2004 at 06:40 PM.]</p></FONT>

Ray: Speaking of movies, wasn't that Jerry playing with Hank Jr in the Clint Eastwood movie: Kelly's Heros ?

I'll always remember that tank coming out of the tunnel with it's speakers blaring All For The Love Of Sunshine !! The world's longest reverb unit...right ??

Did you see that one ?? Talk about expousure, they're still showing reruns of it that I caught for the 20th time just a week or so ago.

Regards, Paul

Paul: I don't know about that Clint Westwood guy's movie. Haven't seen it, as yet.
Tonight tho', on TV, saw "LOST HIGHWAY", the story about Hank Williams. The first thing you hear at the beginning of the movie is Jerry Byrd and "I'm so Lonesome I could Cry". Billy Robinson was heard playing Tennessee Border in the next segment and there was also a cut from HOLLYWOOD BARN DANCE showing Jerry Byrd playing with Ernest Tubb's group. Again, "Lovesick Blues" with Jerry Byrd and HW, Sr.