Help - Tom Morrell

[mick hearn]

Help.. As well as pedal steel I am also using 8 string lap steel c6. One tune I am looking at is Blue Steel Blues by Tom Morrell. Now I don't read music and my knowledge of scales is non existent - well I know major and minor and probably go into a lot more when ad libbing on guitar which I've been playing since the 60's without really knowing it. Now in his second passage on this recording he goes off into a wild ad lib and its that sort of thing I am trying to do. Now short of recording this and slowing it right down (Which does not work too well on this because of background noise) are there any hints and tips as to the general sort of thing he is doing?

Mind you it is very similar to a lot of Buddy emmons along those lines.

[Ken Byng]

Tommy Morrell was one of the best ever on non pedal guitar - in fact he was brilliant on pedals too. He is still a legend in Texas for his swing playing, and the late, great Herby Wallace told me last year that Tommy was his idol when he was growing up. The first thing that you need to do is to use his main tuning which was E13. Knowing your scales wouldn't hurt, but if you want to play something close to what Tom is playing in this clip you will need to slow it down and dissect it. Tascam have a device that does this perfectly.

Just remember, playing with a swing feel is not something that all steel players can do, and the phrasing is really important.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Whoop-De-Doo Mick! And I sit here looking at my Triple 8 Fender gathering dust ...and I wish... and I wish ...And I...

[mick hearn]

So what price then John?
Yeah, I wish as well. As always, it's justifying the purchase but a three neck Fender does look nice. Gonna have to make do changing the tuning on my George Boards.

I think at the end of the day I will slow it down and have a go. I can play most on my C6 and I'm sure I will find a way round but the change to E13 wont be too hard except for one thing - The big discussion on the Steel Guitar Forum over the Tom Morrell tunings and the variations other people have tried. It's manic.

Fortunately Windows Media Player can slow things down so I will record it, create a wav file and play it there and make a few notes. Its just the quality and getting rid of that background noise which will be rather difficult. Never mind - I will persevere.

Mick

[mick hearn]

Hang on a bit here Mr Davis. Now then is this guitar gathering dust the same one you have recently come across? Can't be dusty already surely. We're still waiting for harbour lights.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Mick those harbour lights are still a long way off can`t even see the lighthouse yet! still agonising over the tunings that are available for it and will have to change three lots of strings when I do get around to it But, feel free to come around and give a little help as I know you are already an established plank player......

[mick hearn]

Ha Ha - I like that - established plank player!!!!!! I am by no means that - I can just get a couple of tunes out but wish I could do more. Yeah you heard my C6 playing on the recording with my daughter "Walking After Midnight" (that's the first post of mine "Hi" a few lines down) but I don't go far ahead of that.

As for tunings I would take Basil's advice and at least go for C6 and E13. I've never ever tried B11 (thought it was the local bus route). You know about C6 anyway on the pedal steel so at least you have the basics. They also reckon that a route for a lot of guitarists to convert to planks is via E13 because some of the moves are in the same place. Forgetting of course some would use open D or G for bluesy and rock sounds. If you look under my name on youtube for "Road To Hell" you will hear slide guitar used throughout and especially on the solo. This was done on a Jedson tuned to C6 with a bit of overdrive.

I you really want some inspiration - look for Basil's rendition of Rose of Sanantone. I love his version and he actually switches necks. Perhaps he can tell us which tuning he had where. I would certainly suggest he had C6 and E13 but which was on the front I dont know.
Mick.

[mick hearn]

Holy crap. Got the title wrong - It's Sanantonio Rose. Now going on walkabout to get out of Basils way.

[Basil Henriques]

Mmmm, talking of San Antonio Rose, the man is definitely demented, he may be rich but his stage manners are poor..

[Basil Henriques]

Now to stir a little...