Studying Tom Brumley

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

I have been intrigued by the playing of Tom Brumley recently. I was watching some of those vintage Buck Owens videos on YouTube and I really enjoyed his style and would like to study it.

Aside from the videos available and Tom's recorded material is there any thing out there that can shed some light on his playing?

m.

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

The CD Tom Cattin is tabbed out in a book. I dont know who sells it.

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

Thanks Billy. The search is on!

m.

P Gleespen · From: Toledo, OH USA

Tom's whole album "Tom Cattin'" is tabbed out.
(edit: whoops, I've been beaten to the punch!)

Or at least it was. I'm not sure if it's still available. (edit again: ...I did find it on Al Brisco's site, so maybe he still has it.)

The amazing thing about Tom's playing is his flawless execution. Everything is so even and smooth. He doesn't play anything that is particularly difficult, but it is EXTREMELY difficult to play it as well as he does (if that makes any sense!).
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Patrick

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

I've got some of his stuff on my tab pages at www.gregcutshaw.com :

Tab Page 2 - E9th - Tom Brumley type chromatic riff in F# - Intro
Tab Page 5 - E9th - Buck Owen's style backup -Key Of F
Tab Page 7 - E9th - Tom Brumley style intro to Red Wing - Key of C
Tab Page 8 - E9/C6th - Together Again - Key Of C - 1st E9th Verse Tabbed
Tab Page 10 - E9th - Tom Brumley Intro to Don Rich's "Out Of My Mind" (On YouTube!!)
Tab Page 10 - Bud's Bounce - E9th 1st Verse
Tab Page 11- Tab519 - Simplified Tom Brumley Lick

Greg

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

Greg,

Its easy to miss so much stuff on your web site because its loaded with stuff. I will get on there and check it out.

Thanks
m.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

TB sells his material direct too. I've purchased some of my materials directly from him. Maybe someone can post his contact information.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

There was no "secret" to what he did, it was just simple, straightforward playing with a lot of pedal work on A&B. There's more than a little Mooney influence there, too.

Here's Tom on his second Fender steel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz6KzGeEX6o

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I played Tele on a session at Bakersfield Sound with Him. His warm up just knocked me out. I really hated for the session to start, I just wanted to listen to the fast blocking stuff he was playing to limber up. He's an even better player than you hear on recordings, in my opinion.

Terje Brattsveen · From: Nashville, TN. USA

What model Fender is Tom playing,(on the Foolin' Round video from the Jimmy Dean Show) and does anyone know his copedent for that neck?

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

The Tom Cattin' book tab was published by Tom Bradshaw, but I just checked Tom's site and didn't see it listed, it's likely out of print. Worth a call or email to my friend Tom to find out, though, that album was a wealth of great playing.
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Tom Brumley · From: Nixa, Mo, R.I.P.

You can reach me at email address brumshow@msn.com
I have some tab books that I would be happy to mail to you. Please email me with your order and address. i will be happy to answer any questions you'd like. I will be in St. Louis this week-end and would rather just tell you rather than type in an email.ha So look me up, if you're there. Thanks for all the kind words about me. Come see me in San Antonio in Feb of 2009. That's in the Aztec Theater on the Riverwalk.
Thanks Tom

steinar · From: Finneidfjord, Norway

Matthew, welcome to the International Brumleyologist Association!
ZB guru Greg Jones and yours truly are but two of countless members.
"Deceptively easy sounding," - is an apt description of Master Brumley`s playing, and he will further lead you on by his aw shucks manners and comments to the effect that "it`s so easy that I`ll teach you everything about my playing in 5 minutes!"

NOT SO!!

After 2 years of studying Brumley`s playing, I still struggle both trying to play his "deceptively easy sounding" licks and instrumentals, and not least to find out just how he did and does it!
I have used the Amazing Slow Downer in analyzing his playing, and my fellow Norwegian Egil Skjelnes(who by the way is another Brumleyologist and performing in St. Louis this year)
has more than once helped me in finding out how Tom Brumley accomplished what he did with 3 pedals and two knee levers.

One thing about Tom`s playing, is that he usually picks every note, does not slide, and even played with picks that were straight, - not bent like today.
He was very inventive in incorporating open strings in his playing, e.g. the solo on "Crying Time" and "Hello Mary Lou,"(w/Ricky Nelson) and his chimes are crystal clear.

Furthermore he created his very own style of back up which is recognizable even today, and he composed catchy instrumentals which you can find on the "Tom Cattin`" album as well as on his newer "In Time" album.
Add to that the famous solos he did for Buck as well as for Dwight and Rick.

So, Matthew, you`re in for a real treat if you want to study Brumley`s playing, because the deeper you delve into his recorded music, the more treasures you`ll find.
And if you have the chance of meeting Tom and his lovely wife Rolene in St. Louis, you will be hooked even more, because they are just about the nicest couple you will ever meet.

As you may know, Tom will open up a show in San Antonio nest year which will feature a repertoire of only Country Gold and none other than himself on steel.
That should be a real treat for us who love classic country, and of course the International Brumleyologist Association plans to convene in San Antonio for the occasion, - you are herewith invited, Matthew!

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

If you want to study Tom Brumley; don't study what he plays, study HOW he plays it technique wise.
Look at his hands.
Watch his hand positions.
Listen how he pics notes and how they sound out so together in volume. Listen and watch what fingers/thumb he uses on different passes.
Watch that Left hand.
These are the things to study; these are the things all of use could use to better our playing.
Tom is also a wonderful teacher; his explanation of things are very clear and packed full of wisdom> so if you get a chance to speak to him....listen very carefully.
Ricky
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Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com

Tamara James · Posted 25 Aug 2008 3:09 pm

Great Thread.
Very Happy

Tom Brumley · From: Nixa, Mo, R.I.P.

Hi guys!
I was playing an early 60 model Fender 1000 that I inherited from Jay McDonald when I started with Buck.

Actually I had a standard 8 string E9th tuning with 3 pedals and no knee levers (no cromatics).

My bar is one I had used for years that I bought at a music store.It was a small tapered hollow bar.

I used both the guitar and bar on my first album with Buck which included "Together Again"

As for you, Steinar, my good friend, I'm saving three seats on the front row of the Aztec for the opening night the last week of January, for you, Billy Knowles, and Greg Jones.

I really appreciate all the nice comments. Thank you, see you in St. Louis and then San Antonio. Tom

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

Guys, Tom is one of the greats! The feeling and emotion he puts into his music is simply amazing. How many of you started playing steel after hearing Together Again?

Smoothness is but one of his traits. Just take a close listen again to Garden Party. The tone and timing is no less than phenominal!

I've tried to copy much of Tom's playing to no avail. But, I think I got the hair style down pretty good! Very Happy

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Count me in the "Brumleyologist Association". I studied Tom Brumley's right hand palm blocking style for years. I defy anyone to attempt to learn "Steel Guitar Polka" or "Tom Cattin" note for note, or lick for lick. I would say that if you could learn to play those two songs exact, you have pretty much mastered Tom Brumley's right hand palm blocking. It is sooo not easy. Sticaato clean playing. Very precise. Mr. Brumley makes it sound easy, but it was a difficult thing to learn. One of the best compliments I ever got when playing one of my ZB Custom steel guitars was when another steel player walked out of the audience and said "You sound like Tom Brumley". I worked for years at that. That right hand sticaato style results in a different tone also. Tom Brumley's west coast sound is my #1.

steinar · From: Finneidfjord, Norway

Thanks for commenting, Tom, and thanks for the first row reservation offer! And if it`s the last week of January, I just happen to have my winter vacation then, so San Antonio it is!

Ricky, - your comments about Tom`s style are very to the point and elucidating, - and I know you have been studying under the Master himself.

Kevin, talk about the Steel Guitar Polka!!! I`ve been practicing that one since Tom last was over to Norway in 2004!!
And I`m still not there, - and probably never will!
And consider yourself the New York delegate of the Internationa l Brumleyologist Association!!

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Great thread guys..one that I just happened upon in my search for a contact # for Steinar...I lost your phone#'s and 1881.no is not connecting. So if you read this Steinar, please contact me on bero1 "at" rogers.com.
Thanks Bent

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I've loved the Brumley way of playing steel for a very long time and am one his biggest fans. I saw a copy of Tom's copedant a long time ago which showed that he used pedal one to raise the 7th string F# to G# so I tried it out and it's become my most used pedal after the A & B. It's really a great change and very useful. I've worked out an arrangement of "Last Date" using only that pedal and the E to D# knee lever. Thanks Tom for turning me on to that change also, if you see this, how did you come about starting to use that pedal?........JH in Va.
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C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I have shared the following story on other threads before, but since this thread is particularly about Tom Brumley and of course THE greatest steel guitar lick in history (IMO), I want to share it again here.

For years many players believed beyond doubt that Tom lowered his 5th string when he played that lick on "Together Again". But he told me just after that recording that he didn't.

Over the years a number of players argued that he DID indeed lower his 5th string. Further some maintained adamently that he used a knee lever to do it. Well, I had the pleasure and honor of being invited to Tom's home in Branson one year. And on the way from his show with another fan of Tom's in Tom's car, I mentioned this to Tom.

And I of course told him about players arguing that he did lower his 5th string on that recording, and Tom said the following which blew me away,.

"Carl, they argue with ME!!"

Then he added something that all should know who love and admire Tom,

"That would have been quite a trick to do, since there were NO knee levers on that guitar when that recording was made!!"

So let there be NO doubt, the author of the lick, the incredible Tom Brumley said it. I believe it. THAT settles it! Laughing

May Jesus richly bless Tom for what he has done for the world of country music. Not to mention what he did for Buck Owens. Wanna know just how good he is. Try this on for size.

Tome can (and often does play) 3 strings that are sooo perfectly intoned and powered, that it sounds like ONE big FAT note, absent of the fact that he is picking 3 separate strings with three different fingers!!!!!

Try it!

See how extremely difficult it is to do it. He is a MASTER at it. And he executes it flawlessly ALL the time! Blows me away. But there's more! All of the above is nothing to can compare with his being a gentleman's gentleman.

I love the man like a brother. One of THE nicest persons I have EVER met! We steel players are blessed to have had him and continue to be blessed by his innate talents.

If you have not heard his CD "In Time", get it. You will NOT be dissapointed. I gar-own-tee it. Such "FINE" listening.

c.
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Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

I had noticed that Tom uses his 1st and 2nd fingers where a lot of players use their thumb and 2nd. finger. It gives the strings more "bite" especially on the 3rd and 5th strings. I have been using that technique ever since I watched Tom play "Together Again" many years ago. Tom is definitely one of the major stylists of our time. Jody.

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