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Post new topic The Signature Country Music Lick
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Author Topic:  The Signature Country Music Lick
James Cann


From:
Phoenix, AZ
Post  Posted 7 May 2010 7:41 am    
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OK, everyone, here's the throwdown.

For me, the most telling, country-soulful-and-heart-driven, representative lick--the one that presents country in its pure form--is found in Marty Stuart's (with Merle Haggard) "Farmer's Blues." It's a steel/fiddle combo occurring twice, at the end of each of two bridges (lyric: ". . . at the mercy of it all, this life I choose."). The first run is the simple form to set things up, and the second "ends the debate" (can't state it any better).

With all due respect, gents, I don't know what you could offer in its place, but good luck, anyway.
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Dave Hopping


From:
Aurora, Colorado
Post  Posted 7 May 2010 12:32 pm    
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Here's another-BE's kickoff to the Judy Collins version of "Someday Soon".The steel solo is pretty sweet too.
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Clete Ritta


From:
San Antonio, Texas
Post  Posted 7 May 2010 11:51 pm    
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Farmer's Blues
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Mike Taylor

 

From:
Wetumpka, AL
Post  Posted 8 May 2010 4:55 pm    
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Intro to "Crazy Arms" -- IMHO that song is the quintessential honkty tonk, country shuffle.
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 8 May 2010 8:09 pm    
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Is that a "Franklin pedal" lick? The song's almost plagiarized from Hank's "Lonesome Whistle" - real close there in spots.
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James Cann


From:
Phoenix, AZ
Post  Posted 10 May 2010 9:25 am    
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I agree, b0b, there is common ground, and as soon as I learn the Franklin pedal, I'll try it out. Meanwhile, I have to believe there are more suggestions than thus far.
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Les Anderson


From:
The Great White North
Post  Posted 11 May 2010 12:11 am    
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How about Vince Gill's "LOOK AT US" The first three bars identifies this beautiful song.
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Carson Leighton


From:
N.B. Canada
Post  Posted 11 May 2010 2:29 pm    
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I love that lick,,does anyone know how it's done? I can get something close to it by starting with the 4th string lowered, then releasing it and lowering it again,,moving back 1 fret, while releasing it again and raising it, and back one more fret with it still raised,,playing the 5th string with it the whole time..It doesn't have the same effect though..It sounds as though he is lowering the 5th string,,and I don't have that change..Is that Paul Franklin?
Tom Brumley was really good at playing crosses,,(one string going up and another going down while moving the bar) He was one of my favorite players,,and a great inspiration to me...Carson
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James Cann


From:
Phoenix, AZ
Post  Posted 12 May 2010 8:29 pm    
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Try this:

Part 1: pick 4 3 on fourth fret; move up two with C pedal, then release C.
Part 2: pick 4 3, 2 1, 5 4 on fret 4; 6B5A on fret 6 and then release AB and slide to fret 1.
Part 3: 5 4L 3 at fret 11, slide to fret 9, then slide to fret 6 releasing L, and adding B-then-A at fret 6.
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Alan Tanner


From:
Near Dayton, Ohio
Post  Posted 13 May 2010 2:28 am    
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How about the kick to "Borrowed Angel" by Mel Street. To me that "means" country whenever I hear or play it, and the kick to "Farewell Party" also....AL

edit whoops...not fallen angel...senior moment


Last edited by Alan Tanner on 13 May 2010 1:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Carson Leighton


From:
N.B. Canada
Post  Posted 13 May 2010 2:57 am     Look at us
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James,,thanks for the intro to "look at us"...What I was referring to is that lick in "famers blues"..that you mentioned in your first post...Can you tell me how that's done..Thanks again.......Carson
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Andy Greatrix

 

From:
Edmonton Alberta
Post  Posted 13 May 2010 3:40 am    
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On of the licks that does it for me is the intro to a George Jones song(written by Dallas Frazier) called When Love Was Green.
I think the Steel player was Weldon Merrick.

Also, I recall the Bud Issac intro lick to Slowly, sung by Webb Pearce.
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Ed Altrichter

 

From:
Schroeder, Minnesota, USA
Post  Posted 13 May 2010 9:10 pm    
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The intro lick of Lefty's "Mom and Dad's Waltz.

But how can you hang it on just one ?
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James Cann


From:
Phoenix, AZ
Post  Posted 17 May 2010 4:58 pm    
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Thanks for the kind thoughts, Carson. I've been working on the lick and think I'm as close as I can get. The trick is in covering the separate fiddle and steel note sequences. I'm working on a tab for a reasonable version, but FWIW, it includes a two-move bar slant.

b0b commented about the Franklin pedal perhaps having something to do with it, but I don't know the pedal. If he reads this and chimes in, he'll probably explain it.

PS: I've never uploaded tab before. How's it done?
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James Cann


From:
Phoenix, AZ
Post  Posted 17 May 2010 8:36 pm    
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OK, here it is. It's in two parts.

1. Pick 345 with B @ fret 10 and bring in A then, holding AB, slant bar to 3 @ 8, 4 @ 8.5, 5 @ 9 -- hold slant.
2. Release A / hold B / lower 3, pick 345, move to 9 unslanting bar, then back to 8.

Sounds great, soulful as hell, dripping angst all over everything! Enjoy!
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Carson Leighton


From:
N.B. Canada
Post  Posted 18 May 2010 12:31 pm    
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James,,thanks for taking the time to work this out and posting it,,,it looks like it isn't easy..I will give it a try later on...Best regards,,,Carson
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James Cann


From:
Phoenix, AZ
Post  Posted 18 May 2010 8:57 pm    
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Carson,
It's not very difficult, but it does take a bit of getting used to. Keep this tip in mind: use string 5 as the pivot point for the slants.

As a finished run, it doesn't have the exact musicality as the original song, but it's as close as, I think, E9 might get, and it does sound distinctive. If anyone has an alternative, let's hear it!
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