Musym-Tab...?

Jay Coover · From: Nashville, TN, USA

I see it referred to. Yet I never see it.

Some say it's the best thing since sliced bread, yet...

Help me understand.
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William Kendrick · Posted 17 Aug 2024 9:46 am

The name MUSYM TAB is a copyright trademark describing a patent pending system of writing music for the pedal steel guitar. It is the sole property of James L. (Jimmie) Crawford. The book "Pedal Steel Guitar - a Manual of Style" (using MUSYM-TAB) was written by Terry Bethel, Jimmie Crawford, John Hughey and Weldon Myrick; compiled and edited by Winnie Winston; and released by Pixenbar Music in 1980.

According to the book, "MUSYM-TAB has many advantages over the previous systems of notation and tablature. Visually, MUSYM-TAB is more concise than the former methods, eliminates the need of messy and confusing symbols and footnotes. Right-hand picking techniques are well situated next to the notes to be played and are completely documented. This system is accurate for players regardless of their pedal set-up. MYSYM-TAB could very well set the standard for pedal steel guitar instruction." - Introduction by Belmont College Music Department, Nashville, TN (Jerry L Warren, Chairman)
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William Kendrick · Posted 17 Aug 2024 9:52 am

Here is an example of what MUSYM-TAB looks like.

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Jay Coover · From: Nashville, TN, USA

William Kendrick · Posted 17 Aug 2024 10:54 am

Jay. This is just an example that happens to be open. But if you knew Jimmie, he played a lot of "chicken-pickin" in the E-A positions open. And he was good at it.

He gave me a lot of tab handouts when I took his course, but I converted them all to the standard tab we see today. I was never thrilled with MUSYM-TAB.
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Jay Coover · From: Nashville, TN, USA

Ah OK. I'm seeing it. This could be helpful.

Problem is - proprietary. What the heck? I can't think of any notation out there that is proprietary. I'm sure it exists.

Making it proprietary ensured its demise.
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John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Jimmi's tab system was very detailed, but quite different from today's standard of using letter-named pedals and levers, and a tough read. Good concept that only surfaced in the Manual of Style book.

William Kendrick I'd love to see your tab conversions! I know that was a laborious process!
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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

I took a one week seminar with Jimmie back in 1981 and I had his book. The most unusual thing about MUSYM-TAB was the sharps in the tablature (instead of letters which tell the player what pedal or lever to push). So a player would have to know which pedal or lever raises or lowers which strings in order to play the tablature. Of course, that's something that every player should know eventually, but I think the system would slow progress for a beginner.

I remember working my way through the Weldon Myrick tunes in the book. As I remember, Weldon tuned his second string to D and he raised it with a lever when he wanted D# on string two. Weldon's tuning, combined with the sharps and flats in the tab really bogged me down, and I ended up re-writing most of it. Very frustrating.
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Jay Coover · From: Nashville, TN, USA

I do like the concept of right hand (pmi) finger designations, but for a beginner or maybe intermediate, it's often equally helpful to know which right hand finger is blocking and where on a fast line of notes. The best instructions illustrate this somehow because its so difficult to intuit, until you get it, then you forget how difficult it was. I'm still trying to forget how difficult it is for some licks. LOL
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Jay Coover · From: Nashville, TN, USA

On a related note, and also not being an attorney, I see absolutely nothing in this form of notation that (would/should/could) stand up as proprietary in a court of law. It's all derivative.

The language of music
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William Kendrick · Posted 18 Aug 2024 1:01 am

Jay.

My description of the system was verbatim from the book. For those of us who knew Jimmie personally, he was a great steel guitar player who lived in a time when there was a lot of rivalry in and among players and manufacturers.

I agree with John and Doug about the difficulty of the system.

And I agree with you on the propriety. Notice that his description contains the word "patent pending." I wonder if he was ever issued one.
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Doug Taylor · From: Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA

What does the (x) and * mean?

William Kendrick · Posted 18 Aug 2024 6:54 am

Here is the page which summarizes all of the notations found in MUSYM-TAB. (bottom of the page)
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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

This is what slowed me down 40+ years ago... Smile

# means a 1/2 tone raise
X means a whole tone raise
* means a 1 1/2 tone raise

Then there are the flats: half, whole, 1 1/2

The nice part is... the tablature works for all pedal/lever setups, regardless of how the pedals are labeled (A,B,C,D...etc.). Unfortunately, it's not user-friendly for beginners and intermediates IMO.
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William Kendrick · Posted 18 Aug 2024 7:38 am

I chucked MUSYM-TAB and bought Doug's book (60 Melodies)

Now playing is fun again. Very Happy

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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Wow, thanks for that, William. I appreciate it.
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Doug Taylor · From: Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA

William I have Doug’s book as well, I can play the arrangements out of that book and folks think I am way better than I am!

Doug, thank you for the reference on the tab. I find it quite interesting! I don’t have the book but have been looking for a copy, but not willing to pay the price for it!

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Thanks Doug, I know what you mean about the high price of this book today. I saw one listed for $150.00. There’s so much useful information from four pro players. I think if it had been written with standard tablature it would be more sought-after today than it is.
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William Kendrick · Posted 18 Aug 2024 3:10 pm

Speaking of Jimmie Crawford, I just happened to be in his studio in Hendersonville in 1979 when he had just finshed recording his "Steel Crazy" album. He gave me the demo tape. And then he sat down and played the songs in front of me. His fingers were flying across the fret board. My favorite is Black Mountain Rag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ0ZHAp7JYI
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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

I had a similar experience with Jimmie. I took a 5-day seminar with him in 1981. There were only three of us there, so we each got plenty of attention. At one point Jimmie showed us what could be played with his “cluster” of knee levers and it was amazing… notes moving in all directions, counterpoint. It sounded like music from another planet. And the stories he told us… I can’t repeat here on the forum! I did pick up a lot of his banjo roll style and open string hammer-ons and pull-offs. That was probably the most valuable part of the seminar for me.

That recording of Black Mountain Rag brings back a lot of memories. I had that and other Crawford albums back in the day that I transferred to cassette tape and listened to hundreds of times in my car driving to gigs.
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John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Another plug for Doug Beamier: in my E9 lessons, I offer 2 tracks: E9 101: Bandstand Fundamentals; and E9 Pedal Steel for Home Enjoyment.

The latter mostly gets chosen by very senior citizens who just want to sort of play pretty simple songs without much technique or theory. The main "textbook" for that is Doug's 60 Popular Melodies. Great formatting, easy to read tab, and matching audio files.

Doug, I thank you for a wonderful teaching resource!
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Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

That’s great to hear, John. I appreciate that. I’ve been meaning to do a new edition of that book… it’s 18 years old now, but I can’t seem to get around to it! So many other things take priority.

Interesting that you offer your students two different courses of study: Playing with a band ….or playing at home for enjoyment. When I was teaching I did the same thing. In the first lesson I would ask the student what his/her goals were: to play in a band or to play songs at home.
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John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

I did that to fulfill student needs, just as I'm sure you did. Not everyone is trying to be a gigging, paid steel player! Inevitably a bit of Nashville numbers education sneaks into my work with seniors!

You might consider grouping songs into skill levels. Some songs were in non-country keys, some had chords outside 1-4-5, and others had some challenging string groups for some of my students. However, the book is super well-done, I don't really see a need to revise or update it, Doug!
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Jay Coover · From: Nashville, TN, USA

It seems this fellow is using a bit a musym tab on his site. Just noticed.

https://www.steelc6th.com/tabs/e9th_pedal_steel/great_pieces.htm
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Jay Coover · From: Nashville, TN, USA

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