Bobby Black - tuning?

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

Hi all,

I am trying to learn a handful of Commander Cody songs.....pretty much pulled one of the vinyl LPs off the shelf (the "Country Casanova" album") and put the songs on my computer.

After trying to replicate the licks off of "Everybody's Doin' It" and "Smoke Smoke Smoke", it sounds like Bobby must be using some sort of custom tuning? There are shades of E9 AND C6, but the normal pulls, etc. for either tuning don't get you there, so to speak.

Was he another Red Rhodes, using an off-the wall tuning? Or do I just need more practice?

Thanks!

Joe

John Vaughan · From: San Jose, California, USA

You can check Bobby's copedant at http://www.steelguitar.com/webpix/playpix/bblack.htm

JV

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

Thanks for that link, John.

I also checked Winnie Winston's book....it appears that based on both references, he is playing a standard C6 and E9....although on the Carter site he has a few extra changes on the C6 via the knee lever changes.

Still, I am having a real hard time figuring out some of his changes on those quick turn-around licks from the aforementioned album. I guess if he really is playing a standard C6, those licks are there somewhere...I've just gotta find em

Joe

Fred Amendola · From: Lancaster, Pa.

Hi Joe,
I worked on those tunes quite a bit many years ago. I believe "Smoke, smoke" was C6 but with an E9 solo. Is that one of your questions? Email me sometime, and I might be able to help you. There's great playing on all the Cody albums with Bobby Black. Live at Amarillo comes to mind.
Fred

Fred Amendola · From: Lancaster, Pa.

P.S.
I had tabbed out some Bobby Black stuff for the Rebel/Ricky site. Look under 1973.
Fred

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

Hi Fred,

Thanks for the heads-up.....I worked on the first four-bar lick after the "Smoke" chorus for two hours....it took me forever to figure out that it was being played in E9, but with uncommon string combinations being plucked. A lot tougher than it sounds.....but then, it sounds so good!

Let me just say this.....after trying to replicate Bobby's seemingly simple turn-arounds throughout that song, I have to tip my hat to him.....his playing has provided me a lot more motivation/inspiration to really dig into the C6 (B6) side of my universal and try to unearth some more good licks.

Joe

Mark Herrick · From: Bakersfield, CA

I think I was at the Armadillo for that show...I think...
http://members.aol.com/mherrcat/cclpa/cclpa.html

BTW: If you tab any of that stuff out, post it!

[This message was edited by Mark Herrick on 03 February 2004 at 10:40 AM.]

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

OK.....I have tabbed out what I could here. I really need help with the first turnaround on the song though....if anyone is so inclined to pull out the record/CD and try to figure it out, I would appreciate it TREMENDOUSLY! My band wants to play this one.....and I'd like to follow what Bobby did....

Thanks,

Joe

John Vaughan · From: San Jose, California, USA

Also check 1972 at the Rebel & Ricky tab site for more BB tabs. I think they may be a mite wrong but they'll get you started. I've been working on that descending run (in the solo on Semi Truck) starting at fret 15 and using strings 1, 3 and 4 for a couple of years. It (to my ear) requires switching between LKL and RKR(1/2 stop) while moving the bar down the neck at a pretty good clip. I've never been able to pull it off in a gig but I did learn some other stuff in the effort that I use all the time. Besides being a super steel player, Bobby is also one of the finest people on the planet.

JV

Fred Amendola · From: Lancaster, Pa.

Hi John,
The descending lick you're talking about is strings 3-4-1-4; in all the major positions.
I think Weldon might have been the first to play it but I'm not sure.
I had the same struggle with that lick at first, wanting that 4th note to be a whole tone lower than what's tabbed. But in my experience, what I think is happening is when you play it fast, the 4th note is struck while you're moving to the next major position anyway. So try thinking of the lick how it was tabbed, but start moving the bar as you pick the 4th note of the pattern.
The same lick is in Weldon's solo to Charlie McCoy's Rocky Top on the same page.
Lemme know if this helps.

p.s.
I guess I lied in my post the other day, about the 1973 Bobby Black clips. Sorry Joe!I had remembered putting the clips up there for "My Window.." but I forgot that I hadn't tabbed them. My tabs were in the 1972 page. I'll try to add more tabs to 1973 as I get time.
Fred

Fred Amendola · From: Lancaster, Pa.

I sent tab for "My Window Faces the South" to Rebel. It is now posted with the clips in the 1973 section.

Fred

Bob Snelgrove · From: san jose, ca

Mark,

Thanks for the pics!. That's about when I met Bobby. How time flies

bob

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