Steelin' The Blues

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 3 Feb 2004 5:38 pm

Has anyone ever tabbed this tune out? Was he playing a straight C6 tuning?

Robbie

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 3 Feb 2004 5:54 pm

I assume you are talking about JB?

If so it was him that first recorded it. It is done in C# or as he calls id Db. Jerry loves this key because it allows blues type notes by pulling the bar back and playing the open 1st string. As well as other things such a bar push off ninth chord.

And yes when JB recorded this tune, it was done on a 6 string tuned to C6, IE:

E
C
A
G
E
C

carl

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 3 Feb 2004 6:07 pm

The tab for Steelin the Blues is in Jerry Byrd's instruction course for non pedal guitar, I got mine from Scotty's. It is expensive and very in depth in many aspects of non pedal playing. Well worth it!!!!! BW

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 4 Feb 2004 3:22 am

It was also tabbed by the Oahu Pub Co in Am7, a maj, and C#m tunings

Larry Phleger · Post by **Larry Phleger** » 4 Feb 2004 7:28 am

I play a pedal steel with a E9/B6 tuning. When I play Steelin' the Blues, it puts me in the key of C. I use a B8 tuning on my National T8 with the same intervals as the C6 listed above. It helps me keep from getting mixed up when I play non-pedal. The band also prefers to do it in C, as opposed to C#.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Feb 2004 7:35 am

Jerry's "Steelin' The Blues" was done in C6th + 7th tuning (A7th). The seventh, or C# was on the 6th string. The song was written in the key of Db. There are several measures where you work yourself up the strings going from open position to first fret. It would be hard to play this song in anything but the C6th tuning. "Steelin' The Blues" was the first solo number that Jerry Byrd recorded for Mercury.
Incidently, I am taking this information from my copy of the "The JERRY BYRD Instruction Course for the HAWAIIAN "STEEL" GUITAR" copyright 1954, Riley Music, Inc. Madison, Tenn.
Erv

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 4 Feb 2004 9:33 am

It's a long time ago for me to remember, but I think that the reason I put a B6 on my guitar back in the early 1950's was so I could play "Steelin' The Blues" in C. In those days not many country bands would play in C#!
www.genejones.com

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 4 Feb 2004 9:50 am

From the original Jerry Byrd Fan Club Journal it has been said that "Drowsy Waters" was the very first tune Jerry recorded on Mercury in his own name. It was backed with "Steelin' the Blues"..but the producers didn't want to record it without a vocal. If rumor is accurate in this instance, Jerry ran into Rex Allen outside in the hallway at the studio, and together they sat down and put together a lyric and Rex then recorded the vocal for Jerry. GREAT combination on that tune!!! regardless of just how the story went.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Feb 2004 10:06 am

As far as I know, there is no key of C#. When you are dealing with sharps the keys are:
G, D, A, E, B & F. When dealing with flats, the keys are: F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db & Gb.

And Ray, you are correct. "Steelin' The Blues" and "Drowsy Waters" were recorded together on the same Mercury recording, No. 6175

Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 04 February 2004 at 10:11 AM.]

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 4 Feb 2004 10:15 am

There most definitely is a key of C#- 7 sharps- it may be easier to think in Db, but C# has been around at least as long as J.S. Bach! There is also a key of Cb. It's a theory nightmare, but there you go.

C#m is 4 sharps, etc.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 4 Feb 2004 10:55 am

Indeed there is a C# Key. Also, and very respectfully to Jerry, I still hold he recorded "Steelin' the Blues" in C6. If I am incorrect, my sincere apologies to Jerry.

If I am correct, it will not be the first time a great great star recalls something other than what happened. Jerry made hundreds and hundreds of recordings and I know of at least 3 recordings of the subject tune.

He may or may not have already invented C6/A7 at the time "Steelin' the Blues" was first recorded, but I am almost positive the tune was recorded using a straight C6 tuning.

It is highly possible that the recording of that tune on the album "HI FI Guitar" may have used the C6/A7 tuning. But my recollection does not recall him ever picking the C# (6th) string in either recording. But in any case I will always believe he used C6 on the original Mercury 45 recording with "Drowsy Waters" on the reverse side.

carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 04 February 2004 at 11:06 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Feb 2004 2:51 pm

Carl,
Although Jerry's arrangement is written in the C6th + A7th tuning, he never did hit the 6th string.

Erv

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 4 Feb 2004 5:36 pm

Carl Dixon: Jerry first developed his C6th/A7th tuning in what, 1938, I believe it was. His first Mercury record was done in 1949. As far as I'm concerned, it was done in the C6th AND, that 6th string was unplucked.

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 4 Feb 2004 8:33 pm

Thanks Guys.Any and all info helps. I'll give it all a try.

Robbie

Fred Layman · Post by **Fred Layman** » 4 Feb 2004 9:12 pm

While we're mentioning it, I haven't looked that closely at Jerry' book of tabs recently, but has "Drowsy Waters" ever been tabbed as he played it? Scotty plays it occasionally and Jerry's influence on him is obvious. I have from time to time gently requested Scotty to tab it, but he has so many other involvements to take care of and hasn't got around to it.

Jack Byrd · Post by **Jack Byrd** » 5 Feb 2004 6:41 am

Jerry has tabbed Drowsy Waters. His catalog indicates a Medley and it was done in C-6th.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 5 Feb 2004 7:25 am

My guitar teacher showed me the C6th tuning in 1947,and if all the stories are true, Jerry had it in 1938 or '39. Most of his early stuff sure sounded like C6th
BILL

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 5 Feb 2004 8:18 am

In Jerry Byrd's Steel Guitar Course, "Steelin'The Blues" is tabbed out in the C6/A7 tuning.

However, the C# string is used for only one note near the end of the song.

This arrangement is a bit different from the recorded one, so I guess it was done especially for the course.

Blake