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Hi, I’m just starting out. I have two lap steels, both 6 string. I have one tuned to c6th and I’m trying to decide what to do with the other one. I play a variety of country styles, all old though, and my fiancees favorite music is Hank Williams (she plays the fiddle and bass). I think the c6th will get me a good ways to the swing and honky tonk. I also have a couple of palm b-benders installed, and I would like to be able to sumulate some pedal steel sounds for certain songs, so I’m wondering what will be the most versatile second tuning to add. Do you think E7th would get me closer to the pedal steel sound? My first instnct was to do a6th so it would be easier to play both and I’d have an increased chord range. Any suggestions would be so appreciated. Aren’t alot of players up here in Massachusetts to ask, so we’re kindof on our own for questions. Keep up the good work.
Hi, thanks for watching Western Swing RULES. I certainly hope all our video lessons are helpful to you and make you aware of the significance of preserving Western Swing. Your best bet for your second tuning is E7, that is standard nashville tuning. Eddie prefers A6 is what he told me. Keep up the good work and swing on!!!- R.H.
I am a country piano player in the process of creating a series of RU-vid videos on how to play country piano by ear. While I have a level of familiarity with this style, I am still working on refining it. It is unlike any other music, but, I think it's most like swing from the "Swing Era" (like 1930's and 1940's), but not much like country music as we know it (as you mentioned). The explanation here of using the diminished chords to get you in and out of your "typical" chords is really very, very good! It's really hard to find anyone who is talking about this (I know Robert Huston is doing great work with preserving this musical style), and also really hard to locate musicians who can play and teach this style! Yet, I learned A LOT from this video. The diminished chords are really all over, and make the perfect connections you need to have! So, thank you Jimmy! I would really like to find out how to buy some of your recordings (I'm gonna look around for those!) And, just know, your guitar playing IS REALLY GOOD TOO! As a piano player, I would say that the piano work at the end of the "Deep Water" recording at the very end of the video is very nice, and I would love to sit down with whoever is playing that and get some tips on how to do that! Thanks again for doing this! Great work!
Hi Robert, My name is Dan Brown. I am in the process of creating some RU-vid videos on Western Swing Piano. I am really enjoying your videos! I just wanted to check with you to see if you and I could talk some time about this subject, as I know you have some really valuable information that would help me with getting this right. I have two videos out so far, but I think I can do a better job on them. If you are available to chat with me about this, please let me know. Thank you!
@@roberthuston331 Oh good! I know about Bob Wiils, and I’m going to start listening to all of his music. I have also studied swing piano as jazz. I’m just trying to figure out what the differences are. I will also start watching your series of videos, as I know there are quite a few and I haven’t seen them all. Perhaps we can talk on the phone one day soon. I just want to be ready with the questions I have for you. I may create one more video on Western swing for the piano, and perhaps you could let me know what to do to make it better. So, thank you for your reply here, and I will look forward to taking to you soon!
@@danbrown4134 Sounds good. The more you learn, the more you'll realize Western Swing is in no way country but its own stand alone genre. I look forward to our visit.
@@roberthuston331 Yes, I agree completely. Western Swing is VERY different! I noticed that you mentioned that in one of your videos! I’m going to keep watching them!
Thank you, Whit Smith, for exploding my head in the best possible way! I’ve been playing guitar for over 50 years (including Western Swing!) in an undisciplined and lazy style. But in the back of my mind I always knew there was more to what I could play, especially if I learned something about theory and the ‘mysteries’ of the fretboard. This video hit the nail on the head in explaining what I am hearing (and seeing) when I watch great Western Swing guitarists ply their trade! I am inspired to put this to use and learn more. And thanks to Robert Huston for putting this and other “Western Swing RULES” together!
Wonderful information! Eddie is superb! Would it be possible for you to make (or provide) the specific information regarding Eddie's A6 tuning? Specifically the tuning, the gauge/diameter for each string, and whether the string is Plain or Wound. (For the Fender Deluxe 8 guitar scale length like Eddie is playing.) It would be so helpful and very much appreciated.
What a great video, very useful for a guitar player learning steel. So many teachers talk for 10 minutes before showing anything. This is all pickin', right to the point, thanks Eddie!!
Excellent - had a piano teacher who as a young man went on erllla gig with an experienced saxophone player . At the end of a song the saxophone player turns to the piano player and says , "look , when I'm playing , you don't play . whenever I don't play , then you can see play 😀
I have played for 50 years. In that time, like most self taught musicians, I "learned" by imitation. There comes a point where one becomes conscious of their incompetence, which is a very uncomfortable place to be! So I read books about theory. I watch endless videos on theory. I struggle to find a way to utilize all these abstract constructs. And then, out of nowhere comes an 18 minute RU-vid video from a guy named Whit Smith, who honestly, I had never heard of. In 18 minutes and 8 seconds, I watched theory come alive. After studying with numerous teachers, and spending endless hours trying to actually use all this information, this presentation has somehow blown a door wide open. Here, at last is how to apply theory to the fingerboard of a guitar. Whit, I can't thank you enough. I think you will understand this when I say, "my guitar looks different today."
Hi Grady, This is Robert Huston, creator and producer of the Western Swing RULES music education series. I am so gratified to hear your comments. I created this series to accomplish exactly what you've described. I am so excited for you that it has been helpful for your playing. I will certainly pass along your comments to my friend Whit who is a tremendous talent and wonderful guy. I invite you to check out our other segments in the series which have a lot of guitar instruction. If you don't mind, please share in what part of the world you live. I like to know. Thanks again and continued success!!!- R.H.
@@roberthuston331 Upstate NY, near The Eastman School of Music and the Hochstein School of Music, both places where I have studied over the years and continue to this day. I don't know Robert, something just clicked while watching Whit turn a fingerboard into a piano. Theory is hard to apply to a guitar, even for someone at my level, an accomplished gig musician. There's a saying, "At some point, the metal is ready for the maker's hand." I think I bumped into Whit Smith at the right moment. And yes, I will look at some others but there is enough in these 18 minutes and 8 seconds to keep me busy for a long time. Thank You both.
@@GradyElla It’s a never ending obsession. I’m sure glad it was one of those epiphanous moments. Keep moving forward and let me know how you’re doing. -R.H.
Eddie is using a straight A6 tuning. He comments on this in Western Swing RULES #6. You might take a look at that one and be sure and let all your musician friends know about our series. Thanks for watching. I hope that answers your question.
Thank you very much for your time putting this video on. I am just a beginner on the lap steel.. This really helped. Now I can almost sound like I know what I am doing ..
Bruh, dis video low-key blew my mind. I just bought a Shubb SP2 tone bar this afternoon aaaaaaand I’m pretty sure I know what I’ll be practicing with it first!
not even american but from all the genres that im more interested is the western swing. I have heard old country, hillbilly, hillbilly boogie, nillbilly bop, rockabilly, rural rockabilly, etc. But i think this genre is devalued. If you can recommend me other videos or artists of WS id be glad. thanks. BTW i like this so much.
Hi Diego. Where do you live? I highly recommend the rest of my "Western Swing RULES segments here on RU-vid. Especially if you're a musician and want to know how to approach and play Western Swing. Any recordings of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys are advised. Asleep at the Wheel is another group who do a tremendous job playing Western Swing. Thanks for writing and watching Western Swing RULES!!!
