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Steel |
About | C6th Tabs | Steel Guitar Forum | Tunings | Brad's Page | HSGA | Rhythm Tracks | Jerry Byrd | Steel Guitar Videos | Song Tabs | How 2Go2 Heaven | E9th Tabs | Listen | Jerry Byrd Instruction Book
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(C6th Hawaiian Tabs)
Click HERE to hear me play Moon of Manakoora (download) recorded on the D9th lap steel tuning, which is nothing more than dropping the 4th string on your C6th from a G note to an F#. So the tuning from high (string 1) to low is: E, C, A, F#, E, C). I used the same 1936 Bakelite Rickenbacher pictured to the right. Rick Aiello kindly rewound the pickup's for me with 38-guage wire and rejuiced the magnets. Nice!Here are my D9th tabs for the beautiful Hawaiian song, Moon of Manakoora. Here's a decent lap steel at an affordable price (I've had good experience with Guitar Center simply because they offer FREE shipping). My preference is to buy a used classic from The Golden Years of music and pre-WWII. Albeit, please don't get me wrong, the tone of a long-scale 24 1/2" Jerry Byrd Frypan is MUCH better, but you'll pay 8 times more! Compare the sounds for yourself and you'll hear why the Byrd Frypan costs so much more... VersusByrd Frypan You don't know what you're missing out on without a lap steel in your life! Many come with old-timey amps too. Hawaiian steel guitar is real music! Bali Hai
Billy Hew Len (Cool: plays with a missing left hand!)
Beautiful Kahana Helpful Advice For Steel Guitarists (album & backing tracks, by Tommy Roots)
One of my favorite artists...
Tom
Morrell & The Time Warp Top Hands What A Friend In Jesus | Track * * * * * * * The Song That Inspired Me To Learn Pedal Steel Guitar
Lessons Available by Alan Akaka
Download Any Entire Website
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I am a grateful
born-again Christian.
Below is one of the most sought after lapsteel guitars in the world. The 1 1/2"
horseshoe pickup
identifies
it as pre WWII. 7-strings were more rare than the 6-strings.
Through-the-body strings are much preferred as they produce a nicer
tone than strings attached to a flange at the bridge.
Brass Dunlop finger picks are my favorite!
As strange as it may sound, steel
guitar is associated with Hawaiian music everywhere except in
Hawaii. Anywhere in the world, when people think about Hawaiian
music, they think about the steel guitar. But in Hawaii, the ukulele
is the official State instrument.
There is still much anger and
resentment amongst Hawaiians against the United States for stealing
their land and turning all their beautiful beaches into hotel
developments. Now there's talk of building a train system in
Honolulu, which would be good to reduce traffic, but it is ruining
paradise. Many of the themes in Hawaii's music centers around the
destroying of their homeland.
Albeit, if you ever visit Oahu, you will see many rainbows, as it rains often because of the high mountains. Oahu is overrated if you ask me. If you drive up and down Beretania and North King Streets, you'll see hundreds of homeless people living on the streets. So much for paradise. Jerry Byrd's Wealth Of Knowledge
Psalms 150:4, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.” |
Search this website The steel guitar is an awesome instrument that's a legendary part of American history. In the 1930s thru 1950s, everyone wanted to learn to play lap steel guitar. It is a different story today, but that makes it even more rewarding to play steel as a rare novelty that few people can do. Guitar and bass players are dime-a-dozen, but steel players are rare indeed. My name is David J. Stewart. I've been playing steel guitar since 1992. I want you to learn to play Hawaiian steel guitar. That is my desire. I don't want your money and have nothing to sell. I link to some websites that do sell things, but only because I want you to know all that's available to learn the steel guitar. My website is packed full of instruction and helps to get you started. God gave me the gift of music, and I want to share it with others freely. My most recent steel recordings. There's tons of tablature already available for the pedal steel E9th and C6th tunings; but hardly anything for us non-peddlers, so I decided to publish this website to help those who want to learn the beautiful lap steel. Although I use B11th, D9th, and the Bill Leavitt tuning , most of what I play is C6th, which offers the most chord possibilities. ("Summer Clouds" by Lloyd from 1974) Of course, if you play E9th pedal steel, you can just drop your 4th and 8th string (E notes) down to Eb and you have a C6th on the 1st fret. Strings 10, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 are respectively: C, E, G, A, C, E. Just avoid the 9th string. You can't beat playing C6th on an old Sho-Bud! That's in fact exactly what Jerry Byrd played... a Sho-Bud D-8 guitar with no pedals. And if you play C6th on the pedal steel , you have an extended C6th tuning to play everything on my website. So whether you play E9th pedal steel or C6th pedal steel or C6th non-pedal steel, this website will offer many helpful things.
Hear me play... “ Rainbows Over Paradise” *Download| Track | Tabs (Bobby Ingano, Jeff Au Hoy, Alan Akaka and inspiring musical student artists)
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Here's some great background music for around the house—the song 'Paradise'
(This is just one of those songs that sounds great being played over and over.)
The steel guitar is a great instrument for disabled people (with
either missing fingers/hand to learn). The reason is because with a few
adaptations and a determined spirit, anyone can play the steel guitar.
Some of the most beautiful playing is just playing in
single note style. Here's another single note style instrumental:
His Name Is Wonderful.
RECORDING YOUR OWN MUSIC You don't need an expensive recording studio with all the bells and whistles. Here's a recording I made , playing the pedal steel E9th, using just a small handheld ICD PX720 recorder (there are many similar nice recorders, like the PX312). A digital recording studio, like the Boss BR-600 is great, but you can record with much less, like I did here. My favorite means of recording is with desktop software, using MixCraft. Here's another one, Harbor Lights , played on a S-6 long scale Frypan using the C6th tuning. Watch me play Sweetnin' in A6th (treble to bass: E - C# - A - F# - E - C# - A - F# ), same as C6th, just 1 1 /2 tones lower in pitch. The high E is the same as a high G on C6th. Here's the track I used (more tracks available HERE. Here's some tabs for 'Sweetnin.'Here's 2 favorites Hawaiian songs, Mapuana and Hana , which I recorded playing a $99 Artisan (same as Rogue) lap steel tuned to B11th. They are junk as far as quality, but they do carry a note. Check out this nice Supro Jet Airline reissue from the 1960's. You get what you pay for, so don't expect the same superb tone from a cheap steel guitar, but I highly recommend the Supro Airline for newer players, before you invest thousands in an expensive high quality lap steel like Canopus. Here's My Yellow Ginger Lei . I backed-up the singer using a 1936 S-6 Rickenbacher Bakelite, C6th. Rickenbachers are worth every penny for their great warm tone (both pre and post war bakelite model guitars. The Silver Hawaiian sounds metallic and hollow to me). E Mama E | E Mama E Tabs and Rhythm Track for E9th lap steel. Here's Song of the Islands which I played live at a public gathering. Here's Paper Roses that I played on the E9th pedal steel. And here's several more E9th songs from my heart. You may freely share them:
The best way to learn to play Hawaiian steel guitar is to LISTEN to lots of Hawaiian steel guitar, to become well acquainted with the instrument and what it can do. Get out your steel guitar and try to play along with some of these songs (files are 24 kbps mono). The C6th tuning is best, I think, but many different tunings were used by these various steel guitarists. I love the intro which Barney Isaacs Jr. (1924-1996) does on Beyond the Reef, which is played during every commercial break in Honolulu on am940hawaii.com. You can hear what an 8-string can do, giving you some great low notes to rake across. I tabbed out the intro for you, which is really awesome. Check out what you can do with bar slants on an extended C6th. (Check this kid out. He plays a quadruple neck Fender, doing some great tone swells and bar techniques)
Sebastian Muller - Old Tunings *If this webpage appears off the screen on your computer, adjust the size by rotating the mouse wheel while holding down the CTRL key. It's a challenge to build my website to work in all browsers.
Streaming M3U Audio
Dave Hum - I Love
This Guy!
Buy
115 Original Dave Hum Backing Tracks And Tabs
Banjo
Heaven |
Jerry Byrd Live Honolulu Concert 1985
Hawaiian music is not about a place; but rather, making the best of life wherever you're at. No one appreciates Hawaiian steel guitar more than people living up in frigid Canada and Europe. Music comes from the heart. To me, Hawaiian music is about Heaven, and all the blessings awaiting every born-again Christian, somewhere far beyond the sun. 'Tis one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.
SLACK KEY GUITAR
Learn 12-string Hawaiian
Slack Key Guitar
A Really Nice Slack Key Course
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CD
How To Play Slack Key Guitar
My Ukulele Recordings
from 2015:
DoctorUke.com FINDING THAT TONAL SWEET SPOT There is a sweet tonal spot on certain lap steel pickups, such as Rickenbacher horseshoes and Excel Frypans. Turn your tone control knob all the way muddy, and then come back just a little bit. DON'T turn the knob all the way bright. If it's set right, your steel will sound somewhat like a horn in a brass band, which is a highly desired sound for Hawaiian steel. Also, don't listen to the bogus hype that because Excel Frypans only use cosmetic horseshoes that they don't sound as good as horseshoe pickups. Not so! The stock pickups are awesome and equal any Rickenbacher! All the talent in the world means nothing if you have not desire. Success is 90% perspiration, and 10% inspiration. You can do it!
Kalalau Valley on Kauai, Hawaii * * * * * * * Click Here for bigger chart below
There are literally hundreds of M3U songs on this page for you to listen to. I cannot provide download links for most of the music, but you can listen to beautiful steel guitar, which is in my opinion the most wonderful music in the universe. It reminds me of Heaven! All my personal recordings are downloadable and many of the rhythm tracks! You're welcome to freely use them as you wish. Also, check out my videos! I have compiled many of these songs into a Hawaiian playlist (122 so far) if you just want to hear these songs as background music while relaxing or working around the home. Enjoy! Hawaiian music is like any other genre, you have the good and the bad. As a Christian I try to only promote that which is good, modest, decent, and pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ. Playing Harmonics
Barney Isaacs Jr. - Moon Of The Southern Sea (tabs & tracks)
Learn "Adventures
In Paradise" On (great for importing song chords into BIAB) (295 free tabs & audio; Greg has generously made and shared these AWESOME backing tracks; Greg has backing tracks for Harbor Lights, Georgia Steel Guitar, Song Of The Islands and Many more songs.)
Frypan Medley
Learn 'Texas Playboy Rag' on C6th (tabbed as recorded in 1959 by Jerry Byrd using his amazing C Diatonic tuning!)
Beyond The Reef in
D | Key
Of F
It Was A
Trip, On Wings Of Music I added a 1953 bakelite Rickenbacher S-6 to the song, “God Understands.” Here's how to play Bud Tutmarc's “P-Tah” that he's famous for. I use a slightly different tuning than Bud (high to low: E, C#, G#, E, Bb, F#). I used an E9th pedal steel for the ending parts. Here's the original song, so you can play along. Enjoy! |
DON'T FORGET THE VIBRATO! One of the most beautiful aspects of steel guitar playing, whether it be Hawaiian, Gospel or Country music is using bar vibrato, i.e., slightly moving the bar back-n-forth on the fret to produce a wavering sound, which pulls on the heart of the listener!
Also, learn to pause on a single note while playing. If you get the timing right, it is beautiful. DUNLOP BARS ARE BEST! I like the Dunlop brand steel bars because the end facing the player is receded, which allows your thumb a place to easily do reverse slants. It really helps! I prefer the longer 3/4" by 2 7/8" bar.I use my larger pedal steel bar on my long-scale Frypan, but I have to be careful not to slip while doing reverse bar slants. (1947-2009)
*Jerry
Byrd Biography
Stardust On C6th Pedal “STARDUST” is my favorite C6th song on pedal steel, performed by Tommy Roots. I met Tommy at the ISGC in 1995-1996, and he was a great personality, apt to teach and a nice guy. Here's a nice rhythm track and even better, Tommy explains in this MP3 session HOW TO PLAY Stardust!Here also, Tommy Root explains in this MP3 HOW TO PLAY “Shadow Of Your Smile.” The song was originally recorded by Tommy as a solo, so there was never a rhythm track. It is a beautiful song!
John W. Peterson (on steel guitar) - Twilight Melodies
Lani McIntire and His Orchestra - Addeo - More Hawaii in Hi-Fi Super Jam 1996 *Hal Rugg, Paul Franklin Jr., Tommy White, Jeff Newman - I had the privilege of recording these artists live in St. Louis...
Above: I only got a partial recording on Crazy, but it's some great pedal steel guitar. Tablature of a great solo run by Jerry Byrd, for the song “HAOLE HULA.” Mike Neer has some great advanced tabs and top quality backing tracks for Coconut Grove (A7th), Sweetnin' (A6th - Mike tabs it exactly like the original song) and other cool songs. The A7th tuning (high to low: E, C#, A, F#, E, C#, Bb, G) provides some awesome chord expansion for C6th fans. Herb Remington's A6th (high to low: E, C#, A, F#, E, C#, A, A bass) is really cool. The A6th is simply a C6th with a high G lowered 3 half tones. You've got to try these tunings!
Jeffran College Learn Great E9th Hal Rugg Chops
Lloyd Green Tuning Seminar (MP3, 21:54 minutes long, Texas Steel Show, October 1992) I began playing pedal steel guitar in 1992 and didn't truly learn how to tune until decades later. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning to tune BY EAR. Lloyd explains how in the preceding awesome seminar. Use the tuner, but then fine-tune by the SOUND YOU HEAR. When you hear the “crisp bite” in the major chord, you're where you want to be! WHAT A DIFFERENCE TUNING BY EAR MAKES! Psalms 144:9, “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.” |
“I never quit thinking about the instrument; I never quit trying to strive for new ideas. I felt like it was important to keep forging ahead. If I stopped, there would be no reason to keep continue playing. It’s an endless adventure playing the steel guitar; you’re only limited by your imagination. As long as you got a good brain, you can think and play anything on the instrument. It’s an endless journey.” — Lloyd Green, interview 2001, 'Steel Guitar Rag' magazine
“Steel guitar is a Hawaiian instrument by birth and what I consider to be the signature sound of Hawaiian music. Having undergone many changes, both physically and musically, in the hundred-plus years of its existence, it is, I will say without hesitation, one of the most difficult instruments to master.” —Jerry Byrd, “It Was A Trip On Wings Of Music,” by Jerry Byrd (1920-2005); © 2003, p. 110
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About Guitar Strings
There are
3 types
of guitar strings: wound, semi-flat, or round-wound
(flat). The higher string gauges are all plain. Only the
lower strings are wound.
I used to use semi-flat wound because they are brighter and more
responsive than flats; but flats are the most
comfortable on the left hand while sliding and they're quiet.
Jerry Byrd Instruction Course Who Plays Steel on 'SPONGE BOB'? (Answer: Gary Brandin)
Ukulele Chords For Hawaiian Songs Hundreds Of Hawaiian Ukulele Songs Ukulele Chord Chart (.pdf) Ukulele Transposing Chart (.pdf) |
Every student of the steel guitar should start learning without any guitar effects. To the degree that effects are used, the player is drowned out. Check out Bud Isaacs.
Note: The above CD also includes background play-along tracks for all 10 songs (listed here).
CANOPUS STEELS Tear Drop (by Doug Beaumier) Cool Capo/Slide Converter (instantly turn any guitar into a lap steel) Videos by Jerry Byrd *Sand (by Jerry Byrd | B11th Tabs) Volume pedals are essential to proper lap steel technique. You'll miss so very much without a volume pedal. Using the volume control knob or floor pedal, raise the volume while going into a note, and then to back-off after playing the note. This is for seamless chord changes, volume swell effects and personal expression. Here's Jerry Byrd's opinion on volume pedals (MP3).
Leonard T. Zinn
(1924-2022) Jerry Byrd's 'C Diatonic' Tuning
Come A Little Closer
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Jerry Byrd YouTube Channel Check out Jerry Byrd's Diatonic tuning, which he used in 1960 to record the solo on " Next To Jimmy" by Ferlin Husky. Hilo Hawaiians - Honeymoon in Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islanders - Hawaiian Enchantment
King Keoni And His Islanders -
Here's me playing "His Name is Wonderful" on a Long scale S-6 Jerry Byrd Frypan. Gospel Split track RT/CDs are available. I use "MixCraft" to split and slow the tracks. This lets you make rhythm tracks. Nice! |
Sweet Leilani on a Fender 1000 Pedal Steel by Basil Henriques
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Luke Leilani &His Royal Hawaiians - Hawaiian Paradise
Kana King & His Hawaiians - The music of Hawaii
All Star Hawaiian Band - Steel Guitar Magic - Hawaii's Golden 16
Webley Edwards - Hawaii Calls Show
The Surfmen -
Lani McIntire and His Aloha Islanders - Hawaiian Melodies
Micky Curtis and His City Crows - On The Beach (1966)
Peter Posa -
Marty Robbins, Jerry Byrd & Various
Living Strings -
Pete Drake's
Barney & Jules - Hawaiian Shores
Barney Isaacs Jr.
Some of the best steel guitar tones ever produced were on pre World War 2 amplifiers. Here's a unique website where you can find information, pictures, and even schematics of pre WW2 amps to build your own!!! Oahu | Volu-Tone |
Lani McIntire - Hula Blues
Johnny Pineapple & his Orchestra - Hawaiian Holiday
Kalua Beach Boys -
The Surfmen -
The Surfmen -
Various Artists - Hawaii Compilation
Haleloke Kahauolopua - Hawaiian Blossoms (1951) - no album photo
Santo & Johnny - Hawaii (1961)
David Stewart -
Alfred Newman and Ken Darby - Ports of Paradise (1960)
The Polynesians -
A short-scale makes doing bar slants easier; but the long-scale has a sweeter tone. I prefer the long-scale (played with a pedal steel bar). Unless you are a die-hard 8-string player, 6-strings is best (the strings are spaced further apart). ALWAYS buy the stand and legs with the case, because the aluminum guitar gets heavy after a while. The case is the SAME exact size with or without the legs and stand. I didn't believe it until I saw it. The stand rests neatly under the guitar in the case. Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders - Mamula Moon
David Stewart and His Band-in-a-Box - MP3's from Videos I've Made
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Various Artists -
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra - Hawaii
Various - Vintage Hawaiian, Volume 5
Poly and His Hawaiian Ensemble - Hawaiian Sunset
Chick Floyd - Hula La
Alf Barrie - A Lei of Stars
Andy Iona and His Islanders
Lani Royal with The Diamond Head Band - The Sound of Hawaii Percussive Pineapples
Webley Edwards -
Hank Snow -
(sounds like the C#m tuning) Using Effects One of the biggest mistakes newer players make is going overboard with the guitar effects. Since reverb is the most common effect on most amplifiers, it is easily overdone. Here's a recording I made of JUST A CLOSER WALK with NO REVERB at all. The more reverb that you use, that less individuality is expressed through your music. Lots of reverb will cover a player's mistakes, but that's not musicianship. The exception is in songs that sound dreamy with a lot of reverb, like MOON OF MANAKOORA. I usually set my amp's reverb between 3-5. I avoid effects processors. A Boss DD3 delay (or similar) is a necessity for pedal steel. For Hawaiian I NEVER use effects, just reverb. Delay is great for slack key guitar.
Farewell My Tane |
Lani Kai - Island Love Songs
Jerry Byrd - Steel Guitar Favorites
Kilima Hawaiians - Greatest Hits (Rudi Wairata played steel guitar)
Bud Isaacs - The Swingin' Steel Guitar
Harry Owens Royal Hawaiian Orchestra - Hula Breeze
The Blue Wahini Serenaders - Aloha!
Alfred Apaka -
Leo Addeo -
In 1965 Johnnie Wright (1914-2011) sang HELLO VIETNAM. The original recording only had an intro, so I added some E9th pedal steel to it. Tiny and His Hawaiian Bubbles - Hawaiian Luau Party
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