Harmonic Tune-Up

Buddy takes you through his approach to tuning up an E9th neck (open and with pedals). He advocates utilizing the natural harmonic points on your guitar's neck and tuning the guitar to itself. This is the "just" tuning method in its truest form. By using unison-pitched harmonics, the oscillating "beats" between the two sounding notes can be eliminated to achieve a finely-tuned sound. Buddy reveals where all the proper harmonic positions are for you. Because of the need to play in tune at so many positions and in numerous chords, he reveals all those proper harmonic points that provide the best overall sound as is possible for all your strings and pedal changes. He recognizes that "splitting differences" is necessary for a pedal steel to be "in tune" in every chord and pedal position.

E9 Chord Vocabulary

Want to find the chords on your steel that you hear in today's Country music? Buddy takes you through each of these chords and many of their inversions. He gently "walks" and talks you all over your guitar, showing you where to find 50 positions for 25 of the commonly used chords. He amazes me by demonstrating how the E9th tuning, when chords are emphasized, sounds much like the C6th neck. By learning how to recognize chord sounds, you begin to realize how majors and minors are used to play the melody lines in all music. Following these basics, Buddy moves you into the diminished, augmented and seventh "movement chords." He gets into sharped and flatted 9ths and many other color-chords. Once you recognize their sounds and know their positions on your guitar, you are better able to "sandwich" them between major and minor chord changes as you hear them in today's music. With this CD you are "sitting right beside Buddy" having a productive hour-long lesson. Is this guy that friendly in person? You bet!

Intro's & Turnarounds, Vol. 1 (E9th)

Want to know exactly how Buddy played the intros and turnarounds on 20 of the greatest hits by Ray Price, John Anderson, Mel Tillis, Larry Gatlin, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Billy Walker? This course booklet has them all tabbed out for you. The CD provides the actual recordings so you can recall how they all sounded. Buddy follows them with a discussion and demonstration using a drum machine rhythm track. You can play them exactly as Buddy does on the CD. You will quickly recognize how you can use parts of these runs on so many other tunes of similar construction. There is really great stuff here.

1. Touch My Heart (Ray Price)
2. You Took My Happy Away (Ray Price)
3. Are you Sure (Ray Price)
4. Would you Catch A Falling Star (John Anderson)
5. A Different Kind Of Flower (Ray Price)
6. Swinging Doors (Ray Price)
7. Enough To Lie (Ray Price)
8. There Goes My Everything (Ray Price)
9. Looking For Tomorrow (Mel Tillis)
10. A Way To Survive (Ray Price)
11. The Same Two Lips (Ray Price)
12. Rainy Day Woman (Mel Tillis)
13. The Lady Takes A Cowboy (Larry Gatlin)
14. Don't You Ever Get Tired (Ray Price & Willie Nelson)
15. Invitation To The Blues (Roger Miller)
16. Honky Tonkitus (Billy Walker)
17. You Took Her Off My Hands (Ray Price)
18. Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (Ray Price)
19. A World I Can't Live In (Roger Miller)

Intro's & Turnarounds, Vol. 2 - E9th & C6th

Is Buddy recording with everyone? Sounds like it from these 20 intros and turnarounds! All are from top hits by the greatest vocalists around, like John Anderson and George Strait, and are the actual recorded intros and turnaround cuts (when Buddy recorded the songs with them). A rhythm track is also included. Many are driving tunes, while others are sensitive ballads. Buddy hasn't lost any speed. The guy plays some banjo rolls and "perpetual-lick" fingering runs. How does he do it? It's just too much! Never mind, it's all there in the tab.

1. If It Weren't For Country Music (E9th)
2. Blue Country Frame Of Mind (E9th)
3. So Much Like My Dad (E9th)
4. Born To Lose (C6th)
5. Our Yesterdays (E9th)
6. I've Got It Made (E9th)
7. Who Got Our Love (E9th)
8. The King Of Broken Hearts (E9th)
9. House Of Diamonds (E9th)
10. Freeborn Man (E9th & C6th)
11. I'll Never Always Love You I Cross My Heart (E9th)
12. When Did You Stop Loving Me (E9th)
13. Thoughts Of A Fool (E9th)
14. Someone Out In Dallas (E9th)
15. My Weakness Is Too Strong (E9th)
16. I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way (E9th)

Half Duzin Shuffles (E9th)

The word that best describes the classic Emmons delivery on these equally classic recordings by Buddy when with Ray Price is, "dynamite." Now you have all that great playing at your fingertips. The delivery is flawless, the execution always sensitive and the sound so dramatic of the Emmons trademark. Play right along and match the steel sounds of the Cherokee Cowboys. These tunes will never die, but will remain the staple for the 4/4 beat that Texas Swing is all about. Following every melody version (on the CD), Buddy provides an improvised one (also tabbed out) that effectively gives you 12 ways to play 6 songs, all vintage Emmons!

The CD features Buddy playing all 6 tunes as instrumentals, followed by rhythm tracks for all six.

1. Crazy Arms
2. Invitation To The Blues
3. The Other Woman
4. Pride
5. Touch My Heart
6. Release Me
7. thru 12. - rhythm tracks

Expedition E9

Buddy's famous Expedition E9 "mini album" has been out of print for years, but now you can get all eight tunes and their rhythm tracks all on one CD, along with a book of tab to teach you the songs.

1. Oklahoma Stomp
2. I Just Destroyed The World
3. Flint Hill Special
4. Rose Colored Glasses
5. I Love You Because
6. Nashville Alive
7. Brian's Song
8. This Cold War With You
9. thru 16. - rhythm tracks

Basic C6th

Have you had that C6th neck on your guitar for years but used it as an arm rest while playing your E9th? Buddy initially provides a comparison between the two tunings, showing you that it really isn't a totally different world when playing C6th. He follows that with a lesson in chord construction and where a bunch of chords are found on the C6th. Gaining some understanding of music theory, you become able to hear and identify many uncommon chords in today's country music.

Buddy explains (and shows you) that the C6th tuning is really two tunings in one (Fmaj9 & C6th). He explains the common string "grips" and their positions. Everything begins to fall into place and seems easier than you ever believed. That's because you are understanding. After the theory lesson is over, you are playing "EZ Blues" using your 5th and 6th pedals as Buddy demonstrates chords found with the other pedals.

The rhythm track is great too. After getting started, you are expected to follow the tab along with the rhythm tracks. It's a fun time and you have leaped far ahead in your understanding of the C6th tuning. All the tab is included for four familiar songs: "Sentimental Journey," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Bud's Bounce," and "Right Or Wrong."

"Cold Rolled Steel " (C6th)
"Lily Dale" (E9th)
"La Golondrina" (E9th)

These tunes have been tabbed out from Buddy's Album, Steel Guitar Jazz In Four Wheel Drive. You always loved "Lily Dale" and you remember "La Golondrina" from when you were a kid. What is this "Cold Rolled Steel?" Sounds interesting. You bet; all three are! They won't be easy, but will hold your interest so firm that you will be playing them before you know it. You've been thinking of getting Buddy's classic double album (A-056) for a long time. What better excuse than learning these great tunes? Twenty-six songs are on that album. That sounds like something you should have had years ago. You say, "O.K., I'll try the album and decide on those tunes after I get it." Bet I know what your decision will be.

Christmas Sounds (E9th & C6th)

When Christmas approaches you will want to express it's music on your steel. You may have some friends who will want to also play them on the old piano in the living room. You already bought Buddy's album (item #C-066, $15) to play at Christmas. You've listened already and like the way he swung those tunes with his interesting arrangements. Good traditional music, good sounds, all classics. You need this kind of change for the Yuletide season. You've still got time to memorize them perfectly, so get with it!

1. Sleigh Ride
2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
3. White Christmas
4. Winter Wonderland
5. The Christmas Song
6. Silver Bells
7. Let It Snow, Let It Snow
8. Blue Christmas
9. I'll Be Home For Christmas
10. Oh Holy Night
11. 6 Christmas Songs Medley.