Buddy on Swingin' Doors

randy · Post by **randy** » 12 Feb 2002 12:55 pm

I was messing around with some of Buddy's Intro's and Turns from the Derby Power Tabs.

I noticed that Buddy played this particular turn in F#. Is it possible that he picked that key just so he could play that cool "open string" chord in the 2nd fret?

Buddy if you're reading this, I apologize for talking in the third person.

Every time I see that he uses open strings to get "that sound", (Our Yesterdays), it makes me chuckle that someone would have that much understanding of the instrument and then be willing to share it with the rest of us.

God Bless you Buddy. You mean so much to me as I'm sure you do to everyone else that tries to measure up.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 12 Feb 2002 6:32 pm

Randy,

Price cut "Swingin' Doors" in F# on the "Touch My Heart" Album. Oddly enough, that particular track is not quite A440, and out of tune with the rest of the album.

C#

Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 12 Feb 2002 6:48 pm

I have Buddys "Expo E9th" tape and tab, and I'd say he's been my instructor. I've learned so much from "This Cold War" and "I've Just Destroyed the world".

I think It was Buddy that played "Cold Cold Heart" on Ray Price "Love Life" LP. Thats a good one for me to practice on because the frets are so close togather up there passed the 15th fret.

Bob.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 12 Feb 2002 9:56 pm

On the Tab from Buddy Page check out The Jukebox Has A 45 On it Buddy used a capo. Go figure... If I could only be this ingenious...

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

randy · Post by **randy** » 13 Feb 2002 10:02 am

Cal. I just went back and kind of played along with that and you're right. I guess Buddy was just taking best advantage of the possibilities in that key. Amazing!

Bob C. I remember how thrilled I was to find out that album had a tab, etc., to go with it. I got those about the same time I started playing out at the local opry's and man I used that stuff for every song that I could fit them into.

Ernie. Once again it just shows that Buddy is so complete on the steel and probably in music generally. Sometimes I wonder if he doesn't try to figure out how to do these things without using pedals and levers.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 13 Feb 2002 1:16 pm

As Mike Cass mentioned to me the other day, "hey, Buddy is the guy that doesn't need a fretboard."

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 13 Feb 2002 7:46 pm

Herb;
Buddy doesn't need a fretboard because it's ingrained in his head. He can practice without a guitar. He's completely amazing. I can only imagine the stuff that nobody knows about.

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

randy · Post by **randy** » 14 Feb 2002 6:19 am

I remember how surprised I was to see Buddy in concert the first time. His Looks and demeanor don't really give you a clue as to the amazing sensativity that he shows during an especially emotional turn or when he puts his mark on an old standard, (I Love You So Much).

I would give anything to be able to read his mind.

I hope that came out the way I intended it. It's just that he seems like the kind of guy you'd want to hang out with and have at your back. I better quit...

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 14 Feb 2002 9:10 am

I would give anything to be able to read his mind.

...me too, Randy.

But the sensitivity he has on the emotional ballad type tunes doesn't surprize me. To have one's ear, technique, and delivery honed to the fine sharpness Buddy posesses, to me, it would follow that he would also have the fitting adroitness to deliver on this delicate performance also.

It must have something to do with how the neurons move in one's brain, to put it bluntly. Great mathematicians get to the quintessence of their problems by eliminating a lot of the steps we, not so gifted, have to go through. I think that's the way it is in music too.

The gifted seem to be able to go almost, straight from the problem to the answer.

I'm going to go and try to reroute my neurons.

Rick [This message was edited by Rick Collins on 14 February 2002 at 12:50 PM.]

randy · Post by **randy** » 14 Feb 2002 11:58 am

I think the part that surprised me was the dichotomy of his sensative playing vs. his irreverent personality and strong presence.

The way he holds that transition chord just a fraction of a second longer than needed just to let us , (and him), enjoy the beauty of it. I'm sorry to be redundant, (and I'm not sure why its important to me), but listen to the second time through on "...Love you so Much", on the part where the words would be "it hurts me".

There are thousands of other times when Buddy does similar things, (King of Broken Hearts, Our Yesterdays..., and as a result you know him so much better than you would have if you only sat and talked to him.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 14 Feb 2002 1:04 pm

The steel guitar is one of the most expressive instruments. Ability to create the nuances you mentioned is the source of this expression. And Buddy, of course, is one of the masters at this

Rick.