Not So Easy As It Sounds!!

Discussion of history's greatest guitar player.

Not So Easy As It Sounds!!

Postby Doug Working » Fri Dec 01, 2017 9:57 pm

We all know Chet made it look so easy. Sometimes it SOUNDS easy, but it's not! Fools the ears. Case in point, I'm working on Chet's arrangement of Streets Of Laredo. Doesn't "sound" that terribly difficult. I have the transcription, and I have a DVD of him performing it live, so should be a piece of cake.

However, I've been working on the arrangement for a long time. All those thirds and other "simple" harmonies. Boy, was I wrong. There are some truly tricky chords and spots in there. Couple knuckle busters. Moving bass lines and such. I am REALLY having to work on this one to get it to a place where I feel Chet would be proud.

A LOT of Chet's tunes are like that. But once I get started on a Chet tune, I feel I need to apply some sticktoativeness. Sometimes it takes me over a year to nail it. And ESPECIALLY Jerry's tunes. But admittedly, Jerry's tunes sound as hard as they are.

Doug
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Re: Not So Easy As It Sounds!!

Postby rhirvine » Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:19 pm

I've never been able to figure out Jerry Reed's stuff by ear. Always takes tab for me.
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Re: Not So Easy As It Sounds!!

Postby DagerRande » Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:36 pm

Rich, once you learn a few of Jerry's songs you begin to hear a lot of the same licks in other songs. The challenge for me wasn't figuring out the notes that he played but the TUNINGS he used! One example is "Tupelo Mississippi Flash". He also used a lot of drop D and open tunings like open G. Once I read an interview of his where he said that if anyone playing a song of his has trouble with it or finds it difficult then they either aren't playing it
right or are using the wrong tuning.
Rande Dager

We are all capable of doing more than we think we can!
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Re: Not So Easy As It Sounds!!

Postby Doug Working » Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:54 pm

I have to admit I have a HUMONGOUS help on the Jerry tunes thanks to John Knowles and his book with all the very accurate transcriptions in it.

John nails it every time. I sure miss him doing those transcriptions like he used to. Don't know if anybody can fill his shoes as far as accuracy and faithfulness to the original recordings.

Doug
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