Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Discussion of history's greatest guitar player.

Re: Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Postby DagerRande » Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:31 pm

Hi Rich,
I'm not usually wrong about these things but I know a C fingering when I hear it, regardless of where the capo is on the neck. Yes, it's in the key of D but that's not what a D fingering sounds like. So he either tuned his guitar up 1 whole step or he used a capo on the 2nd fret. I'm always open for correction but deciphering what I hear is my specialty.
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Re: Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Postby Doug Working » Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:06 pm

As far as I know, you are correct. Chet never did that speed up thing.
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Re: Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Postby DagerRande » Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:33 pm

Not to mention that the "speed up thing" is detectable. It may be subtle but I think I could detect it.
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Re: Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Postby Doug Working » Sun Feb 11, 2018 6:46 pm

I would be disapointed if Chet sped things up (kind of like cheatin'), but we all know Chet didn't need to. He could speed it up quite easily without special effects. Only thing needed was just his fingers. Nobody could pick 'em faster than Mr Guitar!

I was (off topic, I know) disapointed when I found out that another boyhood hero of mine, Mel Blanc, "The Man Of A Thousand Voices", was mechanically speeded up (his voice) on Daffy, Spoedy Gonzalas, and Tweety) Bugs was all him, though.

Anyway, I spent years trying to perfect those voices, only to find it wasn't all Mel, but special effects technical aid). What a let down!!

So if it ever was revealed that Chet was "cheating", I think that would have been devastating!

But it will never happen, because Mr Guitar was the real deal.

I have played "Grand Ol' Flag" in C for years. It's pretty friendly toward the tune. But I never compared it to the recording of Chet to see if it matches up.

Chet used little "tricks" sometimes, but I would never call it cheating.

Now some people are such purists that they consider even overdubbing as "cheating", but it's not, in my opinion. Long as you use it judicially. For instance, in "Georgy Girl", from "Solo Flights'", I am positive Chet uses overdub. If you listen to it real close, what he is doing on that tune would be impossible without at least four hands and two guitars. Even for Chet.

And we know he was quite capable of sounding like two guitars. But "Georgy Girl" is exceptional. Keeping the rhythm in the particular style that he does on that cut while simultaneously playing lead would be physically impossible. But as he segues from one part to the next, the editing is so good that you can't tell where one part ends and the next starts. It's blended together so well.

But the point I'm coming to is that he used the overdub judicially in his career, and when he did, it was absolutely neccessary. Same with his judicious use of effect pedals. When he DID use it, it enhanced the tune, such as in "Blackbird." Let me add as a caviat, that he often said that he wanted to be remembered for having played in good taste. And he surely did, 100% of the time, imho.

I apologize for getting off topic. I got sidetracked. Just the way my mind works, I reckon.

Doug
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Re: Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Postby DagerRande » Mon Feb 12, 2018 5:30 pm

I have watched him carefully in numerous concerts and a workshop and he has proven himself to me.
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Re: Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Postby Doug Working » Mon Feb 12, 2018 6:58 pm

Shoot, Chet's records are proof enough, but seeing him live is the icing on the cake.

Only had that privledge once in my life, when I was a younger buck raising a family. It was my birthday, 1989, and money was pretty tight because we had to put shoes on the babies' feet, But my beloved wife managed to scrape up the dough, because she knew it meant so very much to me. It was the best birthday I ever had, and I will always cherish her memory and my memories of that concert. I even got to shake Mr Guitar's hand after the concert, which meant all the world to me.
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Re: Chet's Red, White and Blue Medley

Postby Steve Sanders » Wed Feb 14, 2018 1:23 pm

Hey folks, I am not agreeing or disagreeing with the "D" tuning or capo use and/or placement. But yall might want to check out Chet's "You Do Something To Me" in the key of D. I play it with no alternate tuning or capo. It's not that hard to play D in the first position still with an alternating bass line. Also check out the YouTube video of Chet playing "Vilia" also in "D" to actually see what I mean. "I might be wrong now...but I don't think so" (Adrian Monk). Thanks Steve
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