| Author |
Topic: Jerry Byrd Tunings |
Robbie Bossert
From:
WESCOSVILLE,PA,U.S.A.
|
Posted 1 May 2005 7:58 am |
|
I was recently browsing through some of my correspondence that has accumulated over the years. I found a handwritten letter from the late, great Jerry Byrd from 1992. I had written to him inquiring about his various tunings. It reminded me of an interview that I conducted with Bobby black for Steel Guitar World Magazine. Bobby mentioned that he too had a handwritten letter from Jerry about the exact same topic that he sent to him in the 1940's. It was just so inspiring to realize that Jerry has been helping steel player's for the better part of a century. Answering letters, sharing his tunings, creating instructional courses, all before the computer age and one fits all cover letters.
So, it is in this spirit that I share the tunings he sent to me all those years ago with all of you. I hope you enjoy them. RIP Jerry.
Robbie Bossert
All are listed high to Low
E9th-E-B-G#-F# E-D-B OR G, LOW B OR E
C#M9TH- E-C#-G#-F#-E-D-B OR G#-LOW B OR E
A6TH- E-C#-A-F#-E-C#- 7 & 8 OPTIONAL
E13TH- E-C#-B-G#-E-D-B OR G-E OR LOW B
|
|
|
|
Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
|
Posted 1 May 2005 9:27 am
|
|
Did he use the same tunings in the 1940's?
His mislabeling of that 1st E13th tuning as "C#M9TH" shows that you don't need to study music to be successful, as long as you have natural ability (ear), persistence, and will. In fact I knew a bass player in Indiana who didn't know the names of any of the notes, but he could play. |
|
|
|
Robbie Bossert
From:
WESCOSVILLE,PA,U.S.A.
|
Posted 1 May 2005 2:12 pm
|
|
I don't know a whole lot about that stuff myself. All I know is what the man had written down for me. I figure, Hell, it's Jerry Byrd! How far off can it be!
Robbie Bossert |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 1 May 2005 8:23 pm
|
|
In the 40's, Jerry was using his secret C6 tuning.
Secret, because he used 16 gauge strings for the top 3, E C A. |
|
|
|
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 2 May 2005 8:30 am
|
|
.........and a PLAIN, unwound, string for his 4th string.......which made it all the more difficult to determine by merely listening in a passive sort of way, to what it was he was actually playing. That's how Jerry Byrd could always get those reverse slants to sound so true when he'd go from a forward slant to a reverse slant, like in his ONE ROSE.........top two strings.
Great stuff. |
|
|
|
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 2 May 2005 8:33 am
|
|
| Robbie.........how do yours compare to the one's he listed on the jerrybyrdfanclub.com site? |
|
|
|
Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
|
Posted 2 May 2005 10:14 am
|
|
Robbie knows the right way to post tunings. 
Roger |
|
|
|
Robbie Bossert
From:
WESCOSVILLE,PA,U.S.A.
|
Posted 2 May 2005 7:23 pm
|
|
I can't take credit for that Roger....Just wrote 'em down the the man sent them to me.....Jerry knew best!
Robbie Bossert |
|
|
|
Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
|
Posted 3 May 2005 12:43 am
|
|
Robbie, I find that a bit odd, since in person Jerry always said, "From the bottom up."???
Roger [This message was edited by Roger Shackelton on 03 May 2005 at 01:45 AM.] |
|
|
|
Robbie Bossert
From:
WESCOSVILLE,PA,U.S.A.
|
Posted 3 May 2005 6:29 am
|
|
The only difference in what I've written here and what Jerry sent is that he wrote them down vertically and I've written them down here horizontally. They ARE written highest string-lightest to lower string-heavier gauge. I just wanted to share these tunings with the forum brothers and sisters. I feel that I've explained clearly, as Jerry did when he originally sent them to me, exactly how the strings/notes are to be put on the guitar. However, for those of you that need to see the notes written low to high in order to understand how to string up your guitars, please read from right to left.
Robbie Bossert |
|
|
|
George Manno
From:
chicago
|
Posted 3 May 2005 6:53 am
|
|
Where would you get a plain unwound .024 these days? The best I've seen is a .022
George |
|
|
|
Jim Vogan
From:
Ohio City, Ohio 45874
|
Posted 3 May 2005 11:19 am
|
|
I just picked up a couple of unwound .024's. The guy in the music store said they stock them for people who install windshields.
------------------
Jim Vogan
Derby SD 10 3&5
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal
|
|
|
|
George Manno
From:
chicago
|
Posted 3 May 2005 7:13 pm
|
|
JustStrings.Com
Now stocks SIT brand .024s for $1.45
I'm anxious to try this tuning with three .016s and a .024 |
|
|
|
John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 3 May 2005 7:40 pm
|
|
Also, single GHS Plain Steel .024s and .026s, near the bottom of the page. 61ยข per. I've never tried them; think I'll add some to my next string-purchase...
But now we return to our regularly-scheduled programming, "Jerry Byrd Tunings"... |
|
|
|
George Manno
From:
chicago
|
Posted 5 May 2005 9:05 am
|
|
The strings arrived this morning. Tuning the 016 to an "E" was a bit scary.
What a difference!! The guitar is much more twangy and I swear I could smell the coconuts and see the palm trees sway while I played.
George |
|
|
|
