Speedy's "Afternoon Of A Swan" (Update: lesson ava

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 24 Jun 2010 1:40 pm

Cool

Ron

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 25 Jun 2010 4:44 pm

dbl post ... J-D.

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 25 Jun 2010 4:45 pm

Andy Volk wrote:Here's a link to an audio interview with Speedy. What a humble, positive person he was!

http://hasilatemyjerky.mypodcast.com/20 ... 69690.html

And what a great story teller too!
He should have been on Larry King!

And Mike... can't wait to see that DVD. Keep'em coming!

Great link... thanks! ... J-D.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 Sep 2011 5:06 am

Sorry for dragging this old post to the top, but I didn't want to start a new thread.

OK, a video/tab/notation package is now available for this great tune. It is definitely challenging in a good way.

http://www.steelinfromthemasters.com/?p=519

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 6 Sep 2011 10:26 am

i've ordered my copy! Thanks for creating this, Mike.

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 6 Sep 2011 3:37 pm

Yippeee!

This was my first Speedy LP and I've always loved this tune...

Thanks, Mike!

Anthony Locke · Post by **Anthony Locke** » 7 Sep 2011 6:04 am

I'm glad you reposted this thread. I haven't heard you play this one, Mike. It sounds great!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 Sep 2011 7:14 pm

Thanks for the support, everyone! I'm definitely proud of this one.

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 9 Sep 2011 12:36 am

[quote="Ambrose Verdibello"]The entire 'Guitar Spectacular' LP is included on CD 3 of the 4 CD Bear Family collection of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, 'Flamin Guitars.' It's a fantastic set of music.

I was lucky enough to purchase the "Flamin Guitars" CD set at Scotty's show and have Speedy autograph it just before he passed away-There is nothing more that I can say about his greatness that hasn't already been said.

Chris Byars · Post by **Chris Byars** » 9 Sep 2011 4:31 am

Good Lord, this is a difficult one to play. The string pulls are the hardest for me. I have higher guage strings, and I keep expecting my fingertip to fall off like a piece of cheese, ha.

Was Speedy tuned to E9 on the original? These slants and pulls look like they're available on E9 pedal.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Sep 2011 4:46 am

Chris, Speedy didn't use the typical E9 copedent. I don't remember off-hand what he used.

If you are having difficulty with the pulls, you may want to consider using a thinner gauge 4th string. You'd be surprised at what a difference .002 can make.

Which string set do you currently have and what is the scale length of your guitar?

Chris Byars · Post by **Chris Byars** » 9 Sep 2011 5:13 am

15, 18, 22, 24, 30w, 36w, 42w, 68w on a 52 Fender Custom, so 22.5 scale. I use Kayton's C6/A7 as the 'mother' tuning. Yeah it's really obvious that its due to the guages being so thick. It not only cuts you, but really hard to maintain an even pull. It waivers a lot. It also makes me kinda wince thinking I could strip one of those brass tuner gears. What guages do you like on your Custom? (which is a beauty, BTW)

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Sep 2011 5:23 am

I'm using the same gauge as you for my Custom. On my Clinesmith, which is a longer scale, I now use some lighter strings, but on the recording you hear me playing with the old gauge.

I will admit to having very strong hands and callouses on my fingertips from playing guitar. You might try experimenting with a .022 there. As a test, tune your A string down to G and try a pull. If it still feels too tight, it just may take some time to get used to it. That is an important point. If not, well the whole step string pull is not essential, although the 1/2 step pulls are.

I was reminded a few weeks ago by a bandmate that once at a gig a guitarist was going to sit in and play my guitar. He put his hands on the strings and handed it right back to me.

I've always been notorious for using heavy strings, even on Strats and Teles.

Chris Byars · Post by **Chris Byars** » 9 Sep 2011 5:38 am

I'll try that with the A string and see. Yeah those half steps are the pulls that want to take off my fingertip. I certainly don't have a strong ringfinger or callouses in that spot at all. Maybe some moleskin will help. Thick strings=thick tone!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Sep 2011 5:44 am

One more tip, Chris: if you can hold you bar in a stable manner with just your thumb and forefinger, use your middle finger and ring fingers together. Try it, it works. I do some string pulls on a tune down at the second fret

, and they require those 2 fingers.

Chris Byars · Post by **Chris Byars** » 9 Sep 2011 9:06 am

It looks like using a 22p gauge on the 4th string would work, I'm just concerned it might be a bit floppy when tuning it down to F# when I want be in A6.

I can get the bar stable using the two-finger pull, I guess I need to get one of those finger exercisers, haha. And maybe a thimble for my ring finger! $:\$

Can't wait for your book to come out!

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 14 May 2019 3:41 pm

Speedy's E13 tuning is as follows...from high to low, G#, E, B, G#, F#, D, B, G#, E, B..I find "Afternoon of a Swan" works great on the E9th tuning.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Speedy's "Afternoon Of A Swan" (Update: lesson ava

Try to use the same tuning