This outstanding video of JB playing his tune "Surprise Waltz" on live TV just popped up on Instagram. I've never seen this before.
Jerry is playing his custom-built Fender 8-string with E9 tuning. This tune is full of bar slants, interesting chord changes, and tempo changes. It's one of the songs that Jerry recorded on E9 non-pedal steel to demonstrate that pedal steel sounds Can be had on a non-pedal steel guitar. Love the history in this.
Hopefully the Instagram link will open and play for everyone.
That's a great post Doug. What a find, I've seen video of Jerry playing this same arrangement at Steel Guitar conventions but not on National TV.
I have Jerry's album "Admirable Byrd" featuring some of Jerry's E9th arrangements including "Surprise Waltz". I believe Jerry played on his "Shot Jackson Frypan" on that album.
That tune his one of many that Jerry composed. Truly a legend of our instrument.
Canopus d-8
Excel Jerry Byrd frypan
T-8 Stringmaster
Yes, quite a few 3-string slants. I worked with this arrangement a few years ago and I discovered that one of those 3-string slants on the upper frets was nearly impossible to play in tune, all three notes. Extra strong vibrato is needed up there!
Last edited by Doug Beaumier on 13 Dec 2024 1:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Greg Vincent wrote:Are THREE-NOTE bar slants happening there???
That’s nuts.
... no, that's Byrd!
That guitar was auctioned off in the 90's... I almost bought it and regret not having done so then. Forrest White reeled JB into trying a Fender and JB gave them several conditions: a machined metal bridge resembling he shape of a Rickenbacher B-bridge instead of the round bar, and the tuning keys set back one row... (looks like a 10-string pan with only 8 strings) because JB regarded the nut as any other fret and wanted to be able to slide down off it into the keyhead without being entangled in the keys sticking up, and then, BLACK... becasause BE already must have found out that Black sounds just better, Ha!
The guitar is said to have been used on the Admirable Byrd Album.
Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"
A Little Mental Health Warning:
Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.
The guitar is on the cover of Jerry's "Satin Strings of Steel" album.
Imagine the mojo in that guitar! A one-of-a-kind, built to Jerry's specs and played by him.
Doug Beaumier wrote:The guitar is on the cover of Jerry's "Satin Strings of Steel" album.
Imagine the mojo in that guitar! A one-of-a-kind, built to Jerry's specs and played by him.
Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"
A Little Mental Health Warning:
Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.
