Jimmy Bryant TAB?

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 29 Jun 2004 12:20 pm

I got a Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West album in England last April.
I have been really digging his playing and noting the influence of him I hear in Brent Mason's playing sometimes.

Is there any of his solos TAB'd out?
Anyone have a favorite album with him on it.
I want to hear more.

Is he still around : kickin' n pickin'/

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 29 Jun 2004 1:34 pm

I'm afraid Jimmy Bryant passed away over twenty years ago. An interesting guy - I saw him a few nights in a row with Curly Chalker at the Hall of Fame Motor Inn in Nashville (this would have been in the late 70's, and not too long before he died), although when I saw him he played fiddle more than he played guitar. Since then I've heard a lot of the stuff he did with Speedy, and it was terrific. I've never seen any instructional material incorporating his work.

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 29 Jun 2004 2:21 pm

I believe that I saw a vinyl long playing record about 30 years ago, that was in Jimmy Bryant's name, and had some very basic country tunes with tabs. I believe that a basic Wildwood Flower was on there.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 29 Jun 2004 4:50 pm

There was also a "learn to play bass"LP & tab, I have it , don't know how I came about having it . I don't play bass(not much psg either)

BF

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 29 Jun 2004 6:26 pm

You're correct Bryan. I got it when I was a kid in the 60s.
"Play Country Guitar With Jimmy Bryant". A gatefold LP.

Jimmy was show playing a Magnatone Guitar, not his trademark Tele! I wonder why.

Four songs: Wildwood Flower, Steel Guitar Rag, Columbus Stockade Blues, and Guitar Boogie.

There was a series of "Play Guitar With The Ventures" on the same label, and one "Play Guitar With Chet Atkins".

They used a weird Tab/Number Diagram sytem that they called "The Guitar Phonics System".

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 29 Jun 2004 7:46 pm

Well, Joey - I think you'll agree that the "Play Country Guitar With Jimmy Bryant" tab is not quite what David Donald would be looking for. I may be wrong, but I suspect that there will NOT be any tab of that fierce playing for which Jimmy was famous. I think that anyone who is capable of accomplishing that style of playing does not need, nor use tablature.

Respectfully,
Bryan Bradfield

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 29 Jun 2004 10:24 pm

Bryan, I was just curious, about his place in the guitar pantheon.
I sort of figured somebody might have TABEd a solo of his.

If Chet wasn't around at the same time, I wonder how he would get ranked. Pretty high I imagine.

I think he is on the Bobbe Seymour album Masterrs Collection with Jimmy Day and Tommy White. I remember some startling guitar work there, but the cd is buried somewhere at this moment.

But those same trilling filagrees and chordal melodies. Very sweet stuff.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 29 Jun 2004 11:01 pm

Joey, Jimmy was endorsing Magnatone at the time that album was released, early/mid 60's.
There are several good cd compilations out, most recent one being a 3 cd package on Sundazed.label. It covers Jimmy's whole recording career from his first cuts to the Imperial albums of the 60's. And it also includes the legendary Fastes Guitar In The Country LP first time on cd ( good luck with transcribing that one on tab ). And of course there's the 4cd Bear Family box including Jimmy's and Speedy's all Capitol recordings ( and then some ).

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 30 Jun 2004 4:32 am

<SMALL>"Well, Joey - I think you'll agree that the "Play Country Guitar With Jimmy Bryant" tab is not quite what David Donald would be looking for."</SMALL>

I strongly agree, Bryan.

It was good stuff for a 12 year old me, but it's nowhere near his recordings.

It wouldn't surprise me if someone has worked out his real solos. Maybe ask at www.tdpri.com

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 30 Jun 2004 5:11 am

Snip:
"I think that anyone who is capable of accomplishing that style of playing does not need, nor use tablature."

Oh yes they do! Deciphering wicked runs, especially runs with open strings that are played at breakneck speed, or Chet Atkins/Merle Travis finger-picking stuff, and Danny Gatton madness, all require precise fingering mapping, and TAB is the only way to go.

I'll bet there's some out there somewhere. There's Django Reinhardt stuff out there, and just about everybody else to some extent. Search from Google.com, for OLGA, Guitar Tablature, etc.
If I find any, I'll let you know!
-andy-

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 30 Jun 2004 4:22 pm

Voila!

Jim Campilongo has a transcription of part of Jimmy's "The Night rider" here:
http://www.jimcampilongo.com/lessons.shtml

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 30 Jun 2004 7:57 pm

More voila!

As you scroll down through Campilongo's lesson offerings, you'll see Bryant's Bounce.

Other interesting guitarist's tidbits - Four Wheel Drive (Buddy Emmons Pedal Steel Country Jazz on Standard Guitar), and Bud's Bounce (Steel Guitar voicings and playing over the changes).

Good find Andy!