THE GREAT JOAQUIN MURPHEY!
 CLASSIC WESTERN SWING STEEL GUITAR SOLOS
3rd PRESSING  SOLD OUT! SORRY! STAY TUNED FOR REPRINT!


THE GREAT JOAQUIN MURPHEY!

SCROLL DOWN FOR BONUS MP3 AND TRANSCRIPTION (NOT IN BOOK!)!

===================================

(music samples are low resolution for the web- the book looks sharp!)

Each solo can be played either on lap OR C6th pedal steel (without pedals, of course!)

Excerpt from the book:

About the C6th Tuning

Joaquin Murphey’s recorded work can be confounding to transcribe because his innovative musicality pushed him to experiment with multiple tunings - even radically restringing his guitars with thin gauge strings in the positions usually reserved for the thickest bass strings. That said, these solos can be played on just about any steel guitar. Most of the music in this folio can be played on a 6 string steel (you’ll lose a few lower notes here and there); Joaquin played them on 8 string, and of course they lie very naturally–in fact, most of them require 7 strings or less- a few needing only 5 strings. It is very easy to adapt these solos to the 10 string C6 neck of the pedal steel, as the tuning is identical to the standard setup. The few solos that do go down to the 8th string (9th string on pedal steel) will require the F pitch to be tuned up a whole step to G (for one chord on “Careless Love”- you can leave out that note if you don’t want to retune) or down to E (“Texas Playboy Rag”). We have chosen to notate the tab by the string’s pitch, rather than number. Regardless of whether you use a high G or D as your first string on the pedal steel, you will consider your E string (2nd string) the highest for these solos. There are slants that can be played with pedals (or levers), however, I would suggest practicing the slant positions, rather than resorting to such heretic practices as mashing pedals! Seriously, it is in keeping with the spirit of the music, and the slants undoubtedly create a different sound than pedals (and if it’s good enough for Lloyd Green and Buddy Emmons...)
The C6th tuning is a wonderful invention given to us by Jerry Byrd. Nested within the tuning are major, minor, minor 7th, and many more partial chords and combinations. Joaquin used different variations on the tuning over time, but the solos herein are mostly played in (low to high) (G) A C E G A C E tuning.

==================================================================

To get the Joaquin mp3's (and other great recordings) at Herb Steiner's site, click on "Cool Stuff" and at the top of that page "Cool Sounds". Check out Herb's instructional material while you are there.

===================================================================

BONUS: Joaquin featured with Spade Cooley on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love"

This mp3 was made from a record of Spade Cooley's TV transcriptions, on the "Club of Spade" label, which is your basic unobtanium (like much of Murph's earlier work). I took out the fake stereo effect (basically slapback delay created by offsetting two mono channels- yuk!) and am presenting this in glorious mono as it was meant to be! It is rather hi-fi considering the age of the recording, which is undated but would most likely be mid-1950s.

This arrangement is almost like a "Concerto for Joaquin and Big Band", the ensemble writing is really good, and shows this band was happening, in a different bag than the Texas Playboys. Some of Spade's material could be a bit twinkie, but not this track!

I am working up a transcription; meanwhile, enjoy the brilliant sounds of Joaquin. I'm sure you'll agree (with Buddy Emmons, John Hughey and others) he is one of steel guitar's all time greats.

JOAQUIN MURPHEY "I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE" mp3

FREE TRANSCRIPTION: From the "Spadella" CD, here is Joaquin's incredible solo on "You Can't Break My Heart" in the key of Ab. (The hammer/pull in bar 4 is our clue). This solo can be played on ANY steel- 6 string lap, 8 string or 10 string pedal...tuning is CEGACE low to high.

THIS SOLO IS NOT IN THE BOOK- IT'S A BONUS FREEBIE. ENJOY!!!

JOAQUIN MURPHEY "YOU CAN'T BREAK MY HEART" SOLO TRA NSCRIPTION PDF