E9th Lloyd Green Style Licks for Pedal Steel

Tablature for Pedal Steel Guitar by David J. Stewart

       This is a small collection of tabs that remind me of Lloyd Green's playing. I have worked hard at learning them over the years. There's no one like Lloyd, he is very unique as a person and a musician. His heart is his music! Lloyd's a gift from God and I thank God regularly for his music. I only wish I could have been blessed to be close friends and his neighbor, sharing musical ideas and going Bass fishing together.

Lloyd plays steel aggressively, with attitude, sitting attentive at his guitar, and shares his heart. I have studied Lloyd's playing long enough to see that he really benefited from the early Oahu lessons. He sits attentive at his guitar (no slouching); He lifts the rear of the bar, using only the tip for single string work; he moves the bar forward and backward to only cover the strings that he is playing. Those are all PROPER TECHNIQUES that I never learned and are much more difficult to pick up latter. Jeff Newman once commented that the hardest part about teaching steel guitar students is breaking their old bad habits. Lloyd's impeccable technique no doubt comes from his solid foundation in the fundamentals of sitting, positioning, holding the bar, and executing bar slants properly.

I met Jerry Byrd in Winchester, Indiana in 1992 and Lloyd Green in St. Louis in 1995 and it was a privilege meeting them. Some music pieces presented here are from songs Lloyd didn't record, but the sounds are reminiscent of his style in my opinion. Lloyd Green is an inspiration to so many steel players, including myself. I love Lloyd, and he is one of my heroes. It would mean so much to me if I could move people's hearts the way Lloyd's music does mine. I want to share my soul with others. Check out Lloyd's awesome comments on tone below.

I know it's very difficult to know how these tabs should sound without samples, and I've tried to mention what song I got the piece from if I know it. Still, I think this is helpful. Slowly, but surely I'm working on some sound clips.

“The reason tone is so important is because I think ultimately that’s what is the emotional connection when you’re playing music to what people are hearing. If they hear good tone, there is something that strikes a resonant note in the soul. You can be playing the greatest stuff in the world, but if it doesn’t have good tone, there’s something that’s not making a connection. I think that’s what people really hear first.” —Lloyd Green, interview 2001, Steel Guitar Rag magazine (see full comments below)

TAB LEGEND

"~" means sliding into the note(s), after picking it a couple notes lower.
"R" means raise a half tone/"L" means to lower a half tone
"RR" means to raise a whole tone/"LL" means to lower a whole tone

A cool lick from "Farewell Party," from the album "Revisited" by Lloyd Green

F#_________8^^^10________________|_______________________________________________________________________

D#_______________________________|_______________________________10^^11__11^10^10LL______________________

G#_______________________________|_______________________________10B^11__11^10B^^^^______________________

E___5_______________10^^12^13F___|___________________________________________________10^^^^__10__________

B______~8A^^^^^10___10^^12^13A___|_5^5A_3^3A^3^^6A__6A__3A^5A^6A_____________________10^10A__10__________

G#__________________10^^12^13____|_5B^^_3B^^^3^^6___6___3B^5B^6______________________10^10B__10__________

F#_______________________________|_______________________________________________________________________

E________________________________|_5^5__3^3^^3^^6R__6R__3^^3^^6R_________________________________________

D________________________________|_______________________________________________________________________

B________________________________|_______________________________________________________________________

"SO SAD" - from the "Revisited" album by Lloyd Green
F#______11___________________________________________________________

D#_________________8^8LL__8LL^(8LL)^^8L__8__8^6^6LL^6LL__3L__3LL^4___

G#__11_______________________8^8B________8B_8^6^6___6____3___3B__4___

E________11F__9F^8___________________________________________________

B___________________________________________________6________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

F#_________________________************LET NOTES RING*********_______

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

From the song "Sing A Sad Song" played by David Stewart
F#_________________________________11^^^^_________________________________________________________

D#____________________9LL^^9^^11__________________________________________________________________

G#________________________________________________________________________________________________

E___6____6_______6________________________11__11_____13______________13^14L_13____________________

B___6_____6________~9A^^^^^9^^11________________________13A^14A^13A__13A^^^_13A___________________

G#__6__6B__6B^6____________________11^11B___11__11^^13B___________________________________________

F#________________________________________________________________________________________________

E________________________________________________________________*Lloyd Green doesn't lower_______

D_________________________________________________________________his 4th string, but this is_____

B_________________________________________________________________how I play this sound.__________

(Continued) "Sing A Sad Song" by David Stewart

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#__12^^11^^^11LL^^14________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

B______________________~13A^^8A______________________________________

G#__12^^11B~~11B^^^13________________________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

From the song "Borrowed Angel" by Lloyd Green

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#_________________________15^^^15LL__13__13^^12LL^^12_______________

G#______12__15^^^^17^^15_____________________________________________

E___12_________________________________________________12____________

B_______12__15A^^^17^^15A____________________________________________

G#__12_____________________15B________13__13^^12B______12____________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E______________The 2nd string produces some amazing, often___________

D______________overlooked sounds on the E9th pedal steel.____________

B____________________________________________________________________

*FINGER HARMONICS: The following is brilliant, used often by Lloyd on his 

albums. You gently place your finger across the 2 strings while picking

(chiming) them both with your thumb pick. You rake across both notes at the 

same time. Pick 12 frets higher on fret 15 to get harmonics. Play all of 

this using the finger next to your pinky. It's important to use your finger 

to silence string 7 after chiming the notes, but before you raise string 8. 

It takes a little practice, but it's beautiful and you'll use it often.

F#_________________________________|_________________________________

D#_________________________________|____Here's another version_______

G#_____________________________3^^_|_____________________________3^^_

E______________________________3^^_|_____________________________3^^_

B___3^3A^3^3A^3____________________|___3^^^^^^^^^____________________

G#__3^3B^3^3B^3__3^3B______________|___3^3B^3^3B^3__3^3B_____________

F#_______________3^^^__3^^^________|________________3^^^___3^^^______

E______________________3L^3________|_______________________3L^3______

D__________________________________|_________________________________

B__________________________________|_________________________________

F#____________________________________|______________________________

D#___6^^5^^^5LL______________3LL^^3___|______________`6______________

G#___6^^5B^^5________________3^^^^^___|______________________________

E_____________________________________|____________5_________________

B_____________________________________|_______5^5A______`8A^6A^5A____

G#______________5^^5b^^3^^3B__________|____5B________________________

F#____________________________________|______________________________

E_____________________________________|___5__________________________

D_____________________________________|______________________________

B_____________________________________|______________________________

F#______________________________________|_____________________________

D#______________________________________|_____~4______________________

G#______________________________________|_____________________________

E_______________________________________|_____________________________

B____11A^^10A__*10^^8^^7^^^5A^^3A^^3____|___3A____~6A_________________

G#______________________________________|______________~8B____________

F#______________________________________|_____________________________

E____11R^^10____9L^^8^^7R^^5^^^3^^^3L___|_____________________________

D_______________________________________|_____________________________

B____________*play seamlessly___________|_____________________________

F#___________|________________________________________________________

D#___3L^^3___|_______Mr. Blues________________________________________

G#___________|________________________________________________________

E____3^^^^___|________________________________________________________

B____________|___3__~6A__6A__4A__3A^^4A^^3A___________________________

G#___________|________________________________6___4___3_______________

F#___________|________________________________________________________

E____________|________________________________6R__4R__3_______________

D____________|________________________________________________________

B____________|___3__~6A__6A__4A__3A^^4A^^3A___________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#____Mr. Blues______________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E__________________*10_______________________________________________

B___10^10A__10^10A_*10A__10^10A__8^8A^6A__6A^^3^^^^^^__3B__3_________

G#__10^10B__10^10B_______10^10B______________________________________

F#_____________________________________________________3___3_________

E________________________________8^^^^6R__6R^^3^3L^^^________________

D___10^^^^__10^^^^_______10^^^^_____________________3__3A__3_________

B__*chicken pickin, done by quickly raising bar after picking notes__

F#__________________________________________|_________________________

D#__________________________________________|_________________________

G#__________________________________________|_________________________

E____1^^3^^*3^^^4R^^6^^^8C^^8_______________|___10^^^11L^^10__________

B____1^^3A^^3A^^4A^^6A^^8C^^8_______________|___10A^^11A^^10A_________

G#___1^^3B^^2^^^4^^^6^^^8B^^8_______________|_________________________

F#__________________________________________|_________________________

E___________________________________________|_*Lloyd doesn't lower____

D____*Forward bar slant (make sure bar tip__|__string 4, but this is__

B_____is exactly between strings____________|__a popular sound of his_

F#___________________*6R_6R__6R^^5___________________________________

D#____________________6__6___6^^^5__6^^5^5LL__5LL^5__________________

G#___________________________________________________0^^^^^^^^^^^^^__

E______________7^^^^_________________________________________________

B________7^7A__7^^7A_________________________________5A^7A^8A^7A^5A__

G#__7^7B_______7B^^^__6__6___6^^^5B_6^^5B^^^__5B^^^__________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B____*raises a half tone_____________________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E_______________14^^^^^^12^^^^^__12^^^^^12^^10C^^12__________________

B___12A^12______14^14A^^12A^12___12^12A^12^^10C^^12__________________

G#_________12B__14B^^^^^12B^^^___12B^^^^12^^10^^^12__________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E___12^^^^___________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

F#__**these 2 notes are played in the same timing as one note._______

D#____I call this back-raking the strings.___________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E____**2_______4_____________________________________________________

B_____**2________~6A^5A^6A^5a^5______________________________________

G#_______2^^4B__________________5B___________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E___**a very common technique used by Lloyd Green is to pick_________

D___two notes separately, but very closely. String 4 is picked with_

B___the middle finger and string 5 with the index; string 6, thumb._

F#___________________~3_________________|___**see explanation above___

D#______________________________________|_____________________________

G#____~3B__~3B__~3B_____________________|_____________________________

E__________________________3^^^_________|__*3_________________________

B____________________~3A___3^3A___3A^^__|___*3A^3___________~4A___4A__

G#________________________________3B^^__|_________3B^3__________4_____

F#______________________________________|________________3____________

E_____~3___~3___~3______________________|______________3____~4F___4F__

D_______________________________________|________________3____________

B_____~3A__~3A__~3A__So Sad, 2003_______|___So sad, St. Louis 2003____

F#_________________________8^^^^^^^__________________________________

D#___________________________________9^^8^^8LL___8^^^__8^^8^^6^^6LL__

G#______~11^^^^^^10B^^8B_____________9^^8B^^^^___8^8B__8B^8^^6^^^^^__

E__________________________8^^8C^^8__________________________________

B___8___~11^11A^^10A^^8A_____________________________________________

G#__8B_______________________________________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B_______So Sad, St. Louis 2003________________________________(next)_

F#_____________________________|___So Sad, St. Louis 2003____________

D#___8^^*9^^11LL_______________|_____________________________________

G#________________10B^^8B^^8___|_____________________________________

E______________________________|_____________________________________

B_________________10A^^8A^^8___|______________________8^8A___________

G#___8B^^8^^10B________________|__3__3^3B^^6__~8^8B___8^^^___________

F#_____________________________|______________~8^^^__________________

E____*forward bar slant________|__3__3^^^^^6F________________________

D______________________________|______________~8^^^___8^^^___________

B____(continued from above)____|__3__3^3A^^6_________________________

Remember When - Lloyd Green Solo

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

B___11A^10A__~11A___13^13A^15A__15^15A^15___10A^11A^10A^11A__11A_____

G#___________________________________________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E___11F^10___~11F_______________15^^^^^^^____________________11F_____

D____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

F#___________________________________________8__________~13_13_13_13_

D#_______________________________________8___________________________

G#____________________________________________8^11___________________

E______________________________________8___8_______11F_______________

B____~13_13_13_13^12^__12^^10A__8A^8_______________11A_______________

G#_____________13^12B__12B^10B__8B^^_________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#______13^14^13___________________________11___11___________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E___13__13^^^^^^___15^15A^13A^13^12__~11F_________11__12^12^^^_______

B__________________15^^^^^13^^13^12__~11A___11A______________________

G#___________________________________~11______________12^12B^^_______

F#______bar slant____________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D_____________________________________________________12^12^^^_______

B____________________________________________________________________

Lloyd Green Masterpieces

Lloyd Green uses a standard E9th setup. The only exception is that he doesn't lower string 4 a half tone. Instead he uses string 2. 

I designate lowering string 2 with either "LL" for a whole-tone drop, or "L" for a half-tone drop.

More Cool Tabs

F#___________________8_____________|__________________________________

D#_________________________________|__________________________________

G#__________________________6^5B___|__________________________________

E____________5_____________________|______________3^3C^3______________

B______5^5A_____`8A^^^___6A^^^5A___|__________________________________

G#_________________________________|___3^5B^3^3B^^^^^^^^______________

F#______________`8^^^______________|__________________________________

E____5__________`8F^^^___6F^^^5^___|__________________________________

D__________________________________|__________________________________

B__________________________________|__________________________________

F#_____________________________*8^^^7^^^5____________________________

D#____*only pick string one once (don't pick 7 or 5)_________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E_____________________________________________5^^^3^^^1F_____________

B__________*5A^^6A^^8A^^5A^^6A^^8A^^7^^^5A____5A^^3A^^1A_____________

G#____________________________________________5B^^3^^^1______________

F#_____*only pick first note_________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B______Farewell Party (St. Louis 2003)_______________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#___~8^^6^^5^__5^^^5LL____5LL^^^6__6^^^^5LL_________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

B______________________5_____________________________________________

G#___~8^^6^^5B__5^5B_______5B^^^^6__6^^^^5B__________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B_____Farewell Party (St. Louis 2003)________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#__________________________________*This is so beautiful.___________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

B___7A^^8A^^10A__12^^^^^12A__12^12A__*~10A__10A^10^9^10^9^7^9________

G#___________________________________________________________________

F#____________________________________~10____________________________

E___7^^^8F^^10F__12^^^^^^^^__12^^^^___~10F__10^^^^^9F^^^*____________

D______________________________________________________*finger block_

B_______*Farewell Party (St. Louis 2003, 2nd version)_________(next)_

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________12____12LL^^13__________________________

G#_________________________________12B^^^13_______0^^^^^^^___________

E______________________________12____________12______________________

B_____________10^^^10A^^12A__________________12___12^14^15___________

G#___________________________________________12______________________

F#____10^^^__________________________________________________________

E_____10^10L__10L^^^^^^^12___________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B_______(Farewell Party continued)___________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E____6___8____9F____11F___13____15____16F___18___18__________________

B_____________9A____11A___13A___15A___16A____________________________

G#___6___8B___9_____11____13B___15B___16____18___18B_________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

D#___________________________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

G#___________________________________________________________________

F#___________________________________________________________________

E____________________________________________________________________

D____________________________________________________________________

B____________________________________________________________________

Lloyd Green On Tone

Tone is a very personal, subjective thing. I think tone is the most intellectual part of playing music and the most difficult thing to achieve. To me, it’s the bottom line. That’s the hardest part of playing steel guitar is to play it with great tone. It’s a thoughtful thing that you work on and try to explore. It took me a long time. I can hear the evolution of my playing on recordings. Fortunately I’ve got that that I can refer to. You’d be surprise how poor my tone sounded on a lot of the 1964 records. The originality was always there, but the tone was an evolving thing. The more I listen to the playback, the more I realized that if I wanted to be a really complete steel player, tone was ultimately the pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow.

So I strived for that. It’s too complex to explain exactly how you get tone here, but it involves lots of processes of thought. It’s really like an engineer. You sit down and figure some of this stuff out; how to do it with the guitar, with the picks, with the different parts of the guitar you play on, the amount of pressure you apply with the bar itself; and obviously, the kind of guitar you have, the kind of amplifier you have, and even volume controls, cords, everything. I could draw you a list of maybe fifty ingredients that go into getting tone. To me, it’s just simply the most important part of playing. Without tone, it’s all irrelevant.

I want to elaborate a little bit on that. The reason tone is so important is because I think ultimately that’s what is the emotional connection when you’re playing music to what people are hearing. If they hear good tone, there is something that strikes a resonant note in the soul. You can be playing the greatest stuff in the world, but if it doesn’t have good tone, there’s something that’s not making a connection. I think that’s what people really hear first. I think they hear tone; something that’s pleasant to their ear then they get tuned into what you’re doing. It’s like tuning in a radio station. Suddenly, they come across this station. That’s a very clear station, and the sound is very pure, and it stops you for a moment.

SOURCE: Lloyd Green, interview 2001, Steel Guitar Rag magazine

---

Lloyd Green On Effects

The “effects” you allude to in those occasional utubes are this. I was playing through a Lexicon PCM 41 digital delay.

It was rather bulky (and expensive) and fit in the rack you see in the videos. I only used the Lexicon for live events and would never dream of playing thru such a device for recording sessions. Then, as now, I use my steel and my Fender Twin with a 15” JBL speaker and for a period of time in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a Peavey Session 400. Nothing else for sessions.

I now use a small RV3 reverb/digital delay for the rare live gigs I play. Again, the singular reason I would play with one is the desire to get a little broader spectrum (i.e. studio) sound. However, I think I probably sounded better live before the advent of those additions when it was just a steel and amp, when it was just me and the music. And they don’t nearly approximate the studio sound. Frankly, I was never very comfortable with the “additions” as you can see from the constant manipulations of the unit. Plus, they did alter my sound in a negative way, subtracting from the natural sound to a more artificial one. Of course……they do that in the studio, don’t they! But it sounds better .

While the Peavey Profex contained my “sound” I never used one in a professional situation.

Thanks for the question and curiosity. I hope this clarifies the what and why of those units in my case.

Lloyd Green: The Steel Guitar Forum: Question For/About Lloyd Green's effects setup; November 2009

Interesting Fact: A lot of people don't know that Lloyd Green is actually left handed, but plays a right-hand guitar.