Sophisticated Hula
(in C6th tuning)

Tablature for Lap Steel Guitar by David J. Stewart. I've tried to tab out Jerry Byrd's arrangement of Sophisticated Hula from his album, Hawaiian Sunset. The song is played in the Key of Ab, beginning on the 8th fret...

E_____________________________________________*~8________________

C___7_8__________7_8_7_8_________________________________________

A________________________8~___~7___5_6_5_6_5_6___________________

G______~8___8_8_____________6____________________________________

E_________8______________________________________________________

C#_______________________________________________________________

*NOTE: In the above section of tablature, where I have put an asterisks mark, Jerry Byrd 

uses a volume pedal to get that incredible Hawaiian sound on the first string, 8th fret. 

It is an awesome technique that takes time to learn, but it's not that hard if you know 

what to do. The technique is to back off the volume pedal and then slide into the note 

about 2 frets before it while simultaneously raising the volume, and using some vibrato. 

It sounds like a surprise, like the note just appears out of nowhere. This technique

cannot be done without a volume pedal. You need 3 things to make this technique work:

1) sliding into a note, 2) while raising the volume, and 3) using a good amount of vibrato. 

NOTE: The volume pedal isn't pressed until AFTER you pick the note sliding into fret 8 

on string one. Much of what we hear and play on the steel guitar is an illusion to the ears. 

As you can hear in the MP3 clip (WMA), everything I am explaining takes place in a second 

of time; but I wanted to describe it in detail so you can grasp the technique fully. 

It is a very important technique to learn I think if you want to excel at Hawaiian steel 

guitar. Most of the things that seem so hard to play are just a matter of technique. I 

like to think of this technique as sliding into home plate in a baseball game. 

You can also play the same thing another way, ending on string two...

E________________________________________________________________

C________________*~12____________________________________________

A________________________________________________________________

G____7_8_7_8_7_8_________________________________________________

E________________________________________________________________

C#_______________________________________________________________

Now back to our song...

E_________________________3_4~3~4__________________________1_2_3_

C___________7_8_~6_~5_4___________3______________________1_______

A_________6_________________________3~2_1_~3_2~1_______1_________

G___8_7_6________________________________________2_1_1___________

E________________________________________________________________

C#_______________________________________________________________

E__4_6___4_____________~8_______8______________8_______8_________

C______5___~4_____________________________7_8_______8____~8__7___

A______________6_5_6_5__________________6___________8____~8__7___

G_________________________8~7~8___8_7_6__________8__8____~8__7___

E___________________________________________________8____~8__7___

C#_______________________________________________________________

Here's a nice 7th chord progression which comes up after the vibes solo...

E___8__9__10_11_11_______________________________________________

C________________________________________________________________

A___7__8__9__10_10_______________________________________________

G________________________________________________________________

E___6__7__8__9__9________________________________________________

C#_______________________________________________________________

Here's Jerry doing an advanced run in the song if you'd like to know how he played this 

(it took me a long time to figure this part out, but it was worth it, great stuff). Jerry 

Byrd is the only Hawaiian steel guitar player I know of that does these type of extended 

chord runs. He's just following the scales, which very few player ever achieve. It's a 

mindset. many players become satisfied at a certain level of playing and don't desire

to explore the instrument further... 

E__________________________________~8_8~______________3_4_5_6_____

C__________________4___5_7_8_6_7_7______~7_7~_______*3____________

A____________3_4_5___________________________6_6___*3_____________

G______2_3_4______________________________________*3______________

E___~3__________*These 3 notes are raked across with the thumb____

C#_______________and fingers picks in a triplet (time of one note)

E___3_4_5_6___6________6________6________________________________

C_______________6~5______6~5______6~5____________________________

A___________________6________6________6__________________________

G________________________________________________________________

E________________________________________________________________

C#_______________________________________________________________

E________________________________________________________________

C________________________________________________________________

A________________________________________________________________

G________________________________________________________________

E________________________________________________________________

C#_______________________________________________________________

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The song 'Sophisticated Hula' has been considerably changed over the years by many singers and musicians. Here is the original and then some other to compare. They all sound good, but it's important that new players know what the original song sounds like.

Sophisticated Hula (original song and melody)

Sophisticated Hula (original chords 1)

Sophisticated Hula (original chords 2)

Sophisticated Hula (original chords 3)

Sophisticated Hula (original chords 4)

Sophisticated Hula (song 1)

Sophisticated Hula (song 2)

More Song Tabs