The Diatonic tuning is extremely simple to remember, just follow the alphabet for the bottom seven strings (from bass to treble: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, E). Using this very tuning (minus the bottom “D” note because Jerry's steel guitar only had 7-strings), he recording on the song, “Next To Jimmy” (here's the MP3) by Ferlin Husky, recorded in 1960. Wow! Great stuff!

I've made a humble attempt to tab out the solo for others to learn. I have no idea if this is all correct, but it's in the ballpark, and I think pretty close. I listened recently to the recording and realized that I tabbed it wrong originally in 2015. The fictional character Sherlock Holmes is famous for the quote, “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” The only way that I've been able to imitate what Jerry did is to lower the F (6th string) to a D# instead. That's a whole tone drop. I've put an asterisk (*) sign by the chord below so you can see what I mean.

Also, I believe Jerry's playing through his old Volutone amplifier, which is more resemblant of a loudspeaker. You can hear the distortion in his speaker. I just cranked up the gain on my little Roland MobileCube amplifier to get a similar tone.

Jerry uses some great manipulation of the bar in this song on strings 1 and 2, which requires some quick hand skills and coordination. He's moving quickly at the beginning, which creates almost an illusion to the ears. Jerry mastered this technique better than anyone in my opinion. It's interesting how each steel guitar tuning feels different the way you create the chords and sounds. I think the C Diatonic has a pretty good feel to it, not as laidback as the C6th, but offers some great sounds if you master the techniques. Again, please be aware that I changed the standard Diatonic tuning, lowering string 6 from an F note to a D# for this particular song...

E_________________~20___20___18___~18_____16__15__14____~13_________________

C____15~14_15_____~20___________________________________~13_________________

B_______________________20___18___~18_______________________________________

A____15~14_15_____________________________15__15__15________________________

G_________________~20___20___18___~18___________________~13_________________

D#__________________________________________________________________________
E___________________________________________________________________________

E___13~~~~~8_____________________________13___~16___15~16~15___13___________

C___13~~~~~8_____~*11__*10____8___~13____13___~17___15~17~15___13___________

B___________________________________________________________________________

A________________~*11__*10____8___~13_______________________________________

G___13~~~~~7________________________________________________________________

D#_______________~*11__*10 (I lowered F to D# only for this song)___________
E___________________________________________________________________________

E______________________13______15___~18__16__16__16~15______________________

C___13~12~11~10___~13_____~15____________________________17~16___15_________

B___________________________________________________________________________

A___13~12~11~10___~13_____~15________________15__15~~~___15______15_________

G___________________________________________________________________________

D#__________________________________________________________________________
E___________________________________________________________________________

E___________________________________________________________________________

C___________________________________________________________________________

B___________________________________________________________________________

A___________________________________________________________________________

G___________________________________________________________________________

D#__________________________________________________________________________
E___________________________________________________________________________

Isn't that beautiful?

Scotty's Music in St. Louis has some nice solo tablature arrangements by Jerry Byrd in his C Diatonic tuning, including the complete song, “Come A Little Closer.” According to my order list, Scotty's also has Estrellita, Danny Boy, Cold Cold Heart, Ebb Tide, Ame No Bojyo, Hana lei Moon, Honolulu Eyes, Serenade To Nalani, Mauna Kea and Invitation To Love, tabbed out in the C Diatonic tuning by Jerry.

What I like about the Diatonic tuning is that the chords are there, unlike the Bill Leavitt tuning where you have to work with less. I like the Leavitt Tuning, but it is more difficult to work with. Jerry has impeccable bar slanting skills, which when done accurately, quickly and with your amplifier cranked up, and a decent guitar (this sounds like Jerry's 7-string Rickenbacher), it will all sound GREAT. Don't be afraid to do quick reverse bar slants. In fact, you should get into the habit of doing them as a practice scale. Jerry Byrd masterfully glides through the scales, letting it all flow seamlessly. That's all he's doing, following the melodic scales. It's not magic, just plain ole hard work and persistence.

A helpful way to look at Jerry's Diatonic tuning is that it is a C6th tuning with an added 9th (D note) and 11th (F note). So you've really got a C11th tuning here. Really sweet too!

Let's use the chart above to see what chords we've got in the C Diatonic tuning. I won't tab out all the chords, because you can use the C6th chord tabs here. You got the C6th tuning below with the added 3rd and 6th string. So if you pretend that strings 3 and 6 aren't there, it the same as standard C6th. This is a really versatile tuning, if not the most...

E_____C Major_________|__C minor__3___8___|__C9th__10_______5___|___C6th__0__12___

C____0___0___4___7____|___________3_______|________10__14_______|_________0__12___

B________0____________|___13__________8___|_________________5___|_________________

A____________3___7____|___________3_______|____________13___5___|_________0__12___

G____0________________|___12__________8___|________9________5___|_________0__12___

F________0___2___7____|___________________|_________________5___|_________________
E____0________________|___11______________|____________12_______|_________0__12___
D_____________________|___________________|_____________________|_________________

The nice thing about standard C6th is that you can relax and just rake across all the strings; whereas with the C Diatonic you've got to work at it more (like the Bill Leavitt tuning), but you've got more to work with on the C Diatonic. It's a very beautiful and interesting tuning to say the least!

Although this is not a strum tuning like the F# minor 9th tuning, it does offer a very beautiful 9th chord as heard in the previous song “Come A Little Closer.” I tried to work out the solo for “Next To Jimmy” and it requires some excellent left hand maneuvering for much of the solo, but that's why Jerry was dubbed “The Master Of Touch And Tone” in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. That's quite an honor, and Jerry earned it!

For the solo to “Next To Jimmy” you have to do several bar slants, which aren't too difficult once you become familiar with how the tuning works. Each tuning has a different “feel” to it, which once you are comfortable with, you'll begin to excel at the tuning. I understand the C6th well, so be viewing the C Diatonic tuning without strings 3 and 6, I see why Jerry did what he did to invent this tuning. It is really an expanded hybrid C6th. I think it's great!

The following helpful information is from Jerry's good friend, Ray Montee...

By the 1960's, Jerry was using his popular C-Diatonic tuning; one that he had been experimenting with since 1952 but simply had not had sufficient time to to explore fully.

His first commercial use of this new tuning was on Ferlin Husky's record of “Next to Jimmy.” This tuning provided Jerry with a more “pedal-like” sound which was more suitable for the days following Webb Pierce's “Slowly.”

The C-Diatonic tuning was more ideally suited for an eight string guitar but Jerry eventually eliminated the “D” on the second string and ultimately installed this tuning on his 7-string neck of the Sho-Bud.

Prior to having the Sho-Bud made for him, Jerry did use a 7-string Bakelite with silver panels for quite some time but eventually he experienced intolerable problems with the pickup so replaced it temporarily with a white paneled, 7-string, post war model during 1949, that had the smaller 1 1/4" pickups on it...

The original C-Diatonic:

E D C B A G F E D C (from high to low) - Jerry didn't use 10 strings, but this is the logical extended tuning. Here is the specified 7-string tuning that Jerry uses in all his C Diatonic tablature (from high to low): E C B A G F E (no D note). I use an 8-string steel guitar, so I added a D to the bottom for the 8th string [blue comments added by me]

Jerry points out that this tuning requires lot's of “muting” with the right hand; but, is quick to state that its not actually necessary provided one knows how to slant the bar properly.

By the late 1970's, after Jerry had started using the double neck Sho-Bud in Hawaii, his strings of preference became “Sho-Buds.”

---

       Below are Jerry's words regarding this song "Next to Jimmy" and his brilliant newfound diatonic tuning. This was posted on This Forum in 2001 by Jerry's brother, Jack Byrd. ...

Quote:

I experimented with various tunings in the years following my discovery of C6th tuning in 1937 but all of them were “unplayable.” Having gone to a 7-string guitar in the mid-40’s so I could add the much needed “C” that was eliminated when I raised the 6th string to C#, I then had C and C# to work with.

I kept “hearing” a chord in my head that I know would give me a new dimension and after much twisting and turning of tuning keys and changes of string gauges, I found it—this was sometime in the early 50’s. I ended up with the “alphabet” and the formula came out from bottom to top as:

E-F-G-A-B-C (D)-E

I have the D in parenthesis because it completely made the whole thing un-playable and was only in the way-and besides-I’d need an 8-string neck. So off it came - or should I say “out it went” and so it ended up with “E to E without the D.” And my “lost chord was there on the 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd and 1st strings. And I still had my E and C on top.

It took me a while to realize that I really had something! I could do all I ever did in my C6th tuning and much more. It was great for popular songs, because I could play most everything in 3 part harmony with my ever-present “slants” and it was equally good for Hawaiian and even country.

I kept it under wraps for 2 or 3 years which was easy because I was about as much in demand as yesterdays newspaper---- but I kept working with it. One day my phone rang and it was Ferlin Huskey. “I’m doing a session soon and I want you to play steel”---I said – “are you sure you called the right number??.” “Damn right!!” And I want you to play “Jerry Byrd” and don’t let anybody try to change anything.” I said – “well O.K.—I’ll be there.”

At the session he came over to me and said- “now I want you to play Jerry Byrd on this next song- it’s titled Next to Jimmy.” I said “give me a few minutes to see if I can remember what Jerry Byrd did.” I then worked up the first recording I ever did in that tuning. And it is still talked about. I am continually reminded of it. Know what?? I have not the slightest idea of what I played. I’d play and go home and forget about it. That’s the way we did it back in our time.

Here is (in my humble opinion) Jerry Byrd's finest album which he recorded back in 1959. It is simply the most brilliant steel guitar playing I have ever heard. I want to particularly draw your attention to the song "Honolulu Eyes" which Jerry recorded using his amazing C Diatonic tuning!

Hawaiian Beach Party