Freddie Green chords

[Dave Birkett]

Hi guys. I’ve just started playing steel. I’ve played guitar for many years, so, probably like many others, I’m trying to play things on the steel that I already know on guitar. Here is a Universal tab of some Freddie Green style four-to-the-bar rhythm chords for a simple 12 bar blues in Bb. The D# lever is engaged throughout. I hope this works.
<font face="monospace" size="2"><pre>
6 __6____6____6____6____|__5____5____5_____5____|
7 ______________________|_______________________|
8 __6(6)_6(6)_6(6)_6(6)_|__5(6)_5(6)_5(6)__5(6)_|
9 ______________________|_______________________|
10 ______________________|_______________________|
11 __6____6____6(5)_6(5)_|__5(6)_5(6)_5_____5____|


6 __6____6____7____7____|__6____6____12____12____|
7 ______________________|________________________|
8 __6(6)_6(6)_7(6)_7(6)_|__6(6)_6(6)_12(6)_12(6)_|
9 ______________________|________________________|
10 ______________________|________________________|
11 __6____6____7(5)_7(5)_|__6____6____12____12____|


6 _11____11____11____11____|_11____11____11____11____|
7 _________________________|_________________________|
8 _11(6)_11(6)_11(6)_11(6)_|_11(6)_11(6)_11(6)_11(6)_|
9 _________________________|_________________________|
10 _________________________|_________________________|
11 _11____11____11____11____|_11(5)_11(5)_11(5)_11(5)_|


6 _12____12____11____11____|_10____10_____9_____9____|
7 _________________________|_________________________|
8 _12____12(6)_11____11(6)_|_10____10(6)__9_____9(6)_|
9 _________________________|_________________________|
10 _________________________|_________________________|
11 _12(5)_12(5)_11(5)_11(5)_|_10(5)_10(5)__9(5)__9(5)_|


6 __8_____8_____8_____8____|__7_____7_____7__________|
7 _________________________|_________________________|
8 __8(6)__8(6)__8(6)__8(6)_|__7(6)__7(6)__7(6)_______|
9 _________________________|_________________________|
10 _________________________|_________________________|
11___8_____8_____8_____8(5)_|__7(5)__7(5)__7(5)__7____|


5 _________________________|___________________12(L)_|
6 _________________________|_________________________|
7 _________________________|___________________12(5)_|
8 _________________________|_____4__6__7_____________|
9 ______________4_____5____|__6________________12____|
10 ________6________________|_________________________|
11 __6______________________|_________________________|
12 _________________________|___________________12(5)_|
</pre></font>

I know that this something a steel player would probably never play, but I’m posting it so that I can get some advice. Am I approaching this kind of music in the right way? I mean, to get a dominant sound with a prevalent tritone, is it normal to use the F position (fret 6 on my guitar) for a Bb? Or do I have my head you know where? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


------------------
Dave

[John Steele (deceased)]

Looks good to me, Dave, although I can't say for sure.. I assume you are playing a 12 string (?)
I love Freddie Green. Trying to find a rhythm guitarist that's willing to do that nowadays is like pulling teeth - which is unfortunate, because I think there's incredible power and beauty in the simplicity of 4-to-the-bar.
About 2 months ago I was thrust into a jazz gig with my steel. Although the soloing was fun, the biggest kick I got all night was comping for the other soloists. I was even surprised at the suitability of the steel for comping. It sounded GREAT! Even with me playing it...
-John

[Cartwright Thompson]

Dave,
Have you checked out: http://www.freddiegreen.org/
Lots of transcriptions.

[Dave Birkett]

Thanks, Cartwright. A great site!
Dave