Lowell George and Little Feat - Sailin’ Shoes Tab and Video

I don’t know if I fully understand my fascination with Lowell George. His output was somewhat limited. His band Little Feat in their heyday was a pretty zany crew and possibly due to the somewhat bizarre, hybrid style of their music, George didn’t get to throw down loads of hot slide guitar like he easily could have. But he was a totally unique slide player and where you can catch him doing his thing, it’s impossible to resist. He also had a great voice.

I have here a video and tab I made for Lowell’s solo on the title track of my favorite Little Feat album, Sailing Shoes, which was produced by Ted Templeman. It’s an acoustic solo, a little atypical. There is quite a bit of studio gloss on the record, and great, California-styled musicianship. It’s not surprising that George got his big break with Frank Zappa, who only employed first rate players.

Lowell use a socket wrench to play slide, and he favored stock Fender Stratocasters. He placed the slide on his pinky, and he kept his left hand thumb fully around the bottom of the neck (when playing slide). He played mostly in Open A, but this solo is done in Open G, although “Sailin’ Shoes” is in the key of C. It’s an interesting approach. Let’s take a look at it.

 

Listening to LG, you can tell right away that his sound is different. It’s quite clear and there’s less use of vibrato than with most slide players. He is said to have used a compressor to get his sustain. Right off the bat, he’s playing a bit out of the box, hitting the root note C on the high E string, which is tuned to D. There is a quick change of register to play the next phrases up around the twelfth to the fifteenth frets. Note the use of staccato. Looking at the tab below, you can see that in the whole piece, only four notes receive vibrato. This provides a more rhythmic feeling, which emphasizes the slow, New Orleans-style shuffle feel.

After an F major arpeggio lick at the tenth fret, he jumps down to the fifth fret where the rest of the solo is centered. So in just four measures, three positions are employed, really, the entirety of the fretboard if you include the open G. Yet, there is not a hint of a disjointed quality.

I’m using a simple index, middle, thumb right hand approach. Be aware of the right hand muting, as it is crucial to get the precise, rhythmic and often staccato sound. You may also notice that the video is recorded in the bathroom. Besides the obvious reference to “Fat Man In The Bathtub With The Blues,” I find that it can be beneficial to practice slide in a tiled bathroom. All the noise is amplified along with the nice, snappy echo, and you have to work at your muting.

Here are some more Lowell George resources to tap into. There is plenty of cool slide on the live Waiting for Columbus. And a Dixie Chicken video with Emmy Lou Harris and Bonnie Raitt. There is an excellent concert video, Little Feat Live In Holland. Here is an interview from Guitar Player, and the video for Rock and Roll Doctor and from The Old Grey Whistle Test. Have fun!

Comments

[KB]

Nice post Chris!
Great explanation of Lowell's technique.
Love the bathroom recording

[On Practicing Guitar]

Thanks, KB! There is definitely much to write about with Lowell George. The bathroom was a spontaneous inspiration. I wasn't actually in there at the time but don't some people say they get their inspiration in the bathroom? That bathroom is so small it doesn't get much of a reverb effect but it still has a nice little snap to it. I'll have to try to record some electric guitar in there and see what it sounds like. -Chris