One of the best shows I've ever heard was Merle Haggard performing at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas. I watched the whole set from side stage.... the sound was perfect and his band was so on point. I've learned a lot of Merle tunes since then...
I recently revisited the song Swinging Doors after butchering it in bars for years. What knocked me out was Ralph Mooney's pedal steel accompaniment in the first verse after the intro. I transcribed it and adapted it for guitar (shown below..N.B. bends aren't notated so listen to the audio).
His playing is so busy, but oh so good. Instead of playing the intro and keeping it sparse when Merle starts singing, the opposite happens. He nails the intro, and then just continues blowing this incredible counter line to Merle's vocal through the first verse. He ducks out at the chorus.
I love the way Mooney surfs and bubbles along with the meter, never getting in Merle's way. Ignore the notes and just clap the rhythm of the whole passage notated below! The note choices are perfect, of course, but I think the biggest take away for me is how he swings, how he uses anticipations and how he feels triplets. His phrases rarely start on a downbeat. He puts such solid rhythmic momentum into play.... none of his phrases ever seem awkward or out of place. Hope you dig it!
