The age-old question of “what instrument is that?” pops up again, and this time it’s a real head-scratcher. After listening intently to the track, the initial impression leans towards something akin to a steel guitar, particularly in the intro and the song’s opening sections. Yet, there’s a distinct slide guitar quality present too, muddying the waters somewhat. Kenny raises a valid point; as the song progresses, those unmistakable “slide” effects become more pronounced. The voicing and overall feel certainly evoke the characteristics of a steel guitar, deviating from the typical sounds one expects from standard guitar tuning. Could a conventional guitar be retuned to achieve this? Perhaps, but venturing into retuning territory is a step beyond casual speculation.
What is clear is that this sound isn’t readily identifiable as a typical steel guitar in a country music context. However, notably, this track doesn’t fall neatly into the country genre. It’s also worth remembering the historical context. In those recording eras, session musicians often went uncredited. It’s entirely plausible that a guitarist with some steel guitar proficiency was brought in to add subtle touches, or perhaps a dedicated steel player contributed a few understated parts, received their session fee, and remained uncredited.
Despite these possibilities, the “slide guitar” hypothesis remains compelling. Frankly, definitive identification is elusive. Regardless of the instrument, the query itself is appreciated. The challenging questions are invariably more stimulating than the straightforward ones, pushing us to listen more deeply and consider the nuances of sound.
B. Bailey Brown
