This instructional package includes tablature and audio tracks for George Jones’s classic hit, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” The tablature covers all the pedal steel parts originally played by Pete Drake, along with additional parts. The package includes ten audio tracks: the full steel guitar parts in the original key, practice tracks in five different keys, and four tracks with alternate steel parts for both the introductory verse and the spoken verse in the song’s second half.
This song is a slow, 4/4 ballad, originally recorded in the key of G, modulating to Ab. Pete Drake’s steel guitar work on the original 1980 recording from George Jones’s I Am What I Am album is a masterclass in the expressive “crying” style that uses bar vibrato, volume dynamics, and subtle phrasing to evoke a deeply emotional, almost vocal quality. The steel parts themselves aren’t particularly difficult to play, but matching the emotion and feeling of Pete’s performance is a challenge.
For the provided rhythm tracks, I’ve replaced the lush string arrangement from the original 1980 recording with a more traditional band lineup, giving the steel guitar a more prominent role throughout the song. The additional steel parts I’ve added are inspired by Paul Franklin’s work on George’s 2005 re-recording of the song, as well as George’s live performances featuring Tom Killen on steel.
In addition to the standard rhythm tracks, this package offers extra tracks and tablature to explore different approaches to the opening verse as well as the spoken verse. The original recording featured Phil Baugh using his custom-built, pedal-equipped electric guitar to create pedal steel-like bends during the opening verse. I’ve included four different ways to play this section on pedal steel. For the spoken verse, I’ve provided two different approaches based on Tom Killen’s live performances, where he creatively mimics the female backing vocalist from the original recording.
Purchase the complete digital download of the pdf tablature book and all audio tracks on this page. If you would like a physical book and CD, please contact me directly or purchase one from my eBay store.
Song Preview:
Included rhythm tracks:
- He Stopped Loving Her Today (Key of G) (With Steel)
- He Stopped Loving Her Today (Key of G) (Without Steel)
- He Stopped Loving Her Today (Key of Ab) (Without Steel)
- He Stopped Loving Her Today (Key of Gb) (Without Steel)
- He Stopped Loving Her Today (Key of F) (Without Steel)
- He Stopped Loving Her Today (Key of E) (Without Steel)
- Alternative Approach to the Opening Verse – Version 1 (Key of G)
- Alternative Approach to the Opening Verse – Version 2 (Key of G)
- Alternative Approach to the Opening Verse – Version 3 (Key of G)
- Alternative Approach to the Spoken Verse/Recitation (Key of G)
George Jones – He Stopped Loving Her Today (original 1980 recording) on YouTube:
George Jones – He Stopped Loving Her Today (2005 re-recording) on YouTube: