Help with Chet Atkins style Thumb/pickin

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Author	Topic: Help with Chet Atkins style Thumb/pickin
Eddie D.Bollinger Member From: Calhoun City, Mississippi	posted 10 December 2004 05:52 AM profile Does anyone have suggestions for GOOD learning material for thumbpickin'? help appreciated. Thanks in advance. Eddie
Jussi Huhtakangas Member From: Helsinki, Finland	posted 10 December 2004 06:13 AM profile Mel Bay publications has several different ones; I learned it from the original "Merle Travis Style by Tommy Flint". It's really good if you're new to the style and don't have the basics down yet. If you do, there are plenty advanced books too and one of my favorite videos is Thom Bresh's ( Merle's son ) "Real Merle Travis Guitar". Mel Bay is probably the first place to check: www.melbay.com [This message was edited by Jussi Huhtakangas on 10 December 2004 at 06:15 AM.]
Eddie D.Bollinger Member From: Calhoun City, Mississippi	posted 10 December 2004 06:19 AM profile Thanks Jussi, That was fast. I have some of the rhythym patterns down and a little melody. Thanks again. Eddie
Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.	posted 10 December 2004 08:45 AM profile Eddie, there's literally tons of learning videos out there for various thumb-picking styles. Use the "google" search engine, and just enter... +vhs +"thumb picking"
Kevin Hatton Member From: Amherst, N.Y.	posted 10 December 2004 10:06 AM profile Elderly instruments has the videos at www.elderly.com
Gary Lee Gimble Member From: Gaithersburg, Maryland	posted 10 December 2004 11:02 AM profile Eddie, I'm self taught with a limited number of tunes and riffs. I have found the learning curve to be easiest by simply playing the bass notes with my thumb and singing the melody lines, all very slowly. This kinda starts the grove for me. Then I pick three or four melody lines along with the "thumb" until I get it up to speed. Try Home Sweet Home in the key of C, an easy tune with a simply melody line. Be sure to smack and mute the second bass note to get that thumb style grove. This is all my interpretation, I could be completely off base but just an option for your table.
Rick McDuffie Member From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA	posted 10 December 2004 11:30 AM profile Eddie, you gotta get the thumb going. I literally spent scores of hours sitting on the couch, watching TV and doing nothing but learning to "thump"- at least one million times is required (with the fingers doing nothing). Once you get the thump on autopilot, then you can start to work on the fingers. Just add a chord at first, then a simple melody based on the "C" chord, like "Wildwood Flower" or "Freight Train". You should get to the point that you don't have to think much about what your thumb is doing. It seems monotonous while you're getting started, but it pays off big time. As with most things, patience is the key. [Edit: I just realized that I didn't really answer the question you were asking.] If you can find some other people who have an interest in playing that style, that's a great way to pick up a lot of ideas. Here in NC, there's an organization of people who play Atkins style, and they meet occasionally to "jam" and exchange ideas... there are some beginners in the bunch, but also some very fine pickers. Your area may have a similar group. Videos and the like have limited effectiveness for me, but may work very well for someone else. Good luck and blessings! Rick [This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 11 December 2004 at 05:40 AM.]
Bill R. Baker Member From: Clinton, MS USA	posted 11 December 2004 06:12 AM profile Hello Eddie. I have found two super vcr tapes for teaching. One is by Comer "Moon" Mullins, who lives in Arkansas. He is a fabulous picker. His teaching on the tape is excellent. He shows both hands at the same time. The tunes on the tape are I'm A Pilgrim The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise For Me and My Gal Alice Blue Gown Whispering. The VCR can be ordered from: Edgemont Video 875 Old Brewer Rd. N Edgemont, AR 72044 800-371-5777 The running time is 60 minutes. Another great vcr is by Tom Bresh, son of Merle Travis. I have it in my collection and will try to find it. Best to you. Hope the show is going well in Bruce. Bill
Leila Tuttle Member From: Wheat Ridge, Colorado, USA	posted 11 December 2004 09:40 PM profile Eddie, Here's a site with a few Chet Atkins Tabs. http://www.donnybravos.com/free_guitar_tabs.php?go=list&path=.%2FC/chet_atkins Here's one with lots of Chet instruction available for purchase. http://www.ladysixstring.com/tabs/A/atkins-chet/ Go here and get the Tab for Chet's "Poor People of Paris". What a nice song! You'll recognize it. http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/OLGA/all/chet_atkins.html Leila
Bill Myrick Member From: Pea Ridge, Ar.	posted 17 December 2004 04:02 AM profile Any materials for doing it on an E-9th neck ?
Jerry Hayes Member From: Virginia Beach, Va.	posted 17 December 2004 07:34 AM profile Hey Bill, I don't think it'd sound that good on an E9th tuning because it doesn't have the appropriate bass strings. I do some things on extended E9 such as "I'll See you in my Dreams" But you need a pedal that'll raise strings 5 & 6 a whole tone each as on a Universal Tuning. Most people do this on C6th or the B6th side of a universal so you can have the appropriate bass notes. When I was playing E9/B6 I did "Alabama Jubilee" but since I've changed to my "Mooney Universal" which is basically an extended E9 I don't have the BooWah pedal needed for that tune. I can still do it but the bass strings just don't sound right...JH
Bill Myrick Member From: Pea Ridge, Ar.	posted 17 December 2004 12:46 PM profile Thanks for the info Jerry--I appreciate it. !
Roy Thomson Member From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada	posted 17 December 2004 01:49 PM profile I just sold out on my Fingerstyle Course for Standard E9th. It will work with practice. I have sent samples to Bill and Jerry. This is not for everyone but I like it and when I play it for people it brings a smile to their face. It is a nice addition to the standard styles of playing E9th Steel Guitar. Happy Holidays everyone. Roy T.
Charles French Member From: Ms.	posted 18 December 2004 04:20 AM profile Hold on to you hat!!! For High Speed Connection!!! Withour further adou or something like that!!! The great 26 minute Tommy Emannuel video!!! http://www.acousticplayermagazine.com/apm002/apmprofile002/tommy_4_profilevideo_002.ht ml Also be sure to check out the Paul Asbell video where he teaches "Deep River Blues" I just noticed they have an alternative if you don't have high speed. P.S. This site will really get you started on the right track and best of all the mini lessons are fREE! [This message was edited by Charles French on 18 December 2004 at 04:29 AM.] [This message was edited by Charles French on 18 December 2004 at 04:40 AM.]
Jack Francis Member From: Mesa, Arizona, USA	posted 18 December 2004 07:27 AM profile UNBELIEVABLE!!! I just took your advice and watched the video by this great guitar player and entertainer....thanx for the heads up.
Eddie D.Bollinger Member From: Calhoun City, Mississippi	posted 18 December 2004 08:55 PM profile You guys are great! I am inspired and will be equipped with several instructional items as a result of your advice. Hey, Bro. Bill, The show is doing great. We start back on Jan 22. for the '05 season. We will do 42 shows in 2005. we are having a lot of fun. Thanks everyone. Ed
Bob Wood Member From: Campbell, California, USA	posted 19 December 2004 10:51 PM profile Hey Eddie! I started out my music career by playing the Chet Atkins style of music..., so I thought I should be able to play the steel guitar then, right? Ha! When learning to play the finger-style picking..., remember the bass notes that are being played are: 5, 4, 6, 4. Over, and over. That is: string 5 first, then 4, then 6, then 4 again. With the open thumb/thumbpick. When you can play those strings with an open or bar chord without even thinking about it..., start adding a little melody with your index finger, then later add your middle finger to the melody. Also, learn to block the bass notes with your right hand/palm. The master does this with more flare than anyone! Bob [This message was edited by Bob Wood on 19 December 2004 at 10:55 PM.]
Roger Miller Member From: Waterloo, Ia.	posted 22 December 2004 01:54 PM profile Doyle Dykes is all you need to know. Get on his website and get what you need from him, he is better than great!!!!!
BobbeSeymour Member From: Hendersonville TN USA	posted 24 December 2004 09:56 AM profile I have a video tape out on playing this style on the C6th neck of steel guitar. Bob Saxton is featured doing this style also on his big Gibson 400 guitar in one 15 minute section. I feel that this tape will show how to learn this style quickly and easily. It focuses on the right hand so should apply to all kinds of guitars. A small sample of my playing this style is on my web-site, look for "The short thumb picking video" clip. It is a sample of the Merle Travis "Saturday Night Shuffle". Hope this can all be of help to anyone wishing to play this wonderful style of guitar. bobbe

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