Doug Smith perform Stars & Stripes Forever by Sousa

[samjemb]

I first heard Guy Van Duser play this piece thirty-odd years ago at The Bottom Line in NYC. (He was performing with Billy Novick at the time.)

Doug Smith's performance of "Stars and Stripes Forever" is, in my opinon more fluid and whimsical than that of Guy Van Duser (whom I still greatly admire.)

[markweeg]

Great control of instrument. Nice left-hand thumb work too. I enjoyed this more than I can say.

[misterarthur]

Amazing piccolo trills in here. What a great transcription and player.

[UlisesVictoria]

Indeed! I have been a hardcore Chet fan for so many years, and I have never heard of this guy here before, but his performance is better than Chet's. (Never thought I would say something like that!!!)

[tobiashrng]

Guy Van Duser wrote this arrangement on guitar over 30-40 years ago. A very difficult piece but it's easier to copy it than to write it. Still a very good performance but Guy should get all the credit!

[moreme40]

A couple of weeks practice and I'd have this piece down with no problem. My nose just grew a couple of inches Lol. That was some amazing picking...

[LaroldC]

I just attended a workshop with Mark Hanson, who avidly touted Doug's playing, and this video was my first exposure to it. So I sit here, my jaw between my shoes for the second time this week.

You get a great shot of his execution with the thumb pick, pinky firmly planted. Pickers like these guys are a species all their own. They bring a dynamic to the instrument that almost redefines it for us rock people.

BTW, Mark played an axe almost identical to Doug's except it seemed less "jumbo".

[BarerMender]

This is an advanced piece for a self-taught country picker like Chet Atkins. Chet is limited by his picking technique.

[colotron]

@BarerMender Limited?

Chet mastered near enough every style of guitar.

[carvetop01]

What planet is this guy from? Amazing.

[Jazzguts]

@carvetop01 Ha,ha great sense of humor, and I agree with you he's very good,very orchestral on 1 guitar, thanks for sending Allen,Vic.

[loveloveme93]

amazing <3



[MrJtrues]

No doubt playing this on a steel string vs. nylon is much more difficult......not that I could play it on either....just saying.

[s1nyc111]

Gawd bless America!!!

[detergent87]

simply wonderful. would someone please convert this to mp3 and upload on 4shared? :D

[owlet1963]

now I understand the comment of one of my online musician pals after he watched this, He sent it to me with the following words..."Oh how i watch this & weep !!" :) Well, Dave, the rest of us mere mortals is weeping along with you, haha! GREAT performance!! hats off!!

[bhm0814]

2 people were were still dazed after being floored.

[welcometourf]

ridiculous

[Degagnewest]

very clean,accurate version.tough piece to master.i agree with ricman67

[fingerstylefan]

This is by far the best version I' ve ever heard.

[chomazu]

move over chet..this guy just won first chair on this tune!

[ShadowCloud143]

A true master of his craft.

[theaws0m3guy]

I think this is just because it's a more advanced recording guys. I mean the 70s to now, the technology has changed...

[sunaJH]

How could I have missed this  guy, he is F great, I agree, his performance is the best I've seen yet, as much as I worship Chet:)

sunaj

[IbanezArtist85]

Chet's version doesn't have fret buzz, because he's using a nylon string classical guitar. They don't produce fret buzz.

Doug Smith is playing a steel string regular acoustic. Metal strings against metal frets tends to be noisier than nylon strings against metal frets; it's just the nature of the beast. Both are great performances!

[phillipcmiller]

This is an amazing gift

[LynneV5]

That's ridiculous! I can't believe he not only played the piccolo solo, but at the same time still played the main theme underneath! Great Job!

[neillian1]

fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!

[calcorrfan]

Love to watch this every once in awhile. A great performance.

[clevelandtyler2]

wow this does rival chets for sure...nice either way tho for sure

[vnvjeff55]

AWESOME

[junkmailboy1000]

3:45 - love when the bassline kicks in

[Ricman67]

I admire Chet Atkins work as well as the next guy. However, I believe Doug's performance is better than Chets. Just my opinion!

[fuel2obsessions]

@Ricman67 chet plays it better he has no fret buzz and thats talent

[pitbull103]

A saw this man back in the 1990s and I'm fairly sure he said the exact same thing. Nothing wrong with that. It's a touching sentiment.

[daffydoug]

I was amazed the other day when cleaning my room, to find a copy of Stride Guitar by Van Duser on a shelf!

And there it was in all it's glory, music and tabs for this amazing tune!

Looks like I have a good ten years work ahead of me now learning this knuckle busting tune!

[Blindmirrors32]

He does a GREAT job playing the Magnificent Seven theme song - check it out on itunes!!

[damuhongmaldita]

To me, this version sounds cleaner and has little nuances missing in other versions.

[benthemiester]

Almost as good as Van Duser.

[chetplayerwhoknows]

Could anyone live past the first row here this? Great job

[TVXchristianTVX]

I MET HIM

hes very HUMBLE

and amazing

[GibsonHummingbird]

Superb

[adg1017]

so amazing... wow

[van1976]

A new "favorite".

[Mamasan41]

Happy Birthday, America!!!!!!!! This was brilliant!!!

[floppier]

Hey, guys, don't compare the poor guy to Chet; there was only one Chet Atkins.

Doug, that was a brilliant rendition! You caught some nuances even Chet left out. Great job!! I wish I could play that thing NEARLY that well! Thanks!

[clmurphyjr2002]

Chet Atkins' version is very good also.

[3439ra]

its the same version. but chet does it better,,, offcourse

[WalterBoruta]

Dear Doug: I can see the dedication and love that you put in this arrangement. You have played guitar all your life, like I have, and it shows. I would be honored if you would consider interpreting my music.

I would love it if you would intepret

[kingofdalen]

were can i get the tabs to this?

[KimJongCostello]

Guy Van Duser's "Stride Guitar" by Mel Bay. Maybe out of print.

[wayneandbibi]

Excellent

[billyclamp2]

Grat job Doug --- Bless your Dad for the Marines ---- Go USA --- Almost as good as Chets Version

[08freewilly80]

man, dont`t speak, play

that`s really fantastic,

first classic, a german fan

thank you

[surviveditall]

I had the pleasure of being in the audience at this performance and thought this concert was one of the musical highlights of my life! Thanks for sharing your talent with us!

[TheSlurgi]

Brilliant!  Doug Smith is simply amazing.

[idahodad1]

Great work! Doug Smith is part of the "Summit Meeting" group of guitarist.

[m3941]

WOW!!!!!!  drmike

[theeuniceburns]

I feel so lucky to have Doug as a guitar teacher for the past four years. He didn't even know this was on youtube until a few weeks ago, lol

[jerrydesu]

Amazing! Doug Smith is such a rare talent and a real nice guy. I seen him perform this live. It is an excellent final song - like the grand finale!

[guitarsoccerguy]

i saw this guy at my school...

[sarpeguy]

at first i said hahahah this guy is playing a funny song, but he played it really but really good!!

[davidlinn]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I don't like Sousa, but this is wonderful. Doug is one of the best to ever pick up anything with strings.

[jdesouza32]

Doug, it was great hearing you play this summer at Mark Hanson's camp. I'm a huge fan now. Please post more videos!!

[jokelheimer]

listend to chet atkins verson, its god too

[revenpyro]

i just saw him in a house concert it was jaw droppingly amazing and he complimented me on my playing but no way could i be compared to him. no i didnt play his guitar but that would have been awsome. he probably would have let though if i asked but never would i

[olmmbill]

Incredible artistry. Being able to include the piccolo part was even beyond incredible. This should be our National Anthem. It's arguably the most uplifting march ever written. Thank you, Doug, for playing it, and thanks for posting it.

[clearfish]

Doug Smith is right to credit Guy Van Duser. Fingerstylists are only starting to catch up to him. Guy's "Western Medley" (a collection of TV and movie Western themes) is another piece of art. The theme from

"High Noon" is especially beautiful.

[fingerstylin]

i watched doug do this live in parma ohio recently, it was very cool, i have been a fan of his for over 10 years now, he really deserves to be noticed he is truely an awesome player.

[docshaman]

A beautiful rendition.

[Vroke91939]

Very nice

[lolerkueh]

omg omg omg!!

beatifull!

[Bossaxe]

Great Job Doug, as usual. Bobby G.

[ajbremer]

Most excellent Doug, thank you!

[acoustic2rock]

doug smith is super

[surfsussman]

John Philip Sousa would smile upon this. Perfect adaptation of a perfect song.

[mwhdvm]

WOW - incredible. Looks like it was a "good night" - like all the other time's I've seen him play this :). Doug is amazing!