Martin Simpson: Medley of Celtic Airs

[lummers12dub]

Outstanding ;)

[dannytonks09]

@MrHair48 why?

[likeaRocknRoll]

He is reallyy cool and a better player

[assemblydude1]

Martin, you have an amazing left hand!

[odeamusic]

i think guitar is probably worth more than my car... jaysus... look at that thing. 

[ShaneAcoustique]

Jesus, that was beautiful

[danielitro1]

That is a real sexy guitar.

[flannery50]

THANKS MARTIN! What a blessing you are. I had the great good fortune to wander into a tent at The Port Fairy Festival, Victoria, Oz, and there was a guitar concert in progress. That is how I only recently I discovered the extraordinary music of this marvellous artist - Martin and Tony Mc Manus. What a day it was for me. If only we could send out such musicians to calm the angry world.

[YuJinLong]

So Nice....

[crispy07970]

Not DADGAD. it's drop D tuning.

[tylerdwells]

Standard tuning?

[rossbj138]

@tylerdwells Dadgad

[rachelkeshet]

@rossbj138 

[SecretAgentX90]

@tylerdwells drop d

[texasredneckhippy]

i cant believe i only recently heard of Martin, what a talent! he made my top five guitarist list at once! kottke and emmanuel will have to make room for Mr. Simpson!!

[beeroosterm]

@texasredneckhippy Make room for Ed Gerhard as well. Listen to his  "Night Birds" album. Martin Simpson played with him for years...

[ken10763]

not a note wasted. brilliant

[SecretAgentX90]

astounding!

[poudle]

I can't stop listening to this... I feel it connects to me

[bigmikevt]

I missed an opportunity to get a fingerstyle lesson from him back in 2002

[brucefetter]

@bigmikevt wow :( sorry to hear that.

[bigmikevt]

still kicking myself for missing the opportunity to get a fingerstyle lesson from him 5 years ago

[poudle]

I havent cryed in the last year (and that is no-brag purpose) but somehow this song reminded me how it felt.

[Broonzied]

An absolute eargasm.

[darkday211]

WTF!!! Did i just get laid?

[potrezeb1]

none better

[DavidPileGuitar]

@potrezeb1 matters man, there's lots of really great guitarists out there and there is "better" guitarists than him. I still think he's a great guitar player, but there's other fish in the sea

[MrStabad]

@DavidPileGuitar But none better than Martin in this genre.

[DavidPileGuitar]

@MrStabad look up tony mcmanus

[4lifeguitar]

Wow!!

[josonj]

Det här är så vackert ... mmm

[spootboy123]

@josonj I don't know what the fuck you just said ... mmm

[Fatambrogin]

Its so freakin beautiful........... T______T

[tarkineWild]

This is testimony to that old expression, that, less is more.

And there's just so much beauty in martins phrasing and a wonderful understanding of each pieces melody that make them outstanding pieces fo listen too and appreciate

Outstanding

[radioandroid1]

Oh wow, I actually caught myself holding my breath at parts. : |

[bensutton09]

wat aload of shit and weres the dots on the neck fuk no need ta complicate things is there

[surfpete31]

Don't you just love youtube - thanks Martin

[garydupuis]

@surfpete31 Youtube is positively the greatest thing since the invention of the internet!

[TheSecondhour]

simply amazing =)

[AndreaGianca1]

wonderfoul : )

[gtrrobster]

yes...Martin talks a bit about the classical vs electric rock blues vibrato on his video lesson for this medley. a great video to learn from.

Pierre Bensusan also contrasts the two in his lesson.

I think one is more to sustain the notes, while the rock technique is used to oscilate the pitch more,

?oscilte? ...vary...

[Delgift]

I admire everyone who can play fingerstyle in this way. All these songs are so beautiful to listen to.

[wiganant]

a log time hero i applaud you

[seedstyler]

wow bwilliant !!

[Artyfartyify]

beutiful

[amichaelmichael]

he tries to do vibrato moving perpendicular to the strings. that doesnt work bro

[davemoleski]

yes it does, it adds another texture to his sound.

[sixfourwm]

He is considered one of the best guitarists in the world.... and you are?

[srvaughan121]

um, yeah, it does.

[leopoldofm]

well that is classical guitar vibrato technique, diferent than the usual played on acoustic and electric guitars

[gtrrobster]

naw...it works great..... listen to the sound.

it may not work so well on an electirc guitar in a blues or rock context...bcs that would not be the right sound for that style. take a look at some of the classical guitar videos on yt by segovia or anyone. it is how they all alter the sound.

[hat6036]

@amichaelmichael I think Martin Simpson, possibly the greatest finger style guitarist of all time, knows a little more than you do about playing the guitar

[therealtroubleman]

Hearing this song (medley) on Martin Simpson's "Live From the Holywell Music Room" is why I took up fingerstyle guitar. I pretty much wore out his CD until I'd learned to play it...

Great work!

[gtrrobster]

hey...me too! i bought that one, Kottkr live 95 and Hot Tuna live all at the same time in 96 or so....and that was it.

Have you seen his 3 video lessons from Homespun?

Some of the best guitar guidance I have ever seen.

[alitoarte]

simplemente bueno!!

[NickOLarse999]

peaceful simple hills mountains sea lakes songs sunset sunrise sheep shepherd fisherman moonlight autumn winter spring summer clouds rain rainbow stars

[portraitphenomenon]

ITS BEAUTIFUL, JUST PLAIN BEAUTIFUL!

[Broonzied]

I caught Martin live a few months back and he is well worth seeing. This is beautiful playing with a wonderful fluidity.

[fingling8]

My favourite example of this guy's amazing playing is as accompanist to June Tabor on their early collaboration, "A Cut Above." Percussive, full of hammers-on and vibrancy...really fine. For me, there are others who play more traditional style, such as Tony McManus, but Martins' great too. Like Davy Graham, his voice isn't his strongest point, but then to me honesty is more important than perfection. My bit.

[mgiotar]

Does this guy get hired for lots of 'celtic' CD recordings?

[lughlamh]

sounds like brian eno! Not a bad thing, but not too trad!

[jevoshawke13]

Brian Eno?

It's ambient... but not traditional? They're celtic airs.

[lughlamh]

up to 2:20 isn't very trad, listen to the lingering note and the echo, sounds like plateau of mirrors

[jevoshawke13]

Sympathetic vibration. I guess it does add something to the mood, but it's not electronic. Ah well. Anyone can have the word.

[lughlamh]

'it's not electronic'...sure I know that!

[gtrrobster]

Eno?

Another master, but I do not see the parallel?

These are old tunes...from Scotland I believe.

But...Eno's work with Bowie and Talking Heads....truly revolutionary. Still decades ahead of itself!

[lughlamh]

listen from 11, secs on, the single notes (not the Jansch, renbourne type arrepeggios)sounds like music for airports/plateau of mirrors

[gtrrobster]

yeah man...he is playing the melody , pretty strictly i believe. He is not trying to fancy it up like Renbourn might.. I LOVE John Renborn's playing, by the way.

His Hermit album and Black Balloon are two all time fo

avorites of mine. VEry tough stuff to learn....Mist of Mountians is hard, and especially that one in open G minor tung....Moon Shine Brightly is sheer genius.

When it comes down to it, I think comparing these guys to each other just detracts from appreciating their playing

[curiniul]

Sure, it's a lot less ornamented than Renbourne. I think comparing and contrasting just lets you see what's err similar and different. You're free to go back to the song and listen to it on it's own term then or at any other stage.

[gtrrobster]

True...comparing and contrasting is helpful in that way to better understand different players styles.

My comment was more directed towards the idea of comparng 2 very different players with the intention of trying to convince others who is 'better.' I think that is a waste of time.

And for the record, Renbourns stuff is WAY harder to learn and play He has more of a classical approach to much of his arrangements.

More improvisational and less repettive.

eg Sweet Potato...6 vs, all diff!

[jbuckleymad]

As i said martin's style isn't my thing that's why i said just my opinion.

But the stuff he said about Davy graham is on one of his DVD's and i do know what i'm talking about because i listen to most of martin's influence's so lighten up and maybe go and listen to the people who crafted this style in the first place.

[TomAJoad]

Dear jbuckleymad!

[yootoobdotcomlol]

Very nice playing and tone. Does anyone know what guitar he's using? Look like it might be a Traugott but I'm not sure.

[Blackbooks78]

It's a Sobell.

[yootoobdotcomlol]

I looked up Sobell, even though he has a signature model, this guitar doesn't look like any Sobell on the site (headstock and body-wise).

[lpattis]

The guitar used in this video is a 00 model Traugott...short scale, at 24.9".

[jbuckleymad]

I really don't see what people see in martin's playing, i've watched a lot of his stuff and just find him dull and lacking in emotion but that of course is my opinion, I don't think you can class him the same as davy graham or burt jansch.

Also i find his tuitional dvd stuff quite arrogant, to say that davy graham only came up with DADGAD because he was stoned and couldn't tune properly is outrageous..

The best judge of someone's style is how many people copy it and martin play's davy's stuff

[TomAJoad]

I reckon you'd be as well to keep your opinions to yourself!

Sounds a bit like you're not too sure what you're talkin about but, it seems that it ain't gonna stop you anyway !

[Xerxes4242]

Your ignorance hurts me to the stomach.

Maybe that was the whiskey....

[gtrrobster]

interesting comments.

I agree Jansch is still the man....all those British guys nod to Bert.

As for DG's discovery of dadgad... i think Simpson was joking a bit....I have discovered a few tunings of my own while stoned...mostly  out of tuning :)

[spankerius]

i agree!but also,might not be a bad idea to do your practice before you go to sleep,because your sub conscious processes all the information from right before you sleep and works backwards through the day!thus, do 2 hours a day plus 15 mins before bed time and you'll be better for it the morning after.

[LassieRF]

It's a game of patience, but practicing this way, one or two hours of practice per day, gets results than 10 hours of wrongful practice, which so many people, including myself have been doing for years. The result of spot on, accurate and flowing playing at full speed, at the end of your practice of a song, is just so much more impressive and rewarding. Happy playing! :}

[LassieRF]

While being aware of any tension that may build up in your muscles, slowly increase the speed when you've done it perfectly at the first no tempo speed, and do the same at that speed, then increase again. IF you do tense up, or miss a note, make even a little mistake, you should stop yourself, and play at the previous speed. Using two weeks or a month to practice any songs completely, while even focusing only on practicing that one song, is recommendable and not too long at all.

[LassieRF]

If you usually always make mistakes in your playing, no matter how many, practicing even at half speed would be rushing too much as well actually, for most people. Practice by moving your fingers as slowly as possible, while keeping all of your body's muscles relaxed, to let muscle memory work it's wonders. Your fingers will learn the correct way to move and memorize it, so they'll always move the right way.

[Xerxes4242]

He looks so much younger here! I've only seen him in the last 5 years or so

[tarkineWild]

Have this DVD and every artists on it is superb.Sincerely Worth the investment

[99ZARDOZ]

Terrific playing. Watching his fingers mmoved everything is measured and practised whereas when I play everything is rushed and cluttered. I'm off to practice for about 25 years....

[FENDIN10]

Stop rushing then,let it flow,you'll be OK.

[Xerxes4242]

It's always better to play something slow(even half speed) properly then at full speed with a bunch of mistakes

[daveythelad]

Awesome as usual - seen him on a number of occasions - met him twice - he is also a genuinely nice guy.

[tyrovic]

saw him last night in the rhosygilwen in west wales . felt he rushed this abit was still beautiful though

[coachdoc49]

Truly lovely. Thanks.

[siep57]

Great guitarplayer

Everyone can see that it's in standard tuning with a dropped D

Siep

[Jscuzza]

This is some of the most peaceful music I have ever heard in my life. Such beautiful material.

[theflyingglove]

amazing to watch the fingers move so precisely

but not merely technical either, as below the dynamics are in the mix too

[jevoshawke13]

The maestro. In a rare class with maybe a couple of other fingerstylists, NOT including Tommy Emmanuel. Dynamic where others are flat.

[Xerxes4242]

He is several classes above Tommy Emmanuel, I'm glad you realise that:)

[Homerball667]

You can't compare Martin and Tommy Emmanuel - they are two totally different guitarists -

both wonderful in their own right.

[atlantissg1]

Beautiful Version of Kelvin Grove in there.

[oldbutbeautiful]

I goin' home to fuck my guitar in the skip

[Giafdlm]

There are no words to describe it... :O

[RAWRpenguinx3]

please tell me what tuning

[beanson99]

Drop D

[Giafdlm]

D A D G B e

[RAWRpenguinx3]

so moving , 10 out of ten .why no tabs,hat off . no words to describe

[RAWRpenguinx3]

sort of playing i aspire to

[petermillerguitar]

beautiful playing!

[GuitarSlinger2112]

The Shearing's Not for You :D

He has three instructional DVDs from Homespun that are excellent and this medley is taught on one of them.

[billgr0248]

This is good stuff...the Queen & Led

Zepplin sound-a-likes are good but this is classical good music!