Maybelle Carter probably did more to make country music what it is than just about anyone else. She originated the style of guitar playing that has become the standard in country music, and she took an instrument—the autoharp—that was designed only for strumming chords and she turned it into something that could play melody and rhythm and exciting music. And she wasn't a half bad singer, either!
At some of the 'fiddler conventions' I've recently attended, the young kids all play banjos, mandolins, fiddles and guitars, but I've not seen any autoharps played by young OR old. Is this because it is hard to play, or because there are not many autoharps/autoharp teachers around? Just curious?
I dont know what you consider young - but I play the autoharp, I'm 30 and I put all my heart and soul, sometimes even tears into every button i push and every string I pluck!
Tater Pete Hunter (DJ for KTLW in Texas City, TX ) used this as his theme song for his radio program back in the 50's amd 60's, great to see it on here!
this one piece is worth more than the entire album catalogue of madonna an SUE ME, RECORD COMPANY OF MADONNA, SUE ME IF YOU DARE! I SAY IT AGAIN!!HAHA! " THIS IS WORTH ALL MADONNAS AND BRITNEYS TOGETHER !" one fine day youth will realize how badly they been robbed of their VERY heritage.well, they LET themselves be robbed because of arrogance, vanity, peer pressure and media bombardment and the few who resist this are the REAL MUSICAL HEROES OF OUR TIMES!
@BanjoBoyMatteo Thanks for the interesting info! . I also love the YouTube "Gold Watch & Chain" video featuring Maybelle. It is also spectacular. Jake plays his bass syncopated-style on the chorus part & it sounds really neat.
Ma-Maybelle mastered this instrument, and no one can play the autoharp like she can. I love to hear her play it! Ma-Maybelle taught Earl Scruggs her style of pickin! This music is the best in the world! No doubt a lost art with all the push button, no-brains, grossly boring redundant electronic, no creativity essence of music we have today. Young folks nowadays can't even play an instrument at all. So sad........
We still love music, but instruments are expensive and how many families have the time to sit around and play with each other and teach the young ones music these days?
@herseyb You gotta be f'in kidding me! Too expensive? No time? Seems like kids (and their parents) have plenty of time to watch TV, and plenty of cash for iPods and Nintendo. It's just a matter of priorities.
I ain't arguing that most people don't have their priorities wrong, but it's not the ones that are just vegging out at the t.v. that are turning record players into instruments in order to have any musical creativity at all.
@DollyPorterfan Not true. We play the Carter Family on a regular basis at our shows. Mother Maybelle is one of my heroes, a great musician and person. I play auto harp, guitar, harmonica, slide guitar, etc. Come to a show and I'll play you a Carter Family tune or Jimmie Rodgers song for that matter any old time, it would be my sincere pleasure!!
It's a basic 3 chord pattern. She always tuned her guitars and autoharps down from standard tuning, but I play it in D,G and A7. Hope that helps. BTW- she played a good deal of her instumentals in the keys of F and C
How fine lady.RIP
tosa275 1 week ago
This is beautiful.
wchristo100 1 month ago
Maybelle Carter probably did more to make country music what it is than just about anyone else. She originated the style of guitar playing that has become the standard in country music, and she took an instrument—the autoharp—that was designed only for strumming chords and she turned it into something that could play melody and rhythm and exciting music. And she wasn't a half bad singer, either!
biastg 2 months ago
The queen of the autoharp. No one played it better.
DiscipleofElijah 4 months ago
_A three chord song. ~ F, C and G. ` ☺_
c1n9r6v3 5 months ago
At some of the 'fiddler conventions' I've recently attended, the young kids all play banjos, mandolins, fiddles and guitars, but I've not seen any autoharps played by young OR old. Is this because it is hard to play, or because there are not many autoharps/autoharp teachers around? Just curious?
MsJollycholly 5 months ago
I love this song.
sponyge 5 months ago
does the 'autoharp' have other names?
MsJollycholly 5 months ago
@MsJollycholly no it dosent and not the zither either which is different
phantomvibrationsX 5 months ago
BEAUTIFUL!!!
theblacksheep1000 5 months ago
What a bunch of talented people - the Carter family. What an array of female singers, from the low alto of Sarah to the high soprano of Anita.
uglymoon78 6 months ago
@DollyPorterfan1
I dont know what you consider young - but I play the autoharp, I'm 30 and I put all my heart and soul, sometimes even tears into every button i push and every string I pluck!
cherimarch 11 months ago
I hear this and I want more, more, more. Beautiful.
heckmacbuff 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I play Autoharp in guitar orchestra The sound is very good
DEMAREZ Michel
demarezmichel 1 year ago
anton karas (the third man..) take a bow
austrorus 1 year ago
What a talented family they were! Mother Maybelle, June, Helen, Anita...I loved every one of them! And boy, could that Anita SING!!!!
nicoleakalilqueenie 1 year ago
@nicoleakalilqueenie Anita was very pretty too!
antzzy1 1 year ago
Tater Pete Hunter (DJ for KTLW in Texas City, TX ) used this as his theme song for his radio program back in the 50's amd 60's, great to see it on here!
dannyraystewart1 1 year ago
this one piece is worth more than the entire album catalogue of madonna an SUE ME, RECORD COMPANY OF MADONNA, SUE ME IF YOU DARE! I SAY IT AGAIN!!HAHA! " THIS IS WORTH ALL MADONNAS AND BRITNEYS TOGETHER !" one fine day youth will realize how badly they been robbed of their VERY heritage.well, they LET themselves be robbed because of arrogance, vanity, peer pressure and media bombardment and the few who resist this are the REAL MUSICAL HEROES OF OUR TIMES!
buchananstreet 1 year ago 3
she is beautiful !
buchananstreet 1 year ago 2
I have GOT to practice my autoharp more. Anyone in Louisville, KY want to jam, just email me.
AlidaCornelius 1 year ago
Very good! Such good talent! Thanks for uploading!
bamerongirl4ever 1 year ago 2
Is this a Martha White Grand Ole Opry Show ? ? The backdrop is different. Maybelle is great!
CARROLLCTYDOBROGIRL 2 years ago
She's great indeed. The footage here is from a 1961 Pet Milk Opry Show that had Maybelle as guest
BanjoBoyMatteo 2 years ago 2
@BanjoBoyMatteo Thanks for the interesting info! . I also love the YouTube "Gold Watch & Chain" video featuring Maybelle. It is also spectacular. Jake plays his bass syncopated-style on the chorus part & it sounds really neat.
CARROLLCTYDOBROGIRL 2 years ago
Don't see anywhere but this is the old song 'Liberty'. Bob Wills, Johnson Mt Boys and million others have done it, it is a very old song.
stanleybadams 2 years ago
@stanleybadams
I agree...this is Liberty and done well!
meplayin 2 years ago 2
Rest in Peace Mother Maybelle
Brianeddie666 2 years ago 15
Ma-Maybelle mastered this instrument, and no one can play the autoharp like she can. I love to hear her play it! Ma-Maybelle taught Earl Scruggs her style of pickin! This music is the best in the world! No doubt a lost art with all the push button, no-brains, grossly boring redundant electronic, no creativity essence of music we have today. Young folks nowadays can't even play an instrument at all. So sad........
DollyPorterfan 2 years ago 26
We still love music, but instruments are expensive and how many families have the time to sit around and play with each other and teach the young ones music these days?
herseyb 2 years ago
@herseyb You gotta be f'in kidding me! Too expensive? No time? Seems like kids (and their parents) have plenty of time to watch TV, and plenty of cash for iPods and Nintendo. It's just a matter of priorities.
camorton 2 years ago 3
I ain't arguing that most people don't have their priorities wrong, but it's not the ones that are just vegging out at the t.v. that are turning record players into instruments in order to have any musical creativity at all.
herseyb 2 years ago 2
@DollyPorterfan Not true. We play the Carter Family on a regular basis at our shows. Mother Maybelle is one of my heroes, a great musician and person. I play auto harp, guitar, harmonica, slide guitar, etc. Come to a show and I'll play you a Carter Family tune or Jimmie Rodgers song for that matter any old time, it would be my sincere pleasure!!
ninaetcetera 2 months ago
Comment removed
sponyge 2 years ago
i believe its the liberty two-step
JimmyWoodstock1 2 years ago
It is called "Liberty Dance"
countryfan5 2 years ago 3
I LOVE THIS SONG. I PLAY THE BANJO.
sponyge 2 years ago 2
Good song.
sponyge 2 years ago
What a classy lady...just look at that face, you can really see Carlene Carter.
moproducer 3 years ago
It's one called The Liberty Dance that she had recorded for the Top Rank record label
Ridger1978 3 years ago 2
do you have the chords for this song
GoCarters101 3 years ago
It's a basic 3 chord pattern. She always tuned her guitars and autoharps down from standard tuning, but I play it in D,G and A7. Hope that helps. BTW- she played a good deal of her instumentals in the keys of F and C
Ridger1978 3 years ago
What is the name of this song?
AllAmericanFE 3 years ago