Bill Cheatham Bluegrass Flatpicking Guitar Lesson

[LCC722]

good stuff man

[islandsjon]

Thank you Mr. Banjo Ben for these teachings! I´m 45 years old and recently wiped 10 years dust of my guitar after watching and hearing the great master Tommy Emanuel play his stuff. Obviously there are others who can master the guitar ! Internet lessons like you provide, saves one from picking up by ear (which is a slow and painful process) and making irreversible technical errors! I have never considered myself a bluegrass fan (I´m from Iceland!)but I really love this music! Thanks again!

[JamesLaisGlass]

That's it! I'm committing the rest of my life to studying Banjo Ben! I wanna be just like him someday......with cute sisters that sing like angels and play better than any man! Purple Hulls Rule!

[BanjoBen1]

Tell me about it! I sprained my pinkie this morning!

[BanjoBen1]

Tell me about it! I sprained my pinkie this morning!

[BanjoBen1]

@a1b2c3d4e5f6h8i9j10k Tell me about it! I sprained my pinkie this morning!

[BanjoBen1]

@a1b2c3d4e5f6h8i9j10k Tell me about it!!! I sprained my pinkie this morning!

[BanjoBen1]

@a1b2c3d4e5f6h8i9j10k Tell me about it!!! I sprained my pinkie this morning!

[Master100Mind]

Dude i don't know why but i loved the intro

[bill19351]

Banjo Ben, do you have a phone # I can call to order tabs? Idon't know enought on comp. tofind how to order yet. Love your picking man. Just found you today.

[ptarmigan555]

Ooooh Boy! That was some fine pickin'

[rtmcfarland2122]

i purchased the tab from your site, very nice and to the point. however, i was expecting a little more for the price. Keep up the good videos, you are a very accomplished player. Thanks.

[textusr1611]

hey there ben , let me just say that you are a great guitarist and a awsome teacher , i started out playing bluegrass and switched to neo classical style after hearing yngwie malmsteen back in 1988 i,ve lost alot over the years trying to imitate such a freak of nature but have gotten back to bluegrass again thanks to brad paisley. after watching your vidios i wish i would have stuck with bluegrass you SHREAD as good as the best . thank you for posting these vids ! my mom lives in centerville.Tnn

[shankalhank]

Great lesson. I'll start once i finish w/ ur foggy mtn lesson! was that a bend? wow! didn't think that was allowed in bgrass? btw no surprise on the airlines - ever sit at the back of the bus and watch em load? Even when they can place a bag on the belt they always throw / slam those things! Man those guys are unhappy!

[ChukGnorris]

I really think you should do a lesson on that awsome little intro. Or just post the chords pls.

[SUNNYD3322]

Very nice lesson. Thanks you.

[BanjoBen1]

You're welcome!!! Thanks for watching!!

[cbizkit34]

slow down

[ray8up]

u tube limits vids to 10 mins he doin his best

[BanjoBen1]

I'm doing my best!!! Bear with me, please!!

[BanjoTim]

haha love the intro

[IcehockeyDude1993]

hahaha nice intro :D

[synesthesia67]

this is the best one ...and most challenging for me....great job ben..!!...any thanx

[ShickenChit74]

Hey Great Pickin'....did the airlines reimberse you for the Taylor? That really would be a bad day! Sorry man! I feel for ya!

[BanjoBen1]

The airlines wouldn't pay for it, but the good folks at Taylor guitars really took care of me...yet another reason to support them.

[jmhutuht]

This is great benny when are you coming to vanderbilt!?!?!?

[clarktunes]

What kind of pick do you use? It sounds like you pick with a thinner pick. Am I wrong?

[BanjoBen1]

I'm using a super stiff tortoise shell pick....probably close to a 1.1 mm. It doesn't bend at all, though. That's the key.

[flatpikinguitar]

is it real tortise or those red bear picks.

i use the dunlope ultex now and they are the best ive found

[jasterfett]

bluechip tad 50 or ultex 1.14 triangles 4 me

[jasterfett]

I use toroise shell, and I also you Bluechip TAD 50.

the bluechip picks rule, very similar to toroise except they never wear out, never need polishing.

[synesthesia67]

the super thick picks seem so unforgiving to me...I switched from fender meduium to heavy,...but extra heavy...I don't know...any advice?

[synesthesia67]

ever try the dunlop 2.0?...I've been using that lately...it's like a hockey puck...it feels not too bad tho!!.....has a warm round sound...if you have tried it,..what do you think of it?...

[BanjoBen1]

Haven't tried it, but it sounds good!

[synesthesia67]

ya know, in retrospect, it's just too dull sounding against the strings(maybe cuz of shape...kinda rounded edges..)...after a few weeks I gave up on it...dunlop 88s are working for me right now...til I speed up more I guess...don't bother tryin it...

[pretourious]

Awesome work man! I've been wanting to get into this tune, thanks for the lesson.

[murry537]

You know, this isn't your cleanest picking in this vid, but I LOVE your licks on this. I've been listening to it over and over. Great job as always!

[matthewrowencaplan]

ben, thank you so much for your lessons. everything i know about bluegrass guitar, which isnt much yet, comes from these licks, keep em coming! so much appreciated.

[deadwoodmountain]

Taylor? You're too good on the guitar and you should be playing a LoPrinzi.

[synesthesia67]

awesome, ben...sorry to hear about the taylor....surely you'll get a comparable guitar !!! right?...what the hell happened ?..it got crushed??

[BanjoBen1]

I don't know exactly what happened. All I know is that when I opened it up when I got to the house (big mistake not opening it at the airport...I should've known that), the top had to huge cracks in it and was peeling off and the end by the endpin was all busted up. Made me sick. I should be getting that guitar back any day now though.

[flatpikinguitar]

hey man, was the case scratched or anything. what kind of case was it in and was it locked. a friend of mine had something happen with an old '39 d-28

[BanjoBen1]

It was in the normal Taylor case, which I don't prefer them to fly in, but I don't have a Calton for my guitar. The case wasn't scratched or crushed, but one of the hinges was busted off. Who knows....

[flatpikinguitar]

was it locked. by the way have you heard road to coeburn yet

[BanjoBen1]

You can't lock the cases....they (TSA) have to be able to open them up. I guess you could use one of the TSA approved locks like you do on firearm cases.

[MarcosHarkness]

Ben, thanks for the lessons and inspiration. I learned your break for "Old Home Place" today, and i'm feeling 10 ft tall and bulletproof and grinning like a fool :-) Man, I'm sorry to hear about your Taylor. My friends got an original Gibson Hummingbird stolen while traveling -- they were forced to check it and never saw it again.

Bless you and your awesome sisters, please keep the wisdom coming.

[cambanks1470]

loved the intro solos... maybe elaborate on it? Thanks!

[WEIRDALROXMYSOX]

Great lesson, sorry about that Taylor, [as much as i don't care for them i don't wish one destroyed] that sucks, did they at least repay you for it? Well, at least it wasn't a Martin.

[Glockem]

well at least it wasn't a Martin that got trashed. They close the schools here in Tennessee for things of that magnitude. Wonderful playing and easy to follow instruction as always. You may not be THE man but I'll bet he sends you a Christmas card. Thanks for your time in helping hacks like me sound like we know what we're doing!!

[bendinstrangs4]

love the johnny cash type sound on the bending the low string,cool

[PennyLeaClark]

Ok I love your version of Bill Cheatem. Forget the one I play. I'm playing this one from now on!

[janettemj]

haha luv it. ur so funny =]

[E6shadow]

Sorry to hear about your guitar getting trashed. What a bummer! She sounded amazing.

[flatpicker15]

Hey, great lesson and srry bout your guitar. Do you think you could do a lesson on manzanita sometime.

Thanks!

[PamsPlaceMusicBarn]

Great stuff as usual Ben! Sorry about the Taylor. I have a Gibson J60 Bonecrusher that I would absolutely freak out if anything happened to. I hope you have a great and successful new year! God Bless!

[mijnoco4289]

Thanks Ben! Can't wait to get to work on this one! Sorry to hear about your guitar.

[0098apple]

Great!! Thanks again for your efforts!!!

Kevin

[paduza]

way cool ben thanks

[altadena57]

I couldn't say it better myself !!! Very nice, way cool, a very nice gift to us all, Ben. Great contribution to the beauty of acoustic/bluegrass guitar sounds. Thanks very very !!

[banjerfox]

What a bummer about your guitar.....no two are alike! Since I may have to travel some this year what kind of case was it in...did a Calton fail you? I certainly don't want to put my "vinny" in the hands of the airlines and the Calton is the best I know of. Love this new video too!

[banjoist123]

Ben, I'm sorry to hear about your Taylor!

Happy New Year to you. REK played at Gruene Hall and Duckworth sat in with them on NY Eve. He had a blast.

Your blend of Cheatum is great!

Be safe in the New Year.

Jim

[tubingtomtom]

wow thats a hard one! ill come back a little later. Man your good!

[budokanboy]

Hey Ben. Thanks a lot. That tune will give something to do for the next couple of weeks. I hope you're staying safe on the road.

I was in New York last year. Couldn't get out of there fast enough.

God Bless and Happy New Year

[mattygeetarross]

Happy New Year Ben!!

Sorry about the Taylor!! Those solid-body pickers just don't understand the fragility of our beloved acoustics!! Haha!! I know you'll get another good one!!! Good Pickin'!! Thanks for checkin' out the Joe Patrick and 4OTF videos!!

[kennyt957]

It's a real treat for us (outsiders) to be able to receive instruction from someone like you. Many, many thanks! I look for your stuff regularly.

[Leifur66]

Thanks!

[todthebod]

What better thing to be doing New Year's eve than picking! Sorry about they Taylor. I've been wanted to take my Martin to Germany with me but am scared. It's signed by Brad Paisley and I woudn't want anything to happen to it. I know what customs and handlers do to things. My uncle has a Sam Bush mando that he wont' let out of his sight. I wouldn't either. Great lesson!!!!

[bgrasspkr123]

can your guitar be fixed

[BanjoBen1]

I'm sure it can...but it needs a new top. Pretty nasty.

[riffjiff]

Thanks man!

[buster541]

Smart Man! The only way I would get out in cold weather is to ice fish or hunt.

Great Picking Ben!

Your videos help so many of us!

Hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you the best for 2009!

Thank You Very Much!

Curt

[ArcticRider]

Thank you very much for this lesson. I'm sorry for your guitar, it really sounded nice :-( RIP

Feliz año nuevo Ben!!

[TxBerg]

Nice, Ben!!!

[greggfla]

Thanks for the lesson and Happy New Year to ya my friend!

[Shamilt3]

Thanks again Bill! Happy new year.

[sword6204]

Totally awesome and clean! Sorry your guitar was destroyed by the Airlines. Did they repay you for it? Was it one of your babies or a road guitar?

[BanjoBen1]

No.....the case wasn't destroyed so they deny any involvement. It was a road guitar so it will be replaced, but it still pains my heart to see any instrument tore up. I will be in mourning for the next couple of days. Any donations or memorials may be made by practicing this song.

[BanjoBen1]

Thanks! Both of our other guitar players are really good! They are great electric/rock players...which is what the gig calls for. I like not being a lead player...because then you have to fix your hair ;-)

[Oalbrets]

Hey Ben, Thanks for the wonderful lesson and I am halfway there. Lots of pratice and I should get this down. See you on BH and Happy New Year...Oscar

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

Great Lesson Like Always !!!!!

Thank You For Sharing

DDR

[mremeet]

I have a question banjo Ben? Do you believe there is a music gene? Because it feels like if I want to learn to play this passage up to your speed and accuracy I would take me ten lifetimes. Or are the rest of us earthlings just lazy? Did you learn every note by note or do you have photographic memory and co ordination?

[BanjoBen1]

I've thought long and hard about this one. Just like some people can jump higher or run faster, I think some people can just play faster too. That being said, I'm not one of the fast ones. I know this was kinda quick (nothing compared to the real players like Sutton, Rice, Kilby, etc.), but I was pretty warmed up and I can't play cleanly at this speed all the time. As far as the arrangement, I had worked it out note for note and memorized it. Good luck and keep working! Speed comes slowly! Adios

[mremeet]

We apprieciate honesty and insight. Im sure that we will be talking again soon. I'll be listening to the players you mention of. Happy new year and thank you for the lesson!

[ChrisvonChamier]

Thanks Banjo Ben from SF! Happy new year, i'm learning all sorts of great stuff from you! chris

[birddoggarton]

NICE!

Hey dude....Great Job last night in New York.

Have a great year !

[E6shadow]

Happy New Year BanjoBen from Beltsville, Maryland

[jjmurphy33]

you are the man ben! Happy new year!

[therignagger]

thanks BanjoBen ,man i love that sound it gets my soul wanting to dance and sing.yyeess 5+

[lasht2monyon]

thanks ben that was awsome as usual, happy new year from england

[bendinstrangs4]

thats cool dude,thanks 4 the help,keep pickin and have a safe new year

[DHF6875]

Thanks for the video, and Happy New Year to you too, Ben. This one oughta keep me busy for a while. :)

[wobblyman2000]

nace vid thank you and happy new year from Australia