Gee..you got me,Its Mose Rager not Reggert was a typo dude get a grip.People who know of mose knew exactly who I was talking aboutSeriously,move on.Anyway I see you still have not backed up your statement.Also please quit trolling my channel or Im going to report you.I know it angers you to be put in your place but I didnt think I would gain a stalker out of it...
@badhandtim1 First I want to apologize to "sane folk on YT for letting myself be drawn into a debate with you.When you failed to back up your ridiculous claim about Merle giving birth to finger style guitar I should have just moved on You are a lunatic.You went to my channel and posted "dislike" to 4 of my songs.You swear at me,call me names,and then tell me you are a christian.I think you are confused.Christians should love people,not cuss at them,harass them and call them names.Sigh...
I'm noticing with this "only thumb and one finger" thing a few of you are commenting on that he use the rest of his fingers to form a steady base on the pickguard. Perhaps this lends some speed and volume to what he's doing? All guitar players, including classical, have to remember that different techniques must be used for different types of music. You can't use classical technique to play country properly.
Travis became one of the most influential guitarists ever as he developed his own style of speedy finger-style and thumb-picking (which came to be known as Travis picking). Based on traditional Kentucky-style picking, Merle’s approach allowed him to incorporate melody lines and rhythm parts at the same time.
Travis picking gave birth to modern fingerstyle guitar, and paved the way for players like Chet Atkins
@badhandtim1 OBSCURE?Really?Mose Rager recording is right here on youtube.Your statement that Merle birthed finger style guitar is ridiculous.Do yourself a favor and read about it at "the history of country finger style guitar.Mose Rager and Ike Iverly were huge influences on Travis when Travis was still a teenager,That is a fact.Players like Rager,Ike Iverly and Blind Blake and Eddie weaver were playing the thumb style long before Travis.Ever hear of Andre Sagovia??Go hide now
@badhandtim1 Umm I teach songs in that style here on youtube.And name calling is a poor substitute for facts badhamtim.You still have not backed up your claim that" Travis birthed finger style guitar".He did not.He learned it from Rager,Everly,Weaver,and then put his spin on it.Read "The history of country finger style guitar".Please let your next post bear facts and be less foul mouthed.It makes you look like a simpleton..
@DanaAcoustic Once again, who is Mose Reggert? Please get your facts straight, Mose Reggert, is the man you mistakenly gave praise too. Why won't you admit your mistake? Teacher, yeah sure!
@badhandtim1 Merle's guitar playing style was developed out of a native tradition of finger-picking in Western Kentucky. Among its early practitioners was the black country blues guitarist Arnold Shultz.[1] Shultz taught his style to several local musicians, including Kennedy Jones, who passed it on to other guitarists, notably Mose Rager, a part-time barber and coal miner, and Ike Everly, the father of The Everly Brothers.
I grew up with this music in my house in central manitoba in canada. My father had this type of playing down cold and i couldn't get it because my father had to make his own chords due to losing the tip of his left ring finger. I finally figured it out after learning jimi hendrix's E#9 chord. Bless Merle, Bless my father. Great music lasts forever..thnx for posting this.
I'd grown-up thinking Travis pickin' was a thumb & 2 fingers, feeling as inferior as can be all the time. Ironically, 30 year friend, Merlene Travis (Merle's daughter), directed me to her dad's work on YouTube, which (after 40 years) relieved me to no end! What a player Merle Travis was!
Dang I came here to have some aid while i tried to learn the song but i feel like billy madison when the guy says all that stuff in spanish and billy just goes "SLOW DOWN"
LOOOOL, terrible fingerpicking technique. I can't believe he's actually doing all of this with just his thumb and index... XD But he's awesome nevertheless.
@kanshiketsu89 While it's not standard fingerpicking, you can hardly say it's terrible when the guy has an entire style of picking named after himself.
Hehe, yeah, I get your point. It just that I've been playing classical guitar for the last couple of years, so seeing something like this makes my hair stand straight. :P
@kanshiketsu89 But you can't get these sounds with classical technique... Look up "Travis picking" and see why it's called just that :P Just like you won't sound like Van Halen with classical technique, you won't sound like this without Travis picking.
@5stringaustin What the hell is "standard finger picking?" And tell me, is that what your hoping for when you play or go out to what is it, 4th street? to hear some music? "Boy, I hope what we hear is "Standard!" I'm confused. Please enlighten!
@kanshiketsu89 and that's where the term "classical elitist" comes from. it's a few pieces of wood crafted together with some steel and strings. who are you to tell anyone how they should approach playing it?
Well, I did say he's awesome... :) Thing is, I never took guitar lesson, and neither did he. But the more I played the more obvious and natural it became to use proper fingering technique. So I just wonder how come he stuck to this playing style. But don't get me wrong, I have nothing against unorthodox playing styles. I'm a big fan of The Entrance Band for example and I think Guy Blakeslee is awesome. The dude plays with his whole guitar reversed.
What a great piece of music. I have recently transcribed this video into Guitar Pro having had no joy in finding an accurate score anywhere. If you'd like to obtain a copy, feel free to request one. I believe it's superbly accurate.
@sordnax Sure I'd like to give your transcription a spin Sir.Merle's style was so eclectic though I wonder how far a tab can take you really. My strategy so far has been working on a bunch of ragtime and country blues pieces which seem to me to form the backbone of his playing.
Hey everyone, listen to 'Brian Lonbeck' His clips are here on youtube. He actually played with Merle Travis 'and' Joe Maphis' quite often. If there's anyone who nails both of those styles perfectly, it's him.
@HotRockCarlos thanks so much for this!! My first time ever to see footage of Merle. At first I didn't understand how INCREDIBLE he really is, just listening to stray recordings. (thought he sounded a bit stiff and boring). Now I see him doing his pioneering style with only two fingers, and on the same night I learn he had an INCREDIBLE singing voice and also composed great lyrics as well (Sixteen Tons). To top it all off, he's also pretty handsome looking. I'm impressed. Very impressed.
oh my lord thats just great merle is by far my fav guitar player of all time... i think hes the best of all time ..cant get enough ..my dad raised me to this stuff and i feel it in my soul i try to play the songs holy moly it took me years just to get even close i wish i could have thom bresh teach me
It is too bad there aint no more intstrumentalist [on guitar ] anymore like this that when we turn the radio on we can enjoy. I grew up a BIG FAN of Merle Travis.
@MrCarlHaynes Hey just a note, if you have not heard The Sadies, you should check them out. From Canada, Travis and Dallas Good are really great raw country rock.
Was he tuned UP a half step? I checked it out, and sure enough, he was in G#. Either he and the whole band tuned up, of the tapes running a bit fast. Whatever it is, it sounds great. What a great man he was - he really rocked!
@BCRSIX this was on tape at one time, and during transfer to to digital someone could have messed up the smpte or time code and the pitch can shift up or down.
Heard him play this hundreds of times but this was my favorite version, and the best sound probably due to the old time pickups and the Standel. This program was shown on Ranch Party in syndication on Saturday nights as excerpts from the "Town Hall Party. On that night, it was about 1967 or 68 when I was stationed in the D.C.. My son, Merle, was still in the hanger at that time and I recorded it on a cheap reel to reel pawn shop tape recorder. Still have it.
I would strongly recommend to anyone who doesnt know, search for Phil Baugh Country Guitar on youtube. He emulates the styles of Merle, Chet, and many others all in one song. It is amazing.
@ MrElliotRocker yeah, both greats, but if you look, merle uses only his forefinger an thumb, but chet was first (i think!) to use thumb and 3 picking fingers, so he could continue the bassline bit thru the quick melody stuff.
@smoggo1981 You broke that down very well, Chet was taking the style to the next progression, Merle was one of the innovators, both are all time greats obviously.
@stievelien Tommy Emmanuel can kiss your ass he has no class or style just another wannabe copycat of the originals(a bad one at that) if you think hes better than the old guard than you dont know music..find another hobby
@vincenz55 Well, I trust Chet Atkins judgment on guitar players more than yours if you don't mind. If Chet says he's great, he's great. neither you nor I ever recorded an album with Chet and we never received the honorary CGP either. May not mean much to a lot of folks, but there's only 5 besides Chet that have it. That's good enough for me. Nobody ever disputed Chet either.
You bet . The best,,,,,,,thats all in the ears of the beholder , huh. I have people tell me occasionally they like my picking better that.... ' so and so'.... even though I'm not very good. Like you , I think all those above are great. I couldn't carry their picks but some do like me for some reason.
Managed to put together a paltry version of this in standard tuning, with a very simple drone bass. Seeing actual video of Merle, and the way he uses his thumb to fret over the top of the neck, I feel like i wasted a lot of time going down the wrong road on this outstanding style of pickin. I'm more at home with a bluegrass flatpick, tryin to play too fast for my own ability. Guess i better study up on these cool old country blues type fingerstyle tunes a little better, before I try another.
Been reading these comments...this is in standard tuning in G...he starts on his own then a rhythm section kicks in...but he's playing everything you see...nothing prerecorded..he is the master, imo..all that with thumb and first finger, everything...brilliant!
there actually is an E sharp because if you are playing in the key signature of F sharp then they can either write F natural in the book, or E sharp. I've seen plenty of E sharps
I'm sorry but are you a chromosome deficiency? There is no other guitar in this song. Merle is playing every note...he made this style famous. Check out his other work...you'll like it.
you can clearly see at around 0:47 to 0:55 that he is not playing any bass notes(espicially when hes using the whammy) and you can hear another guitar in the background. Though he is playing rythm and lead on most all parts, but not all.
All of a sudden I forgot what you call that kind of picking. Hand picking? No, that isn't it. Fantastic stuff, though. I'd like to play guitar like that.
Nowadays, it's called "Travis" picking, after Merle himself. He was a big influence on a lot of country and early rock 'n' roll guitarists. Elvis' first guitarist was pretty heavily influenced by Merle.
Agreed though, it's fantastic. I'd like to be pickin' that way myself someday soon.
And to think all it takes is some determined practice. Now, If only I could find some Merle Travis guitar tabs. It wouldn't take too long to learn if I practiced every day.
There are people who marry themselves to this style (as well as the related Atkins style) and spend twenty or more years trying to learn all of the tricks.
If you've ever seen the movie From Here to Eternity, he's the guy playing guitar with Monty Clift & all the drunk soldiers outside the bar, singing the "Reenlistment Blues".
seriously i really wanna know when was this rag time style actually invented for guitar and who invented it???
guitarreilly 2 days ago
I need to get me one of those bottle opener whammy bars for my beer.
gtrefghuk 6 days ago
Gee..you got me,Its Mose Rager not Reggert was a typo dude get a grip.People who know of mose knew exactly who I was talking aboutSeriously,move on.Anyway I see you still have not backed up your statement.Also please quit trolling my channel or Im going to report you.I know it angers you to be put in your place but I didnt think I would gain a stalker out of it...
DanaAcoustic 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
badhandtim1 3 weeks ago
@badhandtim1 First I want to apologize to "sane folk on YT for letting myself be drawn into a debate with you.When you failed to back up your ridiculous claim about Merle giving birth to finger style guitar I should have just moved on You are a lunatic.You went to my channel and posted "dislike" to 4 of my songs.You swear at me,call me names,and then tell me you are a christian.I think you are confused.Christians should love people,not cuss at them,harass them and call them names.Sigh...
DanaAcoustic 3 weeks ago
It's called "TRAVIS PICKING"!!!
badhandtim1 3 weeks ago
CRAP..Someone please help me find my shoes cause I just got blown out of`em
DanaAcoustic 3 weeks ago
I just jizzed...everywhere.
spicyMcHAGGIS9green 1 month ago
So. Hot.
omg.
lcsgze 1 month ago
I'm noticing with this "only thumb and one finger" thing a few of you are commenting on that he use the rest of his fingers to form a steady base on the pickguard. Perhaps this lends some speed and volume to what he's doing? All guitar players, including classical, have to remember that different techniques must be used for different types of music. You can't use classical technique to play country properly.
ibuprofen303 1 month ago
He makes it look SO easy!!
laslos3 2 months ago
I'd seriously consider give up a testicle to play like Merle!!
nicknkell 2 months ago
This guy was something else...awesome!!
billycraigmusic 2 months ago
I love Merle.
jabeers01 2 months ago
Merle's guitar is a custom built Gibson Super 400. And yes, this is from Ranch Party.
nwa2664 3 months ago
what guitar is that?
whow111 3 months ago
ive watched this abunch but just noticed the awesome suit
whysolimited 3 months ago
Was this from Tex Ritter's Ranch Party?
ffairlane57 3 months ago
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badhandtim1 3 months ago
Travis became one of the most influential guitarists ever as he developed his own style of speedy finger-style and thumb-picking (which came to be known as Travis picking). Based on traditional Kentucky-style picking, Merle’s approach allowed him to incorporate melody lines and rhythm parts at the same time.
Travis picking gave birth to modern fingerstyle guitar, and paved the way for players like Chet Atkins
badhandtim1 3 months ago
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DanaAcoustic 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
badhandtim1 3 weeks ago
@badhandtim1 OBSCURE?Really?Mose Rager recording is right here on youtube.Your statement that Merle birthed finger style guitar is ridiculous.Do yourself a favor and read about it at "the history of country finger style guitar.Mose Rager and Ike Iverly were huge influences on Travis when Travis was still a teenager,That is a fact.Players like Rager,Ike Iverly and Blind Blake and Eddie weaver were playing the thumb style long before Travis.Ever hear of Andre Sagovia??Go hide now
DanaAcoustic 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
badhandtim1 3 weeks ago
@badhandtim1 Umm I teach songs in that style here on youtube.And name calling is a poor substitute for facts badhamtim.You still have not backed up your claim that" Travis birthed finger style guitar".He did not.He learned it from Rager,Everly,Weaver,and then put his spin on it.Read "The history of country finger style guitar".Please let your next post bear facts and be less foul mouthed.It makes you look like a simpleton..
DanaAcoustic 3 weeks ago
@DanaAcoustic Once again, who is Mose Reggert? Please get your facts straight, Mose Reggert, is the man you mistakenly gave praise too. Why won't you admit your mistake? Teacher, yeah sure!
badhandtim1 3 weeks ago
@badhandtim1 Merle's guitar playing style was developed out of a native tradition of finger-picking in Western Kentucky. Among its early practitioners was the black country blues guitarist Arnold Shultz.[1] Shultz taught his style to several local musicians, including Kennedy Jones, who passed it on to other guitarists, notably Mose Rager, a part-time barber and coal miner, and Ike Everly, the father of The Everly Brothers.
badhandtim1 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
badhandtim1 3 weeks ago
Im kinda angry that i didnt hear about this guy until yesterday.
Ano1dfatguy 3 months ago
@Ano1dfatguy HAHA I wish I could give that more than one thumb up!
vikingtyty 3 months ago
fucking genius!
MrBothersome 4 months ago
I grew up with this music in my house in central manitoba in canada. My father had this type of playing down cold and i couldn't get it because my father had to make his own chords due to losing the tip of his left ring finger. I finally figured it out after learning jimi hendrix's E#9 chord. Bless Merle, Bless my father. Great music lasts forever..thnx for posting this.
powwowrokstar 4 months ago
How did this get a "dislike"?
Oscaraleptico 4 months ago
you know you're badass when your own name is printed onto the fretboard.
iloveher1773 5 months ago
im 18 and i can see this guy is AMAZING!!! :D
spartank17 6 months ago
I'd grown-up thinking Travis pickin' was a thumb & 2 fingers, feeling as inferior as can be all the time. Ironically, 30 year friend, Merlene Travis (Merle's daughter), directed me to her dad's work on YouTube, which (after 40 years) relieved me to no end! What a player Merle Travis was!
laaxe 6 months ago
He picks out the melody with one finger! Other guys need two or three.
lazybbones 6 months ago
Le sweep c'est pour les Pd.
Jclove7 6 months ago in playlist Vidéos favorites de Jclove7
Greeeat =)
aendaltsev 6 months ago
Dang I came here to have some aid while i tried to learn the song but i feel like billy madison when the guy says all that stuff in spanish and billy just goes "SLOW DOWN"
ctomasbi 6 months ago
Brilliant. 'Nuff said.
badnewsBH 7 months ago
@badnewsBH well, it certainly does sound good
biochemisttriple9 6 months ago
woooooooooow !!!!!!!
TheWildhound 8 months ago
Pickin' and grinnin' like its no big deal! Killer!
tubesrule123 8 months ago
LOOOOL, terrible fingerpicking technique. I can't believe he's actually doing all of this with just his thumb and index... XD But he's awesome nevertheless.
kanshiketsu89 8 months ago
@kanshiketsu89 While it's not standard fingerpicking, you can hardly say it's terrible when the guy has an entire style of picking named after himself.
5stringaustin 7 months ago 13
@5stringaustin
Hehe, yeah, I get your point. It just that I've been playing classical guitar for the last couple of years, so seeing something like this makes my hair stand straight. :P
kanshiketsu89 6 months ago
@kanshiketsu89 But you can't get these sounds with classical technique... Look up "Travis picking" and see why it's called just that :P Just like you won't sound like Van Halen with classical technique, you won't sound like this without Travis picking.
gitarrstrimlaren 1 month ago
@5stringaustin What the hell is "standard finger picking?" And tell me, is that what your hoping for when you play or go out to what is it, 4th street? to hear some music? "Boy, I hope what we hear is "Standard!" I'm confused. Please enlighten!
23coburn 3 months ago
@5stringaustin lol thats what im sayin. When you have a style of something named after you, I think its a safe assumption you're doin it right.
EmperorofCartoons 2 weeks ago
@kanshiketsu89 and that's where the term "classical elitist" comes from. it's a few pieces of wood crafted together with some steel and strings. who are you to tell anyone how they should approach playing it?
kjvmsc 4 months ago
@kjvmsc
Well, I did say he's awesome... :) Thing is, I never took guitar lesson, and neither did he. But the more I played the more obvious and natural it became to use proper fingering technique. So I just wonder how come he stuck to this playing style. But don't get me wrong, I have nothing against unorthodox playing styles. I'm a big fan of The Entrance Band for example and I think Guy Blakeslee is awesome. The dude plays with his whole guitar reversed.
kanshiketsu89 4 months ago
Guitar heroes: Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page, Mississippi Fred and Merle Travis.
ljohank 8 months ago
Can you imagine what he could have done if he had learned to play his right hand with two more fingers...
o0tortue0o 8 months ago 5
@o0tortue0o learn some Travis songs the way he played them and then you'll see.
bongfodder 8 months ago
@bongfodder Useless to learn note for note a song, each one has got his way to pick and that's the beauty of music...
o0tortue0o 8 months ago
@o0tortue0o he doesnt need his other two fingers though its mesmerising in this clip :)
mcjuvey1 3 days ago
this is GUITAR :D!
spartank17 9 months ago
I've just finished pushing my eyeballs back in..............UNBELIEVABLE !!!
Hunterville1000 10 months ago
Genius.
woodbell67 11 months ago
i love this song :) could anyone check my cover of it on my channel. i'm only 14 so don't be too harsh :)
o8wattsa 11 months ago
That wonderful tone Merle gets is largely due to his use of a Standel 25L15 amplifier.
Cheers, mates.
penn4644 11 months ago
TOO Frickin COOL!
skiporamadeducci 11 months ago
that Thumb and one finger is also known as Piedmont style. That's is how Doc Watson plays as well when he isn't flatpicking
mhandley 11 months ago
How can you not like that? That one person must be nuts!
pauljannone123 11 months ago
what year it happened ??
spartank17 1 year ago
@spartank17 1956 or 1957. The show is Ranch Party.
penn4644 11 months ago
two fingers....how?...amazing
mountainat85 1 year ago
HOW GORGEOUS!! VIVA MERLE TRAVIS!!!
Garraliposker 1 year ago
damn, why ppl call guitarists "virtuosos" these days when u cant even hear their notes compared to stuff this golden this is just retarded
44eelz 1 year ago
he always had a look on his face while he was playing that kind of said "these idiots think this is hard."
ShimmyDigg 1 year ago
RING TONED
fig8man 1 year ago
thumbs up!
angchess 1 year ago
Guy was a genius....thumb and first finger...amazing!!!
countryclassic 1 year ago
His guitar playing could take my guitar playing out back and shoot it.
portsy101 1 year ago 47
@portsy101 In the head.
spicyMcHAGGIS9green 1 month ago
amazing he can do that with only 2 fingers, i am quite proud of mysel that i can make it through this song using three..
skiracrisad3 1 year ago
I still can't get past the two finger roll. I was in awe of his left hand for years... then I found out that he also had the greatest right hand.
PoisonClan73 1 year ago
The tremelo arm looks like it's made from a clothes hanger lol. Awesome vid!
evanr00 1 year ago
What a great piece of music. I have recently transcribed this video into Guitar Pro having had no joy in finding an accurate score anywhere. If you'd like to obtain a copy, feel free to request one. I believe it's superbly accurate.
sordnax 1 year ago
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@sordnax hey would i be able to get a copy? i love this song
gareke 1 year ago
@sordnax Sure I'd like to give your transcription a spin Sir.Merle's style was so eclectic though I wonder how far a tab can take you really. My strategy so far has been working on a bunch of ragtime and country blues pieces which seem to me to form the backbone of his playing.
bongfodder 1 year ago
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sordnax 1 year ago
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sordnax 1 year ago
Hey everyone, listen to 'Brian Lonbeck' His clips are here on youtube. He actually played with Merle Travis 'and' Joe Maphis' quite often. If there's anyone who nails both of those styles perfectly, it's him.
kauipaul 1 year ago
@kauipaul Agreed. Brian keeps the flag flying.
penn4644 1 year ago
It doesn't get much better than this.
robbourassaguitarist 1 year ago
@HotRockCarlos thanks so much for this!! My first time ever to see footage of Merle. At first I didn't understand how INCREDIBLE he really is, just listening to stray recordings. (thought he sounded a bit stiff and boring). Now I see him doing his pioneering style with only two fingers, and on the same night I learn he had an INCREDIBLE singing voice and also composed great lyrics as well (Sixteen Tons). To top it all off, he's also pretty handsome looking. I'm impressed. Very impressed.
Bumptiously 1 year ago
that is completely badass. holy shits.
johanivanovic 1 year ago
My Pa Picked Like That.Notice he used the Thumb and Pointer Finger.So Much Cool Sounds From 2 fingers. Love it!
SmokeBojangles 1 year ago
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¸„ø¤º°¨ AMAZING!``°º¤ø„¸
¸„ø¤º¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„¸¨°º¤ø
hendrix0is0lord 1 year ago
HOLY SHIT!
I JUST GOT MY MIND BLOWN!
ImTheSolace1 1 year ago
Love it. one minute thirty eight and that's with the talking.....
elsoultero 1 year ago
oh my lord thats just great merle is by far my fav guitar player of all time... i think hes the best of all time ..cant get enough ..my dad raised me to this stuff and i feel it in my soul i try to play the songs holy moly it took me years just to get even close i wish i could have thom bresh teach me
navi880 1 year ago
It is too bad there aint no more intstrumentalist [on guitar ] anymore like this that when we turn the radio on we can enjoy. I grew up a BIG FAN of Merle Travis.
Simply the best there ever will be !
MrCarlHaynes 1 year ago
@MrCarlHaynes Hey just a note, if you have not heard The Sadies, you should check them out. From Canada, Travis and Dallas Good are really great raw country rock.
villagemeat 1 year ago
Was he tuned UP a half step? I checked it out, and sure enough, he was in G#. Either he and the whole band tuned up, of the tapes running a bit fast. Whatever it is, it sounds great. What a great man he was - he really rocked!
BCRSIX 1 year ago
@BCRSIX this was on tape at one time, and during transfer to to digital someone could have messed up the smpte or time code and the pitch can shift up or down.
johanivanovic 1 year ago
If you love Merle you should come visit The Merle Travis Center in Powderly Ky..
jtg904 1 year ago
I think I'ma just stop playing guitar now.
LukeKellylives 1 year ago
I GOTTA HAVE ONE OF THOSE GUITARS!!!!! with MY name on it though :L
TheHellbred 1 year ago
@TheHellbred if it had your name on it it would be worthless
vincenz55 1 year ago
@vincenz55 so? I don't want to sell it, I want to play it. isn't that the point of a guitar?
TheHellbred 1 year ago
Heard him play this hundreds of times but this was my favorite version, and the best sound probably due to the old time pickups and the Standel. This program was shown on Ranch Party in syndication on Saturday nights as excerpts from the "Town Hall Party. On that night, it was about 1967 or 68 when I was stationed in the D.C.. My son, Merle, was still in the hanger at that time and I recorded it on a cheap reel to reel pawn shop tape recorder. Still have it.
whitt702 1 year ago
Smooooth!
leslielawrence 1 year ago
What a fantastic guitar player Merle Travis was
TheNormandus 1 year ago
I would strongly recommend to anyone who doesnt know, search for Phil Baugh Country Guitar on youtube. He emulates the styles of Merle, Chet, and many others all in one song. It is amazing.
treetoptop 1 year ago 2
Bad Ass
cast390 1 year ago
thumb and finger i used to play thumb and finger but self taught was told that wasnt the way to do it do what comes natural
speck444 1 year ago
@ MrElliotRocker yeah, both greats, but if you look, merle uses only his forefinger an thumb, but chet was first (i think!) to use thumb and 3 picking fingers, so he could continue the bassline bit thru the quick melody stuff.
theyre both great players tho...
smoggo1981 2 years ago
@smoggo1981 You broke that down very well, Chet was taking the style to the next progression, Merle was one of the innovators, both are all time greats obviously.
treetoptop 1 year ago
There are a LOT of great players. Merle, Chet, Jerry Reed, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, Doc Watson, Glen Campbell...
Which is the best? Who knows? Who cares? I just love to listen to them all!
detoth67 2 years ago 42
amen to that. in my opinion, Jerry and Chet.
MXHondas230 1 year ago
@detoth67 Mose Rager and Ike Everly were also early influences in this style of guitar picking.
aynatn 1 year ago
@detoth67 Tommy Emmanuel is the best XD
stievelien 1 year ago
@stievelien Tommy Emmanuel can kiss your ass he has no class or style just another wannabe copycat of the originals(a bad one at that) if you think hes better than the old guard than you dont know music..find another hobby
vincenz55 1 year ago
@vincenz55 Yes sir! Old Guard Forever!
ElliotRocker 1 year ago
@vincenz55 Well, I trust Chet Atkins judgment on guitar players more than yours if you don't mind. If Chet says he's great, he's great. neither you nor I ever recorded an album with Chet and we never received the honorary CGP either. May not mean much to a lot of folks, but there's only 5 besides Chet that have it. That's good enough for me. Nobody ever disputed Chet either.
rockinredneck57 1 year ago
@vincenz55 i find this very ofending, it is my own oppinion about musicians, i love tommy and i find him the best.
stievelien 1 year ago
@detoth67
Merle.
PoisonClan73 1 year ago
You bet . The best,,,,,,,thats all in the ears of the beholder , huh. I have people tell me occasionally they like my picking better that.... ' so and so'.... even though I'm not very good. Like you , I think all those above are great. I couldn't carry their picks but some do like me for some reason.
kd1942 1 year ago
@detoth67 Marcel dadi , too !he's awesome . Plus , he's an amazing pedagogue .
GroovyGuitar02 11 months ago
@detoth67 Travis.
jvalentif 11 months ago
@detoth67 JERRY REED, my favourite.... maybe Mr. Clark the 2º
whitefalcon64 10 months ago
@detoth67 Have you heard of Stephan Grossman, does the finger picking dvds??
PureTunageScouse 8 months ago
dont worry about tuning its about that sound
callasexperience 2 years ago
Managed to put together a paltry version of this in standard tuning, with a very simple drone bass. Seeing actual video of Merle, and the way he uses his thumb to fret over the top of the neck, I feel like i wasted a lot of time going down the wrong road on this outstanding style of pickin. I'm more at home with a bluegrass flatpick, tryin to play too fast for my own ability. Guess i better study up on these cool old country blues type fingerstyle tunes a little better, before I try another.
eleminnowpea 2 years ago
@eleminnowpea don't ignore ragtimes huge influence
bongfodder 1 year ago
Comment removed
CindyJeann 2 years ago
Been reading these comments...this is in standard tuning in G...he starts on his own then a rhythm section kicks in...but he's playing everything you see...nothing prerecorded..he is the master, imo..all that with thumb and first finger, everything...brilliant!
doubleotwentyone 2 years ago
Is this in a different tunning? When I play it It looks like like i play it the same but it doesnt in tune, e flat maybe?
goatshilk 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
there is no such thing as e flat
lositossn 2 years ago
well, most certainly there is !
E flat a.k.a D sharp
but there is no E sharp because there is only a half step between E and F so learn your music theory :) as easy as abc
kotlet157 2 years ago
yeah haha i totally realized that after i wrote it. my bad brother im suprised u didnt rip me apart more
lositossn 2 years ago
@kotlet157 Weeeelll... E sharp does exist.
E sharp is the enharmonic equivalent of F natural.
It's in the key of F sharp.
xloserx4xchristx 2 years ago
there actually is an E sharp because if you are playing in the key signature of F sharp then they can either write F natural in the book, or E sharp. I've seen plenty of E sharps
MekialK 2 years ago
It's a Gibson 400.
bloodnokian 2 years ago
So why dont they show the other guitarist playing the chords???? Cheater!
spybeach 2 years ago
Some sources say that Merle learned his picking style from a neighbor, Ike Everly, whose sons Don and Phil would become famous in their own way.
BrickPa 2 years ago
amazing sound and arrangement...
blueturtleblues 2 years ago
@UnclePen: it diminishes Travis in no way.
This was not the point.
jeffbeck70 2 years ago
HOW the hell did he get all that sound basicly using only 2 fingers on his right hand!? amazing
paleoman1999 2 years ago
Muckraker: buy yourself ears.
jeffbeck70 2 years ago
There is a rhythm section with a guitar. There's no question there. How does that diminish Travis in any way? He was the greatest.
UnclePen22 2 years ago
Whatever bridge you take it's a hell of a lot of fun to play .
bongfodder 2 years ago
sweet
donnaaustin 2 years ago
thats was crazy till i realized there was another player in the background.
einnor85r 2 years ago
I'm sorry but are you a chromosome deficiency? There is no other guitar in this song. Merle is playing every note...he made this style famous. Check out his other work...you'll like it.
muckraker100 2 years ago
you can clearly see at around 0:47 to 0:55 that he is not playing any bass notes(espicially when hes using the whammy) and you can hear another guitar in the background. Though he is playing rythm and lead on most all parts, but not all.
einnor85r 2 years ago
Tell me you cant see and hear it at 0:50 to 0:55
einnor85r 2 years ago
he does play the alternating bass line for some of the song
kitchwatembo 2 years ago
that is just unbelievable
flyinelvis69 2 years ago
It's too bad modern country has turned so many guitar players off from this golden era of the instrument. Merle Travis is simply astonishing.
PDXorcist 2 years ago 45
@PDXorcist modern country is just bad rock music
metal4massacre 1 year ago 4
All of a sudden I forgot what you call that kind of picking. Hand picking? No, that isn't it. Fantastic stuff, though. I'd like to play guitar like that.
101Volts 2 years ago
Muhlenberg County thumb pickin
HaysFamily1259 2 years ago 2
Nowadays, it's called "Travis" picking, after Merle himself. He was a big influence on a lot of country and early rock 'n' roll guitarists. Elvis' first guitarist was pretty heavily influenced by Merle.
Agreed though, it's fantastic. I'd like to be pickin' that way myself someday soon.
rbseaver 2 years ago
And to think all it takes is some determined practice. Now, If only I could find some Merle Travis guitar tabs. It wouldn't take too long to learn if I practiced every day.
101Volts 2 years ago
There are people who marry themselves to this style (as well as the related Atkins style) and spend twenty or more years trying to learn all of the tricks.
fastrnb 2 years ago
Comment removed
danlashbrookgtrsetup 2 years ago
assolutamente fantastico e incredibile per quei tempi! Chet Atkins si ispirò a questo signore!
omkaratube 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Uncredible
bloodonthestrings 2 years ago
sound like theres about ten guitars
Rossco602 2 years ago 3
There's only two I think, his lead plus an unseen rhythm (you can really tell it apart from his playing from :48- 1:00)
lunarpollen 2 years ago
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TheKevinRuDD 2 years ago
lol ill tell ya whut!!
djboony 2 years ago 2
Cool. I've never seen him before.
zbaby82 2 years ago
If you've ever seen the movie From Here to Eternity, he's the guy playing guitar with Monty Clift & all the drunk soldiers outside the bar, singing the "Reenlistment Blues".
lazybones2000 2 years ago
Top 3 all time... in my opinion anyway. I'm trying to learn real deal travis picking. it's extremely ball bustin'... i feel like a newb again.
funkyfoolfromVanNuys 2 years ago 3
wow! and to think he did that w/ a thumb & ONE finger.. really incredible.. Plus, it looked like he was having fun while he did it. A GREAT musician.
timjmoran 2 years ago 2
And he's smiling while he's playing - like it's nothing :-) love it ...
cooolumbo 2 years ago
thats unreal
beatlesfan129 2 years ago
great
perromanchado 2 years ago