Norman Blake, Flatpicker

[TheFionn13]

If I could flatpick like that I would consider my life complete. Well...maybe throw in some Tony Rice and Clarence White...

[thunderrrnuts]

Awesome song! Would be great to throw in some bagpipes

[Frankda70]

Very awesome!

[MaineGeezer]

The fiddle player is no slouch, either.

[63gak]

Great song,great playing...where's my bottle???

[popoaggie]

Love watching his right hand. FLUID !

[bazthehandyman]

Hippies ???.....what the hell you on about.

[LukeSidler2005]

Norman Blake is one of my favorite guitarists. Such a great flatpicker.

[ritasean1]

Nobody can play like Norman. Anybody have a video of "Old Brown Case"? Much debate if this was a solo performance from "Fields of November". I think it is.

[krukdriver]

The freedom this group displays is liberating.

[billymidol]

that boy right there has gone and sold his soul to that there devil

[rockyjohnstone]

I love hippies. They can play the dickens of those big Martins!

[rockyjohnstone]

This is a historical performance. Norman's style is like no other. Save it.

[MauroPavanelli]

I can't belive that this video got 3 thumbs down! Just a sick head full of envy could give thumbs down for this video! Norman and Nancy are a perfect musican couple, this performance is great, and the fiddle player add the magic that an old time music deserve. This is one of the best videos posted in youtube, no doubt!

[srvgtr]

@MauroPavanelli

How right you are. Norman and Nancy are a musical treasure. As you rightly state, I think it must be a few mediocre envious flatpickers who gave it the thumbs down. For the rest of us it's a revelation. I just wish I had been in the audience :-)

[supersnakegtr]

WOW, WOW , WOW................



[randomstuff3201]

Legend? Legends pale in comparison...

[leiposuctie]

they look like unwashed hippies, and well.....but this is fucking epic....i've heard about him before, but i didn't expect this....i have to re-evaluate what guitar playing means....once again....thank you norman blake, robert johnnson, jimi hendrix, mark knopfler, jack white, kaki king, and other pioneers of the guitar, that took the instrument, saw how it was played, and didn't give a shit, and started over from scratch to create a musical orgasm....and make me insecure:P

[Gunner43056]

@leiposuctie No matter what he looks like he plays good.Don't judge people.

[leiposuctie]

@Gunner43056 isn't thinking he's a good guitar player also a judgement.......?

[Gunner43056]

@leiposuctie Oh well can you play better? I have learned a lot from listening to Norman over the years and he is a great player.Most musicians look weird,but honestly we all look weird in someway.Look at people like God would look at them.Life is much better seeing things thru Gods eyes.

[leiposuctie]

@Gunner43056 compared to him, i can't play for poop.

i still stick by what i said, they look like hippies, but i don't care what they look like, they sound amazing, that's what matters to me, i agree, loads of musicians look weird.

so why can't i comment on that? it's not a judgement as such, more of an observation, which is meaningless, when the music speaks for itself.

[KikeYopo]

Great :)

[melodyl52]

What a great performance. Thank you for sharing it.

[MrYippppy]

Such a wonderful voice!

[SweggerZ]

He has my guitar WTF ! :D

[synesthesia67]

friggin awesome!!

[alteringenting]

mellow violinist

[toucantango1]

Smooth

[lyonlove]

how about the song ,about the poor rebel soldier ?

[perthification]

i like this

[alphacowboy003]

Enjoyed!



[Ladyluck2806]

apart from looking like a freaky cult this was bloody amazing! great guitarist! 

[hippo1948]

Norman is definately the master of understated elegance in flatpicking. Loved his music since the 70's when a friend came back from Nashville after taking lessons from him. It's just so nice to bring him up whenever I need a dose of smooth!!!

[jshperdue]

this guy can play, really like his style, norman blake is the man, i think thats james bryan on the fiddle heck of a player as well.

[bloodyfrets]

Damn this song is addicting!!!

15 dollars is my game, 15 is my drawwww....

[44eelz]

forget Slash and the Edge..THAT is a genuine Guitar Hero

[ramo63j]

the guy is an effin' legend, and he's playing for a long long time now.

may he pick another 100 yrs more!!!!!!!!!!!

[nattyb3]

wow. this is brilliant! absolutely amazing guitar playing!

I've never seen a cello played like that, it sounds really good!

[davidw992000]

WOW

[AustinRogers1]

I want a pair of shoes like Norman's! Also, I wish I could hit the "Like" button 10 times!

[AustinRogers1]

I want a pair of shoes like Norman's!

[ascheepe]

hm is this standard tuning? I'm getting into bluegrass coming from blues, i'm used to open-g but i know dadgad besides standard tuning is used a lot. I've yet get to find what's making things easier in that since i've never played in it. Anyone can give me some tips? Thanks!

[ascheepe]

hmm it seems standard tuning. *back to practice* :)

[letebaguere]

@ascheepe yes he is playing this in standard tuning, with a capo on the 3rd fret of course. while alternate tunings are definitely used in some of bluegrass, they aren't really extensively used- the key to bluegrass guitar is in the right hand. flatpicking is the watermark of bluegrass, and learning to cross pick or "roll" your melody lines is the key. notice on the shots of norman's left hand, the chord shapes are very standard- G, E maj, D etc. the magic is in his right hand.

[ascheepe]

@letebaguere: I see. I have trouble combining solo's with the bas line. In this video it's not done many times but there are many on youtube which makes one guitar sound like a whole band, that's really nice. Back to practice I guess :)

[NancyMcgill1]

The man is a master.

[lcm746]

Norman's the real deal flatpicker. None finer.

[shimmering1000]

bless youtube..

.. every now and then I happen upon something like this, when searching for something completely different (actually a UK indie rock band called Teenage Fanclub).

Norman Blake-- pure quality music that somehow fills a gap in my knowlege of bluegrass/folk/ whatever label ya wanna attach.

[radiootoo]

First heard Norman backing up John Hartford on "Aereo-Plain" back in early '72 and WHOA! fan ever since. James Bryan: Encore!

[wcd47]

Real is what it is what it is...Great.

[vance7274]

Arguably the best six minutes and thirty-seven seconds on all of You Tube. I heard Norman play "Railroad Days" back in 1975. I shortly thereafter memorized the words and I've sung the song to myself everyday for thirty-five years. Maybe I've just hummed it a bit when others were within listening distance. Norm and Nancy are incomparable performers. But, you know, Norman is the fashion industry's worst enemy.

[lgomez222]

Wow! Norman Blake! Wow! Norman Blake!

[browser007200]

what an artist and the other folk,its just outstanding,thanks a million.what a player ! never heard him before being in the backwoods of the UK..I'm converting to bluegrass and next time I visit usa I must go south..

[NeilFraudstrong]

Did anyone else crave bootleg whiskey after this or was it just me?

[deborahkauffman09]

Norman has a slick left hand too, I'm amazed at his pinky fingerwork, he is just the best and funnest to watch live, I'm in love forever...

[atomicale365]

Just found out that my dad took guitar lessons from Norman Blake as a kid. I thought that was pretty fucking awesome.

[joesjoes20]

Very lively and active music

[XLIVwhodat]

I love the intro.

[deborahkauffman09]

Norman is the MAN...

[bluegrasstracks]

Thought you guys would like to know a little backstory on this song...

The title and subject of the song, Randall Collins, is a real person (though he's not from the state of Arkansas!) Collins is a fiddle player (formerly with Bill Monroe) who also lives in Northern Georgia. They would jam somtimes at festivals. One day Randall said Blake came up to him and said very sheepishly that he had recorded that song... "What song", Collins asked, "Uh, the one with your name," Blake responded...

[galidune]

@bluegrasstracks thanks for sharing.

[inapoleao]

Awesome, fantastic, a thriller. Norman Blake (and his wife Nancy and the fiddler) are a treat from the Gods. Norman is a mankind treasure, besides a truly american hero. America's at its best. A honor and a infinite pleasure to hear.

By the way, excusing my ignorance, who is this gifted fiddler?

[Gminor7]

@inapoleao The fiddler is James Bryan, from Sand Mountain, AL. Sand Mtn. is about 20 miles from Lookout Mtn. Tennessee. On the GA side of Lookout Mtn. is Rising Fawn, and Sulphur Springs. On the Tennessee side of the mountain are Chattanooga and Lookout Mtn. I live about 30 miles from the area.

[FenceThis]

I cant help wonder whats really the big difference between " flatpicking " and just picking, -it´s foremost an american word I guess. Is it simply that one picks with a pick or isit rather that you pluck out certain significant patterns within the chords ? Is there a " diagonal" pickin style aswell or howabout roundpicking ?

[jocwalk]

@FenceThis Flat-picking is the term used for striking the strings only with the one (usually more or less triangular) pick. The alternative is pure finger-style in which no picks are used or Travis/Atkins style in which the guitarist uses a thumb pick along with two or three of his fingers. There's also Carter style which uses a thumb pick and a pick on the forefinger in which the thumb plays the melody while the forefinger plays the rhythm.

[kensade]

great guitar player like the vioce also great fiddle playing too

[46r11]

Sliccccccccccccccck

[steeltunes]

Norman's AMAZING. Just the coolest. Understated and as cool as a 1930's slot head Martin D-28.

[doubletap16]

AHMAYZN!!!! Fiidle player was great, too! Makes me want to take up bluegrass....

[Godsfaithfulservant]

Lord watching this guys fingers float across the neck just kills me as I struggle with the easiest of Norman Blake songs.

[imaumbn]

Love his playing and singing

[therambler21]

Damn this is some sweet flatpickin ramblin I say if heaven is filled with music so sweet Ima bout ready to depart for the first flight home

[hunterv41]

hangdogit, I wouldn't say Tony Rice "pales" in comparison to Blake or any other flatpicking guitarist. Blake's style is more raw - Tony's smoother but certainly right there with the best. Hard to pick between the 2.

[hangdogit]

As an amateur flatpicker, I've admired Norman Blake for many decades -- and Doc Watson a bit longer. It took a long time to figure out who was the best, but listening to this recording of Norman, he wins for his shear ability to bring out the pure beauty of the music as no one else can.  By comparison, after Norman and Doc, no one even makes the list in my opinion (Rice, Crary et al are incredible but pale in comparison).

[notbendable]

Nancy looks extra hot in this one.

;)

[hd28bradley]

He is slicker than possum fat. He is an American treasure.

[callum698]

dude what the fuck??

[manakamar]

Great!

[PCPrabbit]

that fiddle player can play while sleeping.

[SantaCruzOM]

His name is James Bryan.  He's an amazing fiddle player.

[buckbuck666]

lol

[WarBeer]

When it comes to folk music...and his folk-grass style of flatpicking....I don't think there's anyone out there that comes close to this guy. He's just the real deal. It's amazing what he can do with relatively basic chords and first position playing. Sounds SO big and full:) IMHO

[mist339]

Sounds real good. Fiddler is unreal.

[mirdallke2]

świetna muzyka

[cumulustree]

fuck man ... hes a legend..... norman gogo playy thizz shit

[BluegrassBlues]

my father used to pick with norman blake. he told me a story one time how they sat there for a while snorting coke and picking for hours. said norman was the type man who youd have to force to take a shower.

[sonorgeek44]

hear-say. your dad was probably coked and imagined that.

[Mulwany]

well, I dont blame him, showering is no fun... no fun at all..:(

[jimncheryl]

Norman is a real treasure. He's a living tribute to traditional, acoustic, wooden, mountain music. Play on!!

[hobiecat901]

Thanks statecap12 for letting me know

the name of the fiddler.

[Family4china]

the guitar has a great projection, fullness and warmth to it.

[jocwalk]

His string choice/set-up has a lot to do with that. I don't know of anyone else who uses the same set-up or many folks who use electric strings on acoustic guitars at all for that matter.

[jeeperforlife]

In Church St Blues he says he plays Black Diamond?

[jocwalk]

That was to fit in with the theme of the song. Black Diamond used to be sold at every Western Auto, local general store, and even some grocery stores. In other words "cheap strings." He definitely plays GHS boomers. I'm good friends with a guy who is friends with Norman (he just lives a half-hour from me) and he told me what Norman uses.

[poowface]

fantastic! i love it,

got a very irish trad feel to this tune,

its a shame you cant really hear the bass,

but id still give it 5/5

[hobiecat901]

MAN, What can you say,but GREAT. and

that's not the word either. The fiddler is

Great, and what's his name?

[statecap12]

The fiddler is James Bryan.

[jakewildwood]

Great, great player... and excellent taste in guitars. 12 fret dreadnoughts are incredible...

[snowmanpolice]

Does Norman ever tour anymore? I can't find any info anywhere.

[MrEleanor89]

does anyone have the lyrics and chords to this song???

[iamit44313]

Where can I find the tabs for some of Norman Blakes music?

[FunBoy15]

it's hard to find it on the internet. I'd buy the books and dvds, tis worth it.

[ActualAl]

I'm gonna stick my neck out here but this is one of the best things I've seen. On you tube or anywhere

[44eelz]

@ActualAl Correct the best stuff is never on Tv

[DAVEY500MUSIC]

@44eelz how true that is

[DAVEY500MUSIC]

@ActualAl awesome !!!!

[atrailmike]

My wife and I saw Norman at MerleFest- probably '02 or '03 and my wife yelled out a couple times 'RANDALL COLLINS IS MY NAME!'. Finally after fulfilling a different request or two, Norman says, almost directly to us, 'now you know, some of those songs I wrote over 30 years ago and I just don't remember them.' It was a fun moment- and when all is considered, the guy's written a lot of songs. I guess we can all forgive if he doesn't remember our personal favorite.

[jmccullough]

Very nice guy. I worked at a coffeehouse when I was in college and a couple of years in a row we brought Norman and Nancy in. Great musicians and great people to spend time with.

The last time I saw him was a few years ago and I called out a request for Sweet Heaven. He didn't play it, but he did make a genial comment about how old that one was.

[46r11]

It seems so effortless, If I stay of of the fancy stuff I can play with him. Wayne

[a46474647]

Anyone know what model that Martin is?

[cooper4205]

A 1933 D-28 standard

[hawkwood44]

Its a D-28s...can't tell if it's an old one

[dp11issosweet]

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[46r11]

Norman is first class.

[ThePluckinGrassholes]

lus1981 - Tony Rice and Norman Blake are both guitar legends for different reasons. If in fact tony is an old fart, then i guess i like old farts. I'm a huge fan of both!

[Garret00074]

Hey, if you're lucky you can grow up to be an old fart.

It's something to aspire to...

[phurrymartin]

Man I wish I could pick like him he makes it look so easy it's ridiculous

[krsongs]

Notice how the hardcore guys like Blake and Rice NEVER use electric pickups in their recordings or live performances?

These guys got it right. Them electronics added on these beautiful guitars destroys it's sound completely. A good mic will do the trick every time.

[kdevine321]

Tearing it UP!!!

[jrinsomniac]

I took some classes from the Fiddler (James Bryan) at Fiddle Tunes this last year. He's aged a lot - he looks like a skinny Santa Claus with a long white pony tail - but man can he play. He's only gotten better, and his bow arm is hypnotically smooth.

[amagy1957]

☆Norman Blakeはいかにも本当に弾いているんだなって感じがして好き­だ。おそらく、ピックの確度はやや傾いていて、それが弦の擦過音­となるのだが、Tony Riceの正確無比さに比べると非常にライブ感があると思う。

[letebaguere]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[kwolek420]

Ha, I can jam like that any day, no problem. mmm.. well maybe not that good. If I could you would know who I am though.

[Galacticplane]

Norman Blake, One of the greatest guitar pickers on earth today!

[CherokeeMusic]

Norman Blake kicks six kinds of ass.

[cosmojh]

Man, Norman's got a slick right hand. He was a big idol for Tony Rice and it shows.

[lus1981]

Dude, Tony Rice doesn't even come close to Normans skills...Compared to Norman, Tony looks AND sounds like an old fart

[Garret00074]

Now, Doc Watson is a pretty fair flat picker as well...

[46r11]

@cosmojh The man is smooooooooth

[viclemont]

her name is nancy blake (his wife)

[letebaguere]

what is the cellist's name?

and is she beautiful or is it just me?

[cosmojh]

You know, it's very interesting to me. I know that's a cello but Nancy Blake plays it as if it were a half-sized upright bass. Hmmmm.......

[jmccullough]

Here, yes, but she usually plays it like a regular cello.

[kemplerbrave]

He makes it look so easy. An amazing player. Great.

[Malibogo]

Listen for the Appalachian Irish beat. I remember it from my youth some 65 years ago as I grew up in the mountains of Virginia

[jocwalk]

Blake is a Southerner, born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee and lives about 30 minutes south of it now in a tiny little town in the hills of north Georgia. In other words, he's always been around the old fiddle tunes, many of which have their origins in Ireland or Scotland and were concentrated in western North Carolina and east Tennessee. James Bryan is from a mountain in north Alabama, fairly close to Chattanooga. His daughter is a really good musician as well.

[jerryg65]

Blake is excellent-as usual-and that fiddle player aint no slouch either .

[stone1home]

It's James Bryan.

[Galacticplane]

Excellent! Thank You GtrWorkShp!

[glaoud]

I like very much*****

[FiddlePig]

Another example of "Pure Organic Music!"

[chillichomper]

They all look so stoic. Anybody having any fun here?

[heroin247]

I woulda been havin' plenty!

What a great song and sound !

[cosmojh]

You're absolutely right. There is a sort of religious grimness I've always noticed about Norman and Nancy. It's like they're Amish or something. I'm glad somebody brought that up. A grim good time.

[jocwalk]

I don't know about that. They're serious when they're playing but smile and laugh a lot between songs. Even in this video as soon as the song is over, watch Norman's expression.

[adamschmalenberger]

i love this tune. it is so nice to hear a longer version of it with breaks.

[dp11issosweet]

love this tune. blake is 1 of my new heroes

[simlit]

This is the first time I have heard him. Absolutely amazing

[brobert133]

incredible

[jocwalk]

Has there ever been a guitarist as smooth as Norman? The man makes some darn complex licks look deceptively easy, almost effortless. He lives within 30 minutes of me and plays locally fairly regularly. At nearly 70, he still makes this game called guitar look like child's play.

[cooks95]

Jocwalk, I totally agree. I've been studying the speed pickers of today and they're great. But when I watch Norman I say to myself, "What have I missing here?" This guy is the smoothest there is..nobody can match him. I thought it was easy because it wasn't like lightening. But I'm trying to do some of this, and it is extremely challenging. So even, and almost all picked it seems. It;s hard to figure out.

[jocwalk]

I've seen him play live a number of times since he lives so close and it's always a treat. It looks like his left fingers lightly tap the strings to fret them, as though he's using as much pressure as it takes to keep a feather from blowing in the wind. He makes very complex licks sound like any decent picker should be able to play them until even good pickers try them. Norman Blake is one of a kind.

[SantaCruzOM]

Norman uses an interesting string setup. He buys individual strings and uses light, sometimes very light unwound strings, but a very heavy low E. He also cuts the nut and saddle to give non-uniform string spacing. I just ordered a set of strings to mimic his set-up. Here are the guages he uses(from high E to low E): .012 .016 .024 .034 .044 .060 He uses GHS Boomers. Norman is truly one of a kind. He makes it look so effortless. And he's equally capable with a mandolin or a fiddle.

[jocwalk]

or dobro or banjo

[SantaCruzOM]

You're right! I forgot about the dobro and banjo. He's a master of just about anything with strings! Ayone have a version of this tune that hey would like to post? I play it, but my version is very basic and doesn't do the tune justice. I guess I should just post it, but I don't really care to get ripped apart by all the youtube critics.

[jocwalk]

That's why they created the "Approval Necessary for Comments" deal. I like to call it a jackass fence. It keeps them out. :)

[drunkenplumber15]

Yes... Yes... Yes!!!!!

[johnny85er]

amazing, thanks for sharing this with us!

[SantaCruzOM]

My favorite Norman Blake Tune!!! Glad someone finally posted it.

[buxboyzane]

I am "overwhelmed by the slickness and professionalism" of all three of these musicians and always have been. These days Rachel sounds great with them too. Thanks for posting this video.

[gasshuffer]

man, this is great stuff. i've been listening to norman for over 30 years and i still get chills as if it's the first time i've ever heard him. james sure ain't no slouch on the fiddle either. thanks for posting.

[maurieer]

Well done and sung.

Really liked it.

Thanks.

[bluespower]

thanx