Donovan teaching John Lennon a guitar finger style

[scooterboi17]

@ZAPDUNGAA "This guy"? Don't you know your own name?

[puddypuss]

I really like donovans best stuff, but I think hes being a bit patronising, as they say.

[tenzel1231]

I dont think he taght them shit! Paul and John were fingerpicking way before that trip.

[OFR]

@tenzel1231 They were not playing this style, actually called Travis picking. They learned it from Donovan and have told many people they did. You hear it in a LOT of their music after this period. But not before.

[tenzel1231]

@OFR I stand wrong then you are right there are many different fingerpicking patterns. Sorry about that.

[mjazzguitar]

I think he said he taught Dylan to fingerpick.

[bLAStSuCaRTa]

well donovan cant really pick travis style either, not like chet or jerry. Hes just folk picking which is a pattern [ not just free style ] but not travis style or claw hammer ............if you want to see this expanded technique listen to chet or jerry it takes years to learn this style anf frankly rock musicians are too fucking lazy!

[kieetnfuud]

I'm a "John-Girl" and I knew of this but it certainly has been exciting to hear Donovan tell it first-hand, and I know exactly what he means about Paul! //;-)

Nice post--wish I'd seen it 3 yrs ago!

[AssinnippiJack]

I met Donovan in 1985 on a Boston Harbor Music Cruise. His stepson Julian introduced us. Very friendly as it was a laid-back performance. Still have the autograph.

[fieldfullofthistles]

He probably did have something to do with it -t the pattern John picks on Dear Prudence involves an Open D instead on E on the sixth string. Anyway, its a nice Beatles story and gives some good insight into the reason for the song,

[britishwit]

@ampmamfm How stupid can you get?! Donovan is explaining how he taught lennon, dickhead!

[drathbun]

@britishwit Probably because he DID teach John how to play Travis style fingerpicking.

[keifer50]

I've heard Donovan tell this story before. He is referring to the trip to India early 1968. But Paul used this picking pattern as early as 1965 on Yesterday. Not to take any thing away from a great artist as Donovan, but I think he is taking way too much credit.

[Gooseberry51]

@keifer50 As things were at that time presumably John would take advise rather from Donovan than from Paul...

[crosscatch]

@keifer50 Paul's technique didn't employ the fingers in a strict pattern of alternation. Yesterday was played using the thumb for bass and strumming with the fingers. He employed the same technique on Blackbird. It has a similar effect.

[rockermanmatt]

@crosscatch That's wrong, Blackbird was not strumming but a fingerpicking pattern - watch him play it.

[crosscatch]

@rockermanmatt I wasn't trying to say that Paul didn't pick at all. I was trying to say that it wasn't strictly picking but a combination of picking and strumming. To be more specific, the picking is more pronounced than the strum on Bbird. But, if you listen, it's there and it (the song) sounds different if you are strictly picking.

YT won't let me link it but if you look for "The Beatles (Paul McCartney) - Blackbird" and listen carefully, you can hear a light strum along with the picking.

[rockermanmatt]

@crosscatch Can you not see his hands on that video? He's picking it. I know because I play it exactly as it was recorded. I used a program to slow down the song and work out each individual note a few years ago. It's a bonafide picking pattern, no strumming. He may strum one chord or something but that's it.

I think what you're reffering to is more of a 'Mother Nature's Son' style.

[TheDrunkenHer0]

Is it possible for someone to be epic?

I think he is epic

[themancdogg]

I love atlantis

[Muzikman127]

nice story, but that picking pattern isn't that hard :p

[pitbullexpress]

Nice post, nice story. Thanks.

[ampmamfm]

i am not convinced this is donovan and lennon...donovan said he showed john some style when they were in india,not some autotorium with an audience...are you the one who put out that phony vid of the beatles and pink floyd on the same stage?...that was nice editing work but it did not happen in real life

[goldsmithstudent]

Thats the pattern to dear prudence

[wilsondylanmccartney]

I love Donovan. But he seems to have more than a bit of an ego, with him always wanting to tell people that he taught John this or that on the guitar. He ALWAYS talks about it lol. And then he says "And Paul was absorbing like a sponge too." It's like it was the highlight of his career. John and Paul were MUCH better than Donovan as songwriters. I guess it's why he wants to tell everyone and their brother about this :)

[tomthefunky]

@wilsondylanmccartney: I couldn't agree more. He's really wrapped up in himself. There is something about him that really irritates me. He's the kind of guy that thinks he knows all the answers to the world's problems. He'd be a perfect leader of some creepy, religious hippy cult in California.

[mjazzguitar]

@tomthefunky

I remember on an album way back when someone was introducing him said that once it was raining and he came out and said if you clap your hands it will stop raining and it did.

[tomthefunky]

@mjazzguitar I know the type. Those people creep me out. But people say the same thing about me just because I camp outside David Hasselhoff's house, go through his garbage, listen to his music backwards for personal messages he sends to me. So who am I to complain? By the way, did you know David Hasselhoff is personally responsible for the collapse of the Berlin Wall? It's true.

[DocWyoming]

@wilsondylanmccartney a famous person, with decades of love and respect, appears to have an Ego? OMG, we all know that in the same place, you'd be as humble as a saint....

[kennyg03]

very cool insight from another legend

[craigowler]

Donovan a Scottish export.......

[prettieststar01]

hey I was there!! Donovan is so fascinating.

[angel231264]

Hi I love Donovan but have you ever heart about Michael Engel and his music?

[12beatlesgal22]

No, I haven't... I'm an avid Beatle fan and was at the Beatle Fest in Vegas when I saw Donovan. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed his music. I bought his autobiography and he signed it. He's warm and gracious and gentle. I won't ever forget that weekend. I'll have to check out Michael Engel... Thanks for your comment!

[hmsdonovan]

please post more of Donovan's performance if you have it.

[12beatlesgal22]

There's another one of him singing "Mellow Yellow" and I'll post the rest asap...

[TheDrunkenHer0]

@12beatlesgal22 Does he say ''clove hammer'' at 0:04. ?

[ec476405]

@TheDrunkenHer0 He says "claw hammer," a specific style of finger picking, commonly used on the banjo