Thom Bresh Teaches Cannonball Rag

Get the full instant download of "The Real Merle Travis Guitar - Like Father Like Son" here:
http://bit.ly/Ahooka

A small piece of Bresh's Homespun Tapes video. There are a lot of gems in short clip.

For the DVD version you can get it at Homespun Tapes:
http://bit.ly/wNklyF

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Thom
• Bresh
• travis
• picking
• folk
• flatpicking
• homespun
• cannonball
• rag
• instruction

[Nightmarelix]

Am I right in thinking that his technique is slightly different to Merle's?

To me it appears as if Merle only uses his index finger, where as Bresh uses both his in index AND middle finger. Am I correct?

[homespuntapes]

You are correct. He points this fact out in the full video. Good job in catching that!

[skullfoot]

this is merle's son???

[homespuntapes]

@skullfoot

Thom is Merle's son. It's a very cool video. I got a lot of insight into Travis Picking from it. --Adam Traum

[bloomingpower]

mind blowing

i france we had Marcel Dadi which was pretty good too doin rags

[haydenjames1973]

Yes, the Breshman took his stepfather's name because that is who raised him. He consulted Merle Travis and Merle told him "That's a good name to use". Thom is a great friend and neighbor, I also designed his website. Just so you know, I am a very reliable source.

[HollerboyHellbilly]

I have watched hundreds of instructional videos and I can honestly say that this is the best one I have ever seen. He is speaking my language.

[TheDarmardar]

very cool, thanks

[wibble7773]

many thanks- wonderfully clear explaination- all best wishes from ireland

[michauvon]

yep, does anyone know? Plz, prv me as well.... thx.

[Amulius]

Your right. A classic example of someone who didn't try to replicate his style, but was influenced by it, was Elliott Smith. You wouldn't realize it until you studied his picking in songs like Tomorrow tomorrow or Angeles that he was influenced by him, because he made it his own. Travis was an incredible guitarist, and he made the way for some musicians that have changed many lives.

[DannyDesperate]

It's strange how some simple instructional vids work, while most (despite the tech/tab/waffle) fail miserably. Thom is so comfortable here that he exudes confidence. Nice clip!

Merle was such an unorthodox player technically that it's hard (and counter productive) so to try to replicate his 'style'. Rather, it's all about feel and individuality and wanting to make the piece belong to you musically (as opposed to slavishly copying hand movements).