How I learn John Prine fingerpicking songs

John Prine's fingerpicking songs share some common threads. These next couple of videos are my attempt to respond to a number of requests for direction about how to play specific songs.

Instead of trying to "teach" (which I'm not qualified to do) any one particular song, I've instead decided to share some of the insights I've gained while teaching myself a number of his fingerpicking songs over the years. This is part one of what I intend to be a two-part video.

It's my hope that these videos will serve as a helpful introduction for others who want to figure out how to play versions of Prine's fingerpicking songs which are recognizably faithful to the original recordings.

Which is all I've ever aspired to or ever done, by the way- I've probably never played a Prine fingerpicking song precisely the same as the original. Just somewhat recognizably faithful to, and in the spirit of the original.

A good "Travis Picking" lesson with numerous video and audio examples:

http://www.guitarland.com/Travis.html

On YouTube, do a search for "travis picking' for other helpful lessons.

YouTuber Justin Sandercoe teaches the Travis Picking fingerstyle method in this video- at times he unnecessarily "shows off" in my opinion by playing it really fast, but apart from that it's a good lesson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW9IbxIlFuo

Tommy Emmanuel discusses and demonstrates the alternating thumb style, giving a lesson to a live audience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue3-yyVilEg&NR=1

It's a helpful video and lots of fun, and in it he addresses how hard it can be at first to keep your thumb going, independent of what your fingers are doing.

Also have a look at "Travis Picking Deconstructed" here:

http://www.howtotuneaguitar.org/lessons/strumming-and-picking/travis-picking/

A couple of G, C and D Prine songs on YouTube-

Speed of the Sound of Loneliness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rzIiBd6snE

One Red Rose (audio only:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbD2zRXbAdU

A fine C, F and G fingerpicking song with a capo (!) on the fourth fret, "How Lucky:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8nvXgYkNRg

I want to help others figure out how to deconstruct and teach themselves these (any and all) John Prine fingerpicking songs by showing the way I've been learning them over the years.

The second video is still pending, and I welcome any suggestions about what I can include in it.

The video and audio are just very slightly out of synch in this video, courtesy of YouTube's "processing;" not enough to make a significant difference to what I'm demonstrating, just enough to piss me off.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• Prine
• fingerpicking
• acoustic
• guitar
• how
• to
• travis
• picking
• one
• red
• rose
• sabu
• capo
• alternating
• thumb
• lesson

[MrMickey7]

nice. are you using finger picks on your fingers

[jordanthecat]

@MrMickey7 No. I had broken my ring fingernail that week and was wearing a fake nail on that finger.

[Trunedk]

oh my god, your nails!

[jordanthecat]

@Trunedk One of them was a fake nail. The rest of them are real, and come in quite handy during hand-to-hand combat.

[DougM63]

great job, but dude, do your dishes......

[jordanthecat]

@DougM63 Yeah, you're right. Instead of (unsuccessfully) trying to shoot my video aroung the disaster in the background, I probably should have taken a few minutes and put the dish soap to good use beforehand.

[kdz101]

Thanks! Helps alot!

[welderMTL]

nice video

[Zsolto66]

@forbzee63 Look who's talking :) Hey Mark, long time no see -- I am glad to meet you here, this means you are working on some fingerstyle stuff :) This video is my Base Camp Zero -- this is where I myself started from.

Merry Christmas to you, pal!

Zsolt

[Zsolto66]

Hey Ian, I keep returning to this video now and again to see where I started from. I cannot tell you how many times I have watched this video here and on my smartphone while struggling with my first fingerpicked chords. You were THE instructor who put me on the road and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you for this and the other instruction videos you made. I am a happy customer -- I can work out my own covers now :)

Hope all is well, Merry Christmas to you, my YouTube friend.

Zsolt

[forbzee63]

Thank you for sharing this video my You Tube buddy Zsolt recomended your channel to me and I am glad he did I enjoy your videos

[juanduque71]

Thanks for all the resources! I've been meaning to learn travis picking and this is a great help!! And you can always do your dishes later. Your guitarplaying should always be the priority! Greetings from down south (South America, that is! (Medellín, Colombia)..

[MrVander80]

Gibson J-200???

[TahoeLegend]

Really enjoyed your video.

I have not been able to find part II though.

Did you ever do part II that you mentioned you were going to do?

[alaskaozzy]

@DougM63 I would rather play my guitar than practically anything else! Use paper plates!

[sirvaughn16]

I am old and not a fast learner. This helps a lot. I will use this when I am at my home in the jungles of Thailand. Also I have John Prine eyes.