They Don't Pick Like This Anymore

Say what you want about all the shredders out there,
no-one can pick like the old boys these days.

From 1975, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed.

I still wish I could play like that.

Hard to beat.

Love it!

I really love good pickin'.
I was lucky enough to grow up, knowing a lot of amateur country and bluegrass players..I have great memories of it.

Hope you don't mind, I'd like to add a clip.

This is Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Pretty common, and well known song.
This collection of musicians is called:
"Men with Banjos, Who Know How to Use them"

But check out who's pickin'!

Originally posted by spacedoubt
Hope you don't mind, I'd like to add a clip.

Don't mind at all. Feel free.

But check out who's pickin'!

Yeah, I saw this the first time it was on Letterman.
Loved it then, love it now.
Those men with banjos do indeed know how to use them!

Not really my style.. but there is a reason Chet was called Mr. Guitar.

Here is another countryish player

Jerry Donahue

He goes to town in the second half of this interview. Playing Jerry Reed's the Claw



Just jaw dropping!

I'm definitely not a big fan of this kind of music either, but I have complete and total respect for their skill and dexterity. I cant even fathom being able to pick that well. Only in my dreams.

Good to see Skruggs still bringin it home.

Woo-hoo!! Now we're pickin'!

Cug, thanks for posting that Jerry Donahue video.
That guy is a string bendin' machine.
That kind of accuracy with multi-string bends takes years of practice.

Originally posted by Cug

Just jaw dropping!

Agreed. This guy wholeheartedly kills it in this video. Too bad talent such of this always seems to be relegated to some lesser known form of music, and that this guy will never make as much money as The White Stripes, despite posessing more talent than the two whites combined.

I could practice 24/7 for the next 5 years and would still not be able to replicate that skill.

Nice vid find Cug!

Of all the genres of music I really like, bluegrass is way up there. Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, anyone?

There's a big bluegrass festival in Bean Blossom, Indiana every year, founded by Bill Monroe. A heckuva event if you like bluegrass. And may be short-lived as the campgrounds where the festival is held is up for sale. Not particularly good news. Potentially.

For sheer guitar skill and virtuosity, for my money, Chet Atkins was the best ever.

Originally posted by yeahright
Of all the genres of music I really like, bluegrass is way up there. Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, anyone?

Saw them at a small theater here in Daytona a couple years back. Wow!
No wonder Kentucky Thunder keeps winning "bluegrass band of the year".

For sheer guitar skill and virtuosity, for my money, Chet Atkins was the best ever.

I'll second that. He could do it all, and did it clean, clean, clean!!
Just the best.

Here's some more Chet. "Dark Eyes" from way back in the '50s.
Note the gorgeous tone coming out of that old Gretsch.
Sweet beyond belief.

Some ol' time picking

Joe Maphis, Larry Collins, and Merle Travis playing Wildwood Flower

That's some fine flat pickin' there!
I love those old guitars, too.
Mosrite Joe Maphis Doubleneck. They started making them in 1955, I think.

Good find, cug!

Originally posted by subject x
That's some fine flat pickin' there!
I love those old guitars, too.
Mosrite Joe Maphis Doubleneck. They started making them in 1955, I think.

Good find, cug!

If you like the Joe Maphis Mosrites check out Deke Dickerson's gear page
www.dekedickerson.com...

Oh someone who can pick like that nowdays.

Brian Setzer - Guitar Rag


He is reason I own a big Orange Gretsch

You just had to bring up Setzer, didn't you, cug?
Definitely one of my favorite players. Makes me want to buy a Gretsch, too.
Every time I see him, I just want to smack him one, he's so good.

Another of my favorite flat-pickers is Tony Rice.

Tony plays the first guitar solo.