Chet's right hand nails

Discussion of history's greatest guitar player.

Re: Chet's right hand nails

Postby Norm » Sat Nov 04, 2017 9:27 pm

A couple of points here.

Doug, sometimes you overthink things in your desire to be "just like Chet"

Sure, sometimes he anchored. Other times he kept his hand lightly on the knob of his personal Bigsby handle. On guitars with the regular handle, not so much.

Chet's playing can be copied pretty closely...95% at least but those who can do it will tell you it is PRACTICE more than anything else.

There are no shortcuts.

Here's one way to do it:

Look through your back issues of Mr. Guitar and pick out one of the simpler songs they have tabbed out.

Focus on the first measure till you get it absolutely correct.

Go to the second measure...same thing...play the two together till it sounds right.

Do that, one measure at a time until you finally get the whole thing. By that time you may not like the song anymore except you will hear yourself "getting it"

It does happen. But you need to focus on PRACTICE.

I remember my first song when it all fell into place for me. "I am a Pilgrim" it was, back around 1959. My independent thumb finally kicked in and I was off to the races.

Could/can I play like Chet? No. I didn't focus on playing just like him.

But I played a lot of finger style guitar heavily based on Chet's playing

When I was learning how to play there was no Youtube. Youtube knows all, sees all. It's right in front of you!

Sorry for such a long post but I used to teach guitar and had to get one method in.
...that's how it looks to me...The opinion expressed above is my own and does not necessarily reflect the views of this station. Your mileage may vary...

Audio samples: http://www.youtube.com/user/acountrygent/videos
That should do it.
Norm
 
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Re: Chet's right hand nails

Postby Doug Working » Sun Nov 05, 2017 12:59 pm

Glad you brought up that one measure at a time idea, because I have been employing it a lot lately. Working on some classical exudes by Giulliani and Carcassi. Some are extremely difficult. Real knuckle busters! But I'm finding that focusing on separate measures is really producing fruit.

Then, after I do that, I work on the most difficult ones, and my overarching goal is to MEMORIZE it so I can play it without the sheet music. Want to learn how to "play the piece in my sleep". Do NOT want to have to depend on the written music.

Then the final step is to CONNECT the measures with each other so I can play smoothly without a hitch, connecting all the measures straight through from beginning to end.

Doug
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Re: Chet's right hand nails

Postby ceciltguitar » Tue Nov 07, 2017 6:50 pm

Here are some threads about nail care from other guitar forums with lots of ideas about nail care:

http://www.classicalguitardelcamp.com/v ... m.php?f=87

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=452910

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...90#post5182590

I hope that you find a solution that works for you!

Best regards,
tom
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