Page 1 of 7

Help for beginners

PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 3:29 pm
by Mike Detlefsen
An email acquaintance asked me to recommend some learning aids for Chet-style. He's into jazz guitar at the moment and has no experience at fingerpicking. I'm self-taught and have no idea what is out there to help learn from scratch. Anybody have some recommendations and where such material might be found?

Mike

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 4:47 pm
by Tony Enamel
Hi Mike,

how about Buster's DVDs? Especially "Fingerstyle Guitar From The Ground Up".

http://www.melbay.com/authors.asp?author=647

Regards,

Ingo

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:56 pm
by David Elliott
I think one of the most helpful instructional books I've ever seen for the beginner, was published some years ago and entitled 'The Anthology of Fingerstyle Guitar' by Tommy Flint. I don't know if it's even still available, but you might Google it.

David

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:01 pm
by David Elliott
Looks like it's on Amazon-dot-com...

http://www.amazon.com/Mel-Bay-Anthology ... 930&sr=8-1

David

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:28 pm
by bill_h
I was gonna recommend Buster B's "From The Ground Up" also and there's also the video that Chet and John Knowles did. I couldn't imagine any better instruction than you'd find with those aids.

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:19 pm
by Bryan B.
I have been "deep diving" on this very same topic for for about 2 years and recommend the book/CD "Fingerstyle Guitar Method by Tommy Emmanuel available from Mel Bay.

I have Buster's Vol.1 video but don't like it as much...Tommy Emmanuel's playing technique is that same as Chet's and I have been striving for accuracy.

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:57 pm
by David Elliott
"Tommy Emmanuel's playing technique is that same as Chet's and I have been striving for accuracy"...

I'm afraid I can't see the similarity to Chet's style and sound, in Tommy's playing. I don't mean that as a critisism of Tommy's playing, but merely as an observation. Tommy Emmanuel is most assuredly a great guitarist, but his sound (tone) and 'style' of playing is entirely different than that of Chet Atkins in my opinion.

David

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 3:33 pm
by Terry Tolley
David Elliott wrote:Tommy Emmanuel's playing technique is that same as Chet's and I have been striving for accuracy...

I'm afraid I can't see the similarity to Chet's style and sound, in Tommy's playing.

David


David - I have to agree here. Tommy's style is as different from Chet's as Chet's is from Merle's style. They each are different directions - different sounds. The similarities are there but as for being the same....absolutely not, and thank goodness it isn't! I love the variety.

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:12 pm
by cgprnd
I'll have to agree also. Just look at the way each of them handles a thumb-pick. Study the difference in their techniques.

Rande

Re: Help for beginners

PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:58 pm
by Roger Hardin
Rande wrote in response to Chet's and Tommy's RH Technique:
I'll have to agree also. Just look at the way each of them handles a thumb-pick. Study the difference in their techniques.


I hope I don't get into any trouble for saying this but here it is: Chet and Tommy are two of the best guitarist to ever grace this planet with their presence. They both anchor(ed) their rh pinkie on the pickguard or top when playing. Nothing wrong with that at all if it works do it. I use 4 fingers on my rh (pima) and sometimes use the pinkie for chords and if I try to anchor my pinkie I almost totally disable the "a" finger. I guess studying classical guitar may have broke me from that if I ever did it I really cannot remember. I tend to use my palm as an anchor when playing. I have also noticed while being around other thumbpickers that I seem to be the only one who does not anchor my rh pinkie. My son does not anchor but I am sure he picked that up from me.

Are there any other players (except Classical) who do not anchor with the rh pinkie?