You have got that right..this is actually "playing" the guitar, like a piano-using all the chords, melodic linkages, 1958 is the year of my birth, and here he is playing like a champion!
@ROCKSTARCRANE Me too, I fell in love with his sound and have been working on it for about 47 years now. It seems to take a lifetime, minimum. It's a complete sound, almost like a trio playing. Lots o' fun to play like that.
Mr. Guitar !! Chet is my all-time favorite. I found it amusing to read that Chet actually disliked the “country accoutrements” that Gretsch put all over the original Chet Atkins guitars like this one : the horseshoe on the headstock, the wooden signpost on the pick guard, some guitars even had wood burned designs on the body. Chet referred to all of that as “bulls**t” Hahaha Miss you Chet !
I use to tell my wife if I could have anything I wanted before I died it would be just one guitar lesson from Chet Atkins. He was absolutely fantastic.
Chet was a truly amazing guitar player that made it look so easy. We are lucky to have so much footage. Us mere mortals trying to play like Chet need all the help we can get. ;-) Thanks for posting!
Those who can play Chet's style of finger-picking understand just how AWESOME it is to play it. It's like hitting a nail every time - so rhythmically while the melody leads it like a feather.
How true, as a high school teenager (I'm now 81) I was fascinated by Chet and Merle Travis' styles, and one day I suddenly got the touch for the technique, though nothing near approaching their talents. But I still play that style to try to keep in shape.
I've been listening to Chet since I was about 13 years old, and I still am amazed by how easy he makes it look to play like that. I play guitar for about 10 years now, still can't do a proper fingerpicking like Chet did.
I bought Chets great vinyl Album '' Chet Atkins Workshop'' back in 1961. This was a step away from his usual Country and Western style, which I hadn't heard of. I preffered all the Studio Gizmo sounds, but I read that many C&W fans disapproved of his 'Studio' LP. I saw it as, Chet, demonstratng that he could play ALL KINDS of music. He even made a cover LP of Beatle music.
Arguing, or even suggesting, who might have been the greatest guitarist is probably pointless and controversial for many reasons. That said, folks should consider that a man largely developed and popularized a style of playing that is commonly known by his name: Chet Atkins style picking. Even in 2020 UA-cam is full of guitarists young and old still emulating and covering this man’s music. Covering and playing ever faster or even in a more complicated manner is not the the same as virtually “inventing” a style that is known by your name decades later. Hail to the master. (Note 1 - yes, I know he was inspired by Merle and many things I said above apply to him, too.) (Note 2 - I cherish my Chet autograph scribbled for me when he appeared at record store in Macon (GA) about 1958.)
Ishaan Attri I had a few lessons when I was a young boy but I learned on my own and I am still learning and I have been playing the guitar for 45 years.
The Ozark Jubilee Show was created in the first place to compete against Nashville being the country's music capital. Ozark Jubilee was stationed in Missouri.
OK! Chet is amazing! One and two and with the thumb with the fingers playing the 'and' and melody , but I also discovered that he implemented a dual track because I hear a second track doing the one and two and while he plays his legato flourishes as the right hand breaks stride of the one and two and cadence i.e. listen to the melody and look at his right hand. This is amazing in itself because it also marks a time (1958) of multi-tracking. People used to tell me, "...it's only one guitar, one track!", but this video makes it apparent that he was also a master of cutting edge multi-tracking - so sneaky that you really have to watch closely and listen to catch it.
Yes, Chet Atkins was one great musician, who knew when to use accompaniment, and also knew players who would make it well. Paul Yandell was an excellent player, either playing melody line or accompaniment, but I don't think he played with Chet in '58. More likely that on this occasion it was a player (my guess: Henry D. "Homer" Haynes) in the back, with the drummer. Of course it could be playback, or a multitrack overdub, but I think a "man in the back" is more likely.
Both songs have a solo portion. In both cases Chet changes from doing his "boom chick" style picking to just playing the solo. In the first one the drums have come up to fill in the gap (maybe with a little double bass or something), so you hardly notice Chet's bass line has dropped out. In the second one it appears to be drums and piano to my ears. Whether it is indeed recorded or just people off screen accompanying. That's what I'm hearing anyway. The second part is clearly a piano though.
It's incredible how clean it sounds given he played at face melting volumes through a cranked Marshall Jubilee Head with two 4 X 12" cabs running his signal through his custom effects pedal board. It was either that rig or direct into a small Standel amp - I forget which. I might be confusing him with someone else.
Keep in mind that these are Chet's own arrangements. He put a lot of thought into keeping the arrangement interesting throughout and you will notice that when he repeats a lick it is always at least slightly different than previously executed. I can listen over and over and always find some subtlety I had missed earlier.
Les Paul and Chet Atkins were both giants and pioneers on the guitar. They mutually admired each other, witness their album"Chester and Lester"A comment comparing their abilities as polyphonic guitarists misses the mark by a mile.Thay were both geniuses at making the guitar speak. Chets playing often has a bass line, a hamony part and the melody being played at the same time; each line sounds beautful, and comments about "only two voices" being played are incorrect. Better luck next time pal.
he was right on both counts, but the may have been too modest with his own ranking. You listen to this stuff and it's hard to deny that he's one of the all-time greats for sure.
It's hard for me to imagine that this guy has ever been a beginner! Like the rest of us for the first few days or even weeks trying to pick the C chord without buzzing or mispressing. I can't shape that in my mind!
About the same time i did the first album i purchased was Hometown Guitar i still have all is vinyl albums there all on cd now i think i have all his recordings
@nothingbutmuzik I knew Merle Travis and Jimmy Rodgers and Maybelle Carter (I think) influenced Chet, but I didn't know Django did - I really got into Django when I got on UA-cam - Love learnin' and listenin'
@1954tele Les did in fact play harmonies together. Before Les Paul played guitar he was a Plectrum Banjo player which utilizes 3 and sometimes 4 part harmonies (1,3,5,6) Also, Chet's Bass line was always the 1, which so was his 1st part of harmony. Playing in 2 parts is so simple, Chet didn't have a real concept of harmony, all he learned was positions of it on the 1st and 2nd string. By the way, you spelled 'ignorance' wrong.
ahh.. love Chet! so nice! ...but,... lets not forget the man this style is named after! Merle Travis! " Travis picking!" Merle didnt invent it but he made his! and carried it to the world.
I hate to be critical of anything Chet Atkins, but the second song sounds like he is driving the amp a bit too hard, and the amp is breaking up on the chords a bit. The sound engineer is mostly to blame for that, but the break up of the sound in the chords is a bit annoying. This was in the era of tubes and a tube change was needed or turn the amp down a hair. That distortion in the chords detracts from his performance. Heaven knows he is one of the smoothest players ever, and I still love it.
@JoeTelly heey man, who cares if is easy or not, the real important thing is the melody, enjoing the music... fell what youre playing, i know a little of theory too, i play jazz and classical guitar and not for that im going to post all the critics in every video of music that i watch and the tesiture or stuffs like that... the music is not a big solo of guitar or a thing that you can use for presuntion... the music is about to melody and fellings.. cheers from mexico...i hope you the best :)
@andersistheman When people who don't understand it, but try to kid the people who do.. it's an insult to, as well as a poor representation of those who, in fact, have a true love and appreciation for such beauty.
i mean, he used what was cutting edge at the time. listen to china town my china town. delay had just been put into amps. who knows what he would have done with all the options we have now.
chet's style of finger picking is the one of most difficult style of guitar hands down along with classical style. and yes even harder than shredding.
Bass, rhythm, and lead....all at once. No tricks, no pre-recorded cheating. All I ever wanted to do was play like this man.....
if youre still alive 13 years later, he did have a rhythm section in the background.
55 years ago----it still sounds fresh and exciting. Wish I had known the man.
the best musicians make the simple stuff sound complex and the impossible look easy
You have got that right..this is actually "playing" the guitar, like a piano-using all the chords, melodic linkages, 1958 is the year of my birth, and here he is playing like a champion!
Atkins was simply amazing.
I have never such beautiful sounds coming from any guitar. What an amazing guitar player he is..a true master.
Had this album back i the day and wore it out!
The Master - The Greatest - the one and only Chet Atkins
@ROCKSTARCRANE Me too, I fell in love with his sound and have been working on it for about 47 years now. It seems to take a lifetime, minimum. It's a complete sound, almost like a trio playing. Lots o' fun to play like that.
Mr. Guitar !! Chet is my all-time favorite.
I found it amusing to read that Chet actually disliked the “country accoutrements” that Gretsch put all over the original Chet Atkins guitars like this one : the horseshoe on the headstock, the wooden signpost on the pick guard, some guitars even had wood burned designs on the body. Chet referred to all of that as “bulls**t” Hahaha Miss you Chet !
I still miss Chet. i do have all his Albums vinyl & on CD.
i just Love classic country thank God for Recordings.
its an old 1 called susan
I use to tell my wife if I could have anything I wanted before I died it would be just one guitar lesson from Chet Atkins. He was absolutely fantastic.
the greatest ever
Chet was a truly amazing guitar player that made it look so easy. We are lucky to have so much footage. Us mere mortals trying to play like Chet need all the help we can get. ;-) Thanks for posting!
Effortless tone grace style a must listen for any guitar player no matter what music your playing. His feel is something to add to your style.
Those who can play Chet's style of finger-picking understand just how AWESOME it is to play it. It's like hitting a nail every time - so rhythmically while the melody leads it like a feather.
How true, as a high school teenager (I'm now 81) I was fascinated by Chet and Merle Travis' styles, and one day I suddenly got the touch for the technique, though nothing near approaching their talents. But I still play that style to try to keep in shape.
Where would we be without Chet ?
i'm absolutely in LOVE with the lick played around 2:16... simply legendary
This is so very very beautiful
Thanks for the upload, an awesome guitarist!!!
love this. Thanks. I learned from him in the day.
Musically genius and humble person. Of course he should be named Mr. Guitar.
Mr Chet is and was the probably the best guitarist ever.
Hi Joe,
Chet plays this song in regular standard tuning...It's just pure perfection....Jack Baker NYC
magical moments......thanks for this
I've been listening to Chet since I was about 13 years old, and I still am amazed by how easy he makes it look to play like that. I play guitar for about 10 years now, still can't do a proper fingerpicking like Chet did.
same here dude...
+FretFreak02 JOIN THE CLUB!!!!
Chet's legacy lives on in Tommy Emmanuel, he learned from the master!
How many people has Chet inspired by his style since the recording industry got hot in the 50's ? Must be in the millions
Just amazing to watch such talent !:D
I bought Chets great vinyl Album '' Chet Atkins Workshop'' back in 1961. This was a step away from his usual Country and Western style, which I hadn't heard of. I preffered all the Studio Gizmo sounds, but I read that many C&W fans disapproved of his 'Studio' LP. I saw it as, Chet, demonstratng that he could play ALL KINDS of music. He even made a cover LP of Beatle music.
Agree with you 100% - Chet has no equal !
He makes it look so easy. I almost want to hate him for it. But I love him. And hate him. But love him WAY more.
The best there ever was =) This was real music!
Arguing, or even suggesting, who might have been the greatest guitarist is probably pointless and controversial for many reasons. That said, folks should consider that a man largely developed and popularized a style of playing that is commonly known by his name: Chet Atkins style picking. Even in 2020 UA-cam is full of guitarists young and old still emulating and covering this man’s music. Covering and playing ever faster or even in a more complicated manner is not the the same as virtually “inventing” a style that is known by your name decades later. Hail to the master. (Note 1 - yes, I know he was inspired by Merle and many things I said above apply to him, too.) (Note 2 - I cherish my Chet autograph scribbled for me when he appeared at record store in Macon (GA) about 1958.)
Great!!!!!
Mon année de naissance. Mr Chester Big chief.
The Greatest of all time
My guitar hero.
Ishaan Attri I had a few lessons when I was a young boy but I learned on my own and I am still learning and I have been playing the guitar for 45 years.
jaw dropping talent
absolutely jaw dropping
The Ozark Jubilee Show was created in the first place to compete against Nashville being the country's music capital. Ozark Jubilee was stationed in Missouri.
OK! Chet is amazing! One and two and with the thumb with the fingers playing the 'and' and melody , but I also discovered that he implemented a dual track because I hear a second track doing the one and two and while he plays his legato flourishes as the right hand breaks stride of the one and two and cadence i.e. listen to the melody and look at his right hand. This is amazing in itself because it also marks a time (1958) of multi-tracking. People used to tell me, "...it's only one guitar, one track!", but this video makes it apparent that he was also a master of cutting edge multi-tracking - so sneaky that you really have to watch closely and listen to catch it.
He also had Paul Yandle who not too bad himself
Good observation.
Yes, Chet Atkins was one great musician, who knew when to use accompaniment, and also knew players who would make it well. Paul Yandell was an excellent player, either playing melody line or accompaniment, but I don't think he played with Chet in '58. More likely that on this occasion it was a player (my guess: Henry D. "Homer" Haynes) in the back, with the drummer. Of course it could be playback, or a multitrack overdub, but I think a "man in the back" is more likely.
Both songs have a solo portion. In both cases Chet changes from doing his "boom chick" style picking to just playing the solo. In the first one the drums have come up to fill in the gap (maybe with a little double bass or something), so you hardly notice Chet's bass line has dropped out. In the second one it appears to be drums and piano to my ears. Whether it is indeed recorded or just people off screen accompanying. That's what I'm hearing anyway. The second part is clearly a piano though.
love his Gretsch.
@erikviking no, the magic lies where the talent is applied correctly
The first song is called "Delia" (not Villa).
He was great as a kid and can play anything!
I've never heard Vilia played like that before!
It's incredible how clean it sounds given he played at face melting volumes through a cranked Marshall Jubilee Head with two 4 X 12" cabs running his signal through his custom effects pedal board. It was either that rig or direct into a small Standel amp - I forget which. I might be confusing him with someone else.
🤣yeah, I think so.
Keep in mind that these are Chet's own arrangements. He put a lot of thought into keeping the arrangement interesting throughout and you will notice that when he repeats a lick it is always at least slightly different than previously executed. I can listen over and over and always find some subtlety I had missed earlier.
He's the Bob Ross of guitar. No effort! He's his own rhythm section
do ya know the name of this tune?
check out the video description: Villa and Say Si Si
Good analogy Kenyon.
I loved to just watch Bob do his stuff, even though I wasn't an artist.
name is susan
Picking all of those happy little notes.
Música boa, domina bem a guitarra.
Les Paul and Chet Atkins were both giants and pioneers on the guitar. They mutually admired each other, witness their album"Chester and Lester"A comment comparing their abilities as polyphonic guitarists misses the mark by a mile.Thay were both geniuses at making the guitar speak. Chets playing often has a bass line, a hamony part and the melody being played at the same time; each line sounds beautful, and comments about "only two voices" being played are incorrect. Better luck next time pal.
@squirrelnutcased and he did it very well.
when the first musician got the first little darling to follow him home.
i agree with you 100%
i always wonder would gretsch have sold as many guitars if they didnot have the chet atkins line?
he was right on both counts, but the may have been too modest with his own ranking. You listen to this stuff and it's hard to deny that he's one of the all-time greats for sure.
It's hard for me to imagine that this guy has ever been a beginner!
Like the rest of us for the first few days or even weeks trying to pick the C chord without buzzing or mispressing. I can't shape that in my mind!
i discoverd Chet Atkins in 1958 and 1959
+Larry Purdy the name was susan very popular in the 60ies
About the same time i did the first album i
purchased was Hometown Guitar i still have all is vinyl albums there all on cd now
i think i have all his recordings
@dookieday1 for sure dude, once Beatles started using them (after Chet) everyone wanted them
@nothingbutmuzik I knew Merle Travis and Jimmy Rodgers and Maybelle Carter (I think) influenced Chet, but I didn't know Django did - I really got into Django when I got on UA-cam - Love learnin' and listenin'
Chet listed Django as the no.1 greatest guitarist of the 20th century - incidently he listed himself no.8
Putting this on the next time i'm playing poker with the fellas
@1954tele Les did in fact play harmonies together. Before Les Paul played guitar he was a Plectrum Banjo player which utilizes 3 and sometimes 4 part harmonies (1,3,5,6) Also, Chet's Bass line was always the 1, which so was his 1st part of harmony. Playing in 2 parts is so simple, Chet didn't have a real concept of harmony, all he learned was positions of it on the 1st and 2nd string. By the way, you spelled 'ignorance' wrong.
ahh.. love Chet! so nice! ...but,... lets not forget the man this style is named after! Merle Travis! " Travis picking!" Merle didnt invent it but he made his! and carried it to the world.
Is there an era where this legend isn’t good???
@floppier Go listen to Les Paul, take a shot of Canadian Club, play a major scale in 4 part harmony, play moving chords, and call me in the morning.
classic
I'm fairly sure Brian would cite Chet as his main influence, if that has any bearing on what you've said, I don't know.
Country was way better then! I can't stand it today
@Dale Cooper country is dude sonnn been dead for at least 20 years
Dale Cooper agreed. I think we have to niche out via internet. Let me know if you come across some good country playin these days.
cool
yep
the real talent lies wherever its applied bro. Not just fingerstyle acoustic guitar.
And I am 15. This music is timeless. Unlike modern music. Modern music is incredibly poor.
You're right, this IS easy...If you're as GREAT as Chet was.
Wow :0)
I hate to be critical of anything Chet Atkins, but the second song sounds like he is driving the amp a bit too hard, and the amp is breaking up on the chords a bit. The sound engineer is mostly to blame for that, but the break up of the sound in the chords is a bit annoying. This was in the era of tubes and a tube change was needed or turn the amp down a hair. That distortion in the chords detracts from his performance. Heaven knows he is one of the smoothest players ever, and I still love it.
Goddamnit, George Harrison was the reason why I bought myself a Gretsch, but Chet Atkins is the reason why I'm embarassed to even play it...
Holy Lordamus. Look at that.
Ah the chiming Gretsch, accurate timeing, composure.Also a Studio Producer of Stars.
@MrZiontz Refer to my comment below. Octave differences are not 2 voices.
@JoeTelly heey man, who cares if is easy or not, the real important thing is the melody, enjoing the music... fell what youre playing, i know a little of theory too, i play jazz and classical guitar and not for that im going to post all the critics in every video of music that i watch and the tesiture or stuffs like that... the music is not a big solo of guitar or a thing that you can use for presuntion... the music is about to melody and fellings.. cheers from mexico...i hope you the best :)
@poppy3211000
Amen to that. He was the God of the Guitar. The fingers of angels.
when did music become a competition?
Always and never, is the only answer there, I think.
song is named susan by tobin matheww
He and his brother Tommy were the "thundering thumbs". No picks.
It has always been to a lot of people. A shame really, but it's a pretty natural consequence of the way we have built up society in general.
Oh my god I need tabs for Villa song...
@JoeTelly
Don't confuse mechanics with magic.
@32251 Atkins is definitely a master. But Blind Blake kills him at ragtime any day. And Chet Atkins seems to love ragtime over everything else.
@squirrelnutcased
Wow! How observant of you!
@Johi2410 I forgot to use thr sarcasm font!..Seriously agree though...
@andersistheman When people who don't understand it, but try to kid the people who do.. it's an insult to, as well as a poor representation of those who, in fact, have a true love and appreciation for such beauty.
the first one is the legend of zelda game over music
Since all the reality shows.
It is not easy to play like this at ANY tempo. Nobody has the touch of Atkins. NOBODY.
i mean, he used what was cutting edge at the time. listen to china town my china town. delay had just been put into amps. who knows what he would have done with all the options we have now.
I wonder if Toy Calwell played without a pick,because Chet did.
Its relativ easy to play cause of the low tempo. Open G makes sence for the picking structure.
Hermoso tema que no me sale carajo
unless you Chet....lol