As to your question on major projects, i think people start to simply doubt the impact that their project has on themselves and the community that supports it. I know personally, a nihilistic philosophy has crept in which makes me wonder the importance of anything I attempt, and overcoming this is a personal struggle. In the end, no community can help us accomplish these missions, and pushing ourselves can get hard. Those are just my thoughts. But since I may have your ear, I think you should know I am very excited to see what is coming up. Regardless of where you stand on this project, you are already teaching like a master of your trade, and I'm really greatful for this content. No matter what direction you choose for this channel, please keep it focused on the music and the craft. Like your pluck and chuck series - very cutting edge, and it's those kinds of lessons that really add fun and motivation for the rest of us to pick up our instruments and tune in. Keep it up!
Fair enough. Everyone definitely has their own experience of life, and sometimes even a lot of positive reinforcement can't bring us up. I think it depends. I definitely think it's a mistake to only look for validation from others to pursue your goals. Then again, it's frequently impossible to accomplish the kind of goals I'm talking about alone. Still working on that one...
Great lesson! Just one mention… he’s flying so fast through the canyons that he’s blowing notes everywhere. People look and say, “what in tarnation was that?!” as the notes floating back down, but they didn’t get a good look at what just went by. He needs to get the job done so he can be home in time for dinner.
Jon, thank you so much for these Treetop lessons, in particular. Can't wait for the advanced video. I've been checking out the tabs. And the landslide series - working on them. I've waited years, literally, checking youtube or anywhere - I would've bought a transcription - it was simply unavailable - for the Treetop Flyer. (I'm not counting the "use general Travis picking throughout" direction that accompanied the tabs that were available.) It's my favorite song. Hope I can do it some kind of justice. Thanks to you, I'm going to be much closer.
That's awesome! Yeah, Stephen Stills is the boss. He really pulls amazing things out of the tune. I haven't gotten the chance to learn my own transcription, but a lot of folks have been asking, so I think I've got my work cut out for me. I gotta see if I'm gonna have time, I've got a bunch of documentaries I'm working on this year, but it's been on the dome, for sure.
Not finished yet. I have a set of transcriptions available for what I would be teaching in the next lesson. www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/stephen-stills-treetop-flyer-live-tab-s411438t0 It's hard for me to get the advanced lessons out since the audience interested in them is fairly small and it takes a lot of work to get them out. If you'd like to see it come out, consider backing me on Patreon or taking private lessons for a few weeks. I'm teaching this song to another student, and if I had a little more skin in the game I could probably afford to finish the other two pieces I had designed for this song. No pressure, I'll just get to it at my own leisure otherwise.
Jon Michael Swift Your lessons are very presice and thorough, especially on a song like this. The details mean everything on Still's style. I'm anxious to see the next part of this lesson as well! I'll subscribe to stay tuned. I'm also looking over at your campaign video. There is a ton of nonsense on UA-cam, We need more teachers like you out there. Good work. 😊
Thanks so much! I'm about to explain my position on getting the advanced videos out in a Q & A I'll release today or tomorrow. There's a lot more interest in the advanced videos than I had previously thought so I'm definitely considering working on them again.
Just a reminder, go into the description box of this video by pushing "Show More" and you'll find links to a transcription I made of a live performance on the song. It's not as good as a video, but you can figure out the whole song from that if you're patient!
I went to Guitar Center to buy picks for all fingers and was surprised to find they only had metal ones. They weren't snug on my fingers either. I'm not used to all those picks but giving it my best shot.
Maybe I've missed it, but where's the "The next lesson in this sequence will go here when I make it. Remind me to link it in if I forget XD" (I don't see it linked here)? Great song and excellent instruction!
I have done a horrible job with this...still haven't made the next lesson yet. If you want, you can use the tab I made on Songsterr to figure the rest out that way. I did make a detailed transcription of the whole song, but I don't have a video lesson on it yet (as I haven't mastered it myself haha). Sorry for the confusion! Hope you can still go forward with the piece!
I do plan to, but I've got to get into the project where I revisit all this stuff. I may or may not get to it this year, but I have set up a project where I revisit this and some other Thumbpicking killers like 1952 VBL, The Merle Travis song book, etc. and get more into the advanced guitar work. I've got the series sketched, but I'd have to take a few months to master the playing before I'd want to shoot the lessons and performances.
I think that’s what I put in there? Anyway, he kind of screws with this song, so I’m not going to say what’s first or last, just that that cord is definitely in there.
Joel Simbrow If I do have other lessons, there is always a link to a lesson group page In the description. The wiki for city page for that has a link to the tab for the full song, but I haven’t made a video lesson for it yet.
hello jean Michel.. your explanations are great, but a bit toot fast (at least for me ! and about the dropped D chord.. I find so many variations on u tube.. (some are completely sill... some people better shut up!)I love this song and takin' up to guitar, after many days interruption... thanks..
Stills does a really brutal down up with his index finger on almost everything he picks. That finger has a mind of it's own. I'm not sure if he has a choice in what that finger does..., he refers to his picking style that he developed at a very young age as "Thumb and Jackhammer"..., very well named. It's the secret to being successful with Bluebird.
I believe you, and I've heard that elsewhere; I personally find it more difficult to figure out what's going on that way. In any case, I think it's an optional drone string, but you're more open to good melodies using the E string if you're familiar with the notes. I probably would be more authentic if I dropped the D, but I don't think this version ruins the song in any case.
You need to play the song through first, then break it down, and it doesn't work if you don't sing with it so we learn the complete sound and rhythm of the song
I wish i got here 6 years ago when this was posted to say talk less, play more. Most of us learn by ear and you didnt do a single playthrough, just talking.
Dude, “there’s not enough notes around here man” had me….song is great and you are a gr8 teacher
Thx man.. you got a good handle on Stills
I’d love a lesson Black Queen 🤙
Wonderful lesson, and a great breakdown of the song. You’ve done a great job of expressing the genius that is Stephen Stills
As to your question on major projects, i think people start to simply doubt the impact that their project has on themselves and the community that supports it. I know personally, a nihilistic philosophy has crept in which makes me wonder the importance of anything I attempt, and overcoming this is a personal struggle. In the end, no community can help us accomplish these missions, and pushing ourselves can get hard. Those are just my thoughts.
But since I may have your ear, I think you should know I am very excited to see what is coming up. Regardless of where you stand on this project, you are already teaching like a master of your trade, and I'm really greatful for this content.
No matter what direction you choose for this channel, please keep it focused on the music and the craft. Like your pluck and chuck series - very cutting edge, and it's those kinds of lessons that really add fun and motivation for the rest of us to pick up our instruments and tune in.
Keep it up!
Fair enough. Everyone definitely has their own experience of life, and sometimes even a lot of positive reinforcement can't bring us up. I think it depends. I definitely think it's a mistake to only look for validation from others to pursue your goals. Then again, it's frequently impossible to accomplish the kind of goals I'm talking about alone. Still working on that one...
You need rehab
Its a fucking song
"...there's not enough notes around here man..." haha - and just a great lesson. Thanks.
dude thank you so much for all you share you might not get as much as comments or views or subs but it means a lot when you share all this..
I figured as much. That's why I keep doing it ;-)
Thanks, good Job! Just now mine for the next month.
Great Lesson....Thanks for not assuming we're idiots. Thanks for not giving us a 10 minute concert. Great Lesson.
Love your style and videos, thank you
no problem. Just doin' me.
Great lesson! Just one mention… he’s flying so fast through the canyons that he’s blowing notes everywhere. People look and say, “what in tarnation was that?!” as the notes floating back down, but they didn’t get a good look at what just went by. He needs to get the job done so he can be home in time for dinner.
very cool thanks so much you made it very easy with the explanation of the dropped D
Def. Happy to help.
Excellent tutorial. Been trying to learn this song for years.
What finger picks do you like to use?
Great song! Great lesson.
Very nice tutorial thanks !
Thanks! Nice work!
Tune to tripple d, high e to d, then it really comes alive, thanks for the great lessons.
You bet!
Yes, then the "ambiguous D" is better known as D-modal (neither major nor minor, aka ambiguous)
Great Lesson -- I like your analogous style teaching - such as how you compared this to Dust in the Wind -- you're an excellent teacher.
F. A. Grieger No problem. I do what I can.
Play it through first one time, then explain the lesson.. There's a lot of instructional videos out there. Hot shot.
"THANK YOU" !! 👍😉
(Great Job) 😃👌
Jon, thank you so much for these Treetop lessons, in particular. Can't wait for the advanced video. I've been checking out the tabs. And the landslide series - working on them. I've waited years, literally, checking youtube or anywhere - I would've bought a transcription - it was simply unavailable - for the Treetop Flyer. (I'm not counting the "use general Travis picking throughout" direction that accompanied the tabs that were available.) It's my favorite song. Hope I can do it some kind of justice. Thanks to you, I'm going to be much closer.
That's awesome! Yeah, Stephen Stills is the boss. He really pulls amazing things out of the tune. I haven't gotten the chance to learn my own transcription, but a lot of folks have been asking, so I think I've got my work cut out for me. I gotta see if I'm gonna have time, I've got a bunch of documentaries I'm working on this year, but it's been on the dome, for sure.
“Ambiguous D” was my nick name in high school! (reference 1:05)
X-D amen
this was really helpful
Osm!
@@jonmichaelswift I am now playing this in my acoustic duo, and it sounds really good imo
Thank you very much 😎
You bet!
Great video! When is the next lesson due out? Or possibly I just can't find it. Thanks again for this incredibly well put together video.
Not finished yet. I have a set of transcriptions available for what I would be teaching in the next lesson.
www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/stephen-stills-treetop-flyer-live-tab-s411438t0
It's hard for me to get the advanced lessons out since the audience interested in them is fairly small and it takes a lot of work to get them out. If you'd like to see it come out, consider backing me on Patreon or taking private lessons for a few weeks. I'm teaching this song to another student, and if I had a little more skin in the game I could probably afford to finish the other two pieces I had designed for this song. No pressure, I'll just get to it at my own leisure otherwise.
Many thanks. I'll subscribe to stay up to date.
Jon Michael Swift Your lessons are very presice and thorough, especially on a song like this. The details mean everything on Still's style. I'm anxious to see the next part of this lesson as well! I'll subscribe to stay tuned. I'm also looking over at your campaign video. There is a ton of nonsense on UA-cam, We need more teachers like you out there. Good work. 😊
Thanks so much! I'm about to explain my position on getting the advanced videos out in a Q & A I'll release today or tomorrow. There's a lot more interest in the advanced videos than I had previously thought so I'm definitely considering working on them again.
Just a reminder, go into the description box of this video by pushing "Show More" and you'll find links to a transcription I made of a live performance on the song. It's not as good as a video, but you can figure out the whole song from that if you're patient!
Love your videos, thx for sharing with us. Can you please describe the finger picks you are using?🇺🇸
they are called alaskapiks. Search for my video "what are those things on your fingers?!?"
Sounds way better in original tuning DADGAD which CSNY used a lot.
Yeah, I thought this was written in Celtic tuning?
Your s great teacher! Very coherent and to the point. Thanks!
Nice guitar dude.What make is it
How many lessons do you have on this song Jon?? Thanks
Great lesson thanks. How long did it take to get used to playing wearing all the finger picks?
Is the ambiguous D chord anything like the tenacious D chord?
Thanks this is awesome!
Joe Ginseng no problem. Doin’ me.
I went to Guitar Center to buy picks for all fingers and was surprised to find they only had metal ones. They weren't snug on my fingers either. I'm not used to all those picks but giving it my best shot.
Great lesson for a great song from Stills. Can you tells me what type "name" finger picks you're using. I would like to get some.
Alaskapiks!
Maybe I've missed it, but where's the "The next lesson in this sequence will go here when I make it. Remind me to link it in if I forget XD" (I don't see it linked here)? Great song and excellent instruction!
I have done a horrible job with this...still haven't made the next lesson yet. If you want, you can use the tab I made on Songsterr to figure the rest out that way. I did make a detailed transcription of the whole song, but I don't have a video lesson on it yet (as I haven't mastered it myself haha). Sorry for the confusion! Hope you can still go forward with the piece!
Hi Jon. Did you complete the solo video fr treetops flyer?
Awesome lesson... Will you ever do a lesson on the solo?
I do plan to, but I've got to get into the project where I revisit all this stuff. I may or may not get to it this year, but I have set up a project where I revisit this and some other Thumbpicking killers like 1952 VBL, The Merle Travis song book, etc. and get more into the advanced guitar work. I've got the series sketched, but I'd have to take a few months to master the playing before I'd want to shoot the lessons and performances.
Where is the second part...? You mentioned soloing.... I don't see a video in your list. Thanks for any info.
He finally did it ☝🏻
Cool thanks for the vid but the first chord? Think it's first finger first fret B string second on second fret G string.
I think that’s what I put in there? Anyway, he kind of screws with this song, so I’m not going to say what’s first or last, just that that cord is definitely in there.
may I ask what brand fingerpicks you use?
We’re did you get the “fingernail” picks?
nyc bro
Can you go into the finger pattern picking a little more, how the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers are used here please.
PM me on my channel page. I'm a little swamped at the moment but I'd like to answer you if I can.
Just did I believe on your home page ?
Is it the best chord in the world?
What is the name of those finger picks ?
thanks so much. is there a link to the other parts of this lesson?
Joel Simbrow If I do have other lessons, there is always a link to a lesson group page In the description. The wiki for city page for that has a link to the tab for the full song, but I haven’t made a video lesson for it yet.
thanks again for the lesson. I watched the live video of Mr. Stills on UA-cam a few times and "copped" some of his licks.
What finger picks do you use?
Yea, my bad, saw it further on. watched him play it live n yes he really changes it around. Even the lyrics.
what type of finger picks you using ?
hello jean Michel.. your explanations are great, but a bit toot fast (at least for me !
and about the dropped D chord.. I find so many variations on u tube.. (some are completely sill... some people better shut up!)I love this song and takin' up to guitar, after many days interruption... thanks..
Hey what is number 1 of this
I think the verse is the #1. It's the main comping cycle. You don't need to know anything else to play the song.
When my father was fighting, with French Foreign Legion,in early 1950s.....he didn't have these options...
have you posted the tabs or written then down anywhere?
Yup. Go to the wikiversity page in the description, you'll find it.
what tuning is this
Drop the low E to C, drop the A to G and capo 3. Enjoy!
Stills does a really brutal down up with his index finger on almost everything he picks. That finger has a mind of it's own. I'm not sure if he has a choice in what that finger does..., he refers to his picking style that he developed at a very young age as "Thumb and Jackhammer"..., very well named. It's the secret to being successful with Bluebird.
It’s not that complicated my friend. Lot going on though.
Thanks!
Are those finger cots, or . . .
Stills plays in double drop D tuning
Both E strings should be tuned to D.
I believe you, and I've heard that elsewhere; I personally find it more difficult to figure out what's going on that way. In any case, I think it's an optional drone string, but you're more open to good melodies using the E string if you're familiar with the notes. I probably would be more authentic if I dropped the D, but I don't think this version ruins the song in any case.
Yeah, post us a vid to show us how he plays it like that then?!
You need to play the song through first, then break it down, and it doesn't work if you don't sing with it so we learn the complete sound and rhythm of the song
Noted!
wouldn't even be here if I wanted "simple".....I'm in the Desert....
Haha, don't give up!
I wish i got here 6 years ago when this was posted to say talk less, play more. Most of us learn by ear and you didnt do a single playthrough, just talking.
Please tune your instrument
Kindly shut the fuck up
Just fresh strings
Gawd you talk a lot
Too much talk and BS just get to it and play it.
So…..this guy cannot even play the tune. Not even freakin close.
Too technical... fall azzleep quickly.
Play the dam song !!!!
Did you forget to read the title? LESSON, not COVER.
@@KingofRoath well a lesson would be a touch nicer if at least a run through of the tune is played, don't you think?
Soooooo much talking!!!