I first saw this video around 13 years ago, then again 5 years ago. I am now much more capable of seeing what's going on here, and it get's better as I understand guitar more and more every year
Bryan Sutton is not only a phenominal musician, he is a very kind person. He performed at the Grady Martin tribute 8 years back. He's a lovely gentleman. Sutton, Thom Bresh and Lil' Frankie Carter are among my favorite flat pickers. Interesting to note that each of these flat-pickers has a unique personality all their own that can be heard in the way they bring deliver their music.
So many great flat pickers- Sutton, Kenny Smith, Tony Rice, Kaufman, Greer, Stafford, Eric Thompson, Josh Williams, Clay Hess, and so many more. But Doc and Norman Blake are my all time favs. I love the skill and the Gladwell 10,000+ hours of practice to get to where these guys are. Bluegrass: where true musicianship rules!
God Bless Bryan. I'll never forget his performing at Grady Martin's big send-off at the Belcourt theatre in Nashville three days after Grady's burial. Bryan is so brilliant yet so kind. His fingers tell his life's story so beautifully.
Everything changes between generations and bluegrass is no exception. You don't have to be in love with where some of the new pickers take it, but you have to admit it's original and in cases like this insanely fuckin' impressive. Bryan's the man.
ooh my god,,,this guy is thiiii most wiicked,,,,i'll be sitting here the whole week trying to figure out what and how the hell is doing these things! I'll love this style and he's one of the best I've seen,,,
No one could ever doubt the virtuosity of this very talented young man, but to my ears this is just too much. There is no breaks, only an endless series of notes. I'm glad there are lots of choices in great music. Vive La Fiddle pickin'!
Hey, I found an old Frankie Carter video. I'll post it as soon as I get a chance. He looks about 10 in this old film. He's now a wild and crazy young country rock star. He's just darling!
Glad you liked them. Cody Kilby is incredible (on several instruments: national champion on guitar and mandolin and runner-up on banjo). There are just some really amazing flat-pickers out there.
When I first got on UA-cam, I accidentally gave a video (Nat King Cole) a three star rating instead of a five star but found there was no way to retract it. Perhaps this is what happened here because I can't imagine anyone giving this video anything less then five stars. He's awesome.
To try to rank them in terms of their talent completely overlooks the point of music. Frankly, it's the diversity of talent and styles that makes it so compelling and enjoyable.
This guy is great! Love is tone and style. Very smooth. I wish he'd record an album with Chris Thile (and not just a posted jam, although that's cool too). They play beautifully together.
I did a UA-cam search to find there are no links to Frankie Carter. The kid rocks! What's wrong with this world? Frankie and is siblings were recently signed to a major label. (Artists sign to a major label because major labels (supposedly) have superior marketing skills.) yeah, right... NO "MySpace" visibility! That's alright. We love you, Frankie. You and your gorgeous sisters will survive "major label" stardom and live far beyond.
Mandolin1944: I totally agree with you. I like Bryan's exact and clear pickings and believe nobody opposes such pickings of him. BUT I prefer first one minute and want to skip hearing the rest. It's something like his exercise of picking. I also believe Bryan will play in another way after ten years with exact and clear pickings which I like.
Picks in bluegrass are as hot a topic as any other. I like the Cool Cat Tongue 1.00mm but preferred the 1.14mm until they quit making them. I like the texture that makes them easy to hang onto. Many just use the Dunlop Tortex while others use real tortoise shell picks (actually illegal in the U.S.) I've seen some using buffalo horn. Some use picks as heavy as 1.5mm while awesome guitarists like Steve Kaufman only use at .76mm nylon pick. Buy lots then find what you like.
While I agree that Bryan is way out there in terms of talent, it really is absurd to continue to perpetuate this idea that there has to be a "best" in music. Music is not a competition. As others have pointed out, there are many exceptionally talented guitarists out there. On any given night, any of them are capable of delivering mind-blowing performances.
Horse Shit!!! Bryan is one of the best flat pickers I've ever heard! I've been playing 45 years...all different genres. He has incredible technique, plays with great taste..and is capable of playing anything he wants to!
@mrbdb64 I believe that's a Bourgeois - Country Boy. It's much nicer than any D28 with the exception of those 30's and 40's gems and maybe even some of the new D28V's.
haha, been there before! I have to agree with the other reply though: practice more! Let it inspire you more than discourage you...it's 50/50 and the choice is yours...work well!
Tony Rice would probably say Bryan is great. But why compare apples and oranges? They are both wonderful musicians. Yep, I agree, there are thousands of great pickers out there!
Bryan shows us how!!!!!. His picking is phenomenal ....clear, strong & precise. Bryan is another important link in the chain of bluegrass greats & is obviously heavily influenced by Doc Watson. Notice the almost imperceptible movement of the fingers of his fretting hand. That is the secret of speed playing. Oh...plus 12 hours a day practise.
Stand by for a full tab of this whole video folks, coming very soon. I have to learn this beauty! Give me a week or so. I have a Tony Rice tab done as well if you are interested ua-cam.com/video/yvUXS1YY5hM/v-deo.html
No offense, but that really is an absurd comment. Bryan Sutton is a superb guitarist but go see guys like Steve Kaufman (3-time national champion), Roy Curry (two-time national champion and second and third), David Grier, and Cody Kilby live and then tell me that anyone is "hands down" the best guitarist. There are MANY excellent guitarists out there, many of whom play fiddle tunes/bluegrass/old time music extremely well.
I agree. Sutton is a fantastic guitarist but improvisation can be, and often is, overdone but lots of folks. It's like the version of "Lonesome Moonlight Waltz" on UA-cam by Sutton and Thile. After about the first minute, you have no idea what they're playing. Likewise for Andy Falco playing "Cherokee Shuffle." Great musicians all but keeping things at least somewhat familiar is sort of the point, isn't it?
Bryan is just about as fluid and mistake free in his playing as possible. I don't like comparing players because it can turn into a bash-fest, but I don't think anyone was/is better than Tony Rice when he was at his peak from about 1973 through about 1993. Tony's still up at the top now, but he has company now too.
Clarence White and Tony Rice (were/are) excellent as is Sutton. However, unless you've personally seen guys like Steve Kaufman, Roy Curry, Cody Kilby, David Grier, (all of whom I've seen live) and many others, it really is just a silly statement to say Sutton (or ANY one guitarist) is the best, cleanest or whatever. I watched one of my Steve Kaufman videos just last night and I'd put him up against Sutton any day, tell you to close your eyes and say "Pick one."
Improvisation is great but bluegrass and old-time are not like jazz in which it's often a deal where five guys are in the same key doing their own thing then periodically get in unison. Basically, this is an old fiddle tune and as with any existing tune, isn't the goal to do it in such a way that it's clean, in time, and familiar? Sure you can dress it up a bit but getting to the point that it isn't familiar defeats the purpose of performing an existing song.
Sutton is an outstanding flat picker -- no doubt about that. But I did not like this version of Texas Gales much -- in my opinion it was played WAY too fast and so many EXTRA notes and runs that the orignal melody was nearly lost in the flurry. The "A" part was there -- the the "B" part unrecognizable, and the "C" part somewhere in between. It a really pretty fiddle tune ordinarily.
The vast majority of the flatpicking world disagrees with you. But, as they say in economics, there is no accounting for taste. However, you would have been better to state your opinion as such, rather than trying to aver it as fact.
Bryan better than Tony? Could Sam Bush be compared to Bill Monroe? Can you separate the historic significance from the technique? Tony was there at some historic moment, Sutton was wearing diapers at the time, and there's nothing anyone can do about it, sorry to say. God bless the pioneers, George Shuffler, Doc Watson & Clarence White AND Tony Rice. Without them, there would be no Sutton.
![Billy Strings and Bryan Sutton - Texas Gales [Doc Watson's Guitar, Ol' Hoss]](/img/n.gif)
I first saw this video around 13 years ago, then again 5 years ago. I am now much more capable of seeing what's going on here, and it get's better as I understand guitar more and more every year
I've been playing for 23 years I understand very well what's going on here....don't necessarily means I can play it....😂
Bryan Sutton is not only a phenominal musician, he is a very kind person. He performed at the Grady Martin tribute 8 years back. He's a lovely gentleman. Sutton, Thom Bresh and Lil' Frankie Carter are among my favorite flat pickers.
Interesting to note that each of these flat-pickers has a unique personality all their own that can be heard in the way they bring deliver their music.
So many great flat pickers- Sutton, Kenny Smith, Tony Rice, Kaufman, Greer, Stafford, Eric Thompson, Josh Williams, Clay Hess, and so many more. But Doc and Norman Blake are my all time favs. I love the skill and the Gladwell 10,000+ hours of practice to get to where these guys are. Bluegrass: where true musicianship rules!
Don't wanna forget about Cody Kilby,hloss...=:)
OldDobroPicker oops..hoss...geez i hate gettin' old
God Bless Bryan. I'll never forget his performing at Grady Martin's big send-off at the Belcourt theatre in Nashville three days after Grady's burial. Bryan is so brilliant yet so kind. His fingers tell his life's story so beautifully.
Everything changes between generations and bluegrass is no exception. You don't have to be in love with where some of the new pickers take it, but you have to admit it's original and in cases like this insanely fuckin' impressive. Bryan's the man.
ooh my god,,,this guy is thiiii most wiicked,,,,i'll be sitting here the whole week trying to figure out what and how the hell is doing these things! I'll love this style and he's one of the best I've seen,,,
No one could ever doubt the virtuosity of this very talented young man, but to my ears this is just too much. There is no breaks, only an endless series of notes. I'm glad there are lots of choices in great music. Vive La Fiddle pickin'!
This is awesome, he has great control with his volume, and....everything in general!...love the tune
This guy is at the top of the flatpicking food chain for sure
Bryan Sutton is just awesome! Best bluegrass guitarist ever.
Indeed the master! :)
Lord have mercy on any aspiring new pickers! This could be cause to put your instrument up for sale!! Fantastic picking!!
Not I, said the Walrus.
I would definitely pay to see that.
that reststroke on the upstroke and the double pick slanting thats really something.
Hey, I found an old Frankie Carter video. I'll post it as soon as I get a chance. He looks about 10 in this old film. He's now a wild and crazy young country rock star. He's just darling!
Glad you liked them. Cody Kilby is incredible (on several instruments: national champion on guitar and mandolin and runner-up on banjo). There are just some really amazing flat-pickers out there.
When I first got on UA-cam, I accidentally gave a video (Nat King Cole) a three star rating instead of a five star but found there was no way to retract it. Perhaps this is what happened here because I can't imagine anyone giving this video anything less then five stars. He's awesome.
i wish there were more vids like this of bryan.
simply amazing. i need to see him live.
Great video, great close up shots, too. Thanks for posting this!
That guitar sounds awesome!! Bryan is king!!
OMG...that's fantastic!
This guy is at the top of thew flatpicking food chain for sure
CHRIST. I slowed this down to half speed and it's still fasts af, and he picks every notes from what I can tell. 1:22
Love listening to him.
1:06 - That's just classy
It's not just this video either. I don't think any song by him has ever caught my ear. However, I do give him lots of credit for his technical skill.
Bryan rules!
To try to rank them in terms of their talent completely overlooks the point of music. Frankly, it's the diversity of talent and styles that makes it so compelling and enjoyable.
My guitar teacher!
So neat!
beautiful...
Fantastic !
amazing
Good stuff.
Love it!
1:25 wow
Virtuoso.
In the words of Snooker announcers "the boy is a genius"
This guy is great! Love is tone and style. Very smooth. I wish he'd record an album with Chris Thile (and not just a posted jam, although that's cool too). They play beautifully together.
I did a UA-cam search to find there are no links to Frankie Carter.
The kid rocks!
What's wrong with this world?
Frankie and is siblings were recently signed to a major label.
(Artists sign to a major label because major labels (supposedly) have superior marketing skills.)
yeah, right... NO "MySpace" visibility!
That's alright. We love you, Frankie.
You and your gorgeous sisters will survive "major label" stardom and live far beyond.
Good attitude bro
@TheWholetones that's why they've called him "The Executioner" since he was 17.
Mandolin1944:
I totally agree with you. I like Bryan's exact and clear pickings and believe nobody opposes such pickings of him. BUT I prefer first one minute and want to skip hearing the rest. It's something like his exercise of picking. I also believe Bryan will play in another way after ten years with exact and clear pickings which I like.
Picks in bluegrass are as hot a topic as any other. I like the Cool Cat Tongue 1.00mm but preferred the 1.14mm until they quit making them. I like the texture that makes them easy to hang onto. Many just use the Dunlop Tortex while others use real tortoise shell picks (actually illegal in the U.S.) I've seen some using buffalo horn. Some use picks as heavy as 1.5mm while awesome guitarists like Steve Kaufman only use at .76mm nylon pick. Buy lots then find what you like.
What the hell? Someone gave me "thumbs down" just for pointing out another video with an excellent guitarist?
I think this is amazing! And my prefered genres of music are Death Core, Metal and Dubstep xD but this guy is incredibly talented!
he's a good picker
I checked them out and they threw it down. good call. by the way, kilby is gnarly a this craft.
me too.
While I agree that Bryan is way out there in terms of talent, it really is absurd to continue to perpetuate this idea that there has to be a "best" in music. Music is not a competition. As others have pointed out, there are many exceptionally talented guitarists out there. On any given night, any of them are capable of delivering mind-blowing performances.
What's beautiful about Brian's virtuosity is that he isn't using it to play pop music in a bluegrass style.
Horse Shit!!! Bryan is one of the best flat pickers I've ever heard! I've been playing 45 years...all different genres. He has incredible technique, plays with great taste..and is capable of playing anything he wants to!
@mrbdb64
I believe that's a Bourgeois - Country Boy. It's much nicer than any D28 with the exception of those 30's and 40's gems and maybe even some of the new D28V's.
Check out this music clip: Leftwich, House, Kilby - Melee on the Backstretch (just copy and paste).
Me too, but catstomp has a point - Bryan doesn't let the melody breathe even for a sec haha. Regardless - awesome flatpicking.
who knows what guitar he's usin in this?
the guitar is a country boy deluxe not his d-150
haha, been there before! I have to agree with the other reply though: practice more! Let it inspire you more than discourage you...it's 50/50 and the choice is yours...work well!
great lightning picking, is that a 44mm nut guitar?
Tony Rice would probably say Bryan is great. But why compare apples and oranges? They are both wonderful musicians. Yep, I agree, there are thousands of great pickers out there!
What kind of guitar is he playing?
Bryan shows us how!!!!!. His picking is phenomenal ....clear, strong & precise. Bryan is another important link in the chain of bluegrass greats & is obviously heavily influenced by Doc Watson.
Notice the almost imperceptible movement of the fingers of his fretting hand. That is the secret of speed playing. Oh...plus 12 hours a day practise.
Lord help me...
Is that a Martin D28 ?
sickness. crazy good. i'm afraid
8-O ...... dude!
@flatopguy i dont think you will find an answer soon! :-)
best
7 people are jealous!
Not bad..haha...I think its safe to say Bryan has practiced a time or two in his day. :)
bourgeois country boy deluxe
Stand by for a full tab of this whole video folks, coming very soon. I have to learn this beauty! Give me a week or so.
I have a Tony Rice tab done as well if you are interested ua-cam.com/video/yvUXS1YY5hM/v-deo.html
Tab? :-DDDD
i do believe he's using his bourgois
:) :) :)
You forgot John Moore
No offense, but that really is an absurd comment. Bryan Sutton is a superb guitarist but go see guys like Steve Kaufman (3-time national champion), Roy Curry (two-time national champion and second and third), David Grier, and Cody Kilby live and then tell me that anyone is "hands down" the best guitarist. There are MANY excellent guitarists out there, many of whom play fiddle tunes/bluegrass/old time music extremely well.
I agree. Sutton is a fantastic guitarist but improvisation can be, and often is, overdone but lots of folks. It's like the version of "Lonesome Moonlight Waltz" on UA-cam by Sutton and Thile. After about the first minute, you have no idea what they're playing. Likewise for Andy Falco playing "Cherokee Shuffle." Great musicians all but keeping things at least somewhat familiar is sort of the point, isn't it?
i think brian and cody should have dual off
maybe cody kilby?
Bryan is just about as fluid and mistake free in his playing as possible. I don't like comparing players because it can turn into a bash-fest, but I don't think anyone was/is better than Tony Rice when he was at his peak from about 1973 through about 1993. Tony's still up at the top now, but he has company now too.
1:23... WTF!!!! I think he wins guitar!
Clarence White and Tony Rice (were/are) excellent as is Sutton. However, unless you've personally seen guys like Steve Kaufman, Roy Curry, Cody Kilby, David Grier, (all of whom I've seen live) and many others, it really is just a silly statement to say Sutton (or ANY one guitarist) is the best, cleanest or whatever. I watched one of my Steve Kaufman videos just last night and I'd put him up against Sutton any day, tell you to close your eyes and say "Pick one."
Jesus Christ
Improvisation is great but bluegrass and old-time are not like jazz in which it's often a deal where five guys are in the same key doing their own thing then periodically get in unison. Basically, this is an old fiddle tune and as with any existing tune, isn't the goal to do it in such a way that it's clean, in time, and familiar? Sure you can dress it up a bit but getting to the point that it isn't familiar defeats the purpose of performing an existing song.
Um...maybe Cody Kilby
Sutton is an outstanding flat picker -- no doubt about that.
But I did not like this version of Texas Gales much -- in my opinion it was played WAY too fast and so many EXTRA notes and runs that the orignal melody was nearly lost in the flurry.
The "A" part was there -- the the "B" part unrecognizable, and the "C" part somewhere in between.
It a really pretty fiddle tune ordinarily.
The vast majority of the flatpicking world disagrees with you. But, as they say in economics, there is no accounting for taste. However, you would have been better to state your opinion as such, rather than trying to aver it as fact.
Ha! That's hilarious. I just watched your video and you are definitely not in the position to talk.
Okay... I quit guitar...
Bryan better than Tony?
Could Sam Bush be compared to Bill Monroe?
Can you separate the historic significance from the technique?
Tony was there at some historic moment, Sutton was wearing diapers at the time, and there's nothing anyone can do about it, sorry to say.
God bless the pioneers, George Shuffler, Doc Watson & Clarence White AND Tony Rice. Without them, there would be no Sutton.
scales like a fish. sorry. Peggy Penny
its annoying dude.
too bad it lacks any resemblance of a soul
Your right, he's using his bourgeois country boy delux. My uncle has one just like it.
NICE GUITAR.
yeah. it's his own country boy delux!
country boy delux
But he is playing a Bourgeois Country boy delux here. you can tell by the wood on the side at around 0:18 that it is a mahogany guitar.
I hear a lot of melody. bryan sticks closer to the melody than a lot of the hot pickers out there.