65 y/o here, started playing Freight Train some 40+ yrs ago but not fingerstyle and a bit incorrect melody, hahaha. It's time to start learning it right and in fingerstyle. Thanks a lot Joe!
Thank you Joe , you have given me the inspiration to try and learn fingerstyle from a late age (53) . Your lessons are so good and your manner is so encouraging. I am truly thankful that I found you on youtube. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your videos. You truly are an amazing talent. Please keep on posting .
I loved Chef Atkins. I met him once in Wheeling WV, during my rock band years in the sixties. My dad was a Chet fan. When died in 1984 I started playing finger style and have played in churches for 30 years. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Shalom/gw
Thanks so much Joe for mentioning the slow “couple of notes at a time” pace to learn fingerstyle. It’s been a super frustrating experience for me - as I expected to learn much faster than my brain & hands could process. Adjusting the expectations and going very S-L-O-W at the beginning is best!
My 5 fav fingerstyle songs are: Streets of London, Alice's Restaurant, Bert Jansch's Anji, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out and of course, Steve Howe's Clap.
It's amazing seeing this guy playing a song probably for the hundred an one time and seeing him enjoying his own playing. But he is not the only one, I am enjoying it even more. I think he is one of the best out there. Wonderful.
Hi Joe, I've discovery your channel about a couple of day ago during a research of a version of "Hit the road jack". As old electric guitarist (I'm 68) I've tried many times to learn the use of the thumb pick in Travis fingerstyle way. Is a pleasure to watch your videos and your way to play and to comunicate and you have give me the inspiration to try fingerstyle one more time. Thank you
One of my favorites, and the first fingerstyle songs I took on is Trambone. I'm three years into fingerstyle and basically am only comfortable with Trambone, Freight Train, and Windy and Warm, but they are such fun songs to play, and I'm beginning to be able to improvise a bit with them, put my own little twists on them. So yeah, it takes time and tons of effort, especially at first, it took me about two weeks to get the independent thumb thing down. It was so frustrating I literally had to put the guitar down every few minutes and take deep breaths, almost cried a few times lol. Cheers to everyone.
Hi Joe. It’s all making sense now. When I first saw you playing Freight Train in your promo for your Udemy beginners course, I thought it would be impossible for a beginner like me. But I’m seeing the progress and how all the steps fit together. The regular practice is showing results. I’m certain I’ll be able to play Freight Train by Thanksgiving! That’s a massive achievement for me. I’ve come a loooong way in a few short months that’s to you!
That is SO GREAT Selma!!!! I am so happy to hear that. Congratulations for sticking with it, I find that once it ‘clicks’ everything starts to become much easier. Thanks for letting me know, it means a lot. All the best to you!! Joe
Great list! I'd add "Dust in the Wind" as a good starting out finger style song (it was my first). Another one that's much better sounding than it is difficult to play.
Thanks for the lessons, Joe! I love "Windy and Warm", but the most difficult for me is "The Big Quake" by Emil Ernebro, which I have been trying to play for more than six months)))
❤️🎶❤️ The opening notes of the video are so sweet that I would play them to a baby if had one ! A real lullaby this pretty song. Thank you Joe for your wonderful music 🙏🙏🙏
Cannonball Rag makes you the world’s flashiest finger picker. Without a doubt. I am blown away by your power and TE’s power esp given you play bare fingered. I do too. I sound like a squeak compared to you guys before examine them technicals.
Without nails your tone is outstanding, me and an old mate Slava Grigorian, essentially have claws, long thumb nail crucial for alzupua and rasquado, beautiful feeling and from me vids, very happy for U Joe, too play like this you need blunstones🎃
Learning so much from your UA-cam Joe - thank you! I only discovered you because of Genevieve’s channel, who’s digital art tutorials I really enjoy too.
Hi Joe. Questions: 1) Is this Standard tuning or do you always play on Standard Tuning? 2) Have you ever played on a Nylon-string guitar? Thanks. You're a great guitar player considering that you are self-taught. God bless you and your family. I'm a Subscriber.
I love your lessons, and am practicing every day. Getting off internet to practice those embellishments and Windy and Warm today! Thank you for all you do!
I went thru your 1st Udemy course, after going thru Tommy’s fingerstyle milestones truefire course. I’m intent on recording Freight Train & Streets of London….get them as best as I can and just record a video, as I notice I just forget the stuff if not played in a while!
Hello, Joe thank you for the video! I also think that the setup of the guitar that you use is very important to play this style (in paticular the action of your guitar). I just realized a couple of days ago that my action is far to high and that I have to adjust the bridge of my guitar to be able to set up a good action. Joe, what action do you recommend? I have heard that the recommended action for fingerstyle is somewhere between 1.2 and 1.5 mm. Kind regards, Paul
Hi Paul! I have a low action, if it were any lower it would buzz. I have never used a ruler to measure it but i think it takes some experimenting to find the sweet spot for you. I totally agree that the setup is so important!!! It is one of my top recommendations to anyone playing fingerstyle. Have your guitar setup by a good luthier. If your guitar feels high, you could also tune down to Eb which will make it a little easier on the fingers.
The song i liked on introduction that I still hang on today are a selection of bluegrass songs. But fingerprinting to start with Avalon Blues, MJHurt and his got the blues can't be satisfied for me
Looking forward to your November Zoom call, a bit more fitting into our time zone... ❤1. Mississippi John Hurt by Robbie Macintosh,, 2. Greensleeves, 3.Windy & Warm, 4.The Entertainer, 5. Take 5.
Great video joe! It was really useful you are such a good teacher. My favorite fingerstyle song is the Milky Way by sungha jung, I could listen to it on repeat for weeks.
Hi Joe, love to watch your videos. This old dude, 66, like your friend Tommy E. have been a fingerstyle player since finding TE a couple decades ago. I went, WOW, of course. Now having met Tommy and also Mike Dawes a few times around the country as I travel. I have worked hard on these styles of picking. Your are certainly giving fingerstyle playing a new breath here. So the younger guys out there, TAKE HEED.... Joe is giving you free lessons here!!! Looking forward to catching up at a show you do near where ever I may be in the next year or so.... Keep it going, Joe... Nice. You are the new generation of top shelf players. Let me know when you are in the NYC area or Eastern Pa and I live in both areas. We have a nice recording studio at home here with a lot of trimmings. so you are welcome to stop by. Bring one of your Maton Guitars along... Happy New Year!
Hey Joe, What can I say that has not already been said? I too love your playing. I am a 76 year old 5 string Banjo player that's been playing for 56 years. I just recently decided to learn Adkins style Guitar. Then I found you. WOW Chet Adkins on steroids. I've been watching you on youtube and Facebook. Practice has been going pretty good. I'm learning a little slower than I would have as a kid, but I'll get it. I have 2 Les Paul's and a Martin CS-00S-14 to learn on, so no problem there. I just have to be determined and not give up. Thanks so much for your help and inspiration. Bill
Hi Joe! Happy new year!! What do you think is better for me to work first, your complete fingerstyle method on Udemy or your channel on Truefire? Does they complement each other or do they have the same information? Best regards. Telmo
Happy New Year! If you are interested in Fingerstyle, the Udemy Courses are the way to go. But if you want to learn a large variety songs, including electric guitar, the Guitar Synergy channel has a ton of songs with TAB & breakdown videos. Hope that helps! All the best with your playing!
I think you can play Fingerstyle on a Nylon or Steel string, good to have a guitar that is set up so it is nice and easy to play. If you play steel strings, I’d recommend 12-54 or 11’s.
Hi Joe I play some of the these freight train windy and warm way down town city of new Orleans all of me. Make me a pallet besame mucho and tico tico I love. Black dog blues trouble in mind one meat ball. I am trying not to use any picks just nails but i have good size hands and havent figured out how to right hand mute with out cramping my hand. Any ideas i know how to mute sort of other was. Any ideas?
I can't quite make out the make of your guitar but it sounds very sweet! Your strings... probably 11's to get some of that nuance you get with the light touch!
Hi Joe, love your videos. I have bought your Udemy course and am learning Freight Train at the moment. One question, my hands are not as big as yours and I cannot do the F chord with the thumb fretting the 6th string. Is there an alternate way to play that part of the tune? Thanks in advance.
Joe I’ve played most of the songs you present and awesome thanks. I’m working on “Poor People from Paris “ would like you to do that for us. Cheers I just bought a Maton really like it.
G'day Joe, from Adelaide! Thanks for the great video, and I was wondering if you could re-upload the free TAB as it has been removed from Patreon? Cheers
Hi joe. I have been thinking about this becuase I have heard you mention you play with your finger pads more than a few times. I play finger style with my nails. I grow them out to a specific length for this. Did you ever play with nails? Or maybe you were given some advice to switch from nails to finger pads?
Hi there, I have never played with nails, I think it's a matter of personal preference. You could try playing without nails for a few months to see how it goes? There are certainly benefits to playing with nails, especially on nylon strings.. but pads of the fingers work well for me.
Hi Richard! I would suggest checking out the Guitar Synergy Channel and the Intermediate Complete Fingerstyle Guitar Course. You can message me through both of those platforms so if you have any questions along the way please let me know!
What are you favorite fingerstyle songs to play?
All of these 🎸
i just started learning your version of jingle bell rock . i still have 3 months before Christmas . wish me luck mate!
Great Dreams from Heaven and Oh Glory how happy I am, also How great Thou Art
@@Paolo_DelaVega You got this Paolo!
My first big fingerstyle song was Countrywide by Tommy Emmanuel and I still enjoy playing it! Also Windy and warm is fun to play)
00:00 Freight Train
02:55 Windy and warm
05:40 Blackbird
07:00 Docs guitar
10:05 Cannonball rag
Thanks for the time stamps!
Tks alot. It does help
65 y/o here, started playing Freight Train some 40+ yrs ago but not fingerstyle and a bit incorrect melody, hahaha. It's time to start learning it right and in fingerstyle.
Thanks a lot Joe!
Thank you Joe , you have given me the inspiration to try and learn fingerstyle from a late age (53) . Your lessons are so good and your manner is so encouraging. I am truly thankful that I found you on youtube. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your videos. You truly are an amazing talent. Please keep on posting .
Keep it up
If you follow his methodology, you ll definitely be one of the best guitarist out there
I loved Chef Atkins. I met him once in Wheeling WV, during my rock band years in the sixties. My dad was a Chet fan. When died in 1984 I started playing finger style and have played in churches for 30 years. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Shalom/gw
Thanks so much Joe for mentioning the slow “couple of notes at a time” pace to learn fingerstyle. It’s been a super frustrating experience for me - as I expected to learn much faster than my brain & hands could process. Adjusting the expectations and going very S-L-O-W at the beginning is best!
Thanks for the help,you explained clearly for me, like the songs🎉
My 5 fav fingerstyle songs are: Streets of London, Alice's Restaurant, Bert Jansch's Anji, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out and of course, Steve Howe's Clap.
It's amazing seeing this guy playing a song probably for the hundred an one time and seeing him enjoying his own playing. But he is not the only one, I am enjoying it even more. I think he is one of the best out there. Wonderful.
Thank you nails music.
Hi Joe, I've discovery your channel about a couple of day ago during a research of a version of "Hit the road jack". As old electric guitarist (I'm 68) I've tried many times to learn the use of the thumb pick in Travis fingerstyle way. Is a pleasure to watch your videos and your way to play and to comunicate and you have give me the inspiration to try fingerstyle one more time. Thank you
One of my favorites, and the first fingerstyle songs I took on is Trambone.
I'm three years into fingerstyle and basically am only comfortable with Trambone, Freight Train, and Windy and Warm, but they are such fun songs to play, and I'm beginning to be able to improvise a bit with them, put my own little twists on them.
So yeah, it takes time and tons of effort, especially at first, it took me about two weeks to get the independent thumb thing down. It was so frustrating I literally had to put the guitar down every few minutes and take deep breaths, almost cried a few times lol. Cheers to everyone.
Great lesson! Thank you! 15:46
i enjoy your style of teaching and love listening to you play.
Joe, you're an inspiration for my age (12) and I've been wanting to learn fingerstyle and you help that a lot. Thank you and don't stop posting!😄🎸
Awesome Daniel!! Look forward to hearing you play!
Three words. You are awesome. Such a talent and the ability to share it. Thanks.....
This man sure can play the guitar
yeah Joe! you inspire lots of aspiring musicians out there, including myself. thanks for all your help 🙌🏻💯
I e been playing for decades and can tell you that “cannonball rag “ is as hard as hell !
Been playing fingerstyle for about two years now. Just smashed out freight train, moving on to windy and warm thanks for the list!
Thank you from Belgium Joe
You're the best, everything is so clair. With a lessons like there's only one thing to do : pick-up our guitar and play.
You are a good teacher of fingerstyle technique.Nice job.
I love those harmonics in end or stop of first part demonstration.
I've been watching you for years and was so excited when the first three were ones I already knew thanks to you! I've got two more to learn now!
Hi Joe. It’s all making sense now. When I first saw you playing Freight Train in your promo for your Udemy beginners course, I thought it would be impossible for a beginner like me. But I’m seeing the progress and how all the steps fit together. The regular practice is showing results. I’m certain I’ll be able to play Freight Train by Thanksgiving! That’s a massive achievement for me. I’ve come a loooong way in a few short months that’s to you!
That is SO GREAT Selma!!!! I am so happy to hear that. Congratulations for sticking with it, I find that once it ‘clicks’ everything starts to become much easier. Thanks for letting me know, it means a lot. All the best to you!! Joe
Fantastic Joe. Very inspirational. Very practical. You've just won a new customer. Take care
Philip
Great list! I'd add "Dust in the Wind" as a good starting out finger style song (it was my first). Another one that's much better sounding than it is difficult to play.
I could listen to you all day, man. Respect. 🤙
enjoyed the video, thank you. Will have a go at Freight Train
Brilliant tutorial.
Thanks Joe. You are such an inspiration. It's fun to watch you play
Thanks for the lessons, Joe! I love "Windy and Warm", but the most difficult for me is "The Big Quake" by Emil Ernebro, which I have been trying to play for more than six months)))
Thankyou, Joe !
Love this video
i love all of these
very cool thank you. I've never heard windy and warm before. found my next goal.
Great lesson, thank you
Great video. Thanks, Joe.
thank joe
Thanks mate!😊
Hi, Joe. Love your playing! Wildwood Flower is a good easy one.
Beautiful, nice I love your finger style & easy to learn. Thank u Joe.
thanks
Bravissimo Joe
Thank you, I was indeed wondering which songs to practice thumb picking. 👍
❤️🎶❤️ The opening notes of the video are so sweet that I would play them to a baby if had one ! A real lullaby this pretty song. Thank you Joe for your wonderful music 🙏🙏🙏
Agreed, as long as you don’t sing the actual lyrics to the song!
Cannonball Rag makes you the world’s flashiest finger picker. Without a doubt. I am blown away by your power and TE’s power esp given you play bare fingered. I do too. I sound like a squeak compared to you guys before examine them technicals.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you
Without nails your tone is outstanding, me and an old mate Slava Grigorian, essentially have claws, long thumb nail crucial for alzupua and rasquado, beautiful feeling and from me vids, very happy for U Joe, too play like this you need blunstones🎃
I have to buy a thumbpick and start learning. Nice hat Joe. Many thanks from Sweden!
Learning so much from your UA-cam Joe - thank you! I only discovered you because of Genevieve’s channel, who’s digital art tutorials I really enjoy too.
Such a great teacher!! Very inspiring :D xxx
so good mate. love your style and approach. hunter
Hi Joe. Questions: 1) Is this Standard tuning or do you always play on Standard Tuning? 2) Have you ever played on a Nylon-string guitar? Thanks. You're a great guitar player considering that you are self-taught. God bless you and your family. I'm a Subscriber.
I love your lessons, and am practicing every day. Getting off internet to practice those embellishments and Windy and Warm today! Thank you for all you do!
Congrats on 50K subs ! 👏🔥🔥🔥
Thank you Serge!
Jam man
SUPERB !!! 🥰
Great cascading harmonics Joe !!!! I want to learn that!!!
great, Thanks
Mississippi John Hurt, You gotta walk that lonesome valley 😍
I went thru your 1st Udemy course, after going thru Tommy’s fingerstyle milestones truefire course. I’m intent on recording Freight Train & Streets of London….get them as best as I can and just record a video, as I notice I just forget the stuff if not played in a while!
One of the hallmarks of both Chet and Doc is that they played at at least one round absolutely straight with regard to melody. Even the last measure.
Hello, Joe thank you for the video!
I also think that the setup of the guitar that you use is very important to play this style (in paticular the action of your guitar). I just realized a couple of days ago that my action is far to high and that I have to adjust the bridge of my guitar to be able to set up a good action.
Joe, what action do you recommend? I have heard that the recommended action for fingerstyle is somewhere between 1.2 and 1.5 mm.
Kind regards, Paul
Hi Paul! I have a low action, if it were any lower it would buzz. I have never used a ruler to measure it but i think it takes some experimenting to find the sweet spot for you. I totally agree that the setup is so important!!! It is one of my top recommendations to anyone playing fingerstyle. Have your guitar setup by a good luthier. If your guitar feels high, you could also tune down to Eb which will make it a little easier on the fingers.
Doing a great job Joe 👏 show these kids how to play the thing properly. Strumming and then beyond
The song i liked on introduction that I still hang on today are a selection of bluegrass songs. But fingerprinting to start with Avalon Blues, MJHurt and his got the blues can't be satisfied for me
Grazie mille 😊
Looking forward to your November Zoom call, a bit more fitting into our time zone... ❤1. Mississippi John Hurt by Robbie Macintosh,, 2. Greensleeves, 3.Windy & Warm, 4.The Entertainer, 5. Take 5.
Ayee great selection and as always great picking Joe 😍. That lick on the end of Cannonball hoowee! Spicy!
Sure was just worked that lick out, Joe's flying, deserves only good times
Great video joe! It was really useful you are such a good teacher. My favorite fingerstyle song is the Milky Way by sungha jung, I could listen to it on repeat for weeks.
Hi Joe, love to watch your videos. This old dude, 66, like your friend Tommy E. have been a fingerstyle player since finding TE a couple decades ago. I went, WOW, of course. Now having met Tommy and also Mike Dawes a few times around the country as I travel. I have worked hard on these styles of picking. Your are certainly giving fingerstyle playing a new breath here. So the younger guys out there, TAKE HEED.... Joe is giving you free lessons here!!! Looking forward to catching up at a show you do near where ever I may be in the next year or so.... Keep it going, Joe... Nice. You are the new generation of top shelf players. Let me know when you are in the NYC area or Eastern Pa and I live in both areas. We have a nice recording studio at home here with a lot of trimmings. so you are welcome to stop by. Bring one of your Maton Guitars along... Happy New Year!
Great lesson Joe, was it you who played on American dad as Roger playing ,or was it tommy Emmanuel ?
Haha that was TE! But I like to think I partly inspired playing that song on a talent show, like Roger did!
Bravissimo
Hey Joe, What can I say that has not already been said? I too love your playing. I am a 76 year old 5 string Banjo player that's been playing for 56 years. I just recently decided to learn Adkins style Guitar. Then I found you. WOW Chet Adkins on steroids. I've been watching you on youtube and Facebook. Practice has been going pretty good. I'm learning a little slower than I would have as a kid, but I'll get it. I have 2 Les Paul's and a Martin CS-00S-14 to learn on, so no problem there. I just have to be determined and not give up. Thanks so much for your help and inspiration. Bill
The first fingerstyle song I learned was “The Great Mandala”, Peter, Paul, and Mary version. Powerful song.
ua-cam.com/video/C12SwHLtAAg/v-deo.html
Cannonball looks so damn hard. Guess I’ll learn it
Hi Joe, amazing and impressive.......wow
Jose Gonzales is the guy that inspired me to take up guitar specifically fingerstyle.
Tab free?
Hi Joe! Happy new year!! What do you think is better for me to work first, your complete fingerstyle method on Udemy or your channel on Truefire? Does they complement each other or do they have the same information? Best regards. Telmo
Happy New Year! If you are interested in Fingerstyle, the Udemy Courses are the way to go. But if you want to learn a large variety songs, including electric guitar, the Guitar Synergy channel has a ton of songs with TAB & breakdown videos. Hope that helps! All the best with your playing!
@@Joe_Robinson thank you for your help :) All the best. Telmo
Super!
What kind of guitar/ strings best suited to playing this kind of music?
I think you can play Fingerstyle on a Nylon or Steel string, good to have a guitar that is set up so it is nice and easy to play. If you play steel strings, I’d recommend 12-54 or 11’s.
Very nice
Hi Joe I play some of the these freight train windy and warm way down town city of new Orleans all of me. Make me a pallet besame mucho and tico tico I love. Black dog blues trouble in mind one meat ball. I am trying not to use any picks just nails but i have good size hands and havent figured out how to right hand mute with out cramping my hand. Any ideas i know how to mute sort of other was. Any ideas?
I can't quite make out the make of your guitar but it sounds very sweet! Your strings... probably 11's to get some of that nuance you get with the light touch!
Thanks! It's a Maton, string info is here: www.joerobinson.com/faq
More info on gear I use can be found here: joes.lnk.to/gear
Do you have tabs for Blackbird?
Hi Joe, love your videos. I have bought your Udemy course and am learning Freight Train at the moment. One question, my hands are not as big as yours and I cannot do the F chord with the thumb fretting the 6th string. Is there an alternate way to play that part of the tune? Thanks in advance.
Joe I’ve played most of the songs you present and awesome thanks. I’m working on “Poor People from Paris “ would like you to do that for us. Cheers I just bought a Maton really like it.
Very great ! ! What is your thumpick please? Thank you very much !
Dunlop Medium
@@Joe_Robinson Thank you 👍
Can you give us the tabs for windy and warm too?
G'day Joe, from Adelaide! Thanks for the great video, and
I was wondering if you could re-upload the free TAB as it has been removed from Patreon?
Cheers
When will the link be re-established for Freight Train?
You see a lot of great playing on youtube, but you rarely see what PRACTICING actually looks like 5:04
Do you play Love Letters in the Sand, Joe..?
Hi joe.
I have been thinking about this becuase I have heard you mention you play with your finger pads more than a few times.
I play finger style with my nails.
I grow them out to a specific length for this.
Did you ever play with nails?
Or maybe you were given some advice to switch from nails to finger pads?
Hi there, I have never played with nails, I think it's a matter of personal preference. You could try playing without nails for a few months to see how it goes? There are certainly benefits to playing with nails, especially on nylon strings.. but pads of the fingers work well for me.
Amazing job what you did in this lesson....Parabéns!!
Joe can You PLAY the BOUREE in E minor by Johann Sebastian Bach?
what corses do you think is for me ?i have played some very easy finger stile pieces many years ago ?
Hi Richard! I would suggest checking out the Guitar Synergy Channel and the Intermediate Complete Fingerstyle Guitar Course. You can message me through both of those platforms so if you have any questions along the way please let me know!
"Windy and Warm" and "Wildwood Flower" for example are just as important. Just pick the one you are most attracted to.
Wildwood flower is more of a clawhammer strumming technique, less about thumb independence - which I feel is the most important thing to develop.