That was cool, but I wanted to see the fingering. Here's Jordan Layne Bourland with a version where you can see how he does it.

Beautiful. Still no EVH.

jiaxiaobo: Beautiful. Still no EVH.

Apples and oranges.

"The Chief" is dearly missed.
He and "The Kid" (Jerry Reed) were spellbinding every time they got together.
RIP both.

Great guitar player.
Fantastic musician.

Shame he ruined country music.

millia: Great guitar player.
Fantastic musician.

Shame he ruined country music.

Isn't there a highway you can go play in?

Love Chet, but partial to Jerry Reed. They were pretty awesome together.

...so playing counter point in the 20th century is a sign of greatness? I think Bach would like to have a word with subby.

Link (new window)

Most influential guitarist of the 20th century.

And he did turn country music from twangy hillbilly fare into smooth, string-laden balladry as A&R man at RCA Records. But I wouldn't say it was "ruined" until about the time Alabama released their first record.

Not bad I actually like it. Very good playing. I wish I could play more than a rock band guitar.

And that, kids, is where Danger Mouse got his inspiration.

Okay, probably not.

Trunks33: Not bad I actually like it. Very good playing. I wish I could play more than a rock band guitar.

If you wanna play some real guitar, it's actually pretty easy. Half hour a day and you can be strumming chords in a week or two.

If you wanna play like this link, though, go out to the woodshed and don't come out for a long, long time.

Chet was an incredible guitarist, but he took eclecticism to a sometimes-absurd degree. A good part of his output consists of bland duets, Muzak-style covers of Jazz chestnuts, and 70's style backing arrangements. His best stuff is his early stuff -- the stuff he recorded with the Carter family back in the late 40's and early 50's especially. I also liked his collaboration with Mark Knopfler on "Neck and Neck": it's kind of a novelty record, but the songs are well-chosen and Mark and Chet are obviously having a good time.

I'm on the Chet Atkins diet. I just pick at my food.

Dear Jerk: I'm on the Chet Atkins diet. I just pick at my food.

I see what you did there!

LonMead: Isn't there a highway you can go play in?

Sure, but not gonna. You're right about Reed, of course.

Chet did what he had to do. He was a brilliant producer. He had just about the best guitar phrasing I can think of. And, he did sign lots of good songwriters and performers to RCA.

The unintended consequences are not welcome, however. When you hear people say "I don't like country, but I do like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, etc." then we have a problem. All things change; purity is diluted. There's better ways to do it though.

Yes, I was pithy. I apologize for lacking nuance.

carmody: But I wouldn't say it was "ruined" until about the time Alabama released their first record.

It's that slippery slope. Aretha Franklin leads to Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston leads to Mariah Carey. And then the melisma becomes overwhelming and unrepentant.

Look, I like some of the Bradley/Atkins stuff. I'd lose my Americana card for saying this, but I can enjoy both the syrupy and the rough Cline just as well, for example. It's just... well, sometimes you want a hillbilly yodeling, and you want to hear it on something called a country station.

God bless AM country in the backwoods.

Unimpressed:

bigbabysurfer: Dear Jerk: I'm on the Chet Atkins diet. I just pick at my food.

I see what you did there!

That was pretty awesome. A+++ would lol again.

<i>bluesbox 2009-02-15 12:16:36 PM
Chet was an incredible guitarist, but he took eclecticism to a sometimes-absurd degree. A good part of his output consists of bland duets, Muzak-style covers of Jazz chestnuts, and 70's style backing arrangements. His best stuff is his early stuff -- the stuff he recorded with the Carter family back in the late 40's and early 50's especially. I also liked his collaboration with Mark Knopfler on "Neck and Neck": it's kind of a novelty record, but the songs are well-chosen and Mark and Chet are obviously having a good time.</i>

Kinda/sorta this.

My comment is that out of all his stuff I know of no album where he really stretches out; most of his songs seem to be under 3:00 minutes.

I still think he is sheer awesomeness and the
'Chester and Lester' record with him and Les Paul is the shizzle.

I saw him live, once. He was good.