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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Don, He is probably my favourite flatpicker.......always melodic...always clean......and that wonderful right hand!! Joe G,

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Tony Rice is probably my favorite because of his ability to switch from jazz to bluegrass with ease....and he is also a heckuva rhythm player. But, I am a HUGE Norman Blake fan. Maybe it's because is playing is a bit more linear and I can understand what he's doing (but would never be able to actually do it myself). And I love his voice -- it may not be the greatest instrument but he writes fine songs and never over extends himself. I've listened to him more often than not for close to 40 years.


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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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I totally agree with your assessment of Norman Blake's voice....it has a lot of "seemingly easy" charm!
Tony Rice , of course, is one ofthe finest in anyone's book........I'm always looking for that bit of Jazzy phrasing!
When I decided to flat pick on acoustic (after a LONG time on electric guitar & banjo!)........I listened to all the pickers I could....some wonderful technically, but I didn't relate to them....other, equally great technicians, who "said something to me!"
My playing progressed....sometimes quickly....sometimes slowly!.......I was adhering to picking..... Down/Up/Down/Up etc.....my son Scott (a pro musician) was listening to me playing one of the flat pickers "standards".....He heard me play it through.....and then go through it again. "Why are you trying to change your picking?" he asked. "I'm trying to follow the correct action in the tutorial" I replied
"But your brain already knew where to go with the pick .....the phrases are similar to what you have often played in other genres....why confuse it!"
Good advice....I had to agree!......My practising over the years, allowed me to play pretty fast....so I just concentrate on "playing the music".... and "putting myself into it!" That's what I try to do now. Regards, Joe G.

Last edited by Joe Gordon; 07/31/13 03:08 AM.
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Joe, I think you will enjoy a song composed by Norman Black.

http://youtu.be/yOK9WZtBerU

He also wrote and sang "Church Street Blues" but I like Tony Rice's version a bit more.

Tony's version:

http://youtu.be/9JFgC3Ub10E

Norman's version:

http://youtu.be/p_YB9SC7AV4

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Gotta agree with you again "Your Donship!" But what a choice to have to make! Even before my interest in Flat Picking, Tony Rice was one of my favourite "Blue Grass" voices.....I was so sorry to hear what happened to him.
Keep well Don. Your Scottish Friend, Joe G.

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