Posted on 02/19/2008 5:45:13 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
The beat up guitar is part of his schtick. Nothin’ wrong with it. Entertaining is a lot more than singing a pretty tune.
You’re right — some of Willie Nelson’s stuff is surprisingly sophisticated. I even like his lead playing, which someone once described as “earnest” and which I think is the perfect word. Earnest and unpretentious, but he’ll throw in a few harmonically adventurous jazz notes from time to time that let you know he’s not just some rube. I really like Willie’s version of “City of New Orleans”. Such a beautiful song. Listening to it is like watching a movie.
Exactly! Lately, I've been working on licks that have a certain 'Rice' feel. It hasn't been easy as I've got to get my baby finger out of the picture (my early influence was Doc Watson- not bluesy).
Lots of down-sliding and pull-offs that can be slippery at times. It just sounds so great. To use an analogy, listenting to Tony is almost like watching someone slip and slide on a frozen sidewalk without falling down. Very amusing to the ear.
Compared to others who play a classical style guitar (in Willie's case, a '69 Martin N-20) for country style music. Iow, he doesn't have much competition ;) It's a very unusual tone for the type of music he plays, for sure.
My favorite acoustic players include Chet Atkins, Tony Rice, Lenny Breau....among others. Willie doesn't come close to making the list, but I still love his style.
Myself, I was a keyboard man and it hurt me bad when I had to sell my Hammond B3 because the fingers just don't work anymore.
If my memory serves me right Chet played with a thumb pick and picked the rest with his other fingers. I saw him play with Mark Knopfler once and Mark kept up with Chet but Knopfler plays only with his fingers (no pick).
Have you ever heard Chet Atkins play ‘Dixie Land’ and ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ at the same time?
I heard a few months ago they were moving to Mexico.
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Amp
I always wished I had musical talent, but I truly do not.
No way...
Each person has their own taste. A true story. My wife's grandmother was a professional piano and voice teacher in Knoxville in the 30's - likely 50's. She taught at a local music store. One woman came in regularly whom she said would sit and bang on the piano in the store and it drove her nuts. The woman? Mabel Carter. LOL.
My wifes grandmother did not like mountain music even though it was her heritage as her family were pioneers in the area. She was strictly classical and for voice Opera.
We need a guitar players ping list. I never tire of hearing guitar players tell their tales.
think Martin uses that and other classic Martin-inspired lyrics snippets in some of their advertising.
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Yup, they sure do. Check the back cover of Acoustic Guitar magazine every month.
True...very similar to the gun threads. Check out one the next time you see one posted...reminds me a lot of this thread.
The Red Headed Stranger album was my favorite for a long time and I still like the songs on it when they are played on XM 13. I like a lot of Nelson’s music and I think Mickey Raffael, his harmonica player, is one of the best. I saw Nelson in a concert at Harrah’s in Reno in the early ‘80s and it was then I began to question his real talent...lots of noise but not much quality. He’s ok in a nostalgic kind of way and like you, I like his old stuff.
Interesting story about mother Mabel playing the piano in your mother’s store. I also like Bluegrass and there is where you really find the good guitarists...like Tony Rice and about a million others. Another great guitarist is John Jorgenson who plays with Chris Hillman and also did a tribute album to Django Reinhardt...absolutely great!!
Cheers
> some of Willie Nelson’s stuff is surprisingly sophisticated. I even like his lead playing, which someone once described as “earnest” and which I think is the perfect word. Earnest and unpretentious, but he’ll throw in a few harmonically adventurous jazz notes from time to time that let you know he’s not just some rube. <
Agreed. In fact, I’ve heard him say he’s big fan of Django Reinhart. He also says that when he’s crossing the country in his tour bus, he listens to a lot of jazz.
/jasper
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