banjotom2 - Posted - 09/07/2009:  20:00:23

Wow...

I was just on YouTube and saw this video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewnfWoSQz3o

The vocal harmony is second to none...

And it appears that Mother Maybelle is picking her guitar 'clawhammer' style....

I've never seen it...but I sure do like it!


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http://www.banjotom2.com

"...I'm Still Here...." John Hartford

"I don't put on...I put out!" Uncle Dave Macon

"Doc, I come from Alabamy with this 'danged thing' on my knee!", Gary Larson

I just "Re-Enlisted" for the "Banjo Hangout Players Union"....I got a mighty cool "BHO Player Union" T-Shirt and the accompanying 'way cool' stickers! I'll be the envy of every middle-aged "kid" on my block! :)

"Them what picks together...sticks together!" (Original, BanjoTom2)

slthames - Posted - 09/07/2009:  20:18:07

Thats a style Mother Maybelle developed herself called "The Carter Scratch technique"

fastheartmart - Posted - 09/07/2009:  20:18:50

That is a some great footage. Thanks for the link.

jbaker7 - Posted - 09/07/2009:  20:24:17

Hi Tom,
Maybelle used a thumb brush style which was sometimes imitated by ChetAtkins when he played this tune and then he would break into his famous alternating bass style. Maybelle used a thumbpick and played the melody notes with it and then brushed the in between notes...

I know this for a fact as I played with Maybelle in Honolulu Hi., believe it or not, when i was playing in coffee house way back when. I saw her use this technique on several tunes followed by an unbelievable autoharp solo...

Clawhammer uses a different technique which is all down brush based--bum ditty style and not really Maybelle's technique at all. This used to be called Carter style picking. Earl Scruggs used this guitar style effectively also and would break into alternating bass ...Jack....Tom I'll attach a youtube video of Chet playing this tune...He was the greatest guitarist I've ever heard. I've tabbed out this entire version on my website--give the youtube version a looksee...j.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdLB...ture=related

Jack R. Baker
http://www.frettedinstrumentsnyc.com

Edited by - jbaker7 on 09/07/2009 20:52:51

banjotom2 - Posted - 09/08/2009:  11:35:52

Jack,

I see what you're saying about the technique in the Carter Family video...but you have to admit, it LOOKS more like clawhammer banjo style than anything else.

I've seen Chet play WWFlwr before, but not from that era, and I wasn't paying that close of attention to his technique...

I enjoyed those that flurry of triplets he threw in there at one point, while looking 'away' from the guitar.

Yeah, he's not bad! ;)

Tom

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.banjotom2.com

"...I'm Still Here...." John Hartford

"I don't put on...I put out!" Uncle Dave Macon

"Doc, I come from Alabamy with this 'danged thing' on my knee!", Gary Larson

I just "Re-Enlisted" for the "Banjo Hangout Players Union"....I got a mighty cool "BHO Player Union" T-Shirt and the accompanying 'way cool' stickers! I'll be the envy of every middle-aged "kid" on my block! :)

"Them what picks together...sticks together!" (Original, BanjoTom2)