Posted by Tedd on Thursday, July 23, 2009
Al Price and Tom Nechville love to play banjo....all the time. I've been a guitar player for 44 years and a serious banjo player for around 5 years. So as the three of us traveled together for two weeks this Spring, I found myself the designated guitar player. I'm not pouting. In fact I have some history accompanying dual banjo players while I was in San Diego....the Beaver Mountain Backup Boys were a young Navy trio in 1973-75. I learned a lot about bluegrass rhythm as those banjo pickers converted the rocker in me. Anyway, let's get to the comfortable bed.
Al or Tom came up with the idea that my guitar playing should be a nice comfortable bed for the banjos to jump on. Sort of a coercive complement I guess. I developed some serious callouses during those two weeks.
Most of you know the frustration of playing with a faulty rhythm section. A rock guitar guy trying to play bluegrass, a rookie bluegrasser playing a thousand G-licks all over you, or a bass walking all over the place. I'm not a great flatpicker, but I can establish and maintain a nice unobtrusive rhythm for folks to play over. I have a few novice banjo playing friends who aren't ready for a full-blown jam yet. They just need a human rhythm machine--the nice comfortable bed, and I am happy to provide that for them. They straighten my covers periodically (usually with beer).
In retrospect I think being the foundation for Al and Tom was a great honor. It is a fundamental role. So all you banjos go ahead and jump on that nice comfortable bed....but every once in a while straighten up the quilt.
3 comments on “A Nice Comfortable Bed”
alprice Says:
Thursday, July 23, 2009 @6:13:48 PM
Tedd The Bedd-- you sell yourself short. You are one fine picker, guitar or banjo!
Heesman Says:
Monday, July 27, 2009 @7:44:29 AM
Hey Tedd - great post. Considering that I am one of the rookies that has benefited from you, I can say that you are indeed a fine guitar/banjo picker. Your "nice comfortable bed" has added as much to my growth as a player as has my dedication to practice. Thanks a lot!
klgera Says:
Thursday, August 27, 2009 @7:02:43 PM
Tedd, You sing some seriously cool tunes, too, that Lyle Lovett tune is a keeper!
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