This man is such an icon the style of picking he is doing is named after him: Travis picking!
@MelissaPeck-in9tq
8 ай бұрын
old country music is my favorite.
@Brenden_Simpson
5 ай бұрын
It's not old it's real.
@MelissaPeck-in9tq
5 ай бұрын
@@Brenden_Simpson it looks like it's old because of the color.
@avratt
12 жыл бұрын
He cannot play a bad song. What a musical treasure!
@donk4926
4 жыл бұрын
There have been many renditions of this song. Some very good but none have that exciting rhythm and easy stroking of the strings that Merle had. His voice had that mountain ring to it. This is a unique piece of history and should be appreciated forever.
@gynack
3 жыл бұрын
Don K Doc Watson does a superb version. In fact, he does a number of songs that Merle does.
@adr1701
11 жыл бұрын
That's right! I remember watching that movie and in the scene where that guy is playing the trumpet mouthpiece. I see that unique headstock as the guitar player is strumming in the background. I jump up and say "Holy Crap, that's Merle Travis ... THAT'S MERLE TRAVIS!!!" Everyone in the room is going "Whose that ?" But I knew. Great moment.
@spacekarma4
8 жыл бұрын
i could strangle the guy filming who thought see merles charming face was paramount to seeing his hands : p love it
@14moldyhamsandwich
4 жыл бұрын
His wife filmed and produced.
@spacekarma4
4 жыл бұрын
Paul Bissonnette haha that gives some clarity, thanks :) which wife? as a guitarist that pours over the films of his playing I’m always hoping for better shots of his hands
@14moldyhamsandwich
4 жыл бұрын
@@spacekarma4 it was a joke. I just thought the strangle nod was a bit much . There are plenty of vids showing Tommy Emmanuel playing that and he nails it and mentions Merle every time.
@spacekarma4
4 жыл бұрын
Haha yeah in hindsight it was a tad much. It was born from me being frustrated years ago haha :p since then I’ve learned it no problem
@14moldyhamsandwich
4 жыл бұрын
@@spacekarma4 I have been a Merle fan for decades. I struggle but continue to study and get it, but the brain and fingers don't want to be on the same page. I basically suck but enjoy playing . With the Advent of KZitem I have been exposed like many others , to so much great talent. Talent we would not know about more than likely if not for KZitem. And Billy strings and his band are incredible. So much out there. Be well
@richardsouthern4248
Жыл бұрын
Dingled: Merle's album FOLK SONGS OF THE HILLS recorded in 1946 has some of his seminal songs on it. I think it has been released as a c.d.--certainly as a c.d.
@Kylerjguitar
4 жыл бұрын
Amazing guitar playing!
@cormigo1
2 жыл бұрын
This guy no longer lives but is going to teach guitar forever
@brendalaird6942
Жыл бұрын
Love this! I forgot how good he was💙
@MrDogrose
13 жыл бұрын
Thumb pick and one finger....and he tears it up. Great. Thanks for posting.
@knowmusicman157
3 жыл бұрын
nothin sweeter than a fine singer and picker from KY
@flinx649
10 жыл бұрын
Merle started it all....appreciate it for what it is ! He's the MAN!
@joshtimmons7332
5 жыл бұрын
Nah man..he stole it from the black players. Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Charlie Patton....
@giaxxone
13 жыл бұрын
@billga2010 A little bit. Bigsby was an amazing guy. From motorcycles(racing and manufacture) to war machines to musical instruments I'd say he contributed far more than his share. A good friend of mine made a replica/tribute of the Merle Travis Bigsby which I made the pickup for and did the wiring(actually still trying to come up with a tone pot/capacitor combo to get the sound right).
@dlagrua
7 жыл бұрын
Before Chet Adkins there was a guy that started it all called Merle Travis.
@steelblue1959
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, Chet heard him play on the radio in the 40s and then started his style, which was consisting of thumb and 3 fingers. He was fired from a lot of country band and radio show because he sounded to sophisticated. He was playing on the opera in the late 40s and became a member in 50. Both had their own style, I would give a fortune to play like either.
@icetredotnet6473
8 ай бұрын
Inspiring. What a legend.
@larryosborne7879
3 жыл бұрын
this is REAL music
@joshrodgers3871
8 жыл бұрын
So many people have sang this song but I like his way better.
@lydiatankersley8154
2 жыл бұрын
Townes cover of this is so beautifully sad
@moproducer
11 жыл бұрын
Well, actually the guitar Thom plays in that video is the Martin/Bigsby reissue (he says "this is the new D28M" at 8:40).
@MrJellyrollBaker
13 жыл бұрын
@jimirsaysbuddy Very interesting! Thanks for the info. I never realized the Strat headstock was so derivative!
@j.p.fitting9226
9 жыл бұрын
wish i could play those bass line with my thumb but alas baby hands lol Fred Sokolow( at Stephan Grossman's ) does a dang good job teaching the style though! wicked man! wicked!
@humanimal5527
7 жыл бұрын
You can still do it. Don't stop trying, you'll get it.
@maximelepage5928
6 жыл бұрын
At first I tought the same, with practice, it became damn comfy, just gotta give it A LOT of time.
@MrJellyrollBaker
13 жыл бұрын
What is the brand of his guitar? That headstock predates the Strat headstock, if the year is correct on the video! Great video! Thanks for posting!
@king_fresh27
2 жыл бұрын
one of the most talented yet overrated guitar players of all time, and he still had an amazing voice. it’s a shame merle isn’t more remembered today
@kenwhoever6770
2 жыл бұрын
I think you meant underrated.
@dabneyoffermein595
3 жыл бұрын
I believe he was from Western Kentucky!!!
@borderlord
13 жыл бұрын
Magic!
@GodSmoko
4 жыл бұрын
im swinging a 12 lb and all I can say is my shoulders are tired
@nightmarishendeavors
7 жыл бұрын
Dude's a dapper dan man.
@horsehide3039
6 жыл бұрын
Philip Lee, hahaha, good one. My old Daddy was a Brylcreem man
@danielthompson6207
6 жыл бұрын
Horsehide I'm a Murray's man myself, for beard and hair. Gotta heat it up on the stove in order to use it but I'll be damned if it's not the best pomade I've used
@alaandre004
6 жыл бұрын
@@danielthompson6207 Royal crown tho
@johngreenwood1972
6 жыл бұрын
Faultless.
@merlynschutterle7242
3 жыл бұрын
Sure was a nice looking dude.
@johnlandis2552
11 жыл бұрын
compare to mississippi john hurt's ' "spike driver blues"
@jamesdavenport2966
4 жыл бұрын
if president trump is impeached, where is nancy Polo sir in this order
@jessejames1040
4 жыл бұрын
@@jamesdavenport2966 Nancy is out in left field.
@DeanoPiano
8 жыл бұрын
Using only two fingers in his right hand to pick the harmony from those chords to.
@TonyWud
12 жыл бұрын
Designed by Merle.
@ritchienegrea5779
3 жыл бұрын
Hmm what a job
@Gongorkian
4 жыл бұрын
35 people are fucking DEAD INSIDE!
@adventureswithgrandpa
5 жыл бұрын
Two fingers only
@chancedahms5198
12 жыл бұрын
its not a fender neck, bigsby designed that neck style and fender stole the idea and used it. we all know it as a "fender neck"
@benitojauregi
5 жыл бұрын
I'm a picker myself and I was crazy with the likes of Chet Atkins, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhart, Scotty Moore, Cliff Gallup or Les Paul... Merle Travis was just a name I never paid attention… Wrong, wrong, wrong, made a big mistake and feel ashamed for it… What a picker!... Sorry Mr Travis
@jennifursun3303
5 жыл бұрын
found out something interesting about the late Les Paul, now someone correct me if i;m wrong, grew up on an old Les Paul Mary Ford 45 as a child. this year I read an article about him breaking his arm years ago, and the Dr wanted to set it straight, but the break was such, that if they had done that he would not be able to play guitar again, so he had them set the arm at an angle, so he could still play guitar. loved the sound of his old Les Paul. have heard several in person, and love the sound of them although my fav are the old Martin Guitars that cost oodles and doodles of money
@briantaulbee6452
Ай бұрын
Dont forget about Jerry Reed.
@bigdawgsd
10 жыл бұрын
Any guitar player has heard of " Travis Picking "...But if you watch all the instruction videos they use 3 , 4 or 5 fingers on their right hand. Watch Travis and notice that no mater what song or how elaborate he only uses 2 fingers...index finger and thumb. Makes it even more impressive I think.
@NoelRayland
10 жыл бұрын
Good call, James. I'm not a finger picker, but I do try Travis picking now and then, and next time I'm going to use the two finger approach and see how fun and/or challenging it is.
@rolanddoucet458
10 жыл бұрын
+Fanis Filippas The alternating bass gives the drive and low accompaniment, but the fingers pick the melody. Might help to listen... That style, that most people call "finger picking" was called thumb picking in Mulenberg Co., Kentucky where Travis is from. Who, pray tell, called it... ahem... uh... Duo Fingers!?
@benkit49
9 жыл бұрын
Roland Doucet Muhlenberg County is in Kentucky FYI.
@rolanddoucet458
8 жыл бұрын
+benkit49 I knew that... from songs especially... just slipped my mind. Thanks.
@tedpeterson1156
8 жыл бұрын
I believe the two finger method sounds better, if that makes sense. Or maybe it's just that the practitioners do, not sure on that. Doc Watson, was of course another.
@dringled7046
Жыл бұрын
Wow.... first time ever hearing this and I just shed a tear. Something about his voice and playing is so sincere and laidback, at the same time skillful and full of soul
@johnharter4599
7 күн бұрын
real life experience
@damionandy
Жыл бұрын
Man this dude is insane. Funny how metal brought me here and now I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to replicate this on my Ibanez 7 string haha. Merle Travis is the man, this is just mindblowingly good.
@cuatro336
8 ай бұрын
Good guitar players know greatness when they it buddy, regardless of genre.
@Flatted357
12 жыл бұрын
Herein lays the FOUNDATION and cornerstone of all country music--all alone, totally calm and in control, Merle masters the bass line, the rythm, the vocals, and throws in two magnificent leads for 'good measure.' I can play Hendrix, Zepplin, Vaughan, Van-Halen, Johnson, James, etc., and even though country is not my style, as a guitarist, I have to recognize this guy is one of the all time GREATS. Total genius!!--
@monmixer
4 жыл бұрын
Yes sir, Jerry Reed and also Glen Campbell.
@monmixer
4 жыл бұрын
Yep, fastest thumb and index finger in the world. Certainly self taught and he can pick a lot faster than this fiercely up stroking the index finger. It's quite amazing. another that was like this was Toy Caldwell. one of the founders of the Marshall tucker band. Sadly it seemed he lived a cursed life. Tragedy after tragedy plagued he and his family. He could tear a guitar up with a bare thumb and no pick at all and finger pick with his own unique style and brand. One the best that left way to soon. when ever i have struggles in my life i think of what that man went through and then I laugh at myself and move along.
@manmatt445
3 жыл бұрын
My eye!!!!!
@manmatt445
3 жыл бұрын
Dude . You are not only misinformed. But youre full of shit. You dont learn this shit from books boy. Grampa grandma. My brother would say 'pay attentipn'.
@DevilDogClayton
Жыл бұрын
Amen friend...His bio... 16 TONS...is quite the read and, if accurate, sets him on top of all comers...Quite the book and story...👍👊💪
@geraldorford
11 жыл бұрын
Merle Travis plays that guitar like running a well oiled machine. pure perfection.
@cbcsjc
13 жыл бұрын
man, this is THE guy who's influenced just about everyone after him. Awesome!
@adolpholiverbush2
10 жыл бұрын
My family is from Muhlenberg Co, Ky, and Merle wanted to date my grandma. She called him a "pill-poppin' drunk" lol... but he was a genuinely nice guy. Once shoveled a load of coal for my great-great-grandma, who delivered mail with a horse-drawn cart. She always spoke well of him after that. RIP Merle Travis
@RealDiaz
9 жыл бұрын
Adolph Oliver Bush What an awesome story!!!!!
@adolpholiverbush2
9 жыл бұрын
***** Thanks, Merle factored heavily into my family's history. The story on my great great grandma, was that she was loading her OWN coal, and Merle and some guys were standing around, when Merle said "Are we mice, or are we men?" and promptly grabbed a shovel and loaded it for her. Cool cat, helluva guitarist, and a Kentucky legend.
@RealDiaz
9 жыл бұрын
Adolph Oliver Bush Good times :-)
@markpowell4082
9 жыл бұрын
Adolph Oliver Bush While I don't have that close of a connection to the Merle, I grew listening to my dad play that song. My dad was born in Hazard, KY… Harlan County… So the song means a lot to me. Charles Powell, RIP
@adolpholiverbush2
9 жыл бұрын
Mark Powell Me and the wife spent the day in Harlan a couple weeks back. Unbelievable scenery, and amazing mountaintops. I know it is painted as a tragic place with meth problems and what not, and some of that is true, but such a beautiful area.
@BixLives32
11 жыл бұрын
He taught us all how to make our guitars talk. He inspired Doc Watson to take to the stage. Doc named his son for Merle Travis. It all goes round and it comes back home. The circle will NOT be broken. If you have not heard "Folk Songs of The Hills", then waste no time in acquiring this record! You will not take it off your player for a long time. It was out of print for many years and I had to get by with my beat-up scratchy old copy, but the lacquers have been found and it has been transferred to digital and remastered well. It is a joy to behold -Like listening to it for the first time again. If he had made only this record -that would have been enough! But there is so much more...
@rolanddoucet458
10 жыл бұрын
Not sure if he inspired to "take to the stage" (that's certainly not what Doc says) but he was THE influence on Doc's fingerpicking approach, which Doc acknowledged and imitated perfectly in the right-hand technique... but not the left. In his famous intro to Deep River Blues on that double live album from the early 70s with Merle, Doc says he put the Delmore Bros's tune in the Travis style, which is obvious. Chet, who learned to play by copying Travis, said, "Without Merle Travis, I'd still be looking at the hind end of a mule". Travis influenced deeply MILLIONS of guitar pickers, either directly, or through his two most famous followers.
@DocMarshall
10 жыл бұрын
What a fantastic singer and picker! He certainly plays as good - or better - than the best guitar pickers today. Thanks for the video.
@oldgolfer864
8 жыл бұрын
+Doc Marshall Hard call on the guys today. Tommy Emmanuel has no peers. Throm Bresh, Merle's son, is one of the greatest finger pickers I ever heard.
@235buz
5 жыл бұрын
When my dad recorded with Decca in the 40's, him and Merle would fish together from the piers in California.
@stevenburton7922
10 ай бұрын
All with a thumb and one finger...Amazing!
@ricardoalbertotuma704
4 ай бұрын
Incredible! Anyway he's playing with a thumb's pick
@briantaulbee6452
Ай бұрын
@@ricardoalbertotuma704that and one finger
@chadhyde50
4 жыл бұрын
Always thought Jimi Hendrix was sort of the pioneer of using the thumb over the top, hence ( Hendrix chords). Well I was wrong. Awesome playing, love some Merle!
@steelblue1959
3 жыл бұрын
A lot of western swing players do it
@rickbusson7260
4 ай бұрын
@@steelblue1959 Not to mention jazz players.
@jeremeyslayton9862
8 жыл бұрын
I recorded with his 1st cousin Bear Travis. He a guitar picker like Merle
@havokbaphomet666
9 жыл бұрын
Man, that guitar sounds so smooth, and good. This guy rocks!
@jennifursun3303
5 жыл бұрын
it is so pretty sounding
@dustinbironworker1
10 жыл бұрын
Well....Mose Rager, Odell Martin, Kennedy Jones came before good ole Merle. I play with just a thumb and index finger like Merle though, for most of my Thumbpickin songs. LLKM! Long Live Kentucky Music!
@guermeisterdoodlebug7980
3 жыл бұрын
I watched these run as short fillers on B&W TV, Saturday mornings, in early 1950s. Never knew exactly when they might be shown, just had to watch, wait, and hope. I was ecstatic to learn they were available on KZitem.
@larryjohnson6265
2 жыл бұрын
so laid back and so bad ass. nobody plays the guitar like that. even chet said he thought merle's style was more exciting than his.
@rosscampbell1173
4 жыл бұрын
At last, an honest version of Travis Picking on KZitem. Thumb and forefinger only.
@moproducer
11 жыл бұрын
No, that's Travis' Martin D28 that he took to Paul Bigsby in 1946. Bigsby sweated off the Martin neck and replaced it with one that was similar in radius to the neck on the custom Bigsby solid body electric that he had built earlier for Travis. Travis played the D28 for the rest of his life, most notably on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1971 album, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" In 2009, C.F. Martin issued a 100-copy run of this guitar, with Bigsby neck, calling it the D28M. Price: $7,999.00.
@rickbusson7260
Жыл бұрын
I am not sure if it was the recording but, I thought his guitar didn’t do his phenomenal talent justice.
@VidarLund-k5q
27 күн бұрын
Kennedy Jones, Mose Rager, Ike Everly, Merle Travis. Then came Chet Atkins.
@jimirsaysbuddy
13 жыл бұрын
@MrJellyrollBaker If I am not mistaken, that is his Martin D-28 with a bigsby neck. He played this guitar for many years including in the movie "From Here to Eternity".
@billga2010
13 жыл бұрын
@jak442 You sound like you know what you're talking about. I was quoting a Guitar Player Magazine article. "One of Travis' design inovations was having tall the tuning machines on the same side of the headstock ."
@johnlandis2552
10 жыл бұрын
thank you for uploading this classic from"brother" Merle
@123bug
5 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know what kind of pick he used? He makes it look so easy. It looks like a very small, sharp, short pick, mounted pretty high on the thumb... Never seen it before.. I love seeing merle play and sing, makes it sound even better 💙💙💙💙💙
@steelblue1959
3 жыл бұрын
It's a thumb pick, some type of vinyl or maybe turtle shell. I don't think they made plastic picks them. You can shave them or wear them down short. Some players learned as kids, their thumbs were small and the pick would go to the knuckle, when they grew they kept shoving them there because it felt natural. Not sure though.
@RyneMurray23
4 жыл бұрын
King Merle Travis ♥️👍🏻🤘🏻
@docsavage98
13 жыл бұрын
@chester777ful the right hand rolls are modifications of old time mountain banjo players....if you look at some of the "originals" of early country, a lot of them started out picking on a banjo with the thumb and first finger....examples: Lester Flatt, Maybelle Carter, Carter Stanley and Merle. Back in the hills, banjos were very popular because if you knew 3 chord and had a good right hand rhythm you could play about every song out there.....then along came Earl Scruggs and went wild :)
@editorjuno
7 ай бұрын
Thumbpick and ONE -- count 'em! -- finger plus palm-heel muting the bass strings. A simple formula that very few have mastered -- I had the first two down solidly, but never quite got the bass string muting right because it altered my right hand position too much for comfort and speed.
@sidethehead
4 жыл бұрын
Man that's just great. Thanks for posting this.
@chester777ful
13 жыл бұрын
The first finger picking tune i ever heard that sound blew me away i have been a finger picker ever since i heard this and this is where Chet Atkins got his style from.
@19babbott
11 жыл бұрын
reminds me of my daddy :) he always played this song when I was little :)
@ph00xy
4 жыл бұрын
I thought I only knew this song from John Prine but I think my dad had this recording 50 years ago when I was 5.
@E6EN
3 ай бұрын
Thanks travis youve become more immortal then you couldve ver imagined
@musikgirl1
11 жыл бұрын
He is loving it! Thumb and forefinger! OMG that is incredible.
@dabneyoffermein595
3 жыл бұрын
he wears a pick on his thumb like Ralph Stanley and Earl Scruggs.
@dvd1966
3 жыл бұрын
Merle and my grandfather were cousins too bad I never got to meet him.
@knowmusicman157
4 жыл бұрын
Piedmont picking style. He didn't invent it. But mastered it.
@TomDurkin1987
7 жыл бұрын
How have I only just discovered this guy...
@billga2010
13 жыл бұрын
@jak442 From Bigsby websit > One day in late 1946, Merle and P.A. Bigsby were having lunch. Merle, an accomplished cartoonist, had sketched an idea for a new guitar on a Pasadena radio station’s program sheet and passed the drawing to Paul. “Can you make this, P.A.?” asked Merle. P.A. answered, “I can make anything.”And indeed he could! That drawing of the Solid Body electric guitar with all six tuning pegs on one side of the headstock was built the following year and played by Merle in public
@Aramis1
2 жыл бұрын
Maybe him and John Prine are jamming right now.🥰
@svetit10
11 ай бұрын
Супер техника на гитаре❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💥❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹
@connorhunt7127
7 жыл бұрын
anyone got the tab for this? lol
@gamayun6102
6 ай бұрын
The neo-western show Justified brought me here. His music wasn't played but was mentioned by two characters in the show and I looked him up.
@BasedBrainrot
9 ай бұрын
ive been trying to learn this guys technique for 2 weeks now, most passing glances wont realize just how incredible this is.
@billga2010
13 жыл бұрын
@MrJellyrollBaker Merle Travis invented '' in-line '' tuners on the guitar .
@crockettmcgarrity7515
3 жыл бұрын
Anybody else feels sorry for the thumbs-down people I mean if you don't like country music music made by people who work for a living then don't listen to it although that's sad as well
@raskinblog
2 жыл бұрын
I learned this song via Roscoe Holcomb then Ola Bella Reed. Now Merle Travis.
@donnlarossa9173
7 жыл бұрын
Chet Atkins picken before Chet did it
@giniwelle
3 жыл бұрын
Jolene I ain't bout to go straight...
@mrkite89
Жыл бұрын
Great tune, great playing! Tommy Emmanuel's version of this song is pure fire, check it out if you haven't already!
@soonerlegendspodcast
4 жыл бұрын
Damn how do I decide? Chet Atkins or Merle Travis. Both damn great pickers
@steelblue1959
3 жыл бұрын
Both different style. You don't have to choose, just love them both. Just don't tell the other one.
@AMPProf
Жыл бұрын
UGHH... Not this one
@aggabus
4 жыл бұрын
head stock ruin gitbox
@CarlosKBaker
13 жыл бұрын
Amazing! What a fascinating charisma he has in this video!!!
@DC180
4 жыл бұрын
who taught Merle how to Travis pick? How did he get the idea from?
@bobsaturday4273
5 жыл бұрын
the cameramen on these old vids were so stupid to miss the best guitar work and focusing on the face or body of the guitar instead of the left hand
@giaxxone
13 жыл бұрын
@billga2010 That's a bold statement and it's not true. P.A. Bigsby was re-necking martins with his signature head-stock long before he met Merle. Travis did commission P.A. to build the first solid body electric guitar however. He drew it on a napkin. Leo Fender borrowed the guitar for a few days, while it was in for the cut-away to be added, and within 6 months he was building Broadcasters. By all accounts, this ended their friendship.
@BlakeOlfers-m7k
4 күн бұрын
Seth Village
@FabioGrOoVe91
11 жыл бұрын
I like the tremolo thing of the old tape!!!
@39thala
3 жыл бұрын
Notice that Merle used only his thumb and forefinger (2 finger picking) where as people who were influenced by Merle's style like Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Scotty Moore Doc Watson and others used multiple fingers in addition to their thumb. (Chet Atkins first heard Travis on WLW in 1939 and was inspired to adapt his fingerpicking techniques)
@maxmoses8669
2 жыл бұрын
Doc Watson only used his thumb and forefinger as well
@nuqirs
Жыл бұрын
The is the pinnacle ⛰️
@jennifursun3303
5 жыл бұрын
can I ask a dumb sounding question. I'm not a picker but wondered how they got those kind of guitars to sound so loud without amplification thanks
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