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Jimmie Rodgers
Hey Tony, do you think you could devote a week of TAC to “ In the Style Of Jimmie Rodgers”? I love the little licks and riffs he added to his songs yet am having difficulty figuring them out. A while back you did a TAC week on Mississippi John Hurt, it was my favorite TAC week! In fact since then I have purchased the CD “Complete Blues Recordings of Mississippi John Hurt “ and the Tribute album by John Oates “Arkansas”. I didn’t realize how good John Oates was. Hope you consider the Jimmie Rodgers TAC week. Thanks, Jeff Collins
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15 Replies
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Hey @Jnc51 ,
I was looking forward to other artist weeks myself. I’m going to tag @VictoriaTACTeam and maybe she can bring your post to the attention of Tony @Tpolecastro to see if he would consider this.
MG 😀
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Plus one from me @VictoriaTACTeam , @MikeGaurnier and @Jnc51 ! What week was the focus on Mississippi John Hurt? Are those archived and available anywhere?
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I don’t remember when it was, perhaps one one saved it and can share the link. I would love to do a repeat on Mississippi John Hurt. Hoping Tony will do a “In theStyle of JimmieRodgers” and we can learn the runs, licks and yodels.
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It was called the Signature Series, and it happened before the platform change so no one has it saved as a favorite. Tony said he was going to do more, but this platform change has been more consuming and taken longer than anyone anticipated, so many things have just gotten pushed onto the back burner.
I did save the pdf’s. If you attempt to do these from the tabs, just pay real close attention to the timing. It’s much easier when you can hear Tony do it and then play by feel. But they are great exercises anyway.
MG 😀
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Super cool! Thanks for reposting these!
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👍😊
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Ok, so I didn’t want to edit my last comment. But @Kitman and @Jnc51 , if you’re interested, here’s some direction.
I saved these and for a while I worked on them. One of my problems has been getting too spread out, so I’m really glad you reminded me of these. I’m going to start on them again.
So, the direction: start with only the first four measures of the first exercise called Mississippi Timing. Notice that it uses an alternating thumb pattern on the G major chord using 3 bass strings. But he alternates both the pattern and the timing. The first measure is 1 & 2, 3 & 4, pinching with the 6th string. The second measure is 1, 2 & 3, 4 &, pinching with the other 2 bass strings, 4 and 5. But, notice that when you go into the 3rd measure, you have 4 & 1 & 2 all together.
What I’m going to be doing is using just this as a practice pattern for the next few weeks until I can do it automatically. Only then will I try adding the hammer ons. Notice that he hammers on with alternating thumb and pinches. And that’s just the first day. Every other day is built off this first exercise. So that’s all I’m going to work on for quite a while. I’ll move on only when I can do this automatically.
MG 😀
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Wow, I remember this throwing me off big time when I worked on it before, but I couldn’t figure out what it was that was tough as I could play it cleanly and accurately though slowly as long as I was looking at the tab.
This time, I figured out what is so difficult. I have learned to do 3 bass string alternating thumb, but the pattern that seems more common is 6, 4, 5, 4. But this exercise has the bass thumb going 6, 4, 6, 5. Then throw in the changes and I can’t keep it straight.
This is what I’ve got so far: the thumb is consistent doing 6, 4, 6, 5 (I had to edit that as even when typing I wanted to type 5 for the 3rd hit) and the fingers are consistently doing 2, 1, 2, 1. So the only thing changing is the rhythm, which is done by the fingers. The fingers go after the drone (6th string) in the first measure, then after the secondary bass string (4 and 5 string) in the second measure. But his thumb and fingers are doing an alternating pattern that never changes.
I’m breaking it down like this because I’m really gonna get this. 😎
MG 😀
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Thanks so much @MikeGaurnier for not only the tabs, but for your coaching and mentoring on working teeth the tabs. I downloaded a MJH tab from the web and when I looked at it I thought………………..🧐🤔🤔🧐🧐🤔🤔
Lol, that’s it my mind went blank. Listening to MJH play and connecting it to a tab will be an experience and half. Your coaching and memory of what you figured out when you went through the tabs and lessons are a gold mine! Thanks!!!! 😃
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Kitman.
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👍😃
Let me know how your progress goes. It will be interesting.
MG 😀
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by
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Thanks Mike! Big help! I downloaded the tab, too bad the archive video got lost; maybe Tony can repost. I did find it to be quite a challenge, and I’ve been playing for 10 years, but not blues or finger style. I’m very uncoordinated in finger style; I’m left handed playing right handed. I really love the Delta blues sound. If you have access to John Oates “Arkansas” take a listen, he’s got it down Pat plus the newer recording is easier to pick out what he’s doing.
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You’re welcome @Jnc51 . As far as the video, I imagine it will come around again at some point. In the meantime, you can work on this. Although, if you’re new to finger picking, I woud suggest starting at an easier level. This is complex. The first thing to work on is your alternating thumb and make sure you can hit any of the lowest 3 strings at will. Also, the ability to keep time with your thumb as it strikes on the beat, while your fingers do the off beat (the &). Now, not all fingerstyle does it that way, but that is typical for folk and instrumental type finger style.
I’ll see if I can find John Oates doing “Arkansas” on YouTube. Thanks for the tip.
MG 😀
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Try this, big John Hurt song
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Yeah, @Jnc51 , that’s great use of various stringed instruments, and John Oates sure is good with a flat pick. Always blows my mind when people can do finger picking songs with a flat pick. Just goes to show there are always different ways to get something done.
I checked out his YouTube channel, and he’s got a bunch of famous, country, folk and blues type songs.
MG 😀
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Hey, it. Looks like Tony is doing a revisit to Mississippi John Hurt the end of this month! Really looking forward to it!
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