| In the late nineteen thirties a cowboy | | | | a little hard to describe in writing but |
| musician called Bob Willis introduced | | | | you can see plenty of examples on |
| the electric guitar to his audiences. | | | | YouTube, but to get the general idea, |
| Nobody knows whether they noticed this | | | | try this experiment: hold your right |
| historic innovation but ten years later | | | | hand over the guitar strings, then mute |
| a whole generation sat up and took | | | | your E (sixth) string by resting your |
| notice when Arthur Smith released his | | | | index finger on it down towards the |
| recording of "Guitar Boogie". This hit | | | | bridge. Next, pluck the string with your |
| instrumental established the electric | | | | thumb. This will give you a "thuck" |
| guitar as a musical force to be reckoned | | | | sound. To complete the chicken pickin |
| with. While the world of rock and roll | | | | move, pluck the open string with the |
| moved to the music of Stratocasters it | | | | nail of your index finger. This move is |
| took a while for country musicians to | | | | repeated until it comes naturally. |
| move from the more restrained tones of | | | | Country solo playing can easily begin in |
| the Gretsch archtop to the more "biting" | | | | the first position on the guitar. When |
| Fender sound. | | | | you begin to play country guitar solos |
| Many guitarists play their country solos | | | | just play over the chords. Do not go |
| on the Fender Telecaster with a Fender | | | | looking for a "country scale", although |
| tube "Twin", Super Reverb or Deluxe | | | | the blues scale is quite handy in |
| Reverb amplifier. On the other hand, if | | | | country guitar playing. The trick is to |
| they are on a tight budget they have | | | | practice with whatever chord shapes you |
| been known to settle for a Peavey tube | | | | have at your stage of playing and see |
| amp. One piece of equipment you will not | | | | what kind of riffs, licks and tricks you |
| need is the whammy bar. It is not used | | | | can get out of each of them. It is a |
| in playing country music. | | | | very interesting way to learn because |
| In contrast to other musical genres that | | | | every chord has its unique character. |
| use the electric guitar, country music | | | | Start with your basic chords like C, D, |
| does not employ a wide variety of | | | | E, G, and A. |
| electronic effects in guitar solos. Alot | | | | So if you want to learn to play country |
| of country guitar players use a strictly | | | | guitar solos which guitar players do you |
| clean sound, maybe sprucing the music up | | | | listen to? Listening to Chet Atkins will |
| with a little reverberation. The only | | | | teach alot to a guitarist in any genre. |
| effect consistently utilized by country | | | | He is largely responsible for the smooth |
| guitar soloists is compression which | | | | Nashville sound which is so attractive |
| enforces limits on the sound waves | | | | to many music lovers. Chet owes his |
| produced by the guitar. This effect | | | | style to Merle Travis, using his thumb |
| enhances the volume of the softer notes, | | | | to pick bass notes and other fingers to |
| and slightly mutes the louder notes. | | | | play the melody and fills. And do not |
| This makes the overall volume seem more | | | | forget to look for music recorded by |
| even. | | | | Merle Travis himself. Another guitar |
| When it comes to technique you can start | | | | great is Jerry Reed. A guitarist with |
| off as a flatpicker but many country | | | | boundless energy and enthusiasm, he |
| guitar players will use a thumbpick in | | | | played on the Elvis Presley single of |
| combination with the index and ring | | | | his own compositions "Guitar Man" and |
| finger. This naturally increases your | | | | "US Male". This list could go on and on, |
| level of versatility more than somewhat. | | | | so let us finish by mentioning Albert |
| There is a technique called "chicken | | | | Lee, a British guitar player admired by |
| pickin" which involves popping the | | | | many other famous guitarists. |
| guitar strings with your fingers. It is | | | | |