Bye Bye Blues (Tommy Johnson)

[TBman]

Good job Doug!

Thank you Barry!

[reeve21]

Doug,

I know you play with bare flesh (as do I).

What about strings?

When I first started fingerpicking I used the same PB mediums I favor for strumming with a pick, and it sounded like I was playing with oven mitts. After switching to light 80/20's (thanks to advice I got on AGF) and several months of practice my tone got a lot better.

Last night I put on a set of medium PB's just for comparison and it was just as terrible as I remembered. Muffled is the word that comes to mind. I can't get the top to vibrate at all with the thicker strings. My Martin dread has a spruce top and rosewood back and sides.

I realize tone is mainly in the fingers and heart, just wondering what strings you are using to sound so sweet

Hi Bob,

I use Martin 80/20 lights. I also have calluses on picking fingers and tend to play quite hard.

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Hi Bob,

I use Martin 80/20 lights. I also have calluses on picking fingers and tend to play quite hard.

Thanks, Doug. All of that is kind of what I suspected, and makes me think I'm on the right path, albeit 15 years behind you

Originally Posted by reeve21

Thanks, Doug. All of that is kind of what I suspected, and makes me think I'm on the right path, albeit 15 years behind you

Woody (and Stefan for that matter) emphasize "getting the sound out of the guitar" i.e., playing with power while still maintaining tone, feel and touch. It's not just playing hard but there is a component of that. Still working on developing this.

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Woody (and Stefan for that matter) emphasize "getting the sound out of the guitar" i.e., playing with power while still maintaining tone, feel and touch. It's not just playing hard but there is a component of that. Still working on developing this.

Yes, I'm beginning to understand that concept, Doug. Applying it is another matter! My tone did get a lot better once my fingertips toughened up a little bit. Thumb is real calloused, and my guitar is bass heavy so I feel pretty good on the bottom end.

Sometimes I get the feeling like I am pulling up and almost snapping on the treble strings, which really pulls the sound out of the high end.

Thanks for the insights!

No problem Bob.

[Toby Walker]

Nice... and you really got those tricky triplets going there. Was that from a Woody Mann video or book?

[BJ9RW]

Excellent as always, Doug. With those nice moves one expects from Woody's arrangements.

Dubi

Thank you Toby and Dubi!

Originally Posted by Toby Walker

Was that from a Woody Mann video or book?

It's from Woody's Art of the Acoustic Blues Guitar: The Logic of the Fretboard DVD/book combo. https://www.amazon.com/ART-ACOUSTIC-.../dp/082560348X

[flatbaroque]

Hey Doug.Love your work.You are carving out a niche that is most entertaining.

Thank you FB! I love your tunes as well.