The Carter Scratch
 

I play Carter style with a flat pick, but now that I have an acoustic archtop I have been thinking about learning to use the Carter Scratch for a few songs with thumb pick and reversed fingerpick on the index finger.

I play clawhammer banjo with a reversed pick, so I'm hopeful that the learning curve will not be too steep.

Does anyone here use Maybelle's right hand technique? I don't see it mentioned much and have not seen anyone bar her doing it?

Looks like some autoharp technique applied to a 6-string. I know one of the Carters played the a-harp, but not sure it was her?

Classic innovators... Great stuff...

I wonder if they had any idea these performances would become classic "videos" .... they might have smiled in them...

I don't know if I've ever seen her smile.

I do it a lot on old fiddle songs and my own stuff. I switch to travis picking during songs, so I use a thumbpick and a bare finger.

Here's an interesting take on the Carter scratch.
Lots of fun to play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PyE87IcGf4&t=9s

Technique is like banjo frailing. Having played banjo in past years where I picked that technique up
I do similar on the guitar in places on some tunes.

Hardly ever see anyone from that Depression-era generation smile in photos. (Or videos). Very few people could afford iPhones back then! :D

Great video. GOODness graciOUS, IT’s GOOD. Makes me want to bake something with Martha White’s Hot Rise. Also, lovin’ on Earl on guitar for a change.

Back to Mother Maybell: I have to say I didn’t know she used just thumb and index finger.

"Goodness gracious it's pea-pickin' good!" Tennessee Ernie Ford used that appellation when he became the spokesman for for Martha White Flour.

Bob

Personally, I play lots of guitar and ukuleles, many styles, without any pick. I vary what my fingers do according to what sound I need. I've never thought about what I was doing having any sort of official label, I just do it. In fact I never knew these various right hand techniques even had names until the Internet came along.

It sure was.

Daughter June. You can see Reese Witherspoon playing one in Walk The Line.

I just got Flatpick Guitar Magazine’s Flatpicking Carter Style. I’m making an effort to learn how to flatpick chord melody.

You will be glad you are doing this. I love melody 🎵 and am always impressed when someone does it well.