Gary Davis' Thumb

srick · #1 10-08-2018, 12:23 PM

Oh my, can I ever get a handle on this?

A grey day off today proved the perfect time to delve into my set of Ernie Hawkin's RGD lessons. Gary Davis' countermelodies, moving basslines and syncopation have my head swimming. It's just amazing to hear what he was doing with his thumb. It's like listening to a marching band doing Sousa marches.

And maybe that's step one: Really listen to the music and cement in your head what you are aiming for. But the more intricacy I hear, the more incompetent I feel!

I know, play slowly and keep repeating.

I wonder how many of the kids who showed up for $5.00 lessons at his house were gently refused and told that they needed a lot more practice before returning

? After all, we only have heard about all of those who made it!

Mr. Jelly · #2 10-08-2018, 03:00 PM

My guess is the Rev needed the money even though he was a hard nose. I was looking at a Bookbinder lesson the other day and he mentioned that he can't even come close to some of the Rev's chords. Allot of people can't. So he plays like Bookbinder not the Rev.

rick-slo · #3 10-08-2018, 06:28 PM

I'm sure you could do this. Work out the pattern for the first half a minute and go from there. To get more of that sound get a funky short sustain guitar.

srick · #4 10-08-2018, 06:58 PM

Derek - Oh, I can do the simple stuff and the simple versions, BUT, I want to get to that next level. One goal is to play "Soldiers March". Fortunately, Ernie Hawkins has a great lesson on this.

Gary Davis is all over the place in his playing - sometimes simple and clean and sometimes, wickedly complex.

Rick

rick-slo · #5 10-08-2018, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srick

Derek - Oh, I can do the simple stuff and the simple versions, BUT, I want to get to that next level. One goal is to play "Soldiers March". Fortunately, Ernie Hawkins has a great lesson on this.

Gary Davis is all over the place in his playing - sometimes simple and clean and sometimes, wickedly complex.

Rick

Really, "Soldiers March"? Kind of an odd tune. However in ways easier than some of the other stuff.
Just probably harder to memorize if you are going for note for note. Anyway, one can play most things
given enough practice.

RRuskin · #6 10-08-2018, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srick

Oh my, can I ever get a handle on this?

A grey day off today proved the perfect time to delve into my set of Ernie Hawkin's RGD lessons. Gary Davis' countermelodies, moving basslines and syncopation have my head swimming. It's just amazing to hear what he was doing with his thumb. It's like listening to a marching band doing Sousa marches.

And maybe that's step one: Really listen to the music and cement in your head what you are aiming for. But the more intricacy I hear, the more incompetent I feel!

I know, play slowly and keep repeating.

I wonder how many of the kids who showed up for $5.00 lessons at his house were gently refused and told that they needed a lot more practice before returning

? After all, we only have heard about all of those who made it!

I doubt he turned too many students away. The best advice I can give anyone tackling the Rev's material is to first, start with the simpler stuff and second, think of what he did not as guitar playing but rather turning the guitar into an ensemble.