British guitarist analyses Merle Travis & Thom Bresh doing the impossible! (Literally!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Tonight we're taking a look at Merle Travis and Thom Bresh both playing one guitar!
Original video - • Cannonball Rag and Who...
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TIME STAMPS -
0:48 Performance
4:52 Analysis Start
5:37 Request Question Answered!
7:13 Cheeky Guitar Players (in general!)
7:50 'Picking Up' Technical Pieces
9:02 Next Level Subconscious Ability
9:51 Playing Appreciation
10:40 Making it Look TOO Easy?!
11:03 Merle's Songwriting
12:03 Innovation
12:52 Merle's Inspirations
PRACTICAL SIDE NOTE FOR PLAYERS -
14:04 How We All Learn
15:01 Play Slowly, Play Correctly. ALWAYS!
17:10 Keep it Conscious
19:00 Muscle Memory Becomes More Responsive (through correct repetition)
19:38 GO SLOWLY! (Muscle memory stores mistakes too)
19:54 My Hypothetical Approach if Learning a New Piece
22:10 Individual Artistic Directions
You can't sat Fil doesn't put enough time into his videos!
I’ve heard this song many times but never seen this performance. Great!
I love the joy in that performance. Really appreciate all the effort to get it to that level too.
Hearing that experienced musicians have to "go slow" to learn new things is very encouraging. It always looks like musicians on stage just play by some magical force, not by hours and years of hard practice.
A fine example of the total appeal of Merle Travis. Not only a great player but a warm and winning personality too with a most alluring singing voice, not even brought to bear here. Good stuff. Thanks.
I wonder how old Thom had to be before his arms were long enough to do this double playing with his dad! I loved that sweet interplay between them Thanks, too, for the great explanation of how we learn, just right mixture of discipline and fun!
You should check out the harmony of Merle singing baritone on the song Gone Home when he was with the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet. The harmony on that performance was phenomenal! In the early days, Merle worked with Grandpa Jones who sang tenor on that performance. You could hear the magic between them!
This set looks like Hee Haw, or am I wrong?
Gosh, I've heard guitar players refer to Travis' influence for 50 years or more.
First video of him I've ever seen, though.
WOW!!!! Thanks!
Never seen anything like this before. Reminds me of watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers who made their dances look like the most natural thing in the world. Fred and Ginger looked so spontaneous, like they were just taking a little stroll through the park and they casually begin to dance.
Very informative analysis. this was fun to see Merle and Thom playing on one guitar at the same time. like the was you break down how to learn new material. thumbs up Fil.
Travis picking is the foundation for so much fingerstyle guitar we know and love!
Wonderful choice of an analysis video!!! Thanks!
I especially liked learning that Ike Everly was one of Merle's influences. For doubters who despair there's no new music. Crazy! Watch your channel. We don't live in a vacuum! For the musically inclined the influences are all over the place for the taking.
Cool. SRV and Jimmy shared one double neck guitar years ago.
And they made it look just as easy.
Good lord, I know I have never seen anything like that before. Merle Travis usually sounded like 2 people playing anyhow. But this is special beyond compare. A little show biz mixed with prodigious talent.
Merle was a Kentucky coal miner who wrote “16 Tons”.
Chet Atkins got his inspiration from Merle Travis. One change he made was to include 3 fingers with the thumb on the right picking hand.
Chet learned this listening to a record and thought Merle was using 3 fingers instead of 2. He discovered that a few years later.
You provided a informative analysis of an impressive live performance of Merle Travis and Thom Bresh. This was the first time I heard two guitarists perform what sounded like beyond the pinnacle of technical abilities and genuine talent. I appreciated your guitar demonstration and your side note for guitarists regarding learning approaches and fundamentals. You reminded me of the phrase "Slow and steady wins the race" and of course, consistency and repitition help. Thanks for teaching and reminding my musical brain, Fil!
Modern guitar fingerpicking can be attributed to Merle Travis. He influenced Chet Atkins but Chet with no video, just records, thought Merle was using his thumb and 2 fingers and styled his playing after that. He later got to watch Merle play and realized he used his thumb and just one finger. Amazing style of playing.
I just found this channel. Cannot stop binge watching. Great work sir!
Thanks!
THATS IT , IM GIVING MY GUITARS AWAY
😂 that’s really funny. I spit out my mouthful of tea . Oops , I literally had just taken a sip of my Earl Grey tea ,and read your comment. Well you can just send them on over to me lol. ❤️🇨🇦
That's why I've played just for fun for 40 years.
Merle Travis was one of the most important country guitarist noted for his finger picking magic but also wrote a great number of classic songs. His Gibson Super 400 stands as one of the most iconic custom guitars Gibson ever made. Great video!
This was wonderful. Thanks, Fil!
Just plain fabulous.
Lots of practice good job. Love father and son being so close....thanks Fil.
What I've learned in your analysis here is to never underestimate technical ability. Thanks for introducing me to Merle & Son, it was fun to see them play. 👍 FIL ☮️♥️🎸
Oh man I love country pickers. The sheer joy of playing. Thanks Fil!! You are great.
Very well explained on all fronts. Thank you for giving these two gentlemen the respect they deserve.
Very helpful insights and information, as always!
Some Great Pickin Here
I got to hang out with The Breshman at his house when I lived in Nashville. His license plate says "Thumb" and he loves anchovies on his pizza.
Great duo.
I saw Thom Bresh with Tommy Emmanuel. Were great. Funny too.
Wow.. I have no words... Great work Fil, thank you...
Great explanation on how to approach learning to play guitar Phil! I think as guitarists we want to play fast right away, but it takes discipline to approach playing slowly and consciously as you explained. You have to learn to walk before you can run!
Great analysis Fil. The explanations and demo was great. You really clarified what was going on and your explanation of the learning process was perfect
Beautifully performed and very well described!
Another stunning performance that would likely have gone unnoticed by many but for Fil.
Many thanks.
I have seen that video many times not realizing that was Tom Bresh, Merle's bastard son. I met Bresh at a music seminar once many years ago and that was how he described himself.
Lots of practice doesn't take away from the expertise shown. Two great musicians.
You honor the memory of Merle Travis Fil. I play a little guitar, and everything you say about guitar playing resonates with me. I just wish I could do it all! 🤷
Really grateful for this insight into the guitarist’s mental space, explaining the investment of time dilemmas- choices in their dedication level in learning techniques and song mastery and many times getting sidetracked which is also part of the creative experience.
Yet another fantastic and insightful analysis by Fil! I love these looks at artists from the 50's thru 80's, especially when demonstrations of techniques are given. It's like attending a University class. Wonderful! The insight that it took mounds of practice and work was worth its weight in gold to aspiring musicians...and indeed to anyone endeavoring to learn a skill or hone a skill. Well done!
Great. Merle one of the giants. He also wrote some classics
Fantastic!!
A year late, but still catching up on the back catalog.
Thanks for pointing out that everyone must slow things down and gradually speed up. I typically try to play songs at regular speed and then give up quickly and inevitably start thinking about selling my guitars. I stupidly did not really consider slowing down and patiently practicing but figured I’m just not good enough and/or too old to improve (which still might be true). New hope from Fil!
That performance was really impressive 😲 and fun to watch 😃. Fil, thanks for another wonderful analysis, it was very informative.
🖤🤘🏽
I first heard Merle when I was about 16 (76 now) I was flabbergasted then and still flabbergasted now.
He don't even know the second chord lol... He's just playing from his heart... A musician with no training except playing music... It cannot get any possibly better than this
that was freaking amazing !
Tremendous video and analysis as usual. Thank you Fil for sharing.
Rob Scallon did something similar to this with Metallica’s “One” a couple years ago. It’s really impressive to see multiple people sharing a guitar like that.
Awesome video....his Metallica banjo covers are unreal.
Merle and Thom are great guitarists. I think it is important to note that Thom heard that music from the time he was a baby. The Travis picking style was almost tattooed into his mind. There is often something special when family members perform together. Take all these advantages and add hundreds of hours of practice and the result, in this case, is outstanding.
Very impressive guitar playing. Thanks for sharing this analysis video. Cheers, Fil!
I love that guitar!
I never knew Thom Bresh was his son,this performance was absolutely badass! 🤯🌠
Good one. Now all I have to do is find two people to help me play my guitar!
lol
Merle Travis & Judy Hayden "Too Much Sugar For A Dime"
Very nice introduction to an artist I wasn't familiar with. It was a joy to see how he and his son interacted. There is so much love and respect on display in their performance.
The discussion about artistic preference really caught my attention. I can definitely say that I get more personal satisfaction from learning more simple songs than working for months on one magnum opus. Guitar lessons have been a humbling and somewhat frustrating adventure in self discovery. I play very, very slowly, and strive to embed the correct left and right hand positions into my conscious and subconscious memory. Even if I never get up to full speed, I'm still learning and enjoying making music my way. Fil, you are the inspiration for my taking the leap into learning to play. Thank you!
Cool! No problem!
@wings of Pegasus you should look into Wendy Holcombe a prodigy most known for banjo. She was 12 years old when she became a regular on Nashville on the Road. She was beautiful, extremely talented and full of energy. Anyone around in the 80's that enjoyed CW music might remember her. She died much too young. Please give it some consideration.
She used to play duets with a lot of big name stars including Roy Clark
th-cam.com/video/uMDmphR3iqU/w-d-xo.html
Oh wow Fil you are such a professional and I'm telling you this is another analysis of yours that all beginners should listen & watch. So much information here. This for some reason registered in my brain. A good while back you inspired me to the point I got a 61 Yamaha keyboard and at first I had fun but I tried to play Happy Birthday like a professional right off the bat and I couldn't so I quit. However after listening to you explain about starting slow and practice I will try again and you've said that before but it finally hit me. Your so inspiring Fil.👏 I've said this before you should be teaching at a University somewhere but wearing a disguise, the girls wouldn't be able to keep their eyes off you.😆 All kidding aside it's a shame you aren't teaching. Have a good, safe, healthy day!❤ I'm dreaming my life away. Boy I did alot of thinking out loud.😆🙄😉🤗
Just, wow! Thanks, Fil.
"Eat your heart out Jerry Reed", loved it
I could see George Harrison sitting there and just loving it.
What a wonderful memory of a great innovator, Fil!
Awesomely cool! Love em both✨
I dont know who named
Mr Haggard but they were inspired by one of the greatest!
2 of my ALL TIME favorites! Probably the best father/son duo I've ever seen. Still love watching Thom's vlogs, though he is spending more time eating than playing these days I think :D
Simple coordination, done expertly in a very unconventional way. Of course, they make it look way easier than it is. Because it is goddamn difficult. It basically goes against everything you originally learn as a guitar player.
However, for something that is actually impossible, you should include Buster B. Jones. I've known of him for ages now, but I still can't comprehend how that shit can actually be done. Not my favorite player, personally, but I always return to him when I want to be astounded.
Great video! Those guys are Guitar Magicians!
I could never learn to finger pick - my ring finger is missing
- see Merle Travis
I could never learn to finger pick - my middle finger is missing and my ring finger
- see Merle Travis
muscle memory stores mistakes also. that's a great one. i love helpful tips. thanks!
I once heard someone say "it's not practice that makes perfect but perfect practice that makes perfect."
Wonderful thank you Fil
These two are fine musicians as you pointed out fil, but obviously this is rehearsed to death, but another fine analysis as ever, another fine performance to check out is Jimmy Barnes live in Melbourne 1988 and the song is 'Seven Days', keep safe buddy.
You did a video on Joe Maphis a while back- Joe had been a great friend of Merle Travis- and they played together over many years. Joe was known as "The King of the Strings" playing so many instruments but he replicated the style of Merle Travis using a flat pick on guitar. Joe's style is played by a guitarist called Brian Lonbeck and Brian was Barbara Mandrell's guitar player on and off- and she was once a member of Joe Maphis's music show. Here is Brian with Thom Bresh doing a Travis tune- and this really shows Brian's virtuosity. th-cam.com/video/2aW5BjBb30Y/w-d-xo.html
Ram Jam, their seminal song is Black Betty, an old blues song that they truly JAMMED.
Thanks for the analysis and most of all the background of the guitar family tree. I thought Chet was transported from guitar heaven down to this rock... he was inspired by Merle. I used to sneak off from my friends during the Vietnam protests to watch HeeHaw since they could play. Little did I know that Merle Watson's Dad was getting the Hillbilly Woodstock organized. David Hoffman has a great film about that time and you have already showed an excerpt with the Joan Baez clip playing with Doc and Merle and Randy.
Thank you for sharing
🏆🏆🏆🤘😊🙏
Another 2 new newbies for me . Oh my they’re adorable 😊!
Oh my tummy is sore . I feel like I don’t need the gym tomorrow lol.
Fil, you’re wonderful. You’re wonderful. Did I tell you that you’re wonderful?
Great analyses Fil, baby steps, I get it. Jeff in LA USA
refreshing
Wow !! That was awesome !!!
I've even forgotten how to play songs that I wrote.
My husband has a guitar ,but never play it anymore. He also has his mom's guitar that his mom had since she was a little girl ,if she was still living she would have been 94 years old ,so her guitar is pretty old.
I might start learning how to start playing them.
Incredible.
Next, Brother Fil will give us a Steve Howe piece to master ! I hope we won't be tested on the thumb playing, that was more than I could even dream of learning! I saw that double picking thumb Fil, you can teach that one to your students, I'm sitting it out.
Jeff Beck said when he was coming up he saw Merle Travis play + he said he almost gave up + quit! Ha I don't blame ya Jeff!
Love your show Brother
Rock!!!
Thanks!
Okay, I'm burning all my guitars now.. .
This was awesome, you should check out Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins playing a cover of "Don't think twice, it's alright" live
How cool is this! A father and son who have duped me. Not hard to do...lol. Thanks for this analysis, Fil..
Don't they say that Mozart as a 14 year old boy could remember Mozart Allegri’s Miserere, note for note, after hearing it just once in 1770?
Maybe that's not completely true but he was non the less known for being able to remember large amounts of notes after just hearing it just once.
But he was also very unique. One of a kind.
I had a feeling this was not impromptu. Really fun, but rehearsed. 😁
Fil, how 'bout doing a reaction to the Kiki Dee Band - I Got The Music In Me 1974. A great live performance!
Saw the pastor & one of church players do something like this on a double necked guitar.
I'd settle for do ri mi just concentrating. 😎😂😎
Same thing with singing. You need to know you scales first. You need to know what each note sounds like and can replicate that sound back. You also need to work on your scales regularly to keep your voices flexible. You can learn to sing by hear if it's played for but not everyone is great at it. Sight reading is a whole different thing all together. When you learn to sight read and you know what the notes sound like and how they change...well you get the picture. Singing has it's own muscle memory in a since.
If every musician took the advice @ 19:38....
What makes Fil irresistible- and what his bow-many copycats can’t manufacture is his irrepressible GLEE!
If not for Fil’s joy, the whole thing would be kinda stupid - watching Fil watching.
But I’m a fan.
I sure would like to know it took for you to figure this out, I have found your video to be very helpful because you slowed it down, I would like you to cover Vinnie Moore mind's eye it is fantastic instrumental
Fucking brilliant. Congratulate your parents for me.
Make it look so easy .
Travis Picking. Nuff said.
Great.
“Impromptu” or not, it is certainly an impressive performance to watch. 😊
I recently was shown a video of a guy doing a finger style cover of My Heart Will Go On (with recorder playing as well). He posts under the name Alip Ba Ta on TH-cam and has a number of cover videos. There do not appear to be any live performance videos of him and I have found very little information on him. The claims I have found (I say “claims” because I have been unable to verify) say he is an amateur player from the Philippines. It *appears* he does his own video recordings. There is likely no way to know if/what sound mixing/editing has been done. I am not sure if this is something you would be interested in doing but I would certainly be curious to hear your thoughts on ANY of his videos 😊