Wow. First time I've ever heard him. Amazing. He is absolutely jaw dropping good. Hell he tunes better than 99.9% of other people. Completely blown away. I really need to look more up on him.
His tuning skill is legendary, rough tunes it with an electronic thingy, then TUNES it, between every song, will take 2/3/4 mins however long it takes to get it EXACTLY right - I can't tell the difference, but sounds just magnificent when he plays. Get to one of his small venue gigs before you die. (Now don't laugh, he played at one of our local folk clubs about 50 people. During the performance, someone had a heart attack - what a way to go - nurse in audience immediately gave CPR, ambulance arrived within 5 mins, bloke taken to hosp nearby, was OK. When Martin resumed playing, he apologised "I'm sorry, I didn't realise my playing was so bad" and left a free CD for the patient at the end. What a night, you just reminded me.)
And when you hear one of his performances, he's so laid back & absorbed in what he is doing, its like he's practising, & there just happens to be an audience in the same room.
Here's the first time I ever heard him (or *of* him): Shortly after moving to Ithaca, a college town in upstate NY, I was wandering around a record store (they had them back then-early 90s!), hearing this beautiful acoustic guitar music. I walk around a stand of CDs, and there's the source-this fellow named Martin Simpson, playing live in the store. He'd recently moved to Ithaca, and had just released an instrumental CD, and was "advertising" it, so to speak. Needless to say, I became an instant fan (and soon had as many of his CDs as I could get my hands on). He lived here for the better part of a decade, and the local music scene, which was unusually good before and after his stay, was just magical when he was here. He performed often, with everyone, and was always outstanding. I got to chat with him a few times, and plied him with questions during a master class; he was always gracious and eager to share both music and knowledge. I'd say he's probably almost as good a musicologist as he is a musician. He moved to the west coast, then I believe to New Orleans, before returning to the UK, absorbing music everywhere. I still miss having him here and how he lifted up the whole music scene. I eagerly await every new recording. He's one of the true maestros of the acoustic guitar world.
Eric Carpenter, I first heard Martin on record, Sad Or High Kicking was the LP, being used to demonstrate Linn/Naim audio equipment at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas around 1985. A few years later I was working for an Audio store that sold that gear, and I returned the favor by turning the folks who imported the equipment from the UK to the States onto Maddy Prior and June Tabor, the "Silly Sisters"! (Martin used to play with June). And in '92 I saw Martin play several sets at the Edmonton Folk Fest in Canada, a great festival that also included Ry Cooder, David Lindley and Ron Kavana, and about 40 or 50 others....
Listen to the first 9:43 of his playing and I´m in another world, somewhere anywhere everywhere, can´t say definitely where I am at this point, get totaly flashed and have to give all I can to tkake, to give me a short period of reflection. Since I was a boy, I loved to listen to Werner Lämmerhirt, by the way a fantastic guitarplayer, Hannes Waader and all the guys from the 60´s, 70´s and the 80´s, but man, thats another dimension! The precision of THIS playing.....! Thank you for uploading!
One of the greatest fingerstyle guitarists alive! I saw a video where he was doing quick leads wearing three plastic finger picks with a thump pick! Impressive to the maximum and Kudos, Martin!
Martin came to my workshop to collect an instrument - even IRL it's almost impossible to get what he does on the guitar. I am stunned by the rapid appregios that come and go from nowhere. Mind blowing... Plus we share the same blues record collection...
Go see him live, you won't regret it. I was fortunate enough to go to one of his workshops a few years ago. Being a fairly rudimentary player I was both excited and apprehensive, but Martin is such a lovely guy, the sessions were completely inclusive and not even slightly intimidating. A brilliant memorable educational and fun weekend!
Martin's just about THE most fabulous player. I identified with his 'flick' technique, that I learned in the cloakroom at Sidcup Art School from Dick Taylor WAY back. (Not to be confused with Mick Taylor who came later), Dick was the first guitarist in the Stones -after Keef, and was a wonderful blues player. Over 50 or so years I've rarely seen other players do that technique. Wonderful, wonderful stuff Martin. (And your gig at Port Fairy a few years back was a real treat too).
Simply Brilliant Martin, Humble and wise words all in perfect balance! Thank you so much for your inspirational performance. I hope you get to Australia at some time?
Brilliant in so many ways, MS is a consummate player AND that guitar [PRS Custom signature Angelus model], I want one of those, I'm a dreamer, I know! Back to woodshedding, y'all!
I took a five day master course with him in Connecticut in the mid-nineties. He's such a deeply generous soul - and not a drop of arrogance despite being one of the finest players of his generation. He's also - as you can see here - a suburb instructor. Many of us had signed up primarily on the basis of Leo Kottke being listed among the instructors (which he was in a rather cameo sort of way - i.e. Kottke spent an afternoon on campus talking, playing and taking questions) and weren't familiar with Martin Simpson, but we couldn't have had a better instructor. My memory is that Martin was exceedingly irritated that Kottke had said during Q&A that 'open tunings were a trap', and that the most positive thing Martin had to say about Leo was that 'he had great attack' on the strings (which is very true of Martin's playing too). And I remember playing in front of Leo and the students for about 30 seconds and Leo standing up, walking behind me, reaching over and lifting my pinky which was panted to the soundboard - at which point I could hardly play at all. I also recall asking Martin if I could play his Sobell guitar, which he reluctantly allowed. I can't believe that I had the nerve to ask - how embarrassing. I saw Martin 20 years later at a folk festival in Southwell, England, and introduced myself to him again. He was nice (and obviously didn't remember me) - but it was morning and I was standing in-between him and the bacon sandwich tent, so I kept it short...
Oh my goodness. It's hard enough to learn how to play in one alternate tuning. Meanwhile, Martin is over here switching between all of them like it's nothing
If he is going to rattle that neck with the bottleneck, I suggest, not humbly, he said, use glass. Sounds like a car wreck. Other wise, cliche or not, he is one of a million, not in a million. He has a future, I suppose. Where? U.K very probably.
He's been touring and performing all over the world since the mid seventies - having seen him solo many years ago it was a very humbling experience and I'm a fan of all the slide greats - but Martin also encompasses english and celtic traditional music. The guitar looks to have a very low action whereas he probably has another set up for slide with a higher action for slide
Oh dear. Seems I was correct. You cannot construct a sentence, either. I expect you weigh about 400 pounds and have a cellar full of junk food and assault rifles. Have a nice day, now. Can you play, btw?
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for producing/posting this. Simpson is brilliant, one of the few people who are both technically proficient and soulful.
I guarantee there are hundreds of kids learning the guitar picking up their acoustics and re-tuning before the video even ends! Wonderful masterclass.
Yup, more info here tan can be absorbed in one go :)
Wow. First time I've ever heard him. Amazing. He is absolutely jaw dropping good. Hell he tunes better than 99.9% of other people. Completely blown away. I really need to look more up on him.
His tuning skill is legendary, rough tunes it with an electronic thingy, then TUNES it, between every song, will take 2/3/4 mins however long it takes to get it EXACTLY right - I can't tell the difference, but sounds just magnificent when he plays. Get to one of his small venue gigs before you die. (Now don't laugh, he played at one of our local folk clubs about 50 people. During the performance, someone had a heart attack - what a way to go - nurse in audience immediately gave CPR, ambulance arrived within 5 mins, bloke taken to hosp nearby, was OK. When Martin resumed playing, he apologised "I'm sorry, I didn't realise my playing was so bad" and left a free CD for the patient at the end. What a night, you just reminded me.)
Some fabulous playing on his latest record, "Trails and Tribulations" (that's not a misprint).
And when you hear one of his performances, he's so laid back & absorbed in what he is doing, its like he's practising, & there just happens to be an audience in the same room.
Here's the first time I ever heard him (or *of* him): Shortly after moving to Ithaca, a college town in upstate NY, I was wandering around a record store (they had them back then-early 90s!), hearing this beautiful acoustic guitar music. I walk around a stand of CDs, and there's the source-this fellow named Martin Simpson, playing live in the store. He'd recently moved to Ithaca, and had just released an instrumental CD, and was "advertising" it, so to speak. Needless to say, I became an instant fan (and soon had as many of his CDs as I could get my hands on). He lived here for the better part of a decade, and the local music scene, which was unusually good before and after his stay, was just magical when he was here. He performed often, with everyone, and was always outstanding. I got to chat with him a few times, and plied him with questions during a master class; he was always gracious and eager to share both music and knowledge. I'd say he's probably almost as good a musicologist as he is a musician. He moved to the west coast, then I believe to New Orleans, before returning to the UK, absorbing music everywhere. I still miss having him here and how he lifted up the whole music scene. I eagerly await every new recording. He's one of the true maestros of the acoustic guitar world.
Eric Carpenter, I first heard Martin on record, Sad Or High Kicking was the LP, being used to demonstrate Linn/Naim audio equipment at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas around 1985. A few years later I was working for an Audio store that sold that gear, and I returned the favor by turning the folks who imported the equipment from the UK to the States onto Maddy Prior and June Tabor, the "Silly Sisters"! (Martin used to play with June). And in '92 I saw Martin play several sets at the Edmonton Folk Fest in Canada, a great festival that also included Ry Cooder, David Lindley and Ron Kavana, and about 40 or 50 others....
I could sit all day long and listen to Martin play. I just love his guitar technique.
exactly
Just wonderful, Martin is one of the best guitarists the U.K. ever produced
Listen to the first 9:43 of his playing and I´m in another world, somewhere anywhere everywhere, can´t say definitely where I am at this point, get totaly flashed
and have to give all I can to tkake, to give me a short period of reflection.
Since I was a boy, I loved to listen to Werner Lämmerhirt, by the way a fantastic guitarplayer, Hannes Waader and all the guys from the 60´s, 70´s and the 80´s,
but man, thats another dimension!
The precision of THIS playing.....!
Thank you for uploading!
One of the greatest fingerstyle guitarists alive! I saw a video where he was doing quick leads wearing three plastic finger picks with a thump pick! Impressive to the maximum and Kudos, Martin!
Saw him play at church in Hertford a couple of weeks ago. Stunned by how fluid his playing is.
This guy's love for his craft is infectious! Could listen to him talk about it and play it all day!
Martin came to my workshop to collect an instrument - even IRL it's almost impossible to get what he does on the guitar. I am stunned by the rapid appregios that come and go from nowhere. Mind blowing... Plus we share the same blues record collection...
I just found this so interesting to listen to. One of the greatest living guitar players imo
What a talented and nice man. Grateful for Martin sharing his knowledge and passion with all of us.
Go see him live, you won't regret it. I was fortunate enough to go to one of his workshops a few years ago. Being a fairly rudimentary player I was both excited and apprehensive, but Martin is such a lovely guy, the sessions were completely inclusive and not even slightly intimidating. A brilliant memorable educational and fun weekend!
Fascinating video, hats off to Martin and Guitarist for making this and sharing it with us all 😅
Even when he's just "noodling" his playing is so slick and sympathetic, and a nice bloke to boot.
What a lovely sound this guy makes
Martin, you´re talking, you´re different ways of tuning and you´re playing are a gift to me. Just perfect!
Martin's just about THE most fabulous player. I identified with his 'flick' technique, that I learned in the cloakroom at Sidcup Art School from Dick Taylor WAY back. (Not to be confused with Mick Taylor who came later), Dick was the first guitarist in the Stones -after Keef, and was a wonderful blues player. Over 50 or so years I've rarely seen other players do that technique. Wonderful, wonderful stuff Martin. (And your gig at Port Fairy a few years back was a real treat too).
I HAVE to see Martin live again. Fantastic guitarist
So helpful! Been trying to come up with something bluesy for ages and this has been super inspiring 😊
Astonishing player.
Genius.
Love Martin, true artist.
This guy is fantastic.
"And if you put a slide on all of a sudden you've got woodally woodally woodally woo woo". Haha, what a great description. Stunning player!
Simply Brilliant Martin, Humble and wise words all in perfect balance! Thank you so much for your inspirational performance.
I hope you get to Australia at some time?
Put on some good headphones and immerse yourself in the fabulous tones!
That right hand technique. Just outstanding
Only ever a stunning performer.
Total perfection. Many thanks
Brilliant in so many ways, MS is a consummate player AND that guitar [PRS Custom signature Angelus model], I want one of those, I'm a dreamer, I know! Back to woodshedding, y'all!
He's a joy to see live
Wow!! Amazing talent!!! Superb tutorial thank you!
Thank you for this amazing lesson 👏
Incredible skills and Perfect pitch! Thanks for posting this!
Perfection! Thank you, Martin. Cheers!
i really like this guy
Wonderful Masterclass, thanks !!
You great!!!
Arriva México biejones y todo los artistas k biene en el futuro
What a charming dude
I need a sit down with this man I think he could help me out
I will actually go and see him this year at Towersey! If he doesn't clash with a ceilidh....
world class
Love it
so much skill..i want that so bad
I took a five day master course with him in Connecticut in the mid-nineties. He's such a deeply generous soul - and not a drop of arrogance despite being one of the finest players of his generation. He's also - as you can see here - a suburb instructor. Many of us had signed up primarily on the basis of Leo Kottke being listed among the instructors (which he was in a rather cameo sort of way - i.e. Kottke spent an afternoon on campus talking, playing and taking questions) and weren't familiar with Martin Simpson, but we couldn't have had a better instructor. My memory is that Martin was exceedingly irritated that Kottke had said during Q&A that 'open tunings were a trap', and that the most positive thing Martin had to say about Leo was that 'he had great attack' on the strings (which is very true of Martin's playing too). And I remember playing in front of Leo and the students for about 30 seconds and Leo standing up, walking behind me, reaching over and lifting my pinky which was panted to the soundboard - at which point I could hardly play at all. I also recall asking Martin if I could play his Sobell guitar, which he reluctantly allowed. I can't believe that I had the nerve to ask - how embarrassing. I saw Martin 20 years later at a folk festival in Southwell, England, and introduced myself to him again. He was nice (and obviously didn't remember me) - but it was morning and I was standing in-between him and the bacon sandwich tent, so I kept it short...
Nice info and story, thanks :-)
Oh my goodness. It's hard enough to learn how to play in one alternate tuning. Meanwhile, Martin is over here switching between all of them like it's nothing
EXCELLENT
He's 'quite good', as Bob Dylan said of the I.S. band when he heard 1st their October Song...
I do enjoy a bit of woodly woodly woo
Reference Derek Brimstone - amazing performer. Hey Martin, you learnt your chops on all the stuff I did but made a better fist of it :)
please...what is that guitar? brand and model? I love it!!!
Pablo Pérez it's a PRS Martin Simpson signature acoustic I believe, sounds incredible
Matt Salt thanks Matt!!
i know i could never afford it, but whats the first guitar he's using?
They are both PRS acoustics.
I swear at about 23 minutes I heard him say "It's so easy to do".
What guitar is Martin playing here (with the leaves inlays)?
Its a PRS PRIVATSTOCK
My theory, which is mine, by Anne Elk :-)
Jon Brooke glad someone else spotted that!
@@petergoddard1960 Ever vigilant!
He is God ...
So good. I can't use thumb picks though. I've just hung up my guitar.☹️
WONDERFUL! Please tell me how the guitar in open G is tuned? D G D G B D? Is that right?
Thomas Gitarrenspieler yes, that's right. Then a bar at fifth fret is a C chord, 7 is D etc.
Thank you so much!
That's right but on the video he also raises the 2nd to top string to C DGDGCB for somethings
anyone know what mic that is?
The guitar would have been recorded with a pair of AKG C414s.
How do you tune it with out a tuner?
The best tuners are the ears. No batteries.
William A-D Martin is one of the finest players in the world, cult like following
William A-D
Practice. Standard tuning to Drop D to Double Drop D, to open G to DADGAD to open D is all just a few twists.
Watch Martin's thumb at about 15:20, guivering like a racehorse at the starting gate ---- it just wants to *go!*
5:30 Sounds like some Leo Kotke. I wish someone would post up the exact string tuning.
D major tuning DADF#AD - unusual for Martin as he normally plays in modal tunings, i.e., tunings with no 3rd interval...
Woodely-Woodely-Woodely-Woodely-Whoo-Whoo... -LLL-
13.17
Martin tuner simpson.
This is witchcraft man!!!...
Fingerpicks destroy the sound even of the best guitars.
If he is going to rattle that neck with the bottleneck, I suggest, not humbly, he said, use glass. Sounds like a car wreck. Other wise, cliche or not, he is one of a million, not in a million. He has a future, I suppose. Where? U.K very probably.
He's been touring and performing all over the world since the mid seventies - having seen him solo many years ago it was a very humbling experience and I'm a fan of all the slide greats - but Martin also encompasses english and celtic traditional music. The guitar looks to have a very low action whereas he probably has another set up for slide with a higher action for slide
Let me guess. You're from the 'States and think only you know how to play this stuff. Can you actually play, btw?
Bad teeth and an ear ring. Ad nauseum adjectives. Sycophants that can't construct a sentence. There will always be an England on the dole. Suck it up.
Oh dear. Seems I was correct. You cannot construct a sentence, either. I expect you weigh about 400 pounds and have a cellar full of junk food and assault rifles. Have a nice day, now. Can you play, btw?
As the saying goes, better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to post a comment and to remove all doubt.