Here's How: Merle Travis' "Cannonball Rag" with Tommy Emmanuel
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- One of the most beloved anthems for finger-picking guitar players is "Cannonball Rag". Originally written by Kennedy Jones and popularized by Merle Travers. Finger-picker extraordinaire, Tommy Emmanuel shares his own take on the song, how he takes it apart and then adds his own approach for a truly singular performance.
That's a fun piece. I'm going to sit down and learn it. See you in 75 years.
Exactly my thoughts. I made it 10 years, but you could be right, 75 is more like it. 😄
EXACTELY WHAT I was thinking 🤣
😆😆😆😆😆Right??? Isn’t it sickening?
yeah fuck me Ive played everyday for 15 year but making the jump to stuff like this is a LOT of practice.
you could actually mess around just with the chords on this one and get used to the finger placement and as long as you play everyday it will come no problem.
This is a great lesson. If you already know how to play Cannonball Rag.
the best thing guitar center has ever done.
Is it possible that Mr. Emmanuel is the very best guitarist on the planet? I, personally, think so!
Yes.
he is without doubt, richard smith is standing right next to him!
He is the best all around guitarist out there.
In another video somewhere, he is asked about his practicing guitar. Says he sits down and plays a very demanding guitar song and repeats it for an hour. This redefined practicing for me. It brought the concept of practice to a whole other level. That is the context of what he is saying here; telling us to use this extremely song as a practice vehicle, just play it over and over and over. I have taken his advice to heart. When I get up in the morning, as soon as I get a guitar in my hands I play my most demanding fingerstyle song over and over for 45 mins or so. It is really helping my guitar competence, not only with that song, but in all my many other fingerstyle songs.
“Let me play it through one time for you at just like a MEDIUM pace” ........hahahaha 😂😂😂
Brett Muller lol right.. What is full pace like haha
came here to say this... like, WTF tommy!!!!
I was thinking the same thing....holy crap...Medium pace? Yeah, I picked up on all of that!
HAHHAHAHHAHHAHA
Carl Marc listen to merle travis play it, it's still not as fast as tommy plays it live
Tommy says “I’ll play it for you at a medium pace“ holy cow! That was smoking fast. What a great Guitarist
I don't play fingerstyle acoustic, but I love Tommy's playing. He's got to be one of the best guitarists alive.
Don't ever give that guy an electric, he would produce sounds with it nobody has ever heard before.
@@TheNinnyfee Yep! TE grew up playing the electric! And of course electric is much easier than playing acoustic but his sounds from both are unbelievable.
How could thumbs down this? Even as a joke...... You could play your whole life, and never reach the pinnacle of this mountain of skill. If you wanna know what mastery looks like you have found it.
Aaah yes, the ol 'medium pace'. I've never been able to figure out the bug in TH-cam the videos that mysteriously cause them to speed up when Tommy plays. Hope they fix that soon. I'd hate to think he actually plays that fast.
john davies watch it live
This guitar was in tune when I bought it...I'm using that one!
dhfg I think it's a Maton EBG808TE or TE1. I hear they go for 3-5k.
It's the maton ebg808 tommy personal there 5k Aus
I have the ebg 808 Te cut away that's was $2500 best money I have ever spent
That's got to be the oldest guitar joke of all-time, so I wouldn't use it if I were you. It's been done to death.
I don't want to brag but I can play it all the way through, note for note. 😀 The rub is, it takes me 3 days instead 90 seconds! 😂🤣😂🎸😉
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! Someone of my comperable skill!
Good one🤣🤣🤣🤣🎵🎵🎸
😂😂😂
Lol
Nice jobe bro
I really hope someone discovers who this amazing guitarist is today. Tommy Emmanuel literally changed my life for the better. And my guitar playing.
2x on that.. Saw him at Winfield (Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival) in 2002 and life hasn't been the same since.. much better!
Me too. Just discovered him.
Ryan i didn’t think I could progress, as a middle aged picker, much. This lesson is amazing. The alternating bass thing, is hard for me. I need to do it. Don’t worry, he is plenty famous, you wouldn’t know it, eh?.
@ 1:55 such an amazing talent.. I hope Tommy Emmanuel is made to be immortal and just never goes away. True legend here, and one who was inspired by other true legends! This man has not only helped drastically improve my own playing but also introduced and encouraged me to dig more into the likes of Lenny Breau, and of course Chet Atkins.
When I see or hear Tommy, I almost want to give up on playing guitar. Amazing how a he can play guitar so well. Incredible musician!
Fantastic, great guitar playing, with a bit of Chet Atkins style thrown in. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I went out back, filled my guitar with dirt, and planted azaleas in the sound hole.
Keith Rowe Hilarious
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Lol you funny!😋
Wtf is wrong with you?😂
So nice to hear...
Lol, Tommy's idea of "Medium Pace" is this blinding 310 bpm romp ! He's not kidding either. Brilliant !
That's a tune with no ending it's a tune that can keep going and going an going like the Energizer bunny rabbit,,,,Awesome
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸👍🇺🇸
That's the problem with this type of tune. It just goes round and round again and again until your wife threatens to pack her bags and leave 😅
@@fecklessmovies 🤣🤣🤣🤣🍻🇺🇸
“Alright enough of this fun””... I was inspired by this, practiced for months, was proud of what I accomplished, back to realize I have failed.
Ok I just made a coffee table with my Taylor.
Had a grin on my face the whole time listening to this
Carl Marc can't hear it and not grin. Try playing it.
Yeah,,I agree. I was grinning so hard while watching him play, that my cheeks are hurting.
He’s also grinning dum hard right there with us
I can't even keep up with your leg
Bahahaha!
Spat out my pepsi max laughing
That's funny
hapshan Hilarious
hapshan
ahhh haaa!! Now, that’s funny!!!!
Thank so much for giving my Grandfather the Writers credit on this. Something even Merle did not do, who Was taught it by My grandfather himself.....Excellent version Jonise would have loved it!!!!!
Paul The Bootleggers Music Group!~
Loved the emmanuel brothers tuning up, comic routine. Was lucky to see them. Some get precious, about their skills, but this bloke loves to share.
Such a top bloke...makes you proud to be a guitarist, a finger picker and an Australian....
Wow! Such an incredible song to warm up with! Thank you Tommy! ⚡️🎸
Tommy says... 'see that?'
Yes....I seen some blur on the fret board... :/
"I use Cannonball Rag as a warmup." This should tell you something. If only he would have the good grace to at least make it LOOK difficult once in a while?!
I once tried to learn this tune, It took a while just to get the cord changes( slightly different than Tommys) and I never tackled the whole tune. NEVERTHELESS! Playing this for a while makes your hand work like some crazy robot implant!
ya not very hard for te song its more like medium difficulty
Now, isn't he a magician. He does it in front of your eyes (even slowly), and you still don't see the trick. This video was posted the day of my birthday, thank you Tommy!.
"This guitar was in tune when I bought it " Thanks Tommy,very funny. Gonna remember that one!
This man is a treasure!
I recently saw him live! Amazing and down to earth pleasant man.
I've met him several times. The most down to earth, humble person I've ever met. Agree with you a thousand percent.
OMG! A full Tommy Emmanuel tutorial of this would be SOOOOO appreciated
If we could keep a human on earth forever I’d pick tommy Emmanuel
Onix Junes my thoughts exactly a gift from god
Couldn’t agree more!
I’d guitar pick Tommy Emmanuel too
tommy would pick chet.
Played by the most beloved player of guitarists
Your enthusiasm and fun puts a smile on my face, a jive to my step and hug in my heart!!
a - fricking'men. absolutely does
Update: Thank you Tommy for posting this great video. I just found it a couple of weeks ago and can't stop playing it. I especially like the Chet rip-off sequence. You're right! It does get the blood pumping. I haven't got the little walk down thing with the hand off the neck yet nor the chromatic runs. I'll dissect them later after I get the "head" and body of the tune down. I love this thing! Thanks Tommy!!!
Wow! Speechless. Just wow!
As great a player as Tommy is, he still has the drive and desire to push himself to get even better. That's the lesson for us all!
Thanks Tommy! Wow! This is just what I needed to challenge and improve my thumb speed. I got the chords down but increasing the speed and accuracy is the challenge. Man I needed this tune! Tommy's generosity in sharing his knowledge and technique here on TH-cam is second to none on. Thank you so much!
The key to cleanly changing chords in that exercise is in the fact that each chord sequence ends with an open G note. You have to start changing left hand position before you start playing those G notes, not after. This buys a whole eights note worth of time, which is significant.
Guys I have some good news. After one whole year of practicing this song everytime that I pick up the guitar, I have made it to the point where I can comfortably play the opening part at 75% speed!👍 It got a lot easier when I had the picking pattern down and stopped trying to be so precise with the fingers, it kinda feels like you are slapping your fingers against the strings while also playing them with good tone.
2 years now, how goes it?
@@Idiomatick 2 years later I'm able to play the whole song! Not quite at the speed of Tommy, I'd say 75% speed was a fair guess lmao. Still one of my favorite songs to play. Everytime I pick up an acoustic this is the first song I play.
@@francescomortillaro5645 Im about to dive into this and spend 10 hours on it. I do the same thing, I'll wake up and play claptons version of classical gas. the thumb is going to be a big change for me on this though
Tommy is simply brilliant. An awesome performer.
Great piece for warm up! Yeah Right!
I saw Tommy play about 5 years back at a little tiny venue, it was amazing.
Saw him at bb Kings in NY myself... incredible
Dear Tommy,
You didn't have to show us this, but you did, but you did, but you did, and I thank you.
Saw Tommy in England last year, just a fantastic player and human being, he radiates positive energy. Going to see Mike Dawes tonight and I'm sure it'll be jaw dropping technically, interested to see how he "performs" and engages with the audience.
Yes Tommy we enjoyed that! I'm a big Cannonball Rag fan, you play a refreshing version!
So, what he’s actually saying, for all of you critics, is ... “Here’s a Merle Travis song, played my way”.....
When you watch in slow motion you can really see how happy each individual note makes him.
Awesome! I'v been playing this tune for years and there's some real gems in here to add some spice. Thanks god for the slow down setting in youtube
I use it all the time
Yeah and Tommy sounds like he's on dope 🤣🤣🤣
Great lesson. I didn’t get a dang thing, but sure was fun to watch.
This guy is amazing!!! Best guitar player and such an connecting person! 👏🏻
It’s scary and sad that Tommy’s warm ups are my goals.
"This guitar was in tune when I bought it" 😂😂😂
I know now what I want to be when I grow up ... TE is the best of the best , Chet bestowed the CGP to a guitar players wonder. You can have lots of fun with this video . Thanks for posting Alberta Dave
This exercise was so very effective for me, it was so great having this ideas it helps me a lot thanks to our CGP Tommy Emmanuel! ❤🎸
In my opinion, Tommy Emmanuel has no equal! I wonder if any of his magic has surfaced in his children?
That was badass.
I saw him play in a real small venue, it was amazing.
I'm a grown man and I cried watching this. I've never felt more incapable of anything in my life.
The man is just ...
...
...
indescribable.
Thank you, Tommy.
Tommy you are one of the best guitar players i know!!!! Amazing playing
"I can feel the blood pulsing in my arms and my hands..." I can feel my heart rate spike and I'm just watching...
Thanks Tom watching everything you do sir
Frickin awesome. So cool to get actual lessons from such a master. You do make it look easy. Well here goes ...
Absolutely fascinating! And a great tutorial on how to build Cannonball into a workout! I love it! I've played it, yes, but I've never pushed it. Time to get serious.....
1:56 "look ma no hands"
I love when Tommy says “I’ll play it at medium tempo” and goes on with regular tempo :D
Super Okapi except for the fact that this man plays it at practically light speed during concerts 💦💦💦
Super Okapi except it's medium paced
He’s one of the best guitarists in the world. But sometimes I think
less is more. To show all your technical skills and play as fast as you can in every song often ”kills” the melody of the song.
One of the nicest people I’ve ever met!
your warmup even kicks ass. love it.
"Greeting's Thrill Seekers" couldn't be more true !!
This is like watching a rocket launch and then trying to build a rocket yourself.
still, thank you Tommy!
Someone call 911 and send the fire department to put the fire on that guitar fretboard out! My gosh, that's some awesome playing - what an inspiration!
Haha "that's Musician's talk baby" gotta love Tommy man
Tom Emmanuel sei il migliore chitarrista al mondo....the Best.
Thank's so much, great tutorial! You are fantastic !!!
number one excellent guitarist in my heart forever
Thanks Tommy!
Wow.....hes great.... [first time I've heard of him or seen him play]
Brillant. Keep this sort ofvthing coming.
who knew that tommy Emmanuel playing ragtime could melt faces
Great video
tom ur theory has improved !!! hehe you are the most amazing person- ur personality is inspirational and guitar well.........love u
Cmon Tommy I don’t want to ever pick up a guitar again.........your amazing
For those of you that gave it a thumbs down, let's hear yours! You had to fat-finger that like button. Ain't no way you meant thumbs down. He is the best!!
when he plays it for fun in the starting of lessons, I am like lets practice more and come back again
Tommy Emmanuel is such a performer!
CGP "Finger pickn' good"
Thank you for the fun.
Thank you so so much and happy Easter
3:08 "We're really just playing chords."
Ummm, is it me or is there a little bit more than that going on?
Individual single stringing within the chord structure. A lot in the righthand
Incredible!!
Yeah its actually an A7 and an E7 if you want to get technical
No not just you, 'Brushy one String' had a stroke while watching this.
hope that helps.
I love this guy here!!
Wow....I guess these 4 who gave a thumbs down can play it better. I would love to hear their versions!
LOL! Right!
It never ceases to amaze me, while browsing through You Tube, at some of the things that some people give a thumbs down to. I believe that there would be some people that would give a thumbs down to a video of Jesus Christ healing a dying small child.
Proof that aliens are already among us. !
No shit.
What an incredibly talented man.
Does anyone actually watch this for being able to play it afterwards?
i learned it watching tom bresh's video. this is MUCH better
I have the Thom Bresh video too and had difficulty working out the Chet part at 4.14. Tommy's vid shows it from a different angle and slows it down a bit, which is helpful. The part from 5.00 onward is a good lead into Walking the Strings. Excellent video.
Yeah, but nowhere near as fast as he plays it. Sounds great at even half that speed.
Yeah straight away, perfect, no problems whatsoever...ahem...
Yes, and I come pretty close only not so fast yet. But I make progression. I think no one can copy Tommy's playing but one can learn much from his interpretation wich imho are most of the time the best arrangements I ever heard. In case you want to learn this song a bit like Tommy go back to basics. First of all learn the chordprogression watching Tommy play. Write it down. You can slow down You Tube and there's an A-B funtion as well. So you can slow down and repeat every measure if you want to. Try to add the melody with the chords. Very important is to take your time. It is not possible to do this overnight. One stem at a time until you finish all parts. (Oh BTW THIS IS NO SONG FOR BEGINNERS. You already have to be a pretty good guitarplayer to do this kind learning by waching and by ear. Some of the things Tommy plays I cannot do. If so, try to experiment doing your own thing. As Tommy says in the beginning of this video : " I took a lot of freedom with this song. I hope you don't care Merle" Well, if it is good enough for Tommy it is certainly good enough for us TE wannabees. Good luck transcribing.
"world class".........Multiverse actually
Awesome man! ✨👌
Thank you so much!!!!!