Happy Halloween: Little Martha (Still at it after all these years)

[John H]

I am still working on this. It’s an embodied career-yet still evolving. The big difference is I am playing it on my resonator in Open D. Why? Open D is more forgiving than Open E. There is less string tension in Open D. It is easier to hold the strings down, especially with higher string action (like most resonators require for slide). What you play in Open E can be identically replicated on Open D-it’s all the same. Additionally, I am sporting the thumb pick, which can completely throw a picker off their game. It is coming along. Happy Halloween.

[Dieter]

Hi John, great resonator sound and excellent playing. The thumb pick is really important for impressive bass runs. I don’t like Halloween, but I’m happy with your song. Greetings from Germany.

Dieter

[sunjamr]

Me too! About 3 weeks ago I tuned my Taylor Baby to Open E and started learning it from tabs. But I also had to listen to the original recording over and over, then I slowed it down and tried the “play along with Duane” trick. I think I’ve got it down reasonably well now, but it’s not easy to learn or to play. So, good on us! I chose to stay with Open E because it’s quick and easy to change between Open E and standard tuning.

Sunjamr Steve

[Guido]

Excellent rendition, John! Very fine use of the thumb pick (trying my self to learn to use it, not easy at all after yars of regular finger picking).
I’m always afraid to tune my guitars in open E, especially my acoustic ones, because I’m concerned the very high tension can ruin them (not to to mention the open A). So I always chose the open D, possibly using a capo if I want to play in E. And, yes, a less tension makes easier to play in open D.

Guido

[charjo]

Love it, John, and admire your determination.
John

[John H]

Thanks for the kind words mates… Yes the Open D thing is a great discovery on the road to learning Bottleneck Blues and fingerpicking on a resonator. Also, I think it sounds better without the thumb pick but I was just feeling the thump pick. It’s like learning to ride a bike. After weeks of practice, you wake up and ‘feel’ you have balance. I had the dexterity to pull this off.

JH

[Geoff]

I use open D tuning for a lot of Renaissance or Baroque era music or Celtic stuff. I do like the extra resonance it brings to the sound. Short of that I don’t find it easier to play that tuning- DAGDAD is even worse because I can’t even sight read music to that.

Very nice playing John. I liked those harmonics you threw in at the end.

[James B]

Love that song. You’re getting there, John. After you get ‘Little Martha’ down how about tackling ‘Pony Boy’? 😀 “pony boy carry me home” 🤠

James

[Richard G]

So nice to hear those open strings ring out John. I’m not that familiar with the number but you made a super fingerpicking job in open D, I then had to look it up in a few places on YT.

Richard

[David L]

Terrific interpretation, John. It sounds great on that sweet Gretsch resonator. I’ve always played this in open E but you are so correct – open E puts tension on the neck so I have to be careful to re-tune to normal afterwards. Well played, amigo.

[JoLa]

Love the sound of boxcar and your playing here, John!
Extra points for giving thumb pick some practice. Like it or not, it is useful sometimes. I’m still trying to get a hang of it myself 😉

🎸JoLa

[Garry]

Yeah, love the resonator and love the Open D tuning John. Not familiar with Little Martha but your playing sounded great. A belated Happy Halloween to you too! 😎🎸👻🎸😎

[AndréM]

NIce Gretch resonator.
Awesome rendition.
Happy Halloween

AndréM

AndréM

[Helen Lazaridou]

What a wonderful sound from the resonator John!!!I understand the challenges you describe but I can’t help wondering if this performance can get any better!!🥰🥰your rendition combines mastery with great expressiveness!and such beautiful finale ❤️💖💓

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