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So you may be asking, what’s the big deal about Chet Atkins? When I first started becoming obsessed with learning the guitar I kept reading article after article about Chet Atkins and how he pioneered this or influenced that.. and to be honest, when I heard my first Chet Atkins album (my dad’s), I wasn’t immediately blown away. I thought it sounded clean and simple and… well, nice. It wasn’t until I analyzed what was actually going that I began to realize what a genius he was.
Born June 20, 1924 in Luttrell, Tennessee, Chet Atkins was a pioneer that helped reinvent the guitar. Chet worked as a session player and backed up several great acts in his early career before graduating on to a solo artist and then on to a prominent Nashville producer, producing acts such as Waylon Jennings and Elvis Presley. In the late 1950’s as rock n roll became more and more popular, traditional country albums sales were starting to decline. To help increase country album sales, Chet helped create the “Nashville Sound” which was basically a movement to scrap all of the fiddles and pedal steel guitars and “twang” that had been associated with country music up to that point and introduce a more contemporary, “produced” sound with heavy back-up vocals from groups like the Jordanaires and even orchestral string arrangements.
I must admit it’s nice to see that some areas of country music are heading back to their roots and bringing back the “twang” – sorry Chet.Chet is best known for his finger-style technique on his right hand, which always consisted of a walking bass line (his thumb), and a rhythm and melody (his second, third, and fourth fingers). Because so much is going on with his right hand when he plays, it actually sounds like 2 or 3 guitar players. I remember hearing Chet say that he sounded like 2 bad guitar players playing at the same time. Hah! Bad by who’s standards? In every interview I’ve ever seen with Chet Atkins he seemed like such a humble, down-to-earth guy which is pretty amazing considering how powerful he became in the music industry.
Here’s a list of those who influenced Chet Atkins:
- Merle Travis
- Les Paul
- Django Reinhardt
- Jimmie Rodgers
- Mark Knopfler
- Jerry Reed
Top 10 list of my favorite Chet Atkins songs:
- Borsalino
- I’ll See You In My Dreams
- Yakety Axe
- Vincent
- There’ll Be Some Changes Made
- I Still Can’t Say Goodbye
- I’ll Say She Does
- Gallopin’ Guitar
- Petite Waltz
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
Video Lesson:So let’s take a closer look at Chet Atkins’ unique finger style technique (which he stole directly from Merle Travis by the way). In this video, I’ll walk you through a simple Chet-style melody complete with walking bass line and a melody. In the beginning you’ll have to do this very slowly … like REEEAAALLY slowly to get the hang of it. It’s kind of like the old patting the top of your head and rubbing your belly at the same time trick.
Chet Atkins Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson
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I’ve heard of Chet but didn’t know much about him. Thanks for the great lesson. I’m just beginning to learn guitar but hope to be able to play like that some day.
i am so glad that some one has taken time to honor and remember this legend. Mose Rager “mentored” merle travis, merle travis chet atkins, and chet atkins so forth. i am an old soul in a young mans body, but even i can see that THIS is MUSIC. pure talent. please post more lessons of chet!
NIce intro to Chet’s style. Enjoyed this one!
Thank you. You are great teacher.
Please one more from Chet 🙂
Finger style too advanced for me! I stay away from them.
Hi Brian,
Tommy Emmanuel was heavily influenced by Chet Atkins also. Tommy is one incredible player.
Please do more instruction on Chet’s style. You do a wonderful job teaching. Thank you very much!
Great lesson - very well done. Have you ever played this with the thumb on strings 4,5,6 and the pointer finger on the 3rd? Hoping for more travis style lessons.
Hi Brian,please…..more lessons of chet s playing style.. Brian
Brian I am a more mature wannabe guitar player strumming since 1963,I really did not know how to play the guitar until the advent of the internet which I only used last year,now with the help of you and others whose lessons have show me how to do little things that I envied others ability wondering if I would ever be able to do,such is my excitement at learning your lessons that I jump all over the place trying to obsorb as much as I can,it’s unbelieveable that I could not do any finger picking until last week when I came upon your lessons on Chet and albeit but slowly I am actually making music,God bless,Jim
Hey Jim, that’s great to hear! That’s very impressive that you just started playing and you’re already learning the Chet finger-style technique. Best of luck to you.
Brian - that is waaaay to cool. I started getting into Chet a few months ago. Black Mountain Rag is my favorite, followed by Do I Ever Cross Your Mind. Thanks for everything.
Thoroughly enjoyed picking (geddit?) this lesson up. I had previously played my own version of Chet’s picking style which never sounded quite right. After watching this lesson, I see where I was going wrong - everywhere! So, if that’s the ‘very basic’ Chet style, I’ll keep practising it in the hope that you issue a slightly more advanced lesson.
More power to you!
Pete.
Brian
I have played and been a fan of Chet and Merle since the early 50’s. I had the privilege to be invited to a sit down with Chet when he introduced the Gretch White Falcon Stereo guitar. The ease with which he played all those complicated melodies absolutely floored me and inspired me to learn all I could about the man and his music. This lesson was very good for anyone who wants an introduction to finger style guitar. something interesting. All of Chet’s melodies were more intricate than Merle’s. Why? Because Merle played with only his thumb and one finger. He used the back of his index finger to strum chords and used the front to puck melodies.
I am currently into Blues and have found great value in your lessons. Super job. Now I’m going to look for a place to donate.
Hey Tom thanks for the comment. Color me jealous that you got to hang out with Chet.. wow, that would be a life changing event I’m sure. I grew up outside of Nashville yet never had a chance to meet him, something I still regret. You’re right about Merle and the 2 finger style - I’ve heard that before.. that he is really just playing a melody and a bass part, whereas Chet worked in the rhythm part as well.
Darn, got it in 2 days off and on. Just got to polish it up now. Must be the simple way you walk us through it Brian. I know you spend alot of time on this stuff and your teaching methods are second to none. Good job!! Thanks
Ed
Brian your lesson is very good. You are so right about it being like patting your head and rubbing the belly at the same time. I never was any good at that either. I am sure it will take me a while to get this one. The problem I am having right off the bat is I am muting the fourth string with my left hand. I can chord the 7th’s fine, but when it comes to the bass on the 6th string I mute the 4th. You sure are gifted in making it easy to comprehend what is going on, and I think with some practice and patience I will eventually get it.
Terry
hi brian just signed up today everything you teach is great, easy to understand. thanks alot sir.
Hi Brian, I just signed up and wanted to say this is the best explination of the basic technique, I’ve seen on the web thus far….L
Hi Brian, This is an excellent lesson. I have been trying to master it six hours a day for the past five days and I am getting close. It would be a great benefit to the less adept like myself to present a four or five step set of drills that break this lesson into manageable chunks. Your video is a fine overview. I spent the first eight hours or so discovering ways to dissect the motions into the following:
Drill #1: Left hand pinkie on sixth string pluck string three then string four - do this 1,000 times
Drill #2: pinkie on fifth string-pluck then pluck strings four(pointer) and two (ring finger) simultaneously. (1,000 times)
Drill #3: You get the drift - break the exercise into four sections - practice them independently then assemble them into larger modules. It has taken me all week all day each day to develop the muscle memory in right hand fingers for this. Very rewarding but don’t underestimate the struggle for beginning guitarists. Maybe it’s that I’m left-handed and I’m trying to do something designed for right-handed levels of natural dexterity. Thanks again for ALL of the great lessons. You are a gifted teacher with superb tech skills.
Drill #1 oops - make that left hand RING finger alternating on fifth and sixth strings.
Hi Brian
I thank you for the Chet Atkins lesson. It took me a week of trying but I finally can do it. Do you plan to teach more of the Atkins style? This
would be fantastic. You are the best fingerstyle teacher I have ever learned from.
Thanks
Rogell in N Carolina
love to play chet atkins, more lessons please brian
Hi Brian,
there seems to be a problem downloading the tab for this, it says the link is broken!! thanks loads for this, i can see days of agonizing pain for my fingers coming…
ps,, anyone ever use false fingernails? my natural ones where out so quickly,,or do you have any better ideas??
The link is fixed now - thanks for mentioning.
Hi Brian,
I am not sure about your use of the term “walking bass”. It looks to me as a standard alternate bass for fingerpicking.
By the way I find it more natural to play the bass with the thumb only.
Thank you for the website, it looks like the right place to learn blues! It is fun to have access to all these tabs and jam tracks.
Cheers
Ben
Brian,
First, thanks for the Chet Atkins finger picking lesson. I have been finger picking for over 30 yrs, and on this particular arrangement, I tend to use my thumb and middle finger to pluck the 2nd and 3rd notes together. Since I don’t want to start learning this, only to find out later that I should have done it the way you are teaching, my question is; do you see any reason that I can not play the arrangement as I stated? Thanks.
Tom
Brian, nicely taught. I’ve been trying to work on fingerstyle, and you provide a great sequence to work on “over and over”, slowly and with a metronome at first. You are a lifesaver to a struggling beginner fingerpicker. In this and in other of your lessons I have gained considerably. Thanks again.
Bruce
I have been “trying” to learn to play my guitar right using YouTube sound bites! lol I like your style so I am hanging out with you bro.
…sorry for being redundant…Mose and Tommy already mentioned….
…and don’t forget Mose Rager who taught Merle AND Tommy Emmanuel, the greatest living fingerstyle guitarst, one of four people Chet gave the coveted “CGP” award to…..
Great stuff Brian. Really enjoying these lessons.I suck horribly at this. I just keep plugging away though. These lessons are helping me a great deal. I love the way you teach. Keep it up sir. I really appreciate it.
One of the best Chet Atkins lessons ever! WTG!!
I share your sentiments on Chet completely. Back in the late 1960’s I heard his version of Mr. Sandman. I thought it was total cheese and did not like it at all.
However, I kept listening to it because I was amazed one person could make a guitar create that kind of sound. I kept listening to the song over and over again and began to respect the artistry that Chet brought to the table. Chet had the most incredible thumb in guitar. His sound was so distinctive and precise.
A few years ago I went to the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society in Nashville.
Met a ton of great pickers who were all heavily influenced by Chet.. I love his later work personally but anything Chet plays is worthy of your ears attention.
His album with Mark Knopfler is an all time favorite.
Nice lesson. I too think you should amend the name from walking bass to alternating base. Walking bass is typically when the bass takes a stepwise pattern. Alternating bass will alternate the root and the fifth or the root and the octave.
really cool lesson!
Thank you so much! I am trying to expand from 10 years of simple chord progression (Strumming) 6 hours a week at church to more of a player I want to sound like because of this “simple” tutorial I am able to have fun for a few hours getting acquainted with a sound I am not used to producing.
Hi Brian, the mp3 link here only downloads the pdf. Any chance you can provide that?
Good intro.
How about a lesson on “Wheels”?
Great lesson and I’m looking forward to digging into this very, very slowly.
One thing you are doing different than other Chet or Travis tunes is I have always played that 4th string as part of the bass. So, the bass notes are on strings 5, 4, 6, 4, all played with the thumb. Something to think about for those struggling with the index and ring finger at the same time.