Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Newbie here: Please Help-Guitar question

vlmagee · 10-10-2002, 07:27 AM

Well, none of the experienced pickers have gotten on to this thread so I - a beginner - will offer a few comments. For what it's worth, my head is about 5 years ahead of my fingers so I "know" quite a bit but can't get my fingers to behave - or at least not quickly enough.

First of all, Gord uses Travis-style fingerpicking a lot, but not exclusively. So well known songs like If You Could Read My Mind and Beautiful are picked differently. But there are many songs that are Travis picked, so learning that will stand you in good stead.

There are different variations that you can use, and in fact if you listen carefully you will hear that Gord often changes the pattern during the song or plays it differently in concert than on the original recording. So the thing to know is that you can approach the songs in different ways; possibly playing it like the recording but not necessarily exactly the same - and know that Gord does that too.

You can Travis pick Lightfoot songs with 6, 7 or 8 beats in the pattern. Remember that the pattern requires an alternating base so the first thumb pick is the low bass and the second the high for that chord. With a 6 beat pattern, you can pick T-T-M-T-I-T or T-T-I-T-M-T, for example. For 7 beat, I use T-T-I-T-M-T-I. Depending on the song, the part of the song, and your dexterity, you should play with this a bit. I use the first for the first half of Sit Down Young Stranger (except for the hammer-on D), then switch to the second in the bridge, and then play a combination for the second half. I use the second 6 beat pattern and the 7 beat pattern in Song For A Winter's Night. (The 8 beat pattern, which Gord uses in concert a lot, has the additional beat between the two "thumb" beats in the patterns I show).

My principle "teacher" has been Cathy (forgive her for not posting a response here but she has very limited computer access right now). She made me a bunch of slowed down recordings so I could practice playing with something more my speed. If you want any, just say. I'm still not up to full speed, but at least the songs are recognizable and I can "play along" with experienced players when they slow down a bit.

------------------
Valerie Magee

Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com

10-10-2002, 07:27 AM	#9
vlmagee Senior Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Ballston Spa, NY Posts: 724	Well, none of the experienced pickers have gotten on to this thread so I - a beginner - will offer a few comments. For what it's worth, my head is about 5 years ahead of my fingers so I "know" quite a bit but can't get my fingers to behave - or at least not quickly enough. First of all, Gord uses Travis-style fingerpicking a lot, but not exclusively. So well known songs like If You Could Read My Mind and Beautiful are picked differently. But there are many songs that are Travis picked, so learning that will stand you in good stead. There are different variations that you can use, and in fact if you listen carefully you will hear that Gord often changes the pattern during the song or plays it differently in concert than on the original recording. So the thing to know is that you can approach the songs in different ways; possibly playing it like the recording but not necessarily exactly the same - and know that Gord does that too. You can Travis pick Lightfoot songs with 6, 7 or 8 beats in the pattern. Remember that the pattern requires an alternating base so the first thumb pick is the low bass and the second the high for that chord. With a 6 beat pattern, you can pick T-T-M-T-I-T or T-T-I-T-M-T, for example. For 7 beat, I use T-T-I-T-M-T-I. Depending on the song, the part of the song, and your dexterity, you should play with this a bit. I use the first for the first half of Sit Down Young Stranger (except for the hammer-on D), then switch to the second in the bridge, and then play a combination for the second half. I use the second 6 beat pattern and the 7 beat pattern in Song For A Winter's Night. (The 8 beat pattern, which Gord uses in concert a lot, has the additional beat between the two "thumb" beats in the patterns I show). My principle "teacher" has been Cathy (forgive her for not posting a response here but she has very limited computer access right now). She made me a bunch of slowed down recordings so I could practice playing with something more my speed. If you want any, just say. I'm still not up to full speed, but at least the songs are recognizable and I can "play along" with experienced players when they slow down a bit. ------------------ Valerie Magee Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com