Jan 15 2008
Merle Travis: Lost John From Bowling Green
One of the many people for whom a finger picking guitar style is named, Merle Travis’ influence is seen in the playing of Doc Watson, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and many other fine musicians. Merle’s playing is characterized by the use muted bass strings, extended, jazzy sounding chords, walking bass runs, and a smooth sophisticated delivery, “Travis Picking.” There is a story about a stranger hearing a recording of Merle Travis, solo, and remarking “Those guys sure can play the guitar.”
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[…] in Chapel Hill North Carolina and made up her own songs. Her playing style is similar to that of Merle Travis and Chet Atkins but upside down. In folk music circles this alternating bass fingerstyle is […]