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I recently noticed an advertisement for a new American magazine called Flatpicking Guitar , so I sent off for the first issue (Nov.-Dec., 1996) which was free.
Iwas very impressed. It is A4 format with 64 pages and is a very professional job, being attractive to the eye with good layout, and without too much advertising. What made me send off a subscription immediately though, was the content. This is what budding flatpickers have awaited for a long time. Dan Miller, Publisher and Editor, has managed to persuade a dozen well known guitarists to pass on their expertise. The general format is a page or two of discussion, followed by a complete Tab of a tune or song currently available on CL or tape. There are also features on: a Flatpicking Camp, guitar construction and record reviews and news. One artist has been chosen for an extended feature and interview. This month it is Steve Kaufman, who gave three tabbed arrangements (at Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced level) of Lost Indian in D. Steve made one particular observation that made me think. He believes that rather than head straight for the advanced arrangements and struggle for weeks with them, a student should learn a lot at the level of ability that they are at. When asked how people could judge their own level, he replied "If you can't get a song off a piece of paper and committed to memory in about 20 minutes, then it is too hard for you!" WOW! That really made me think. I can't remember learning anything in 20 minutes, but he has made his point. There is a Beginner's Page by Dan Huckabee and Post-Modern (Po-Mo) Flatpickingby Scott Nygaard. I found Flatpick Rhythm Guitar by Joe Car of special interest as he discusses early bass runs and will be featuring Riley Pucket and Jimmy Martin in future columns. There is Folk Acoustic Rock by John Tindell and Nashville Flattop by Brad Davis, where he explains how to pick faster than any banjo picker he has met. I was waiting for him to tell us how to pick louder as well! Chris Jones, one of my favourite flatpickers, is here with a Tab of John Henry, straight off his latest CD, 'Blinded By The Rose'. He concentrates on how to play Bluegrass rather than pick fiddle tunes. I spent the regulation 20 minutes failing to grasp the first two bars, so have put it aside until I get a copy of the CD. The problem (for me) is getting the timing of simple phrases when a lot of hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides are involved. Orrin Starr gives some clear advice on playing up the neck, and Dix Bruce discusses duet playing, with a harmony Tab for Wildwood Flower. There is Music Theory by Dave Bricker, and Picking Fiddle Tunes by Adam Granger. I already have his very useful source book of 500 Fiddle Tunes for Guitar. Steve Pottier begins a column discussing Clarence White Bluegrass Style, which is as clearly put as anything I have seen. Peter McLaughlin' s new CD Cliffs of Vermilion is reviewed and a catchy tune called Augusta Ridge is tabbed. I learnt the A-part in a couple of hours, by re-arranging some of the fingering a little. It is pleasant, catchy and flows well. I will leave the B part until I hear the recording as there are definite timing problems, but it looks reasonable. Suffice to say I have had a lot of fun and satisfaction from dipping into Flatpicking Guitar and I am sure there is something here for everybody. I recommend it highly. Published every 2 months by High View Publications , PO Box 51967, Pacific Grove, Grove, CA 93920, USA.
Phone: 001-408-622-0789, Fax.: 001-408-622-0787 Orders: 001-800-413-8296.
Subscription: (UK). $32 per year; Mastercard, Visa, money orders accepted.
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