Mastering Thumbpicking

“If you like my playing, you should hear Richard Smith! The world champion!” – Tommy Emmanuel.

When Richard Smith picks up a guitar, audiences watch in rapt amazement as his fingers dance over fretboard and strings, and listen in delight as melody and groove fill the room. On this technique-intensive lesson, Richard makes some of his most dazzling arrangements accessible to aspiring pickers.

After a brief training session to help you develop independent thumb and fingers, Richard launches into his Happy Blues, teaching an exciting array of creative variations on the standard 12-bar progression while maintaining a solid thumb groove on a single bass string.

Richard’s version of Windy & Warm, made famous by Doc Watson and Chet Atkins, builds unique variations based on moving chord shapes and bass lines.

The beautiful Travis-style thumbpicking standard, Farewell My Bluebell, follows. After teaching the basic melody, Richard adds licks and variations that make this classic dynamic and musically interesting.

 Struttin’ by Jerry Reed, in dropped D, makes for a challenging show-stopper, a complex ragtime-like tune with a variety of techniques, stride piano-style bass lines and jazzy chords. Jerry was one of Richard’s main influences and he does his master justice in teaching this dynamic tune.