Why Colter Wall's Guitar Technique is WILD ★ Acoustic Tuesday 249
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- Colter Wall's guitar playing is like no other. Here are 10 lessons you can learn from this real country guitarist that'll help you progress on your guitar journey.
@colterwall has captured the hearts and minds of the country, folk, and bluegrass world. His guitar playing is incredibly unique. From the way he strums to the stories he spins, I truly hope this episode gets you to check out his work.
But you're also going to learn some important lessons about playing acoustic guitar through the lens of Colter Wall. By the end of this episode, you'll have 10 lessons about how this incredibly unique guitarist approaches the acoustic guitar.
We'll be covering his thumb technique, his gear, and his general attitude when it comes to playing and composing songs. I promise you, this is not an episode you want to miss.
Featured in this episode...
- Kelly Joe Phelps
-@JeffreyFoucaultOfficial
- Charlie Parr
-@DaisyTempest
-@Meganlinfordsings
-@Atkinguitarcompany
-@thefellowshipofacoustics
#colterwall #acousticguitar #lesson
00:00 - Intro
02:17 - #1 No Tension
04:08 - #2 Thumb Scratch
06:37 - #3 Thumb Superhero
09:42 - #4 Mahogany Main Squeeze
10:38 - #5 By the Bridge
12:47 - #6 Tell a Story
14:07 - #7 Skip a Finger
16:43 - #8 Be Your Own Band
17:43 - #9 Push to be Better
18:43 - #10 Necessity Breeds Creativity
21:27 - TAC Guitar Lick Challenge
27:43 - TAC Family Story
33:50 - Acoustic Guitar News - Jak na to + styl
I heard him speaking about his tuning and he said he did it because of the age of his Martin. He didn’t want a lot of tension on the guitar. When I’m listening to one of his songs I will know immediately it’s him because of the signature sound of his guitar.
My favorite song is Sleeping on Blacktop and Devil Wears a Suit and Tie.
I did the same thing with an old classical guitar I had. Happened to be in the same range his guitar was. It’s insane, everything you play sounds “modern” when it’s tuned like that. Got no explanation why
As a banjo player, it seems clear to me that he uses some banjo techniques in how he uses his fingers, the emphasis on the back beat, etc.
This video is comforting in a few different ways because I'm realizing some of the things I do as a self-taught guitar player aren't just these bad habits that should've broken a long time ago (Ex. I've always fingerpicked with my index finger tucked in tight), they're choices I made that align with my style and sound.
I loved this episode!! Colter Wall is my favorite artist. I even named our pup Colter. Tony you did him justice with these lessons. Thank You!! I have many favorites. But Me and Big Dave or Saskatchewan 1881 are favorites.
Mate I’ve been following colter since his brewery session days and probably been a tac member since then as well. Great to have my two favourite things together. Cheers for always driving us Tony. Your a legend mate
One if my absolute favourites . What a voice . And such an amazing style . I’ve been learning most of his songs over the past few months . His version of Marty robbins Big Iron is just amazing
Some of my favourites are Cowpoke, plain to see Plainsman and Seskatchewan 1881. As well as every other song I’m certain there isn’t one I like less.
Have you done Tyler Childers or Billy Strings yet ? Both great players and Billy well whole other level
@@Mrpsblobsoflowendmung As well as Ryan Bingham.
Great lesson! You absolutely nail the sources of CW’s distinctive guitar style and clearly explain and demonstrate it. One important reason for his plucking close to the bridge with the thumb is that he needs the increased treble sound to cut through his voice, because his voice is often in exactly the same range as the notes picked with his thumb, often doubling them (e.g. Sleeping on the Blacktop 13 Silver Dollars, Devil Wears a Suit and Tie, etc). He does not use the nail of his thumb either, which takes away that option for treble. On a tuned down guitar plucking near the bridges also creates a nice percussive effect that cuts through the voice and helps create a driving rhythmic counterpart to the scratch aspects of his playing. I think this is why he tunes down and uses a capo for standard tuning and higher tuned songs. I also find it easier to pick out the bass notes with my hand closer to the bridge in songs with a moving bass where I do not anchor with my little finger. Not sure why this is the case or if it is unique to me…
Hey tony! Colter plays both a 00-17 from 1937 and a 00-15m. He also plays a vintage Gibson model. Great video!
Tony, thank you for introducing Coulter Wall to me. I like his style, and it's something I'd like to try. Wish I had known about the tuning before I needed to get a neck reset on my 1961 Martin 000-18. It's nice that he writes his own songs, but I was glad to hear that he does cover songs as well. I recognized the first song as Summer Wages by Ian Tyson from the '60s. You can bet that I shall now buy some of Coulter Wall's music.
Off the subject here. BTW, I am a fan of Folk music in general, but especially music by Ian & Sylvia, and now Ian with his Western (not Country) songs. In a previous comment some time ago, I may have been the one that commented that a lot of your music featured Blue Grass groups. I didn't want you to get the wrong impression, because it was intended only as an observation. I like Blue Grass music ... in fact every Sunday evening, in the past, I used to listen to a Blue Grass show on KPFT in Houston, Texas. Chris Hirsch was the DJ, and he played his own records, since a lot of them were vinyl. He plays mostly banjo, and his band is the Lone Star Blue Grass Band. He also introduced me to Seldom Scene. You might want to check them out when you have the time. I do enjoy listening, and watching you play, on your Acoustic Tuesday features. I've learned a lot, so thanks. P.S. I no longer live in the Houston area, but in the NE part of Texas.
Like Lisa I made a cross country move this month with two dogs and my eternal spouse. My guitars moved with the moving company, since there was no room in or above the car, so I was without a guitar for much of the month. Our soundtrack for the multi day drive was via Sirius and Apple Music. I used the time endlessly driving to do finger isolation and finger pairs exercises that I learned on TAC to the music we were listening to using steering wheel as a fingerboard. I would also practice "finding the one" as we were listened by strumming and playing with the rhythm on my thigh. We do as we must.Thanks for another great show.
Up until today I had never heard fo Colter Wall thanks for turning me on to another great musician to enjoy and learn from. I really enjoy the lesson portion of the show I always learn something new. While I enjoy learning the licks it would be really cool if you could demonstrate some of the tips and tricks to use while playing chords. I like the way Tyler Childers does the break in Nose To The Grindstone that would a fun one to learn. Anyway thanks again for making our Tuesday evening so enjoyable and informative.
Thank you! I knew I was getting close to figuring it out but this video really drives it home for me. If you just try to play his songs using tabs online (I know they are rarely right) It never sounds right. You get close but not right. It's shocking how many videos on you tube say (Colter wall guitar lesson) and completely miss the tuning and capo usage and again, they sound close but never quite right. Once you set your guitar up right it all becomes clear. So much fun playing like this.
The index lesson - very interesting, I will try it as I dive into Colter's work. Thank you!
fav song, as of now, from Colter, "Sleepin on the blacktop"
Colter has inspired me. His technique works for me. Ive always been more of a finger player on the acoustic. Once i dropped the pick it became so much more comfortable to play bass notes and keep the rhythm going in time.
I'd have to say my favorite song of his would be " Saskatchewan 1881"
Saw Colter Wall at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa a few years ago, absolutely perfect place to see him. Great lesson.
I’m new to the TAC family and I feel I’ve learned so much from your course in the short time I’ve been in it. I’m working on the twelve bar blues currently and can’t wait to learn more. I’d love to hear you talk about Shakey Graves, such a fantastic player with a unique style!
My first time checking you out. Great stuff man!! I'll definitely be back. Thank you!
#2 reminds me of clawhammer banjo
Great lesson, thank you
Missed this. Genius! More thumb scratch please!
Like Colter Wall, I rarely use my index finger when finger picking, because when I first learned I had 8 stitches in that finger. It was out of use for months. Never used it since.
Colter Wall is great. Love the filthy bends in his songs.
Awesome thanks
I've been playing like this for 40 years. Everyone always tells me I play wrong. Lol. Vindicated!
who would be telling you that you're wrong, nothing wrong about any of it
If you listen to his playing carefully it will blow your mind. There is so much going on in his playing but it’s extreamly subtle the way he applies things. I figure it comes from playing by himself alot and him trying to fill in the sound.
Read my mind with this. I’ve been on a Colter obsession lately and have really gotten back into acoustic playing because of him. Thank you!
Same here. I’ve always wanted to play but it was my Colter Wall obsession that made me feel like I’ve GOT to learn and actually motivated me
@@robbynew100 yeah man I’ve been playing electric guitar for 15 years primarily blues but Colter has gotten me obsessed with old school cowboy songs
Fantastic quote @ 26:52 "If it sounds good, it is good."
Tony, this is your best video ever
Thank you
Great video, thanks for doing this deep dive! Any chance you might do a similar exploration of Justin Townes Earle's style? It's extremely unique and percussive, with a bit of a Travis picking influence. Would love to hear your take on it. Thanks
Love the artist features, including this one on Colter Wall. One artist I have been somewhat fascinated with for the past few years is Tyler Childers. I find that he does some interesting things via acoustic guitar. Including lots of hammer ons, pull offs, chord embellishments, etc.
This was awesome! Would love to see you do Shakey Graves sometime!
Wonderful! Let's stay in touch.
At 26 mins in is all truth, thanks Tony
Bob Fudge is my song I'm learning now. I didn't know he tuned down 1 step. I'll try that. Great lesson. Tyler Childers or Johnathan Brown would be great.
Thank you. I am addicted to his guitar playing and wondering how the f
I’ve been trying to learn some Colter Wall songs and the complexities of his songs and his unique finger picking is immense. I just simplify his songs because I don’t have the time to learn them as good as he plays them 😂
My surprise was the thumb scratch which I tend to do naturally as I’m generally more comfortable playing without a pick.
Ballad of a Law Abiding Sophisticate has to be one of my favorites, or Bald Butte, or Rocky Mountain Rangers, or maybe a bunch of the covers he's done and a favorite among them is Let's All Help the Cowboys Sing the Blues. Just too many to name, haven't heard a single song by him that I didn't love.
That strumming style reminds me a lot of claw hammer or frailing style for banjo. My favorite Colter Wall song is “More pretty girls than one”.
I love his finger picking it was what I liked most about his earlier recordings
Love this video. The part about Colter's unusual picking technique where he uses only his middle and ring and not his index finger was especially surprising and interesting. (And an itsy bitsy bummer because I want to imitate everything he does but don't think I can switch to that technique at this point) But this morning I was watching his Evangelina cover for the bajillionth time and in that one, it looks like he does the exact opposite: his ring and middle just hang and everything is thumb and index. Maybe he switches it up depending on the song? Or maybe he started with one technique and switched to another. Or could be that Evangelina is strummier than a lot of his other songs but there's still some picking. Anyway... I'm obsessed with CW and how he plays. So I'll probably be spending the next several hours trying to solve this case, watching live performances in slow motion and zooming in on his right hand.
Saw in a interview he did awhile back and it’s a 1937 Martin. I remember thinking damn that guitar was around before WWII
Thirteen silver dollars is probably my favorite but truth be told I like all of his songs
I loved Colter’s first album! His following albums were more country and just fine, but his first album had more bounce and folk to it. Overall wonderful musician
Great sir I beg of you to explain CGCGCG tuning to me. I was tuning to open c but wanted the 6th string to be a G. I’m absolutely obsessed with how much it has opened up fingerstyle for me. I can’t find info anywhere which is probably because chord shapes aren’t very practical but the solo and duel string runs are insanely easy. As far as I know no one has covered it.
I love the The devil wears a suit and tie
1. Surprised to learn he doesn't generally use his index finger. I had never noticed that watching him.
2. Kate McCannon, but every Colter Wall song is a great Colter Wall song, as well as all his covers too.
3. A similar video on Tyler Childers would be awesome if you haven't already done one.
In the webinar please make an option to reduce quality. 🥺I've seen nearly whole class and I really enjoyed a lot. Then my data went out
🍿Maybe some Jason Isbell picking… and some focus on his writing? Thx
Tony, you are a great, articulate communicator and your productions are high quality. not for nothing, just sayin'
#smallwin completed my 12 week string in pentatonic major scale, starting 12 weeks on aeolian mode.
Totally dissected. How to live with that now? :)
Check out his version of “Burt me not on the lone prairie”.
Do you have any courses I can buy on learning guitar like Colter Wall? I'd buy the fuck out of that.
What guitar are you using? Are those tuning heads stock?
Something. That’s my guess for the Beatles tune ! ;)
I only had time to watch about half of the video, but it seems like most of the points credited to Colter Wall are common in much western and cowboy music. Maybe he’ll bring more country music fans into the western music genre
What Martin are you playing in this episode?
Hey did you go to campanelli elementary school? I think we where friends in elementary school.
Having my A go to a G broke my string
Can you Pay monthly for TAC ?
Anyone know what martin this guy is playing
Actually he used to run a 00 but sold it on instagram bout 3.5 4 years ago now he runs 000-15m
Paul Simon would be worthwhile.....
He has the hand form of banjo picker
John r miller next!
What about John Prine?
1937 00-17 is what colter played
No, no, no. Colter Wall is the super hero, his thumb is simply his super POWER.
Willie Nelson ?
Dan Fogelberg would be great
It is funny that you mention Wall tuning his guitar a full step flat, then you immediately afterwards show him playing with a capo on the 2nd. That is probably not the best example of that.
That’s typically how Colter Wall plays; tuned down a full step with capo on 2nd fret. It ends up being like standard tuning but it changes the tension and tone
Like Robby said, you can tell the difference in tension. Changes the flavor for sure, especially in classical guitars
Musicians..."story songs" are called BALLADS. Use the grown up word. You're not 5 years old.
Half of the video isn't about Colter Wall. Stopped watching at 21:25 because the TAC lesson should have been about how to play like him, not classic blues licks.
🤡🤮
Thank you