Chet Atkins "Yellow Bird"

Chet recorded a couple versions of this pretty tune...I'll post the other one later.
This one is my favorite...the simplicity of the melody gives no hint as to how hard this Chet arrangement is to play well..I know I spent years trying!

[@glennarnold]

I started playing guitar in 1964 at the age of nine. At age 10 I received my first guitar for Christmas, a 1964 National Newport 82 "Map" guitar made of red Res-O-Glass. I saw Chet playing this tune on a variety show on TV, I can't recall which one. Variety shows were everywhere on TV in the 60's. Maybe it was Dinah Shore, or Andy Williams, or Perry Como... He played this song solo on a Spanish guitar. It was mesmerizing. I was so taken by the melody I began to hack it out with my adolescent fingers, playing by ear on my new red guitar. I am grateful to have come up in a musical era when music was still being defined in terms of Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm, and music was full of complex emotions. It made you "feel" things, it made you think; unlike today when much of popular music is largely one-dimensionally based in "beats" and noise, and full of anger. Young aspiring musicians of today, guitarists especially, would do well to dive deeply into the legacy archive of masters like Chet Atkins, Jobim, Kenny Burrell, et al. Thank you, Chet, for leaving us musical art that endures with time, and continues to inspire and enrich our lives.

[@sylethaclark6431]

I remember as a child in the Eastern Caribbean in te 1960's , getting up at 05.45 just to listen to this.. This was the tune Radio Gaurdian opened with each morning. Brings back memories

[@youngjkim8244]

Chet is one of the best guitarists I've ever seen. This music makes me cry.

[@MrJbaker7]

We're not likely to hear anybody else play this beautifully, as Chet always played...Jack Baker NYC/NJ

[@KP-ep1ge]

When I was little and we would go to Mexico my mother would hire the mariachis to play this song. Love it and the memory. Thank you for posting.

[@charlindabob]

My ten year old son has been taking guitar lessons for over a year now and his favorite player is by far Mr. Chester Adkins, may he RIP. I had the pleasure of meeting him years ago in Belle Meade, TN. Had to be the late 60's or early 70's. He had an antique car we talked about. We listen to Chet and adore everything he does with the guitar. Thanks for posting.

[@waterchica]

this song reminds me of being a kid. In a good way :-) I adore it!!!

[@lordpubes1009]

Damn this comment is really 10 years old 🤯

[@hazensweeney5633]

This is wonderful , as one would expect from Mr Guitar .

[@pattykake19]

This is one of my favorites. Of course, it's hard to choose. They are all beautiful. Thank you ever so much.

[@williammervynwilby3448]

Iam sure the Almight must have been a music lover that he is picking the best of the best and Chet Atkins was one of them 👍

[@jackr2010]

This music is a traditional Haitian folk song that called Ti'zwazso "little bird". Harry Belafonte made the original English version "yellow bird". I love this song. It reminded me of my childhood.

[@313curt]

Chet actually recorded this song earlier that was included in his 1962 album "Caribbean Guitar". It's more involved with studio musicians, but includes a Vibraphone sound that Arthur Lyman made popular around that era. Both versions Chet did were good.

[@SelwynJ33]

My parents used to use this version of the song as a lullaby to get me to sleep at night... I doubt I've heard this since I was about three! Thank you for the lovely memories :)

[@2322Hoover]

The wonderful Mr. Atkins; always sounds like a gentleman. How did he do that ? Thank you for posting this lovely piece of his work.

[@AnjellaBenz]

What a lovely song ♡

[@jennifursun3303]

remembers seeing this on TV and it left me in tears

[@adruark5159]

John, I disagree: this cut isn't multitracked; it's Chet playing one guitar one time. Chet is well known for this technique; I saw him live and he played, all by his lonesome, SIBONY and it sounded just like the studio cut. Chet's best Yellow Bird was on the Tom Jones show, 1969, the one with Jerry Lee Lewis. Fabulous!

[@sting_ray263]

beautifully played

[@Adamfulgence]

Great post! Thanks!

[@mr.warmth1511]

ur welcome

[@excusemaker]

I love it and all its subtleties.

[@n3xt88]

I love the way he moved his fingers on his guitar.

[@Nimliiost]

Thank you Mr.Nancy

[@revelrot]

not easy to play he's very good !! Thank's

[@anthfax]

Beautiful #))

[@mr.warmth1511]

this is from one of my old 8 tracks.

[@wuryandanijosep6840]

i like this music......

[@649walton]

thanks for playing!

[@mr.warmth1511]

youe welcome sir

[@mr.warmth1511]

your welcome cant spell lol

[@blueagate]

@billyguns2 I hear you! I loved that one and Finger Pickin Good. Finger Pickin Good was the first LP that I bought with my own money. Unfortunately I lost all my vinyl in a moving wreck. Even tho I tried to look at it like it was just material things they can be replaced, I don't think that now because some of my old vinyl you can't get replaced unless you got loads of cash. Chet was my guitar god as a child. Thanks for posting Doug!

[@hoangphan2711]

Very nice!

[@muana13]

..d'accord ...

[@josesuarezegas]

Existe una versión de Celia Cruz en una colección de casetes. Ahi conocí esta canción que es tradicional Haitiana. Muy linda

[@ernoldbraun9033]

The other version of this is on his Caribbean Guitar album..

[@adruark5159]

Goog, that "ticking" you hear is Chet tapping his foot. This is not multi-tracking; is one guitar played one time, which Chet is famous for. This is a great cut; even better is his rendition on the Tom Jones tv show, with backing by Tom's great orchestra -- beautiful! (other guest is Jerry Lee Lewis.).

[@Kramden429]

CBET-TV, Channel 9 in Windsor, Ontario played this Chet Atkins version of "Yellow Bird" as part of their morning sign-on music (during their test pattern) on Tuesday mornings in the late 1980's. I've been wondering who performed this version (what album of his was this on? I'm sure it has to be when he recorded for RCA) . Thanks for posting it!

[@simonesain3033]

From my childhood

[@notpopebuthope]

hahaha - Roger, I agree totally! Brilliant! Now it's your turn! ;-))

[@ekahiway]

it would have been awesome to see both chet and arthur lyman do this live... just guitar and vibs. RIP both of them.

[@harrywongitbeso]

Encore , Encore , Encore 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗😎😎😎😎😎😎😎👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 . The best instrumental version in my opinion .

[@125.]

Oui, magnifique

[@CodyL211]

Chet Atkins could have done a wonderful version of Moon River. I sure wish he did.

[@claudiojoseferreira9073]

Como toca esse mestre do violão?

[@CodyL211]

@CodyL211 If he did... Can some one PLEASE tell me where to find it!!

[@chikmage]

Check out the version done by The Mills Brothers. That's the one from my childhood around that same time. :)

[@gunzrloaded]

Now I see where Tommy gets it from....!!

[@ohwhatacutup]

Love that beluga whale- had to hear another version of this song.

[@CodyL211]

@daffydoug That's too bad. I guarantee it would have been wonderful! Is there somewhere i can download the songs, or possibly buy? I've been trying to find an audio file of his version of Mr. Bojangles. It's one of my favorite songs he has done.

[@yvonnewrong6836]

Very gentle I can see the banana trees and the yellow bird....Good thing we have Jesus Christ to keep us from being lonely.

[@pauljalbert6957]

I play it on the Gibson CE (nylon string).

[@jennifursun3303]

do you know what kind he is playing

[@pauljalbert6957]

It is definitely a classical acoustic. They didn't have the Gibson Chet Atkins CE (Classical Electric) on the LP that I have. I have 36 of his LP in mint condition. I this this song was on the Caribbean version.

[@jennifursun3303]

lucky you. if you could put it on a CD i would pay you for the shipping

[@suehedges]

This is simply beautiful! Did Chet ever play on any Harry belafonte records?

[@mr.warmth1511]

no miss

[@CodyL211]

@daffydoug Well, preferably the version from a video on here called Chet Atkins - Mr.Bojangles from the user BeautifulGuitarMusic. I like the slower version, mostly :)

[@rodogden4508]

Ahh the master guitar p;ayer is showing how it is done ..

[@MrJahscrew]

Chord for yellow dird

[@MadsBoldingMusic]

That is one spacy bass on the picture up there!

[@pauljalbert6957]

This is the George Merrel arrangement.

[@skyislandaz]

Who is in the upper right side of the photo?

[@Cope1024]

+skyislandaz Henry Strzeleki. He played bass for Chet and is in many of his videos. Henry Strzelecki Henry Strzelecki

[@mr.warmth1511]

+skyislandaz elifino ask your dj

[@grassroot011]

I've got the sheet music for this one, put out by him, written verbatim for his original recorded piece. Can get Through it, but not as well , of course, as he did it ! Haa. Using dropped tuning. Tough.

[@Blinkymyt]

Hi, daffydoug. Chet Atkins has always been my favorite guitarist through the years. I, like you, have tried to emulate his technique. This multi-track recording, with its statement pauses, is beautfully rendered. I recently uploaded my version of "Yellow Bird" as a multi-track recording, based on the Norman Luboff Choir arrangement. Would love to have you visit my site and leave a comment and rating on my plebeian effort. Am including you among my subcsriptions. Cordially, John

[@tizoban]

the words belong to a poet named Oswal Durant i believe........

[@pauljalbert6957]

This is the only song of his that I can play note for note.

[@jennifursun3303]

+Paul Jalbert do you recognize the type of guitar. first heard this song on an old TV special in my early twenties. JUST LOVED IT

[@pauljalbert6957]

+jennifur sun George Merrel came to our school in NJ. Heard this song and went out to buy the sheet music after I heard Chet also play it. at first glance I thought it might be a Chet Atkins CE (classical electric - which I have). Since it doesn't have the cutaway it isn't a CE. Do you know what kind it is?

[@jennifursun3303]

+Paul Jalbert nope not a picker. love the tone of it. maybe your teacher has friends who might know

[@johnbruno6868]

+Paul Jalbert Hi Paul: A Very similar rendition of this is published in the "Mel Bay presents" Chet Atkins "off the record" portfolio dated 1976. This predates the Gibson CE by quite a few years. In old interviews he did mention the he had an Ramirez but his favorite was a custom job made by a Nashville luthier, but I can"t remember his name. Perhaps Haille? Best to you.

[@pauljalbert6957]

+John Bruno I think you are right about the Haille being one of his favorites.

[@sirronald69]

* * * * *

[@toibhk]

which genre is this?

[@mr.warmth1511]

the song is from HAITI

[@rogerhuff9556]

i love chet but wait till you hear this on steel drums

[@billohknee2737]

That ticking sound ruins it for me :-) Otherwise it's nice.