Chordplay - The Chords Of Chet Atkins

Hey everyone! Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords Of Chet Atkins. As I mentioned in the video, with the previous episode being a Jerry Reed Three-For-All episode, it only seemed right to follow that with something related to the legendary guitar pioneer Chet Atkins, which is this humble look at his mighty chord vocabulary and rhythm guitar chops - so let's dive in!
The ideas in this episode include a number of classic Atkins moments, along with an idea from an old Chet Atkins Guitar Player lesson from 1986. The song-based examples include sections from classics such as 'Trambone,' 'Arkansas Traveler,' 'Blue Echo,' 'Young Thing,' and the tricky intro section from his classic take on 'Mr. Sandman.' Not to mention a fancy set of fingerpicked banjo roll arpeggios from his classic Guitar Player lesson from back in the day.
If you're a fan of Chet Atkins and his classic fingerpicked style or are searching for some new ideas to add to your bag of tricks - then this episode is a must-view! Honestly, this style of playing eludes me, but I've learned a few of Chet's tricks over the years and have shared a number of those secrets in this episode. Give this episode a view, leave some comments/feedback, and please to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!
Become a Patreon supporter of Late Night Lessons for only $5 (or more) each month and gain access to PDF notation/tab files of these lessons. Thank you!
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[@nunestunes]

I want you to know that all your hard work figuring out these legends doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated, great work.

[@voronOsphere]

Definitely!

[@RICCARDOREARDON]

MR.DAVID BREWSTER IS ALSO A GENIUS..TO BREAK DOWN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE LESSONS THAT HE UPLOADS..THIS IS TRUE GENIUS.. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ❤️ LOVE UNCLE~MR.CHET ATKINS.. THIS IS A PHENOMENAL VIDEO..THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH...

[@typedeaf]

Atkins killed it on guitar with some jazz/classical/country fusion. Serious musician who constantly evolved.

[@jeffallred8920]

Chet Atkins is the gold standard.

[@PulauSwan]

Thanks, that was excellent, & indicates how powerful his brain was, how skillful his technique was, and how generous he was to fellow musicians, as you said.

[@SirSneakerPimp]

David, This is one of your funniest episodes. You certainly could have named this, Chet Adkins nightmare chords or Chet Adkins is a Holdsworth fan. Your puns were brilliant. 😂 Thank you for another fantastic episode.

[@midiman5045]

Wow David thanks so much man. I remember when I was younger how my parents would tell me listen t how Chet Atkins played. He was very melodic. Chet Atkins was a master on Guitar. I listened to some old footage back in the years of him and a guy on a radio show, his style was amazing. Chet Atkins was another under rated guitar player that people never realized was that good.

[@Rider-hh9it]

The people who under value Chet’s playing are low level players who are playing from a distance, so some opinions are not all that insightful. Listen to Tommy Emmanuel’s interview on Rick Beato’s youtube channel. About 7-11 minutes in Tommy states he believes Chet was the most practiced guitarist in history. Other than Richard Smith (who many low level players are unaware of) there is no other player out there who can burn through a piece like Caravan or Frankie and Johnny, put the electric down and play Stars and Stripes Forever on classical guitar. Chet’s playing of Stars and Stripes Forever would put 99% of the worlds greatest players ever into a deep, deep reality check.

[@midiman5045]

@@Rider-hh9it I am not a fan of Rick Beato. I feel he thinks he is the great thing since slice bread and is always pulsing his book. He also always talks about how great his sons perfect pitch is, now his son might be but Beato to me is just another you tuber without fame. David on Late Night Sessions is really kool. He shows everyone stuff for free, I did I see him push any promo crap down his channel. Yes we all can donate but he doesn't spend 10 to 15 minutes tell you to do so. Most great guitarist / musicians are humble. Now this is just they way I feel and other might feel different.

[@gtrrobster]

@@midiman5045 Rick might not be everybody's style, but the man has created hundreds of hours of instruction, examination, discussion, analysis, interviews, and so on. I have watched countless hours of his conversations and breaking down songs, music theory, and he is definitely quite well, known and famous, and he really does not spend very much time at all talking about his songs, perfect pitch, and Rolly he only does so when it is appropriate for the conversation. And of course, you are entitled to your opinion, maybe you just don't like his presentation, but objectively speaking your interpretation is a very subjective one .

[@midiman5045]

@@gtrrobster Who is Rick?

[@gtrrobster]

@@midiman5045 Beato

[@voronOsphere]

Oh, wow! I missed this one!!! Chet Atkins! Beautiful guitarist!!!! Thanks, David!!! EDIT: Fantastic Lesson!!!!!!! Great playing, David!

[@robertmac7833]

I once went through all my Chet CD’s and counted all the cuts. I counted well over a thousand! If you add all his appearances on TV, his recordings at the grand ol opry, his tunes with the Carter sisters, and bunches of others over the years I’m guessing it will be at least 2,000! That is PROLIFIC beyond prolific! Chet was verifiably the most recorded instrumentalist in history!

[@dallasahlberg7833]

"I had no idea Chet Atkins was such an Alan Holdsworth fan. That's a joke." I laughed so hard twice in a row that I had to rewind the video multiple times. Guitarist, educator, musician, comedian....David Brewster!

[@maurokoth7472]

Chet Atkins was a genius. Mr Guitar.

[@rongrape2939]

My parents had the Chet Atkins "Workshop" LP. One of my favourite albums of all time. Hard to get now.

[@russlgtr]

Chet Adkins 88 albums crazy didn't realize. His greatest hits have greatest hits

[@Rider-hh9it]

Don’t know if its still true, but Chet was at one point the most recorded guitarist in history. A lot of studio playing in his early years.

[@jimmyhansen5842]

Atkins🌹

[@jscotlandr]

I can't get over what a great guitar player you are. Regardless of genre you consistently kill each lesson/example you provide. The accuracy and feel is incredible. On top of that your breadth and depth of knowledge of so many styles is simply mind-blowing. I can't understand why you don't have more subscribers. Keep doing what you do, move forward with your production values and you'll have several hundred thousand subs in no time. Thank you for your work.

[@MT-or7lv]

Fantastic lesson Dave! Chet was an absolute monster of the guitar. Thank you.

[@johnmorrell]

I remember learning Trambone by ear, when I was about 14 years old - 1973. Back then it was learning by ear or nothing.

[@morganchatsworthiii9178]

As teenager and lover of lover of rock in the 70's , Chet's Goes To The Movies LP blew me away. I've been trying to play The Entertainer for 50 years

[@STAMPER-DESIGN]

Always an artist that I thought was unattainable - until today. Thx Mr Brewster

[@Wileylikethehawk]

Awesome. I came to Chet through Knopfler, as I’m sure many did. I’m a pretty good guitarist but I really struggle with that fingerstyle playing. It’s tough!

[@robertmac7833]

Those chords that Chet uses in Sandman..I got to meet him and shake his hand in ‘89. He had VERY long, slender fingers, so it was a piece of cake for him! Like that opening chord in “cascade.” That’s MURDER on my left hand. But it was easy as pie for Chet.

[@hugechimp]

Phenom, David...LOVE this lesson...TY

[@twangnasty6343]

Thanks for making me feel proud that I can stumble through Trambone. Very interesting .Thanks.

[@berryj.greene7090]

Wowee! Yes I am a fan right from my off in 1959 when I heard "The Other Chet" LP. However it taught me just how limited I was going to be and remain. How some people can so rate themselves is hard to understand unless they never heard Mr Atkins. In the end I just listen and admire. Seems to me he "heard it" and then he played it. Thanks for that insight into the wonders of Chet's musicality and dexterity. I count it as a great godsend that my living overlapped his time here. Of course there was too the unplayable Django. Where did me spring from? Like Chet from way back in outskirts somewhere. Ability, determination, taste, presentation. Nice man our Chester. Clean liver too by all accounts. I miss him a lot. Thanks for that very respectful reminder. BjG

[@Hi-Z_Lo-Z]

Thank You This Episode Is Awesome!

[@tommyausburn]

Hey, I appreciate you taking the time to teach Chet style guitar! I'm a fan.

[@catwhisperer911]

Thank you. This was awesome.

[@MultiFlange1]

Wow.. really great insight into Chet's playing.. thanks!

[@tobiasschmuecking4958]

THANK YOU!!! Awesome and fretboard-widening!

[@chirilas5217]

Great tutorial. Thank you.👏👏👏

[@mr.anderson70]

Such a nice lesson. Thanks for doing Chet!

[@odditeemusic6016]

Great stuff as usual..and I must register my frustration with all you guys with long fingers and 9 jointed “super bendy” thumb! But I carry on with what I gots..thanks for all you do to bring all these great bits to light (short-fingered folk appreciate it too!)

[@later_daze_4080]

Glad this channel popped in my recommended videos! You've got that Chet Atkins tone down pretty good! Chet was a master! Subbed!

[@timjohnson7919]

One of the best breakdowns so far! I'd be very happy to see volumes 2-3 of Chet's stuff, and I'm very impressed that you took this on. For those unfamiliar with him -- to this day -- Chet Atkins' playing is the kind of thing that makes you go "I...yeah I can't do this..." and just set the guitar down and walk away LOL. More, please!

[@markjamesgoddard2247]

Nice one mate, respect👌🎸😊

[@thecandlebombs]

Thank You! Chet has inspired everyone from Brian Setzer to Jimmy Page to Steve Howe to..etc😎❤️‍🔥🎶

[@Rider-hh9it]

Don’t forget to mention the top players on the planet who started playing with Chets influence: Richard Smith, Tommy Emmanuel and of course the greatest player ever Lenny Breau.

[@tonychavez1733]

There's guitarist and then there's guitarist. Amazing lesson Dave. Thank you.

[@JackTheSkunk]

First I discovered Duane Eddy in about 1958... bought every new release he ever made. His melodies and tone were the greatest guitar sounds I had ever heard. Still are in many ways. Later I heard of Chet and started buying all of his LPs. His playing obviously was light years ahead of other guitarists of that era but listening to his early stuff now it's a bit frustrating because, while his playing was unmatched, his recorded sound wasn't all that great. Whether he recorded on his early Gibsons, his D'angelico, his namesake Gretsch guitars he always sounded thin and tinny. (IMHLO). It wasn't until the mid 60's that he really started to sound fantastic. His Guitar Country LP being a prime example. Today there are many fine players that can play virtually any tune Chet ever recorded but Chet was special. I think he grew up when music was more complex and he learned to play those chord changes unheard of back in the hills of Tennessee. I am sure he met alot of fellow musicians who could show him things as well. But I think he had a built in sense of how to make a song interesting to the general (record buying) public. Even the tune Kentucky on the Guitar County LP....only 2 chords but it sounds like a million dollars. Anyone who likes the Chet style should try to visit, at least once, The Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention....held every summer in Nashville. The most amazing gathering of guitar pickers you will ever see.

[@l6srob990]

Great lesson thankyou

[@armandpelletier4068]

Thanks for your hard work, Chet is not easy, I like playing Baby’s comin’ home written by Jerry Reed, played by Chet Atkins! Great job, thanks for posting! That helps you breaking things down! Richard Smith plays both Chet and Jerry!

[@richardsong8]

Crazy, crazy, crazy GOOD

[@easter_sunday]

Sensei Dave, I love your study plan as you really try to mix it up. This is great as Chet essentially mainstreamed hybrid picking and ran Nashville for almost 20 years. TBH I’m not exactly about this, or the string skipping exercise. I’m somewhere in between. I really enjoy these exercises as they’re great if you change it up between flat picking. Thanks Sensei Dave. I’ll probably never be a good shredder but this is outstanding!

[@uncleremus5046]

TY 🍺’ski. There’s footage of Chet doing full arpeggio sweeps in the 70’s. Legendary picker with great taste!

[@robertberryhill4033]

❤your right about it sounds easy, it is super hard

[@thebomontellano4996]

Chet Atkins did in Country/Blue Grass, Joe Pass did in Jazz guitar and Paco De Lucia did with Flamenco.

[@outtathyme5679]

In the same vein, I’ve been listening to Leo Kottke recently

[@onewiththings]

This was hilarious, specifically in the Mr. Sandman demo.

[@eprohoda]

fantastic uploading-Late~

[@robindavis726]

Cher Atkins. Simply the best ever. Wildwood Flower has the same harp effect over the C, F, and G chords one of the times through. Watch the old live videos of it. Mesmerizing. Stunning. Unbelievable. And he makes it appear effortless. I will keep at it til I die. Won't ever really get it. But I love the quest.

[@davidsmith6976]

Such a coincidence ,I was checking out ,Chet,playing with Jerry Reid ,and also,in a band with Suzy Bogguss ,last night ,I have seen the footge of him and Mark Knopler,and theres so much mutual admiration,along with some humour ,a genuine guitar legend ,thanks for your respect ,and obvious knowledge of how good he was ...PEACE.

[@dannyhood7433]

Mark Knopler, Haha! Mark Knopler! Just messin. I could be wrong but Mark Knopler got 'his' from 'chet'.Jerry Reed also came from 'chet'.(I didn't know Jerry Reed was shredder until I bought Eric Johnson's starlicks vhs. (Eric plays in style of Jerry Reed licks advanced at the time. Licks Jerry Reed was already playin long before 1990s) .Tommy Emmanuel admits his style from chet atkins. My dad always told me about chet.. Wish learned something from chet. But chet plays musical things people enjoy.

[@shanehen]

V-Amp. I used to have one of those. Great unit! Chet was a master…did it his own way. Andres Segovia and Chet were friends. Another master of ringing scales? Bill Frisell.

[@Rider-hh9it]

There are so many guitar gods today who would be broke if they had to line up next to Chet for a job. I saw him live 4 times. Amazing player, just the way he tuned his guitar was a sight. He would sometimes finger pick the open strings to tune up. Chet signed the back of my brothers new shirt with a sharpie after a show sometime around 1979. He said: “Your mother’s not going to be be happy with this.” When my mother saw it she said: “I can’t believe Chet Atkins signed your shirt.” She was thrilled.

[@tallpaul1020]

Thx David, what a great lesson. I won't be tackling this one anytime soon but my late father was a huge fan of Chet so I might start working on it. How about some Wes Montgomery, that ought be a great chord workout. Thx again, keep up the great work 🎸👍🎸 A Jerry agreed finger style lesson would be incredible. Thx

[@tallpaul1020]

Reed

[@ww3lstep]

Wonderful player... wish I could like his material itself better, but no doubt a master of guitar.

[@leechild4655]

17:13 I like playing this harp type scale on my uke but you only played it ascending. When I figured out the moves to move desending as well it was a lightbulb moment. Anyway, I have been playing Drive-in for decades and think i`m cool knowing a Chet song. lol I only play a handful of acoustic pieces: a Bach piece. Beatles stuff. Yes stuff. Zep, ELP but some is too hard to play. wth i`m an electric guitar player at heart. \m/

[@robertmac7833]

There was and is only ONE Mr Guitar!!

[@joelcatour6652]

The best

[@vikramjitbanerjeetuki]

He worked with Earl Klugh and George Benson too👍

[@ronfrey5327]

Greatness his pieces are things to work on for a lifetime. learned Vincent and Wish upon a star .. Saw Chet live outdoors in Austin met him had Some things to sign and questions but he saw what Cd I had and at Soundcheck proceeds to read my mind knowing what im about to ask almost and plays when you wish upon a star but before he does he gets up and faces Paul Yandell another way moves chairs So I got up on first row and moved with him like a Comedy sketch cause I am and to spy exactly how he plays it and see if Id learned it properly and had ! Born at night but not last night and did not miss it by that much....

[@michaelyork4554]

Richard Smith as I'm sure you know, one of Chet's major protégé's, such a great example of Chet's style. Check him out playing with Tommy Emmanuel. The Entertainer cover by him. 👍

[@chadjones4236]

Even though country isn't my thing those guys pulled off some crazy licks just needs distortion to be metal Roy Clark is the man 👍

[@toomanywaystofall]

mR. late night's lesson on Chet is peppered with the word tricky, which = hard 🎵r0ck0n 🎵

[@sritchey]

Would the stretches for Mr sandman be easier on your les paul?

[@tomfoolery2082]

Growing up I'd guess Chet was at his peak or close , I cld play a few of his tunes and ur right , its tuf . But u kno I was a rocker and cldnt do both . Lol ,, but gd stuff .

[@c.JamesFrogsworth]

Gotta do an old black and white era Les Paul. From him and his wife's show

[@backtoshallabal6662]

Hope you can do Roy Clark and Les Paul!

[@backtoshallabal6662]

@@guitar-jo I saw a cover of someone doing Bye Bye Blackbird and I thought it was the coolest thing!

[@maxcuthbert100]

It really shouldn't matter which guitar you play(there's a YT of Chet/Jerry both playing Telecasters)but a thumbpick is very important.Thanks for the lesson though-quality !

[@1992YR]

Want to hear some sweep picking before the 80's. Listen to Snowbird (studio version) by Chet Atkins from the early 70's.

[@Rider-hh9it]

Correct, Chet had the sweep mastered earlier than that. Watch him play Malagueña in Oslo on youtube recorded around 1964.

[@CC-qb9sm]

🤠 👍

[@FrettieFingers]

All Hail Chet

[@allendean9807]

When i was a teenager, my parents told me if i learned under the double eagle, they’d buy me a Les Paul. However, as a young metalhead, i thought this guy was lame, so i never bothered to learned it. These days, at 55, i wish i had. Mainly, because i never got that Les Paul, and finally got my first Gibson Lp in 2022….. had to buy it myself…. Hehehe

[@greg77hot]

Great stuff Dave .. now try and get some rest buddy .. you been working too hard. And we appreciate it.

[@toomanywaystofall]

Chet's nightmare chords...🎵r0ck0n 🎵

[@richieg8432]

Now you have gotten to the PInnacle of guitar players...Chet was MR.GUITAR.

[@Bronson-Apollo]

Arlen Roth and Danny Gatton

[@saddle8bag]

Of course Chet Atkins would make the band in his hands include a Trombone.

[@robertmac7833]

Where’s your thumb-pick??

[@ronfrey5327]

Finally see how Sandman was done thank you very much its all in the teacher for me and you teach well.. Hey how can I send you an email got something to share you will dig it I had this guy break down Star Trek for me its too good not to know also Bob Myers of Zorro and Blue footballs excellent teacher instructor and like Chet learned from records or radio he could slow records down I think or just break it down in sections then put all the sections together working on smoothing it all out.. Im kicking myself for loosing Charlie Byrd My Funny Valentine he did that one for me in tab and ive lost it. David if youve not heard that version Charlie Byrd my funny Valentine do listen id pay someone else to tab it again still beyond my ability to tab it out but I did learn to play it ok just forgot how sucks cause its a good one Hard as Chinese Jazz......Check it out...

[@markrobinson8410]

Chet was steve howes main influence

[@mikeking453]

Wasn't Chet Atkins the first to do sweep picking

[@Rider-hh9it]

There are recordings of Barney Kessel sweeping around 1958. That sweep lick Chet played came from after a show Chet played with the great New Orleans clarinetist Herb Albert sometime time around 1960. Chet heard the run and put it into his own playing, which he did with the sweep..

[@sweetpain67]

Hilarious

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Would’ve been a good video without all the adverts

[@michaeljensen8211]

This would help with tabletur on the screen (they did back in the 80'ties in those one hour VHS lessons... Poul Gilbert was one video to learn, but tabletur on was tumbs up 😁 ). Cool 👍

[@jeffd3660]

Great video .... Any thoughts on doing a Danny Gatton lesson ? 🤔

[@Stevewatson3]

Not mention John Knowles! Chet was mr guitar ❤ he was the guitarist one could only dream of becoming.