Copy Nick Drake With These 5 Easy Steps ★ Acoustic Tuesday 173

Put your listening skills to the test in this step-by-step guide to emulating Nick Drake's tone and style! After this video, you'll have the tools you need to play in Nick Drake's style!
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Before I go any further, I want to thank ‪@joshturner_etc‬for his incredible video on Nick Drake's tone and style. You can watch his video here: • Nick Drake's Tone - An...
In addition, the ‪@VinylRewind‬episode on Nick Drake provided tons of useful information about Nick's life and recordings, which helped make this video. You can find that episode here: • Who Was Nick Drake - A...
Besides chatting about the 5 steps to replicate Nick Drake's iconic tone and style, you'll have the chance to hear about one of the incredible transformations that is happening inside the Tony's Acoustic Challenge community.
This week, you'll hear from Brandon K., a guitar geek that used the power of reflection and evaluation to get excited about his progress and process in TAC.
Finally, I have my acoustic guitar news you can use! This week, you'll hear about developments with‪@deadhorseswi‬as well as Iris Guitars and Guild Guitars.
#NickDrake #NickDrakeLesson
00:00 - Intro
02:06 - Step 1: Gear
04:47 - Step 2: Picking Hand Technique
06:39 - Step 3: Embrace Alternate Tunings
07:52 - Step 4: Composition
10:33 - Step 5: "X" Factor?
13:26 - TAC Family Story
17:40 - Guitarsenals & Comments
23:31 - Acoustic Guitar News

[@robertnewell5057]

Update to my last post. I asked an old friend of mine who is a big Nick Drake fan and also a guitar geek, introduced me to his music back in the 70s, and he said: 'I saw him twice. First time was at Essex Uni where he was the support for Fotheringay (Sandy Denny's band after Fairport - my added comment). He was playing a large body Martin tho I can’t reliably say which model. Second time was at Les Cousins where he was “sort of” support for John Martyn (they alternated sets into the very late night/early morning). He was playing a (“the”?) Guild M20. I know this because I and several others asked him about it as it was unusual to see a “brown “ guitar (I think it was the first time I’d seen a mahogany guitar). He said it was borrowed and that he’d have to “give it back soon “.' So there you go. From the horse's mouth.

[@danieldufeu7375]

Hello Tony. Many thanks for the Nick Drake analysis. As a 64 year old Brit I was lucky enough to discover Nicks music back in1973 via the tune “Solid Air” which as many will know was written for Nick by another fantastic guitarist and singer song writer -John Martyn. He’s well worth checking out and worthy of an exploration - great percussive acoustic style. One of my favourite Drake tunes is “ Time has told me” its in standard tuning but has really interesting chord voicing sand the singing has that counter melody thing mentioned in the video.. For anyone wanting to really push their acoustic playing I would also suggest exploring Bert Jansch. Neil Young is a huge fan and describes Jansch as“the real deal” and being “ to the acoustic guitar sort of like Hendrix is with the electric” - high praise in deed!;.

[@IamClapham]

Hi Tony, just endorsing Daniel's comment here. I was going to recommend John Martyn's song for Nick Drake "Solid Air" but Daniel beat me to it. Do check it out if you haven't already.

[@WickedIndigo]

“Parasite” is easily my favorite Nick Drake song. The intro chromatic descending melody buried under the rest of the harmony is eerily beautiful. The lyrics are some that I can relate to and feel more so than almost any other song I’ve ever heard.

[@stanby2712]

A couple of thingsTony First, re the Bryter Layter cover photo with the Guild M20. There are plenty of contemporaneous witness accounts that it was just there for the photo shoot and not used on the album However, I saw him play an all nighter supporting John Martyn at Les Cousins ( London club) a couple of months before the album was released. He was playing a (the?) Guild M20 ( I was into guitars even way back then). He did say that it was borrowed and that he’d have to “give it back soon”. So even though he didn’t own it, he did play it for a substantial period. Just a little piece of guitar history trivia. Secondly, for an extraordinary insight into the origin on his unique style of writing and vocal phrasing, check out (if you haven’t already) the songs of Molly Drake (his mum). The experience is really quite eerily uncanny. See what you think Regards

[@TheDipasqua]

This is an amazing story. I would love to hear more about that night!

[@andyshriner5443]

That's awesome! Thank you for sharing this.

[@nieshamae]

I've been fan of Nick for almost a year now. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@ryansutter4291]

Ive listened to "Road" a million times from the album.....at first when I heard you play the Martin single O, I was sure that was gonna be the one, but the MOMENT you started playing the Santa Cruz I immediately felt as though THAT tone, whatever THAT was causing it, was closer to his album version...

[@FrankBirtwistle]

Pink Moon is one of my favourite albums of all time. He's been a huge influence on my playing/writing...both solo and in my duo. Yes, a great point about not giving up - I have a lot of low points myself due to hardly any audience for my music. My favourite track - Fruit Tree. Great video. x

[@lindahandley5267]

He would have never done it, but just imagine Nick showing up today on Britain's Got Talent or some similar talent show. He would blow their socks off and leave them speechless. He would have Simon in tears at the beauty of his music.

[@YourLovelyMan]

I've been a fan of Nick Drake for over 20 years - favorite tune for guitar work is definitely 3 Hours, esp the breakdown. But everything he did was phenomenal. Thanks for putting this video together, it was a great rundown for a great guitarist.

[@michaelimhof488]

I came to "five leaves left" through the book "a long way down" by Nick Hornby, which I had to read for school 12 years ago. Fell in love with the music immediately. Remains one of my all time favorite albums with a melancholic beauty unmatched.

[@markstrain8989]

Got to get that book...

[@alfredbennett1183]

Brandon is awesome. I just joined tac at the beginning of the month. This guy has a great sense of humor. It's awesome to hear his story here

[@adamsacousticarsenal6573]

Agreed! A good, witty person makes all things better. :)

[@tonyajohnson7948]

A long time fan. I love all of Nick’s work. “Things behind the Sun” is a huge favorite of mine. Nick’s music always takes me to a place where I need to be… Free…

[@nicksonblackwell]

Definitely the Santa Cruz! Everyone also needs to listen/learn “parasite” on pink moon! It’s one of my personal favorites. It’s a true haunting anthem

[@chrispestana8991]

I love your comment about pushing forward even when that little voice is telling you "this is no good". It is soooooo TRUE! One thing leads to another; Keep Going!

[@keithwoznek3429]

Great job Tony! I have watched you for a couple of years but my first time commenting. You have taught me a lot about guitars. I’m in my 70’s and started playing an acoustic last February. I borrowed a Fender acoustic from my daughter. I purchased my first new acoustic guitar based on a recommendation from your video about starter guitars. I purchased a Seagull S6. I love the sound. Keep inspiring us, thanks.

[@leonardoneves7450]

I discovered his work just a day ago. Mesmerizing is the least I can say about his songs. Thank you for your insight. Awesome video.

[@sebastianjones9203]

My mom actually listened to Nick Drake with me a lot as a baby, so you could say I've been a fan for a really long time, but I only really started listening to him a few years ago. He is definitely one of my favorite songwriters and a big influence in my playing. I want the bonus points so I'll say my favorite song of his is Place to Be

[@jeffwolfe532]

Picking a favorite Nick Drake song is nearly impossible for me, but I most frequently come around to Place to Be as a favorite too.

[@russcowles8516]

Nick Drake follower since I first started playing guitar - 1995. I think I saw an article in acoustic guitar mag spotlighting him. Songs were always so hard to play as a newbie with alternative tunings. My favorite (from the point of view of playing guitar); Day is done (Five Leaves left)

[@cph630]

Thanks so much for featuring my Guitarsenal! This is Christopher H. TAC member since December 2020. I played the double neck on the New Year’s Eve VOM and the fellow guitar geeks liked hearing it. I played the A Pirate Looks at 40 on the 12 string in open G.

[@JonDSpeer]

Tony - Acoustic Tuesday has become part of my weekly ritual. THANK YOU! I always pick up a few tips and pointers, discover artists, and just enjoy the show. Thank you this week for reminding me about Nick Drake. Definitely going to dive into his music and sound more in depth.

[@adamsacousticarsenal6573]

Nick Drake was a staple of my teenage years, and is probably responsible for the reason I can only listen to music that makes me cry. Also, his guitar playing is like that of John Prine in that it’s so quintessentially him that it’s hard to replicate.

[@surfwriter8461]

Yes, his guitar playing is so specific and personalized. But Josh Turner posted a lengthy analysis of the Nick Drake guitar sound that you might find interesting.

[@carlose0318]

So many things I could comment on having been obsessed with Nick Drake since discovering him in high school. My favorite track of his remains Hanging on A Star (the Made to Love Magic, fingerpicked version). Listening to it with high-quality headphones is quite an experience. The depth and purity of the tone of his guitar, the rhythmic but also transcendent vibrations from his open baritone tuning... It was recorded at a time when he was in such rough shape that the guitar and vocals had to be done separately. And you can hear a kind of resignation (but to me, not necessarily defeat) in his voice. Not a weakness either, just the sound of a man putting all he had left into a very simple and short vocal track (essentially the same melody as Horn, if you compare the two) to say what he needed to say. If anything, I think that demonstrates just how strong Nick was. As you mention, Nick continued to compose and record despite the devastation of not being able to support himself or enjoy the type of career he wanted with his albums. As an artist, and as a human, he still held on to hope that someone, somewhere, someday, would hear him and know the pain he experienced. That he could help someone know they were not alone. That's the relationship I have to Nick's music, anyway, having discovered it during my own period of darkness and deep despair. There's such a lonely familiarity in the connection I feel to his songs that ultimately confirms how we are all more alike than different. On the surface, I have nothing in common with this man, but through his music, I hear the same longing for connection, love, and recognition of life's beauty I've experienced in my life. I can't help but think it would elate him to know how he has affected me, and countless others, in this way with his music. Thank you, Nick. You are still with all of us.

[@garethporter1554]

Hi, Nick used a Martin D-28 on all his studio recordings. The Guild M20 is just a prop for the Bryter Layter photo shoot. The only other guitar he used in recording is an old Spanish classical.

[@griffinmitschelen6349]

Nick drake used a 00028 on pink moon

[@verderosa9]

Great show T. Discovered ND in the 90s listening to the LA station KCRW and thought to myself "who the F is THAT"? The song was River Man. That's my favorite. It perfectly exemplifies what you were talking about with the stark difference in rhythm between his guitar picking and vocals. It's a masterpiece. Next is Three Hours. Josh Turner does an amazing job covering it in his bedroom on his 000-28. Then Cello Song, Way to Blue, Northern Sky and all the rest. Drake's was a tragic story of bad timing, clueless reviewers and audiences as well as a host of other sad injustices.

[@tb0069]

Cello Song and River Man are my 2 favorites. I've attempted to learn Nick's songs, but the tunings have always turned me away from it. Thank you for renewing my interest in trying to learn these songs again.

[@andyshriner5443]

It gets to be second nature after a little while. If I'm playing a lot of his music I'll start way down in BEBEBE, tune up to ECFCGC, then to something like DADF#AD if I'm playing One of These Things First, and back up to standard in a single practice session so I don't have to tune every string each time. He actually also wrote a ton in standard and other pretty easy tunings!

[@AlecBridges]

Check out the Roadie3 guitar tuner. You can program in whatever alternate tunings you want. Makes it really easy to switch between odd tunings quickly.

[@mwj5368]

Wow! You're right on with Nick Drake and such a cogent and lucid treatise! Thanks for sharing your talent and knowledge!

[@jeffdooley5675]

love this, thanks. Black Eyed Dog always stops me in my tracks. And the Cello Song too. His vocals are so natural and smooth. He performs like it's just you and him in a small apartment sitting on the couch. It can bring tears sometimes. Nick and Townes are cut from the same cloth, yet so different.

[@meddmawamm]

Great that people are giving Nick Drake love. I didn’t understand why the hell Nick Drake sounded the way he did when I was younger, but he was one of my top 5 or so guitarists, whether they be electric or acoustic.

[@martinboere3274]

What I especially like about Nick Drake's songs is the manner in which they're constructed. When you go through them while analysing you'll often encounter passages in which the composer must have thought: "Nah, that's too obvious, let me try to be more original here!", that way decorating his music with unexpected turns. Moreover Nick Drake will never waste his listeners' time, for example by applying multiple repeats, a thing for which I'm very grateful. It's a compositional approach which made the Beatles famous, but left Nick Drake go unnoticed in his time. I guess luck has to be with you when cherishing any ambition, no matter how much of a genius you are.

[@carlkellner1310]

I really appreciate this video! I've been quite obsessed with Nick Drake for 20 years now - I was introduced to "Pink Moon" by a very special friend one summer night in 2001. That album is his masterpiece in my opinion, and my favourite song of his is "Things Behind the Sun". One cool thing about that song from a guitar player's perspective is that it can be played in standard tuning (capo on the 4th fret). Another cool thing: You can play "Horn" as an intro to it and then go right into "Things...", just like on the album. And it's just a magical song. Another favourite is "From the Morning", besides the more obvious ones. "Pink Moon" as an album is just amazing beyond anything else - each song is a world onto itself, so powerful and evocative and unique ("Parasite" for one is such a panorama of a certain kind of mood, you can really get lost in it). And the fact that it's just one voice and one guitar and feels so complete and atmospheric really encouraged and inspired me as a young musician, and continues to do so to this day. You don't need a band or a big studio to create musical worlds that envelop you and the listener completely - that's one thing I learned from listening to "Pink Moon". I could go on and on, but - there you go.

[@vwbeetle72jellybeen]

I love Nathaniel‘s series! He‘s so laid back in his conversational approach! Very easy to listen to!

[@scottwatelet5769]

What a great piece. Thank you so much

[@thecaveofthedead]

Josh Turner is clearly right to my ear. In your demo, vs the album recording, I hear the same kind of 'truncated lows' in the smaller body guitar and the album - a less sustained low end ring compared to your demo with the dreadnought.

[@angelg8445]

took a 2 hour drive through the foothills and piedmont of NC ab 15 yrs ago whilst hungover visiting a friend. It was a rainy drizzliy day...Love the song Horns

[@StratsRUs]

Pink Moon is the mountain top.Recorded over two nights.Astonishing.From The Morning is a fave.

[@Jess_Jones]

When I was in my early twenties I wanted a guild because of Nick Drake. He did what I wanted to do. Write songs and play them for people with my guitars. Huge inspiration for me personally. Tony, great job on “Road” that was nice to see

[@aaronpetermeier8527]

Discovered him cuz of your show 👍

[@michaeltouchette8156]

back in 74-75 time period I distinctly remember listening to Pink Moon. It made the airwaves, sadly this was after his death.... took a couple more decades for me to finally com e back to Nick.... once again remembering my youth and hearing Pink moon then taking the time in the 90's to find a the album on CD.... the rest is rock and roll legend. thanks for this. I don't play but listening to his music is Devine..

[@robertnewell5057]

I've been listening to Nick Drake's music for over 40 years. I have also revisited Josh Turner's speculative video on his guitar tone,and I find it unconvincing. Strings were almost certainly nickel wound, and probably Rotosound, which were the most commonly available strings in the UK (here, I admit it's me doing the speculating. I feel it is important to distinguish between string sounding dark and sounding dead. Nick was apparently fanatical about tuning accuracy in the studio, as well as live, and you just won't get that with old, dead strings. Guitar - there's debate about whether he played a small bodied guitar, and actually a dread with nickel strings gives a good imitation of his sound. He is pictured with a small body Guild, but that was a photo prop and belonged to the photographer who did the cover for Bryter Layter(Bit like the Robert Johnson guitar). Robert Kirby (who did the strings on that album) says Nick played almost exclusively a Martin D28, but Richard Thompson says he played a Guild. It is known he played a Martin 00028 on the later tracks of Pink Moon. He is also pictured with a Levin dread, which also has quite a dark sound (one of my oldest friends has one from exactly that period).The most reliable source of information about Nick's music is his producer, Joe Boyd, who has written about Nick and also has extensive KZbin output about the recording of the albums. The best way of understanding his approach to the guitar is to get hold of the piano recordings done by his mum, Molly Drake. Amongst other things, Joe Boyd says Nick was like a machine in his playing precision, never making a mistake, never becoming irritated or distracted if many takes were required. Maybe that was his X factor. Your comment about the independence of his voice from his playing is righton the money, and strikes me as also true of Bert Jansch. They are both often imitated, but rarely imitated well.Late edit - apology to stanby 2712 who I saw mentioned some of these points

[@MoonhareStudio]

Been a Nick Drake fan for decades. Such an icon here in the UK. Favourite track is probably At the Chime of a City Clock on Bryter Later.

[@TheClagga96]

Been a fan of Nick Drake for a good 3 or 4 years after a friend of my dad’s introduced me to this artist with this use of articulation with his fingerpicking and some genius songwriting too! Pink Moon as an album does have a dark feel and quite haunting and meloncolie in some parts of those songs from that album. Nick’s sister Gabrielle became an actress as well in a sci-fi series which was done by the creator of the puppet show ‘Thunderbirds’ as well!

[@MonoLake02]

I found Nick Drake when Pink Moon (song) was used in a VW commercial. I heard it once and started my internet search. I have been a fan ever since. I have started learning guitar recently and some day I hope to play “Road”...

[@andyshriner5443]

This is awesome and I can't believe the youtube algorithm didn't suggest this to me! I've been researching Nick's technique, guitars, etc. a ton recently and a video with a nice comparison of a small and large body guitar playing his music is really cool. I think he recorded mostly on his Levin Goliath dreadnought and there's a guitarist on youtube named Sam Lynch who owns a Levin Goliath and plays Nick's music on it. I'd give him a listen.

[@jonhaslam3699]

Great analysis thanks! I actually got into Nick Drake after stumbling on the Josh Turner post on KZbin many years ago. My favourite ND track is “Time of no reply”.

[@Artytype1]

Thanks Tony. What a great unappreciated talent Nick Drake is. Really enjoyed that you focused on this great artist. Also appreciate that you are so genuinly positive...it's a welcome respite from all the negative vibes and cynicism overwhelming internet and social media. Keep up the great work.

[@ceciliaojeda200]

I’ve been a big Nick Drake fan for about a year now. He was a musical genius. He really was one of a kind! My favorite song is “Place to be” but “Road” is also one of my top favorites

[@leowalless9328]

LOVE THIS! I watched the Josh Turner when it first popped up, this is an excellent follow up. I think it's very cool that you properly credit Josh Turner for his input. Definitely a small body for the tone

[@joaofilipelobo4113]

Amazing insight man, I just did one cover on pink moon and would love to have seen this advice beforehand. thank you so much!

[@mikesweeney263]

Long time Nick Drake fan here! I can remember the first time I heard his music and where I was located and what I was doing. My favorite Nick Drake song is Northern Sky. So good!

[@audunkongsrud7038]

I'm a long time fan. Have fell a sleep with his music in like 8 years. covered some of his songs aswell:D Thangs for the video!

[@therampanthamster]

i discovered Nick Drake at the beginning of the plandemic and used to spend hours walking through the countryside listening to him non-stop, especially pink moon. Prior to that i'd predominantly been a pick using electric guitar player. I was always into alternative tunings but my acoustic played second fiddle and finger picking was rarely used. Nick's music completely changed my approach to guitar. I now play my acoustic far more than my electrics and I exclusively finger pick, which luckily i picked up very quickly and love. I'm definitely planning to get a small body acoustic this year. A truly wonderful song writer, such a tragedy that he never got to see how appreciated his music was to become.

[@frankswildyears2217]

Hi, awsome show tonight. it really has some lightbulb moments when you explore Nick Drake's Style. Fine youtube recommendations also. I discovered Nick Dake, when i dug into songwriters in the 90th, coming from Heavy Metal and the Seattle Sounds. Even in the more instrumented recordings, Drake has the feel of delta blues purism. Sonic adventures went on and i lost his music out of sight several times, but returned constantly over the decades. I think the small body guitar you play is nearer to the recording on Pink Moon. But anyway, the intro is classy, play it on whatever instrument you want. Favourite ND songs change over the years, seasons and moods but as i listenened today it were "Roads" and "From the Morning", both on Pink Moon Album. Thanks again for this great show. since i joined TAC in October '20 i tune in to Acoustic Tuesday constantly with increasing fun. The more you know the more you recognize and the more you can connect to. stay sound, frank

[@robsmart1999]

First heard Nick Drake’s songs Pink Moon and One of These Things First on the soundtrack of the movie Garden State in the mid 2000’s, and wonder how I missed listening to Nick’s music in the early 70’s when I was really into British music. It’s reawakened my interest in fingerpicking style, “dead” strings, and alternate tunings. Thanks Tony for all the links about Nick Drake’s music and his biography doc.

[@katkazakoff4452]

Love Nick Drake and just learning a few of his songs myself - definitely felt like your comparison of small body vs large body of the Road intro led me to feel like it was large body - IMHO-

[@allynfornow]

Ryder on the wheel is my fav nick drake tune!!

[@markstrain8989]

Awesome show, Tony. Many Thanks for the reminder and rekindling my dormant, for much too long, interest in Nick Drake's music.

[@naomivernon607]

I love this so much Tony!! I’ve been a huge fan since the movie Garden State and I was obsessed with the soundtrack and discovered Nick Drake!! Do more videos highlighting amazing fingerstyle guitarists please!!!

[@virginiapohl417]

I think the intro to Road sounds more authentic on the dreadnought. Even though I think Josh Turner's in-depth look at Nick Drake's style is fantastic! I'm 60 and recently discovered all of Nick Drake's work. I'm completely addicted!

[@keithfaust8925]

Nick Drake played saxophone before guitar, and a lot of his vocal lines (like in River Man, for example) sound like sax lines. I’ve been a Drake fan for years. Pink Moon is the ultimate album to listen to while driving at night.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I mentioned this in the comments of Josh's video as well. I'm nearly positive that Nick used a Levin Goliath with maple back and sides. That's the dreadnaught he was pictured with. It was always asserted that Nick owned only a couple guitars his entire life. The only steel stringed guitar he owned was that Levin, and after Pink Moon was recorded, he bought a Martin 00028.

[@MadTracker]

Legend!! Nick Drake was a genius 💯. Thanks for covering him.

[@apegrasshoplizard]

10:58 some of my favorite & most authentic: Blaze Foley , Tracy Chapman, Richie Havens, Cat Stevens.

[@teedilo4902]

Cool video! The smaller body guitar definitely sounded more authentic to ND’s sound.

[@davidlewis2055]

Nick had a Levin ( Martin d copy ) & a Yamaha classical, later he went out on a limb & got a Martin D28 some say a Martin Om or ooo 28. PS the small body Guild mahogany on the cover of Bryter Later belonged to the photographer & the shoes !!

[@Daedalus-ed5nd]

Nick Drake

[@ScottRandall31]

Very similar to the earlier Sun Kil Moon recordings. You can get very lost in listening to these! Thanks for breaking this down.

[@BizarrePudding]

Hi Tony, great video and thank you for bringing attention to Nick Drake and his guitar playing, tone, technique and compositional style... I haven't watched Josh's video in a while but I believe one of the elements of Nick's guitar tone that he identifies as essential is the type of strings Nick would have used - most likely, pure nickel strings, since that was pretty much all that was available at the time... I decided to experiment myself with using pure nickel strings on a couple of my guitars and I had very interesting, if mixed results...My newer guitar (2017 Martin OM-28e) didn't take to them at all...My older one (1946 Gibson LG-2) sounded amazing and I still use pure nickel strings on them...(The guitars use different tone woods in their construction so that might have had something to do with it also...) So - have a question...do modern luthiers construct their instruments with particular types of strings in mind, i.e. Phosphor Bronze/80/20 Bronze/Nickel Wound/Pure Nickel etc?...It seems to me the Martin sounds best with Phosphor Bronze strings, even though I'm not the biggest fan of those...Like I said the Gibson loves pure nickel...Was the Gibson built to sound best with pure nickel strings, since they were all that was available at that time and conversely was the Martin built with the sound of Phosphor Bronze strings in mind?...I wondered if you could reach out to some of the luthiers that you know and ask them what role, if any, the type of strings that they wind up using on their guitars factor into the construction of the guitar?... Thanks again Tony, and I apologize for how long this post is!!!!

[@timwoodruff]

Just discovered Nick Drake after listening to John Smith, and really loved the song Pink Moon, and the whole album. I bought an all sapele guitar, and realized it was a similar sound to an all mahogany. I found out that Nick Drake played a Guild M-20 small-bodied mahogany guitar for Bryter Layter, and that really got me listening to his sound for ideas on how to emulate some of that vibe. Love it.

[@surfwriter8461]

Regarding the Nick Drake sound, Josh Turner posted a lengthy video on this site to analyze that very well. He talks about the type of guitar briefly but says that is less important than other factors. Dead nickel strings, for example. His video is very informative if you want to get close to achieving that sound yourself.

[@leewaite789]

Just watched the Josh Turner video on Nick Drake tone, awesome ! Josh even plays some of “Horn” I’ve got to find me the TAB for this 😎

[@leewaite789]

Oh thanks again Tony, I just found the TAB to “Horn” and picked it out on my Gretsch Jim Dandy 😁 the boxy tone of the Gretsch and this little piece of music are a match made in heaven, I am slipping down the rabbit hole 🕳

[@SMGstunt]

Learned a lot from this video, thank you so much.🙏🏼

[@bhok1971]

The last 2 bars in the Hazey Jane 1 bridge are the most beautiful ever composed

[@leewaite789]

Great show as always Tony 👍👍 First I’ve heard of Nick Drake was this episode, so after the show I went over to Spotify to listen to the whole of the Pink Moon album, wow 😳 The stand out songs for me were “Which Will” and “Free Ride” but I also like the instrumental “Horn” I think I’d like to have a go at this sometime. Thanks for introducing me to Nick Drake, I will no doubt be going down a rabbit hole here 😂

[@jeffwolfe532]

You are in for a treat, my friend!

[@archy3737]

road, cello song and hanging on a star are my personal favorites

[@chickenlickin3820]

i have an old guitar mag that tells all about his playing, guitars etc. as far as i recall he had a guild small bodied mahogany guitar.

[@johnblake6633]

Could you send me a picture of the pages in that magazine abt nick drake? Would be greatly appreciated. My email is [e-mail]

[@stevenwarner9156]

Definitely sounds more like a dreadnought, especially on Five Leaves Left where more of the guitar's bottom end comes through. Got into Nick Drake in 2005 after discovering John Martyn and that the track "Solid Air" was a tribute to Drake. Was one hell of an artist.

[@BGS002]

Found Nick Drake via Jackson C. Frank songs. I was a huge Frank fan, found Nick's covers, and from there heard 'Cello Song.' That sound blew me away.

[@robertnewell5057]

Such a shame that Jackson C Frank (who was very influential in the UK 60s/70s folk scene) did not leavea much of a legacy as Nick.JCF was a true original.

[@Sauceyyyyyyyyy]

Awesome show! I’d love to see one covering Ben Howard and his alternate tuning.

[@naomivernon607]

I couldn’t second this more. I am OBSESSED with Ben Howard.

[@gillesserrigny6324]

The Nick Drake's covers by Scott Matthews are great too.

[@adammoore528]

Nick Drake fan for 20 years. Favorite song is "Man in a Shed".

[@drewirvin5620]

Also every time you wear the green hawks jersey I get excited thinking it’s a Dallas Stars jersey. May the best team (Stars) win tonight!

[@malcolmlagares8245]

Long time fan of Nick Drake.

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

11:50 Thank you so much for that. Seriously……I genuinely needed it as I’m sitting here stressing over nothing. I hate that our brains, I’m assuming other’s do it as well, can get so negative. Or even flip floppy as something I loved that I created will then become “worthless.” I’ve gotta start remembering when my brain turns into an ass that I’m just wired like a goof. 🙏

[@loftyheyts2231]

1. Think the 0-18 sounds more like Nick Drake; 2. Long-time fan, actually played “Road” and “Place to Be” at a tribute concert in 1999; 3. Favourite song changes but currently “River Man”

[@Echelay]

Lol I have never changed my strings on my acoustic. Had it for… years… it was made in 1989 and I only know of one string being changed like ever! I love the ‘dead’ sound tho so I wanna keep these strings for as long as they last :) They have a depth of tone and warmth that is just… not there on most of my other guitars with new strings

[@firecrackerheart]

love this episode. love love. pls. do a similar episode on elliott smith and his "x" factor. i believe it is warranted.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you for a fine video.

[@oscarreyes4078]

thank you for keeping drake Alive

[@jamesmorrison2063]

I'm 65 yrs old and my fingernails aren't strong anymore. So, I use fiberglass tape and nail glue similar to what James Taylor does. (He has a KZbin video showing how he does it). I've learned to only cover about half the nail and extend them about 3/32" past the end of my fingers. I extend the thumb nail about 3/16" past the end of my thumb. I've been making slight adjustments over the past couple years and that's what works best for me.

[@robertnewell5057]

That's the stuff!

[@charlesbryant9995]

Acrylic nails done at a nail salon work wonderfully for me.

[@jamesmorrison2063]

@@charlesbryant9995 Yea, I switched to acrylic nails too. It was too much work for me to do them myself with my left hand. lol

[@markharwood7573]

Thanks for making and sharing. There are comments here about persevering. I would apply that to choice of fingerpicks. The different types all have their strong points and drawbacks. Try a few and don't throw them away. Give them all a chance to work in different styles. I won't recommend my favourite because you will find your own. Edit: I have been a fan of Nick Drake's music for well over 40 years. Gradually, Pink Moon has moved from my least favourite to my favourite of his albums. Perhaps it's time to learn some of his songs in their proper tunings.

[@LuckyDogProductions]

I never heard of NICK DRAKE till that 1997 VW Cabriolet or convertible BUG add came out.

[@jaimichaelmusic]

The dreadnought Santa Cruz definitely sounds more “Nick Drake-ish” (warmer) but I also give credit to your chops, your technique, your fingernails, relationship to the instrument, etc. Great rendition.

[@michaelmackenzie2569]

Love that Martin but I hear the SC as Drakey.

[@markstrain8989]

Me, too! First time hearing it, I call it the "Southern Comfort". Alas, infinitely beyond my budget.

[@billybigtime2808]

There are no easy steps to sounding like Nick

[@patrickcarr882]

So I'm fairly certain that Nick played that Levin acoustic in that photo you mention or all three of his full-length records; on the last four songs (Black Eyed Dog, Hanging on a Star, etc.) were recorded on a Martin 000-28. More specifically, it was a Levin LS-18, which features a maple back and sides. Robert Kirby mentioned one time that he played a Martin D-28, but it's important to keep in mind that 1) he's trying to recall a detail from decades prior and 2) he may not be the most knowledgeable with guitars. He also may have mistaken the Levin for a D-28, which could look identical if you're not a guitar nerd. There's also a super grainy photo of him live, but looking the rosette and fret markers it looks like the Levin. Also, the recording process can seriously affect guitar tone. Things from the microphone to the preamps/console can color the guitar's sound, so that coupled with the dead strings on Nick's guitar can make a dreadnaught sound like a small-bodied acoustic.

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

Excellent 😊😊🎉🎉

[@suegates5]

🚩You Gave Link to TABS..Kept rewinding,an missing it. I went over to Josh Turner,not much there. Respect how you brought this to use and his Dad story,which very insightful. Also..I Would LOVE HOMEWORK DURING SHOW,MAYBE..TABS, ANYTHING! ( sadly can't afford to join TAC😔

[@ethantanatsiwasesedza8305]

I learnt about Nick Drake via the show.

[@sw4ns2]

i'm so agree with you

[@stanby2712]

On reflection and consideration of other posts, I don’t accept the “dead string” theory. The previous post from @Robert Newell makes a point which I hadn’t considered but which I think is a far more likely explanation of the tone. He makes the point that in the 1960’s through to the late 1970’s, US made strings we’re not available in the UK. The main brand was Rotosound ( still in business) and their strings were nickel wound. The first time I saw bronze/ phosphor bronze strings was around 77/78; I bought a set in Ivor Mairants to try them out: they were new stock, just in and Ivor himself wasn’t very impressed! I’m a great fan and admirer of Josh Turner but I’m not sure that he would be aware of this piece of arcane, guitar geek history( it was 25 years before he was born and a different guitar culture). So , I concur with Robert Newell; dead strings? Highly unlikely. Nickel strings get my wager (ie far more likely)

[@GTRJohn13]

LOOOVE the song The River Man!!!!

[@mr.skeltal8687]

I'm of the opinion that he had a few guitars he would rotate through. Songs like "Things behind the sun" vs "road" have very different tones, things is brighter with more body, whereas road has a more subtle sound aside from the last two strings (which will always be brighter, especially on deader strings). Second, I'm not so sure he was using a small body, because there is no way he could record the demo version of "place to be" as it's heard with a small body. Small body's often have this strange toy box sound and that would have been accentuated heavily on his second to last string, which for that demo he tunes down severely. I have practiced his work for several years now and have played several of his tunes on very different guitars. The closest I was able to achieve sonically was on a more standard sized Yamaha, with quite aged strings (the ones it came with from the pawn shop, rusty as all get out). Another thing that isn't talked about much is his thumbs ability to travel, I believe he had the ability to interchange his thumb with his pointer or middle finger between parts. Using things behind the sun again as an example, his picking rhythm is very dynamic, for expression sake he would use his thumb in place of his pointer or ring depending on how much he wanted to accentuate or express a certain note mid rhythm, so don't be afraid to let your fingers travel down and up the strings as you're picking, allow yourself to really feel the rhythm and use your fingers to their fullest. Best of luck to all of you on your journey

[@jwukulele]

#GardenState… (coincidentally Hoboken, Guild’s original location, is also in New Jersey).