How to play Sittin’ on top of the World

[@moto5642]

I absolutely loved this video. Thank you for teaching me a classic i will play for years to come. God bless & thanks for the hours of entertainment

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

thanks David - my pleasure!

[@Puppumss]

Thank you! I've mostly missed out on Doc Watson's music until the 4th of July Fresh Air episode last week. Your video was extremely helpful for learning this song

[@jmwinsor]

Thanks for this Peter. I always enjoy your playing, but really appreciate you taking the time to break something down like this from time to time. So true about getting the thumb down first - I think I'm on the "lifetime" schedule for this skill, but I'm getting better.

[@dalstone_6strings563]

Greatly appreciated! I particularly like the odd little imperfections which make it appear all the more feasible! A very good breakdown which will hopefully help me play it as well as in your parlor guitar take. Thanks from France!

[@kenty2831]

Went over to Patreon to contribute to your tutorials, and no listing. Pete, i am living vicariosly through your picking and have learned so much!

[@Ravenwood82]

Thanks so much for this. I'm lovin' learning this tune.

[@timothyphillips4688]

man, what a great, insightful & detailed lesson. I'm hooked.

[@Hhenriette]

agree!!

[@MrTazacolumbia]

I play it at A on sixth fret with open both 1,6 E. and hummer your thumb and picking. Really cool tune. Cheers 🍻 Maui

[@hunterthorpe6156]

I’ve been trying to find a lesson for this one for years!! Keep doing what you’re doing man awesome stuff!!

[@billcharles9998]

Peter, I enjoyed this lesson immensely. Thanks for doing the initial hard work to figure it out from the recording. Doc was our number one guitar hero 55 years ago. In the 1960's we used to transcribe his stuff from vinyl LP's to reel-to-reel tape so we could play it at half speed, and it was still hard work because it went down an octave. Seeing him perform in person, however was worth a week on the tapes. You have done that for us here. Keep learning, teaching and having fun.

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

thanks Bill! much appreciated

[@tedpeterson1156]

Bill Charles I have found a new respect for folks who had to learn all these tunes with no way of knowing whether the recording was down in the cracks, in an alternate tuning, capo on the 3 etc etc. For an example, while Open D tuning is less of a strain on a guitar I think Doc actually might have been in open E tuned way down somewhere around the old Philharmonic pitch on his recording of this tune. We can really zero in on exactly what they were doing with all the tools available today.

[@andybowen1249]

Wow this sounds amazing,the tone is spot on.

[@gibby6904]

What a great lesson! I love open D and have the same guitar (J35)... Works out really well......thanks!

[@trevorkemp5490]

I learned to play this song by watching your play this on one of your older videos. Thanks a lot!

[@bigbearsandbenjamins]

Extremely helpful! Appreciate your demeanor.

[@birdie399]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills. This helps a lot.

[@johnconroy8323]

Very good thanks for you taking time to go through this tune.picking up a lot of little stuff I’ve missed or need to work out

[@robpattison6606]

are you interested in any old blues slide tutorials? it’s in DAGDAD ?and super easy . easier than this although I enjoyed the way he broke this down . Billy Strings introduced me to this tune only this year .m! I know ... shame

[@brazilhead]

What an incredible voice! Great lesson too. Much appreciated!

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

thanks John! I'm glad you liked it.

[@brazilhead]

@@PeterKeaneMusic I almost didn't even retune my guitar cause I thought I'd get nowhere, but it's actually not as hard as it looks. Sounds pretty good though, even after only a short while, and fun as hell! Thanks again

[@hondomckee.8232]

Lovely tone on that box.

[@tedpeterson1156]

Been lookin' for this one! Thanks

[@MichaelSvenson]

It would bring me so much happiness to play this song.

[@guitarbluesman42]

Great lesson thank's I am looking forward to performing it.

[@thepressleygirls]

What a classic song!

[@scottgunter392]

Thank you, Peter, these are great tutorials. You are an amazing player.

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

Thanks Scott!

[@unstoppablezone4980]

Very nice work, thank you!

[@Flatpickmastery]

Thanks man been looking to learn this. God bless

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

It's a fun one to play for sure!

[@MrEclypious]

I actually learned this and can't thank you enough. However stay off the weed when you do the next one! lol

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

thanks! and good advice!

[@aaronr4216]

lol I'd burn one with ya Peter. And play some Doc & Merle

[@johnconroy8323]

Nice lol

[@williammccarthy1106]

your the man.thank you.

[@cottonwoodslim3497]

I like this version. It's been a lot of fun to play.

[@germanpaulini]

Excelente lección muchas gracias! !

[@andrewwalsh531]

I can't tell you how long I've wanted to learn this song.....this looks like an arrangement I have a shot at learning in this lifetime so I'll give it a run. Thank you so much for the lesson! I learn visually so I use KZbin videos downloaded to a media player. I find that to be the best way to absorb as the media player has all kinds of useful playback features ie., speed control, jump forward, backward (looping), etc.

[@tedpeterson1156]

Andrew Walsh What makes Doc interesting is he only ever used a thumb and forefinger for fingerstyle, so there's no question about what finger he was using.

[@johnmurphy3215]

I’m using thumb for base lines, index for G string , middle for B string and third finger for E for all finger picking tunes. It’s started as an experiment but I’m really happy with and kinda stuck with it.

[@madben9981]

Very nice. You probably already know this, but Sam Chatmon ( of The Mississippi Sheiks who were mostly his brothers) used to play this in standard tuning. I prefer Doc Watson's version and yours, but just for reference... P.s., I used to work in a bar where the owner would bring Sam out once or twice a year to play (one bus ticket for himself and one for his guitar)

[@Jerome2736]

Thanks !!! very great. I will give it a try for sure ;)

[@ashersavin7290]

I believe doc watson had a capo on 2 in his 1964 recording if anyones frustrated

[@LucaSiempelkamp]

Great this is very helpful!!

[@gtnsteve1]

This guy is so articulate!

[@samuelsholder2789]

He seems knowledgeable on doc Watson’s play style!

[@pi286]

thanks so much can play it beautifully. I feel like im playing so bluey compared to other blues :P

[@jtfoog5220]

Good teacher

[@eddiepreas3693]

You are the man lol

[@johnsullivan9863]

Wonderful

[@JMStevens]

Been workin' on this...

[@tumalo710]

thanks Peter well done. saved me a lot of time. Ive been stuck playing a lot open D lately and been wanting to get this one down.

[@bgp6656]

That's a nice looking guitar

[@darrendix5163]

So, from the get go, are you in drop D, or open D? Nice and thorough vid. What is that Gibson you are playing there? Do delve into a thumb pic, bro! Ever since I figured that out, it's glued to my thumb. I still like to use my thumb nail because it's a whole other sound, and more sensitive, but you'll wear it out only using it anyway. That's how I finally started in with the thumb pic, which is a bit awkward at first, but then you'll notice all of our hero's seem to have one glued to their thumb, and maybe a finger pick (Alaska picks are awesome) or 2. Doc Watson primarily only used his thumb and 1st finger for his style, and that's pretty much what I do as well, learned from Doc. Great break down as to how to get the right sound out of the licks. I'll be going over this one again. Great work!

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

Thanks Darren! Open D. The guitar is a recent model J35. I think just thumb & index is a cool way to go - that's what Doc and Merle Travis (who he learned from) did. Also, many/most of the country blues greats. Best!

[@belascialoja4812]

Is that a J-35? Sounds scrumptious! Good playing, too.

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

yes! J-35. Good eye!

[@MrEclypious]

Thanks!

[@seamusbrowne4909]

1:59 It's in the Key of D.😂🤣😂

[@alabastardmasterson]

Thanks. It's hard to play things slow after you've gotten it...then takes a few times to get the feel back. You sound great

[@loisraymcinnis6006]

SWEET.

[@twincityproductions2369]

12:09

[@minmaj7837]

Doesn't he look like Joe bonamasa?

[@johnconroy8323]

A life thyme yes for me lol

[@kennytowns3309]

Cool

[@hcshcsdazzle]

I wish he went more in depth about the picking hand

[@robthompson964]

Hi Margie... I found this, hope it helps with the picking... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gompY6Vurcp7m5o

[@herbertisaacs7925]

Cept its open e according to the doc watson tab book

[@bugs4680]

Hey im a keane too lol

[@yankashar]

grazie :)

[@jamisonsmith9141]

Hey what kind of guitar is that

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

Gibson J-35

[@Billsingsong]

Did you say you are in open D tuning I could not hear you?

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

yes! open d

[@ajb-12345]

7:52

[@johnmurphy3215]

I don’t understand why the thumbs down ??

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

john murphy probably because I talk too much :-)

[@yarknergin4424]

Any one got the tabs for this masterpiece of a lesson?

[@darrendix5163]

Just a tip from a fellow videographer that has shot many tutorials for other musicians: The ultimate camera angle for tutorials is to put the camera up over your head, from behind, so that you are seeing the same perspective as the player, zoomed right into the fingerboard so you can see it really well. The first time I saw someone on you-tube use this angle, I've been sold. It makes SUCH a difference. You can still shoot the angle you used here as B roll to make it more interesting, and personable, like you are still hanging out in the room. Keep on doing this, Peter! You have a new subscriber!

[@madben9981]

Continuation, hit the wrong button... Sam said he and his brothers wrote Sittin on top of the World, and swore up and down he wrote Corrina, Corrina. I believe there's a video of him performing it.

[@francispetaluma]

2 minutes into the video, still haven’t played the song. I suggest you start by playing the song first, then you can talk

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

great suggestion! thanks Merv!

[@therasound]

REALLY....does this guy ever shut up.

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

@@therasound my wife is in full agreement with you on that count!