I Can’t Comprehend What He’s Doing

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[@OfficialCharlieHunter]

Wow guys! Honored and humbled by this. Truly.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼thank you so much for spending the time . All the best to you in all of your endeavors.💯💯💯💯💯🏅🏅🏅🏅🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️❤️CH

[@Jimbowlcoach]

Thanks for posting this! I found something to do for a while❤

[@baignotaurelien7155]

Well...hats off sir. You truly are a unique talent. Nice discovery. I personnaly will stick to my bass player... not even trying to dream about matching your skills😂. Cheers from France.

[@trevorford8702]

So glad to see you get this recognition. Your solo on “Molino Molero” is one of the reasons I learned guitar after being a bassist for five years.

[@ryancox8282]

Hearing you play changed the way I thought about guitar on a fundamental level. Your music brings me so much joy and enjoyment! You deserve all the praise!

[@jimrunaway5060]

You are the maestro, Charlie!!

[@skeenj]

Thanks for sharing his music with your following. Not enough people know the treasure of Charlie Hunter's music.

[@jazzalmenasmusic]

Just to let you know, Charlie came to the Panama Jazz Festival, and a drummer friend that sadly passed away, challenged him to do a foot clave while playing a tumbao, and he said "I've never done it, let me try"... effortlessly, he did it, which comes to now surprise, Charlie probably has the ability to swim and sleep like cetaceans, he can disconnect his brain hemispheres! And such a lovely person, to boot!

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

Warning he can play some drums a it also. hehe and a super cool cat.

[@trebleclefjones4899]

I have seen him a couple of times live. He can carry a conversation while playing, too. I can’t do that 😂. And I just play like, regular-ass guitar.

[@jazzalmenasmusic]

@@trebleclefjones4899 Charlie is a good dude! Extremely talented!

[@josemariareyes3448]

Spanish Joint is must-listen Charlie Hunter, it's what inspired John Mayer to write Neon

[@sterlingmillhollon2520]

This has been my favorite musician since 2000. I literally went to music school to try and one day play like this guy. I am now studying math lol. He is incredible!

[@boognish23]

I was lucky enough to stumble upon him in the 90’s with Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy’s William Burroughs collaboration Spare Ass Anne and other tales, and the amazing group T.J. Kirk doing a mashup of Thelonious Monk, James Brown and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

[@jonlavigne3270]

Charlie Hunter … I discovered Charlie AFTER I thought it would be cool to develop a way to play bass and guitar simultaneously. I heard him and was like, “shit, he already did it”. He used to play an 8 string, but lately his Hybrid guitars are 6 strings. Hybrid Guitars is the name of the company, they’re out of Hillsborough, NC. I asked him about his influences in developing his style and he mentioned Joe Pass and Tuck Andress, and that he played a lot of bass and drums. I think he should get a Farmer Footdrum and just be a band.

[@louman235]

I saw him supporting his Ready Set Shango tour, at UCSB. You’re absolutely right, it’s dizzying to watch him do his magic. His craft is indeed magical and not just a flex. Great video bringing Charlie Hunter some well deserved attention.

[@bluesdjben]

Wow, this guy is incredible. Thanks for turning me onto another amazing musician.

[@alexbasson]

I'm glad you compared Charlie Hunter to an organist, because my understanding is that that's what he was originally going for-to play organ-like parts on guitar. It's what led him to committing to learning how to play in this style with that incredible instrument. And he often even plays through a Leslie cabinet as well, just for that extra organ vibe.

[@thewaldfe9763]

Yes, Sam Yahel is amazing example. He can play great basslines with his feet, play chords with his left hand and a improvise a solo with his right hand - and all three on a extremely high level.

[@RJRonquillo]

I forgot to let you play my Hybrid 7 guitar with Charlie tuning.

[@Screwhead]

I remember having seen him and Leon Parker at the Montreal Jazz Fest back in '99 and that was an *INCREDIBLE* show!

[@mmmbetter55]

My dad started listening to Charlie when I was in high school and he was playing with Pound for Pound, and I have listened ever since. Got to see him and meet him in Columbus at a small show a few years ago too. My favorite album remains Right Now Move wit his quintet, most especially Le Bateau Ivre Good stuff, Charlie is a master

[@Sean_Farmer]

I wasn't aware of Charlie until I saw John Mayer's making of 'In Repair' (One song, one day) video. The man is just amazing!

[@ParaBellum2024]

I'd like to think I beat Charlie Hunter to it with the special pickups! In the 1990s I played in a country & western/rock and roll duo, and used a two-humbucker Ibanez RS225. I wired the neck pickup to a separate output, wired in a coil-split switch, and then took out three of the pickup screws, wound the pickup into the body, and wound the three remaining screws back out. the result was that the neck pickup only sensed the three lowest strings. Next I put the B string where the E string should have been, and so on across the neck, with a very thick sixth string, and tuned the whole guitar to B standard. The neck pickup went to a bass amp, and the bridge pickup to a guitar amp. Playing fingerstyle, I could play bass parts and a bit of strumming. The other guy played a regular guitar and could play solos. If a song was in E, I'd have to transpose it as if it was in A, so we both played the right chords. This was a successful setup and more than once, other musicians came up to us, asking where the bass was coming from! I'll admit that Charlie Hunter takes it to another level though. He's an astonishing player.

[@fileundervalued]

Nice to see someone finally do a deep dive on Charlie. He's been doing this for so long. The combo of feel, tone, taste, and stamina is unbelievable. Thanks for this!

[@TheJazzDestroyersOfficial]

no kidding on stamina

[@meesterdinglefritz2064]

What in the world? I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he was the only human ever to be able to play like that. Just astonishing.

[@atyt11]

steve vai - teeth of hydra would be one of a few who also do it right.

[@MashaT22]

I’m sure he’s heard this a million times, but does Charlie Hunter get paid three times at much for doing three jobs at once?! Because he’s like three band members rolled into one! Really amazing! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@DaveJacoby]

I've been hip to him since Bing Bing Bing, but haven't kept up. Massive talent.

[@Henni63]

Listening to him for 30 years now. He is a pleasure to listen to, it's not gimmicky at all.

[@mrclyde678]

he's doing the same combo guitar/bass on D'Angelo's "Spanish Joint". i tought it was Pino Palladino on bass. Amazing guitar player

[@f.t2542]

"How his brains assigns each finger to each role" -> massive amount of practice. He talks about the logistics of his counterpoint technique in interviews and he says it doesn't come naturally to him, it's just a LOT of work, unsurprisingly. We could probably do it too if we dedicated our careers to that strange instrument that is the hybrid guitar. His amazing taste and time feel, however, are his own!

[@RobbieTayVaughan]

I wish comparing myself to him at all was even 10% of what I acomplish, doing something similar lol. I play a stereo setup with a 6x10 bassrig using a ehx bass9 at the heart, and 4x12 with a peavey 6505+. Being the lone player in a 2 piece, i have to cover both lines as well, but I ain't no where near this guy. Thanks Rhett for the straight up solid inspiration in him to study from. Wow!

[@worldwyn]

Truly exceptional musicianship. I asked Pete Huttlinger how he was able to play Stevie Wonder’s Superstition on finger style guitar. He said he “just wrote all the parts out on sheet music and then sight read while he played it. “. OMG, amazing brain power! RIP Pete! We miss you.

[@dunxy]

Dang, didnt know he passed :( He was an absolute legend.

[@russell_szabados]

@worldwyn I wanted to mention Pete Huttlinger but couldn't remember his last name. Thanks for bringing him up in the comments.

[@jimparker880]

I went to school with Pete, and remember his playing really coming together. What a wonderful person. R.I.P.

[@HeavyProfessor]

That's incredible

[@jakobmorningstar]

Rhett I think you need to get your hands on one of his Hybrid 6 strings and do a lesson video with Charlie where he gets you up and running on the instrument

[@theodorwadorno]

saw him first with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. He was kind of the whole band...incredible,and gets better all the time

[@01saintgps]

I wish I had 10% of his dexterity, and his mindset....incredible!

[@Krullmatic]

He's like, do I want to play bass, or do I want to play guitar? Screw it, I'll just do both at the same time.😂

[@Dave-nm3xc]

I've never saw anything like that before! That is crazy talent!

[@steveezzoentertainment1870]

I had a chance to spend a little time with Charlie after a show at Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA. I was experimenting with this style of playing and of course, I asked for any tips. His answer was in the form of a question. Do you play drums? Charlie told me he spends time working on a drum set as part of his practice routine. He said it really helps re-wire the brain, with regards to separation and independence.

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

Here's the thing about a great big heavy guitar like. You're best off to hang it up in the playing position and make it weightless... I posted a video titled tinkerers guitar suspension... zero gravity

[@JohnsDough1918]

"And this is Charlie Hunter" Fuck yeah.

[@ChrisThorn-vc4sc]

Doe’s Charley get payed twice. Out of this World love it

[@Avatar7x7]

Wayne Krantz does something similar that’s dumbfounding where he has rhythm melody and counterpoint happening all at the same time.

[@natemendsen1629]

Saw Charlie on BET Jazz Central in like 96 and his thing never gets old or less impressive. If anything he has gotten evewn better the good way, not by adding even more but by getting more concise and groove oriented .

[@natemendsen1629]

The other thing I remember is around the same time Guitar Playe rhad a pretty in depth tutorial with him on how to go about learning what it is he does, mostly rearranged for guitar but it had tabs for 8 string too (I have no clue how many people had one yet then lol). I wasnt ready for it then but i wish I could find it now.

[@amateurmakingmistakes]

Thanks for bringing Charlie Hunter to our notice, Rhett & Phillip! What an awesome guitarist - Charlie displays pure magic by adding an unfathomable dimension to playing guitar that is absolutely stunning! Out of curiosity, at the 5:40 mark, you can see a white pedal at his feet. Would that be the Xotic XW1 wah wah pedal?

[@codyhudman2763]

I saw him the first time by accident. I heard (what I thought was a jazz trio) and I walk into the club and saw just him and a drummer. Mind blown!

[@SamBrockmann]

Charlie Hunter's instrument alone is a monster.

[@TheJazzDestroyersOfficial]

I had an instrument I found on reverb where it was like a guy looked a picture of Charlie's guitar and said "yeah sure I can make something like that" for the past year but was even longer scale. Super exhausting. Charlie is part of Hybrid Guitars in Hillsboro NC you can actually get one, and despite the cost, it's the nicest fret work I've ever seen. I've been on the new instrument for a couple months, and am extremely happy.

[@timgant7141]

I saw Charlie up close several years back. He is light years ahead, in all likelihood a alien from a nearby dimension. It is really fun to listen to how he's evolved thru the years. Even the configuration of his guitars have changed. And unlike some jazz guys who are all about playing obscure scales at warp speed, Charlie got soul.

[@TheJazzDestroyersOfficial]

He's just a kid from Berkeley who took lessons with Satrinani on during his formative years.

[@Doctor-Shoebill]

Tommy Emmanuel does something similar at times, but this is on a another level. I like the jazzy Zappa feel of this, too. I'm definitely going to find more of his stuff.

[@evrythingis1]

Every single player does this, he just changed the lowest strings to make them sounds like a TERRIBLE bass. The actual music is CRAP.

[@emilgarcia9113]

I've seen Charlie Hunter live several times. Jaw-dropping is the only words that come to mind. I always try to sit as close to the stage and on the side where you can see his hands clearly. It's beyond amazing! And while watching him I go back and forth between thinking how is this possible? And just sitting back and enjoying the song. Very inspiring to watch, but kind of not at the same time because I know that I'll never play that good! He's beyond genius or virtuoso ... he's just Charlie!

[@xodiaq]

This is seriously like the music version of sports color commentary. Get Rick Beato in to be your John Madden! “Oh wow, this right here is a diatonic lick, but he’s also referencing a triad in the bassline and then ALL the way over to the 9add13! Amazing fretwork! Back to you guys!”

[@analogmesaman]

I got to see Charlie at yoshi’s quite a few years ago..such an amazing performance.

[@Takaboutsunny]

Met Charlie a couple times up in greensboro at a house show. He is one of the most humble and kind people I have ever met. Combined with his infectious stage presence and guitar gusto, I truly cannot say enough good things about this man. A true guitar hero

[@MarcWhitman1]

Always great to see new people giving Charlie Hunter his due recognition the guitar genius he is. he has been at it for years (speaking of which....anyone catch him at the Somerville Theatre back in 2002? What a phenomenal show!). Side note: I am surprised you guys did not mention the "Leslie" tone he gets out of the higher strings (which I am pretty sure he gets out of an actual split to a Leslie!). I always found it super unique. What a gem this guy is.

[@cosmicsea7]

His technique reminds me of how some very advanced fingerstyle guitarists play. Super talented guy!

[@justinguitarcia]

I highly suggest the Josh Smith interview, Charlie really gets into his process there. its super fascinating, for him its a lifetime study and it shows. Great stuff

[@MichaelWWestbrook]

Charlie was the first show I saw at the Georgia Theater when I tuned 18. Incredible talent all around

[@TREVORJB101]

Natural born talent! Some people have their brains wired differently than most others..he is definitely one of them. This is incredibly impressive!!!

[@AdFunk]

He’s just like me - I can’t decided between bass & guitar. That’s where the comparison ends though unfortunately. 😁

[@paulojrg]

Return of the Candyman and Natty Dread are still in my phone. Hearing Charlie is like listening to two musicians who are respecting each other. In the mid nineties he and Marc Ribot were my favourite contemporary guitar players.

[@GordonPavilion]

I jumped onboard the Charlie Hunter train when I heard “The Disposable Heroes of Hiphopracy”.

[@Texasbluesalley]

I don't want to admit how long I watched this until I figured out there was no other bass player. 🤯

[@musitch]

Charlie Hunter is so badass. One thing that makes it even more impressive for me listening as a bass player is the right hand muted/ghost notes on bass. All the chops and all the feel.

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

I remember one of those Novax guitars being on eBay and I wanted it so bad... I didn't buy it on it I ended up getting a couple of fan fret guitars from different builders... Emerald guitars is doing amazing stuff... also the guy from ergo base sticks? Will build you an amazing guitar if you can talk him into it

[@matt_ess153]

The song at 10 minutes is off of a DVD released around 20 years ago. Imagine how good Charlie is now. Bruh.

[@scottpitner4298]

Haha wow the laugh is definitely the best reaction to some of this playing. I just kind of throw my hands up and think 🧐 idk?

[@enlat2003]

He is a proof there is no limit to great musical creativity. That was AWESOME!!!!

[@jasonaustin3270]

First seen him in the late 90s, and he said he was going for an organ sound, but on guitar.

[@frodeleirvik]

Charlie is truly remarkable and I have followed him for quite some time now. He seems to never run out of ideas, he's always got that sense of humor, he's as groovy as anyone could ever be and just straightforward musical. I like Rhett's mention of virtuosity, spot on!

[@music_ethos]

Rhett, will you please make there is no plan b merch? I love the motto and it has seriously become something I try to live by now. Love the content and keep inspiring!

[@paiolagt]

i would give a listen to John Mayer’s In Repair video, i didn’t knew that he played this song until i saw the making of, such a great one!!

[@DrJeebles]

Well, my mind is blown. I just mastered walking and chewing gum at the same time.

[@mastermachetier5594]

Wow this guy is really a next level virtuoso that last song wow !! My brain hurts watching him do it

[@allengoeddey2719]

Wow! , that’s just…wow

[@Moose_Hawkins]

Charlie Hunter is on *another level*. Tosin Abasi is perhaps the only other guitarist I've seen make use of the entire guitar in a similar manner.

[@Quinceps]

Tosin still repeats and researses stuff he composes until he gets it like an average human being. Charlie is doing these things ad lib.

[@jscordoba3]

Ive said that even if his bass and guitar parts were separate players, they'd be two of my favorite players.

[@Miguel-un1vh]

I checked out Charlie years ago because I heard about the crazy technique, but I’ve stayed a fan for life because of that sick groove. I especially love his albums where he accompanies a singer (Lucy Woodward, Dionne Farris).

[@crieverytim]

he did a great cover of More Than This w Norah Jones. i'll have to check these two out

[@epicmeade]

I had the good fortune to see Charlie Hunter play two nights in a row in wildly different settings and styles. The first night I saw him as the guitarist in Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy opening for Nirvana in front of 16000 people. The following night I walked down to my local night club, the Paradise Lounge just to grab a drink, and there was Charlie Hunter with his jazz trio playing to an audience of nine people. It was one of those epiphany moments a musician (me) has where you realize that for a great musician it isn’t about fame and screaming crowds. Here he was, playing for the nine of us with the same intensity he had given the night before to an arena full of people. Which is saying something, because the night before, between Hunters guitar playing and Michael Franti’s dynamic charisma as a front man,the Disposable Heroes had actually blown Nirvana off the stage.

[@Darltornjacket]

The drummer is first class He is a treat to listen too!!!

[@ultramanj]

I was totally thinking the same thing.

[@Benz2112]

Charlie has one of the all time greatest stank faces in history. He's been killing it for decades. I often put him in a category with unorthodox but soulful players, such as Stanley Jordan or Michael Hedges.

[@csharp57]

So happy to see someone give him his flowers and shine light to how talented he really is

[@aminahmed2220]

In my opinion the videos is fantastic

[@itsme-notyou]

Great take. I saw him live about 15 yrs ago. Absolute alien. Can't help but stank face the entire performance. So nasty and good.

[@martykmusic3788]

I first heard about Charlie when he played on “In Repair” by John Mayer. Incredibly gifted and such a diverse artist.

[@AdrianSanabria]

What's beautiful about Charlie's style is that his approach naturally creates space for both the guitar lines and the bass lines, which naturally suits his jazz/funk fusion style, IMO

[@ericbrewerguitar1499]

Still the only guy that can groove a convincing bass line, comp chords and play sick lead over top and sound exactly like B3 at the same time

[@roomfullofbasses]

I’ve seen Charlie a handful of times at The Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz Ca. with drummer Scott Amendola. Phenomenal.

[@lazyboylarry4345]

Charlie Hunter is a genius in his own league.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

Reminds me of a keyboard player playing bass on pedals or with the left hand. And it's as if he were born doing it.

[@Ash_Simak]

He’s not thinking, he’s just doing. Letting it flow. Thinking is the enemy of polyrhythmic flow.

[@mikebaldino333]

I saw Charlie in '95 on the "Bing! Bing! Bing!" tour and in '99 on the "Duo" tour - he took audience requests in '95 and I called out "Giant Steps" to be a wiseass and he just launched right into it. I got to talk to him at both shows and he said he was a frustrated organist and recommended Larry Young and "Boss Guitar" by Wes Montgomery. Great drummer, great at playing Blind Blake / ragtime / pre-war blues, just such a tasteful and inventive player.

[@jayem1826]

Sounds like a Zappa piece of work

[@TravisHam]

Saw Charlie play back in ‘98 when he was touring with John Santos & Stefan Harris. It was such an amazing show back then and he’s just as solid a player 25 years later!

[@SR71YF12]

Charlie Hunter = amazing musician, who deserves to be much more widely known. Like a few others in the comments here, I first heard him with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy in 1992 (the track was called Music and Politics, if I remember correctly). Already then, it was unbelievable that so much music could come from just one guy and his electric guitar. Not sure if he had an 8-string or a 7-string back then, but probably an 8-string.

[@matthewforsee5092]

WOW so cool that Charlie Hunter saw this and commented!! I saw Charlie Hunter in Atlanta years ago and I had no idea what was going on. He is truly one of a kind. His work on That Spanish Joint on D'Angelo's album is one of the best things about humanity. He is on another level and it's just like you say, there is no gimmick, and when you close your eyes it's two instruments. Everything serves the song.

[@stiffmata]

long overdue breakdown of charlie's amazing playing!! reggae, dub, montunos, tumbaos, funk and pretty much anything (incredibly challenging) he has ever done is a lesson in pocket , groove, tone and tasteful note choices. worth pointing out that he splits his signal between a bass amp (top 3 strings) and usually another setup for his sweet (mostly leslie like) guitar sound. huge thanks!! You rule!!

[@marksargeant1019]

Rhett you should checkout Stanley Jordan

[@michaelmele4888]

I've been a fan for a few years now. Charlie continues to impress me with his taste and style.

[@KyleKalevra]

First person I ever saw play like this was Richard Thompson sometime around 1996. His song Vincent Black Lightning is still one of the most impressive things I’ve ever heard. Guys like Charlie, Richard Thompson, Ichika, Tosin and Javier from Animas As Leaders… they’re beyond human. I can’t even begin to comprehend playing 2-3 parts at once, much less emulate it. It’s mind boggling.

[@gazmasonik2411]

Richard Thompson made a strat sound like a sitar, not just folk rock but sadly underated outside that genre

[@KyleKalevra]

💯 Decades later I still can’t emulate guys like him and Charlie. Beyond just the raw talent, that’s a dedication to an instrument far beyond anything I was ever able to do.

[@chazzbass]

I watched in interview with him a while back where he talked about how he spent a significant amount if time learning exactly how a drummer thinks and plays, and learning how to LOCK into it. he said in the interview this was a major part of his learning process how to play like this. also I think some of my favorite playing if his is with the singer Lucy Woodward. shes amazing, hes amazing and they seem to play with different drummers each of whom is amazing as well.

[@pedrova8058]

omg, I listened -a lot- a couple of their albums, years ago, and I never realized that the band didn't have a bass player :O ...I'm in shock hahaha

[@onemancarnage]

He must really love guitar and bass to develop something so complex . And actually make music .

[@choimdachoim9491]

What? No mention of the Charlie Hunter fanned-fret 8 string guitar by Novax that he's playing?? Their explanation of it's design is convincing,

[@thedownsides]

What's amazing about CH is that even if he was playing just guitar, he would still be an insane player.

[@amileoj9043]

Thanks Rhett and Phillip for this excellent breakdown. I've been following Charlie Hunter's career off and on since the mid-90s and every time I check in on what he's up to, recorded or live, it's invariably something musically satisfying. As you say Rhett: the extraordinary technique is always in the service of the tune & the groove, and that combination makes him one of the most consistently delightful guitarists to listen to.

[@ScottHz]

He’s also a master of Country/Piedmont blues a la Blind Blake! (as mentioned at 4:00)

[@scottreynolds6317]

It’s really cool to see accomplished professional musicians just stunned by someone doing something in a new and unique way.

[@jamesatherfold6934]

I’m struggling to hear the bass side of things, but his playing certainly looks phenomenal.

[@HeavyProfessor]

How can't you hear it?

[@TheJazzDestroyersOfficial]

@@HeavyProfessor phone speaker probably.

[@Bigandrewm]

Holy shit!